Japanese Kampo Treatments: Essence, Benefits, and Reasons to Try

Kampo belongs to the traditional Japanese medicine and is based on natural components, known for their unique healing abilities. The official list of treatments is registered by the Japanese Ministry of Health and features over 230 items — apart from that, there are thousands of still unregistered ones. This article will shed light on the history, benefits, and challenges of Kampo. You'll get to know why foreigners become increasingly curious about this approach to treatment, and why you may also want to try it.

Brief History

This system originates from the ancient Chinese medicine. It was introduced to Japan around 1500 years ago and was adopted to the specifics of the country's population.

By the 17th century, the Kampo medicine had become an integral part of the local culture. Its distinctive features clearly set it apart from its analogs in China or Korea. In the next century, Japan limited its connections with other states, and the popularity of its national medicines reached its peak.

In the 20th century, the Western solutions became widely popular in Japan, because the country re-opened to the outer world. For a few decades, the demand for Kampo declined.

In the 1970s, the traditional treatments were included in the health insurance, and the public response was highly positive. Every year, new scientific publications go live, confirming the advantages of Kampo products.

Efficiency Proof

Each Kampo product is a herbal treatment made of high-quality ingredients, such as Shiso leaf or Senna seed. Their formulas have been tried and tested for centuries. Most products are available in the format of pills or powder.

Kampo medications can allow patients to achieve various goals, from combatting inflammation to supporting cancer treatment. They can foster weight loss when a diet fails to help or boost the performance of other drugs. One should discuss their case with their doctor individually, and the latter can come up with a suitable Kampo product.

Challenges and the Way to Overcome Them

Even though the sources proving the benefits of Kampo are cited in many research works, this system has one shortcoming. Imagine a specific herb is harvested from a particular region after a warm season. What if, next year, it is harvested from another location after a colder season? Its properties might differ depending on the environmental conditions.

To overcome this issue, in 1987, the Japanese Ministry of Health issued a set of rules to regulate the preparation of Kampo treatment. Plus, all medical professionals who use this system must have a license.

Relevancy in the 21st Century

Currently, Kampo treatments are a firm favorite among the Japanese. Here are the main reasons for that:

• Long and convincing history
• Natural origin
• Extensive scope of scientific research that backs up the products' efficiency and keeps expanding
• Ability to target a wide range of medical issues

Over 80% of medical professionals in Japan prescribe Kampo to their patients. The former do so because the latter are not entirely happy with the limited potential of the Western analogs.

ATTENTION: Here are a few examples of Kampo products that generate the highest demand in Japan: kakkonto, daikenchuto, shakuyakukanzoto, rikkunshito, and yokukansan. The more results of scientific research go live to back up the benefits of these treatments, the higher their sales.

Conclusion

Kampo is a system of traditional Japanese medicine that has been around for centuries. Natural herbs are used to address a wide range of symptoms, from improving one's looks to contributing to oncological treatment. It's not necessary to live in Japan to benefit from these products — feel free to order them to your location to assess their efficiency.