Traditional kampo medicines
Classification
Kampo medicines are classified by pharmacological activities into tonic,
purgative, heat clearing, expelling superficial pathogenic factors, harmon-
ising, regulating flow of ki, regulating flow of ketsuand dispelling dampness
as a disease-inducing factor by the mode of actions for clinical use (Table
8.3).
Presentation
The medicines consist of a formulation of several different types of herbs.
Examples of source materials for kampo medicines are shown in Figure 8.3.
Minerals are included in the general term ‘herbs’.
In the pharmacy these medicines are stored in wooden drawers and
transferred with the use of special spoons (Figure 8.4). They are generally
administered in the form of a decoction, prepared by extracting herbal
material with warm water. When patients need such a decoction for treat-
ment, they must prepare it by themselves. Each formulation has been named
traditionally by putting to(meaning extract) as a suffix.
In order to adapt kampo medicines into modern-day therapy, several
kampo extract pharmaceutical preparations with the same efficacy as the
decoction have been developed. They are manufactured as granule forms by
freeze drying the decoction prepared on a large scale. Consequently, these
Japanese kampo medicine | 233Group of action Kampo formulae
Tonic Shikunshito, Hochuekkito, Shimotsuto, Juzentaihoto, Rikkunshito,
Hachimijiougan
Purgative Daijokito, Daioukanzoto, Tokakujokito
Heat clearing Orengedokuto, Byakkokaninjinto
Expelling superficial pathogenic Maoto, Keishito, Kakkonto, Shoseiryuto
factors
Harmonising Shosaikoto, Hangeshashinto
Regulating flow of ki Hangekobokuto, Kousosan
Regulating flow of kestu Tokakujokito, Keishibukuryogan
Dispelling dampness as a Goreisan, Boiogito
disease-inducing factorTable 8.3Classification of kampo medicines by mode of actions for clinical use