Biologi Farmasi

The clinical practice and basic research of traditional medicines in Japan

Yoshihiro Hayakawa, PhD.
Director & Professor
Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama
Toyama, Japan

In the 6th century, traditional Chinese medicines spread to Japan and started to develop independently, called Kampo medicine. Subsequently, Kampo medicine underwent a period of major development during the 17th century that produced the style that is practiced today. Until the mid 18th century, Japan closed the border from contact with foreign countries. After Japan reopened its borders in the late nineteenth century, the government embarked on a strategy of Westernization, and it led to the rapid development of modern (western) medicines and decline of Kampo medicine. In 1960’s, a series of adverse drug effects raised concerns on modern drugs, instead revive of traditional medicine. Now in Japan, raw materials for crude drug listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia received official drug prices under the National Health Insurance. In 1970’s, Kampo formulations for prescriptions were added to the National Health Insurance drug price list, and new formulations have continued to be added since then (148 Kampo formulations are currently on the drug price list). The number of scientific information on basic and clinical research of Japanese traditional medicines has also increased rapidly, and these has brought a new era for the adoption and development of clinical practice and basic research of traditional medicine in Japan. In this lecture, I would like to overview the current status of clinical practice and basic research of traditional medicines in Japan.