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drug forms are similar to western medicines. As these preparations are very
convenient to use and highly portable, their current use is popular and
extensive in Japan. However, the decoction of kampo medicines is still very
useful as prescribed formulation because the ratio of component herbs in a
decoction can be modified for a best fit to the patient’s pathophysiological
condition.
Kampo medicines have also been traditionally used as gan(pill form),
san(powder form) and kou(ointment form), depending on the clinical
applications.

234 | Traditional medicine

Figure 8.3 Examples of herbs prescribed for kampo medicines of (a) plant origin and
(b) minerall origin.

Plant origin Mineral origin

Ginseng RadixGinseng RadixPersicae Persicae SemenSemen Auranti NobilisAuranti Nobilis

PericarpiumPericarpium

Angelicae RadixAngelicae Radix

Foeniculi FructusFoeniculi Fructus

Gypsum FibrosumGypsum Fibrosum

(a) (b)

Figure 8.4 Chest of drawers for storing herbs and special spoons at the kampo pharmacy in
the Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University.