Vol.52 No.10 October 2004
Kampo medicine and chemotherapy
Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University
Oriental Medicine Research Center, The Kitasato Institute
5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Chinese traditional herbal medicine was introduced to Japan through the introduction of Buddhism from China in the 6th century and was established as Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine during the Edo era after some modification, having a clinical history of more than 2000 years. Because Kampo medicine has often been used for the treatment of disease difficult to cure by orthodox medicine, it plays an important role in a medical treatment in Japan. Kampo medicine has been used as the decoction of the formula which were prescribed by several component herbs. Spray dried granule form was also developed for modern-day therapy. The action of orthodox medicine directs specifically to the nature and functions of a disease, whereas the action of Kampo medicine attempts to harmonize the disturbed pathophysiological condition of the patient ("sho," clinically) as a whole to eventually equilibrate a normal physiological environment in the system.
Although it has been believed that Kampo medicines is suitable for the treatment of chronic disease, several Kampo medicines have also been used for the treatment of infectious diseases such as typhoid fever which was described in the classical text book, Shanghanlun. Kampo medicine has been used separately depending on the progress of infectious disease and the decline of resistance of the body. Kampo medicine is effective for the treatment of several infectious diseases such as viral hepatitis, influenza viral infection, and MRSA and Helicobacter pyroli infections, proved by basic and clinical studies. Some Kampo medicines show direct action against infected microbes and defensive action through immunostimulation. Kampo medicine is expected to show preventive effects in elderly patients with decreased body action in transition to the serious stage of infectious disease.
Medicinal herbs used in Kampo medicine also have a possibility to develop new antiinfectious agents such as the potent antimalarial drug Artemisinin.
Key word
Kampo medicine, Influenza virus, MRSA, adjuvant, malaria
Received
August 11, 2004
Accepted
August 30, 2004
Jpn. J. Chemother. 52 (10): 547-555, 2004
