Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

Kampo Medicine - Current ResearchChildren’s Emotions and Kampo

deficiencies related to the kidneys could easily
manifest as developmental disorders. This is not

Hideaki Yamaguchi

much different from our modern understanding of
the characteristics of developing children. Kampo
medicines that have been used for children can

Introduction
In response to the changing social environment ofhistoricallybeclassified

according

to

these

children in recent years, the likelihood of dealing

characteristics (Table 1). In this paper I will selectwith emotional problems in pediatric care has beenamong these specifically Kampo medicines related toincreasing.

emotional problems. In other words, I would like toInparticular“neurodevelopmental

thedisorders”

concept
has

of
been

considerKampo

medicineswithemotional

popularized and accordingly the relative interest in

stabilizing effects. Regarding other effects I would

this field has been increasing. With some exceptions

like to ask the reader to refer to the references1).

the pharmacotherapy for children with emotional
problems is not supported by sufficient evidence,side effects cause problems and the general
physician may have difficulties to use the relevant

Table 1 Easily comprehensible classification of Kampo
medicines used for children
1

drugs. On the other hand, Kampo medicines have along history of experience based clinical application

2

for emotional problems. Naturally, as viewed fromthe context of EBM they are subject of debate, but

3they are nevertheless considered to have thequalities of one possible choice of pharmacotherapy.
In the present paper I would like to outline theuse of Kampo medicines for emotional problems inchildren in a way easily comprehensible even for
physicians not familiar with Kampo.

4
5
6

I. How were children viewed in ancient Chinese

Easy development of fever, resulting in convulsions,disturbances of consciousness→ Kampo medicines with immune function regulating
actions for infections
Getting easily agitated, mentally unstable→ Kampo medicines with emotionally stabilizing
effects
Immature digestive function easily leads to weakened
function→
Kampo medicines with digestive function
improving actions
Immature respiratory function easily leads toweakened function→ Kampo medicines with antitussive actions
Easy occurrence of developmental disorders, weakvital energy→ Kampo medicines that support development
Addition→
Kampo medicines with water metabolism
regulating actions

medicine?
In traditional Chinese medicine there are anumber of expressions describing the characteristics
of children, but probably the most important among
these

is:

"two

excesses(heart,liver),

three

II.

Emotionallystabilizing

effectsof

Kampo

medicines
Kampo medicines are composed of multiple crude
drugs (simply processed roots, stems, fruits of plants,

deficiencies (lung, spleen, kidneys). A modernminerals,interpretation of this expression would be, that independing on the therapeutic purpose. Currently,

case of excesses in heart and liver easy development

Kampo medicines in Japan are mostly used in theof fever, convulsions, disturbances of consciousness

form of extract preparations, the basic compositionand other neurological symptoms are observed, otherof which has already been indicated 2,000 years ago.

manifestations include easy mental excitation or

Details of the process of the establishment of

instability, while deficiencies of lung and spleen may

these drugs are unknown, but probably man used his

resultprimitive senses for the initial choice of the crudein

respiratory6

hypoactivity
andofdigestive

the

still

functionsimmature
and

small

the

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

animalproducts)

combined

Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

drug, after that millennia of clinical experience(occasional human experimentation) accumulated
and thus presumably led to the development of these
Kampo medicines.
Kampo medicines as drugs are characterized inbeing compositions having multiple therapeutic
effects. These sets of multiple therapeutic effects
precisely are the characteristic of Kampo medicines.
In humans multiple functional systems are mutuallyinterrelated.

If

the

characteristicsof

Figure 2 Brewing Kampo medicine

Kampo

medicines adequately match any disturbances ofthese human functional systems, it will presumably
allow adjustment of the entire body.

Yokukansan

will

be

consideredasarepresentative example of a Kampo medicine withemotional stabilizing effects. As shown in Figure 1

yokukansan is composed of the seven crude drugs
Uncariae Uncis Cum Ramulus, Bupleurium Radix,
Angelicae Acutilobae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Poria
Atractylodis Rhizoma and roasted Glycyrrhizae
Radix. Today it is used either as a decoction asshown in Figure 2 or else an extract preparation asshown in Figure 3. In general almost always the

Figure 3 Kampo extract preparation

more practical extract preparation is used.

Uncariae Uncis Cum

Bupleurium Radix (Saiko)

Poria (Bukuryo)Angelicae Acutilobae Radix

Cnidii Rhizoma (Senkyu)(Toki)

Ramulus

Atractylodis Rhizoma(Byakujutsu)

Roasted Glyzirrizae Radix

Figure 1 The constituent crude drugs of yakukansan

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

Table 2 shows Chinese crude drugs generally
thought to have emotionally stabilizing effects. I will
omit the details, but the important thing here is,that related to the emotions

items with violent

actions have been excluded, concentrating on
invigorating and suppressing effects (not necessarily
precise), because each of the crude drugs has apartfrom the emotionally stabilizing effects also various
other effects on the body. Examining yakukansan
from this point of view (Table 3), it contains many
emotionally stabilizing drugs centering around theclassical

anticonvulsant

uncariaindicatedbyunderlining and while the main purpose is clearlyemotional stabilization (sedation), other secondary
effects include improvement of digestive function,
regulationofhydration,

improvement

of

the

microcirculation.
Table 2 Crude drugs with emotionally stabilizing actions

8

Perillae Herba

Glycyrrhizae Radix

Menthae Herba

Jiziphi Semen

Chrysanthemi Flos

Nelumbis semen

Purnellae Spica

Polygalae Radix

Gardeniae Fructus

Longan Arillus

Coptidis Rhizoma

Ostreae Testa

Poria

Tritici Fructus

Magnoliae Cortex

Ostreae Testa

Evodiae Fructus

Saigae tataricae Cornu

Cyperi Rhizoma

Gastrodia Tuber

Curcumae Rhizoma
Saussuerae Radix

Uncariae
Uncis
Ramulus
Bombyx Batryticatus

Cnidii Rhizoma

Gentianae Scabrae Radix

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix

Cicadae Periostracum

Rehmanniae Radix

Visci Herb

Ginseng Radix

Pinellia Tuber

Ziziphi Fructus

Arisaematis Rhizoma

Cum

Table 3 Yokukansan (Hangechinpi)
Source: "Bâo yïng cuö yào"(synopsis of caring for infants
Uncariae Uncis Cum Ramulus………anticonvulsive,
emotionally stabilizing (sedation)
Bupleurium Radix………antifebrile, emotionallystabilizing, upraisingAngelica Acutilobae Radix………improving
microcirculation, laxation
Cnidii Rhizoma……………improving microcirculation,
analgesic, emotionally stabilizing
Atractylodis Rhizoma…………adjusting water
metabolism, improvement of digestive function
Poria…………adjusting water metabolism, improvementof digestive function, emotionally stabilizing
Roasted Glycyrrhizae Radix…………improvement ofdigestive function, muscle relaxation, mitigating drug
properties
Generalized effects……anticonvulsive, emotionallystabilizing, improvement of digestive function, adjustingwater metabolism, improving microcirculation(The originally anticonvulsive preparations can today be
expected to have emotionally stabilizing actions)III. Mental and psychological disease patterns fromthe traditional Chinese medical perspective
Table 4 summarizes the deficiency and excess
aspects of mental and psychological disease patterns
according to the traditional Chinese medical visceralorgan-function system as described in a book on
Chinese medicine2),3). Due to the large number oftechnical terms I will omit a detailed explanation,
but the important point here is, that mental andpsychological disease patterns are viewed as equal tophysical patterns. Based on a comprehension of theirmutual correlation among these in particular theheart, liver and gallbladder organ-function systems
are closely related and Table 5 shows their disease
patterns.
IV. Categorization and cases for simple explanations
The unfolding of this kind of theoretical andtechnical discussion is generally extremely difficult
to understand. Moreover, the classifications of these
disease patterns have since ancient times beenrefined by experience through long use of Kampo
medicines, so that the classification of disease names
differs from modern Western medical views,
representing so to speak a cross-section of Western
medical disease names.

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

Table 4 Disease patterns from the traditional Chinese medical perspective on psychological andmental aspects
Five viscera
Lung

Deficiency (scarcity)

Excess (surplus; stagnation)

Lung Qi deficiency
Heart Qi deficiency (fearfulness),Heart

Blood (Yin) deficiency

SpleenSpleen Qi deficiency

Liver

Liver Blood (Yin) deficiency(Gallbladder)
KidneyGallbladder Qi deficiency(fearfulness)

Heart fire, phlegm-heat

Stagnation and sluggishness of hepatic Qi,
liver fire, managing gloom
Gallbladder fire, stagnant heat

Kidney essence deficiency
Reference: Differential Diagnosis of Chinese Medical Symptoms, 2nd Edition2)
Table 6 Simple Classification for Kampo Treatment

Table 5 Close correlation to mind and psychological stateHeart: maintain sound consciousness, thinking

Category 1[Key words] All right, don't be afraid, at ease

Functional disorder→anxiety, fright, insomnia,[Symptoms] No confidence, worrying temperament,

excessive dreaming, irritability, irascibility

apprehensive, nervous and other similar emotions

Liver: promote the flow of Qi and development
Functional disorder→prevents unconstrained
development, depressive feeling, irritability,
irascibility, violent mood swings
Gallbladder: controls will and decision making
Functional disorder→ perplexity, fear

Accordingly, in this manuscript I will follow theabove mentioned traditional medical concepts as far
as possible, but at the same time tried to explain

continue – related to the heart and gallbladder[Formulas] kanbakutaisoto, kamikihito,

saikokaryukotsuboreito, sansoninto etc.
Category 2[Key words] Don't huddle up, develop unconstrained[Symptoms] High tension, depressive, irritability, easymood swings ― related to the liver[Formulas] shigyakusan, saibokuto, kamishoyosan,

kososan, saikosokansan etc.
Category 3

matters using the classification shown in Table 6 in[Key words] Relax, take it easyorder to facilitate the use of Kampo medicines[Symptoms] Irritability, depressive, restless etc.,

through simplification. In other words, threecommon sense categories are set up centering on thetherapists view regarding "how should the therapy
be aimed at the patient's symptoms". Kampo

mainly mild excitement related symptoms―heart,
liver, gallbladder related[Formulas] yokukansan, yokukansankahangechinpi,

daisaikoto, orengedokuto, chikujountanto,
tokakujokito etc.

medicines belonging to each of these categories areshown and the Kampo therapy outlined with case

1. A category 1 casestudies.

Case No. 1

This classification is not a standard Kampo

3-year old boy, pavor nocturnus

method, but considered to be useful for providing

The boy entered kindergarten in April. From thesimple explanations. So please bear with me taking

middle of the same month onward he would

the liberty of adopting this everyday language

suddenly wake up during the night and vehemently

classification.
The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

9Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

weep and cry, exhibiting a behavior marked byeasily startled. She avoided school related topics.

running around once or twice a week. Since May thisHer late grandmother reportedly suffered fromhappened every night and troubled the family, so

depressionthat they brought him on the 11th of the same monthpollakisuria.

andfrequently

complainedof(after the condition continued for one month) to thisInitially I thought, the condition was due toclinic. He seemed to be a little downcast. Generalexcessive tension, inhibiting normal development

condition was good.

(category 2) and prescribed saikosokanto decoction

I diagnosed the condition as pavor nocturnus andconsidered

possible

adaptation

problems(feel relieved). Yet, two weeks later there were noinchanges at all and the girl appeared during the second

kindergarten, contacted it and gave instructions

consultation to have lost confidence and clearly madepertaining to acceptance at home. However, since

an apprehensive impression (category 1). Therefore I

the condition had continued until the next clinic visit

switcheda week later, I judged the condition be marked bydecoction (don't fear, everything will be fine).

theprescriptiontosansonintokagen

fright and anxiety (category 1) and started the child

Two weeks later the micturition frequency

on a twice a day prescription of kanbakutaisoto (Gandecrease by half and she seemed to be more composed.

Mai Da Zao Tang). The symptoms disappeared

One month later she almost did not need to go to thealmost completely immediately after taking thebathroom during classes and the feeling of residual

medicine.

urine disappeared. A mild degree of pollakisuria

Kanbakutaisoto is comprised of Glycyrrhizae
Radix, Tritici Fructus and Ziziphi Fructus used as apersisted. She complained about worries pertaining tosweeteners and thus is a simple formula that canyear the pollakisuria grew worse due to the cold

almost be called a foodstuff. It is easy to take andweather, so that I added cinnamon bark and Aconiti

widely used among both children and adults.

Radix Processa (warming components) and achieved

entrance examinations. In January of the following

alleviation. In February she passed the senior highCase No. 2

school14-year old girl, junior high school third grade,

disappeared and since she had calmed down, the drug

nervous pollakiuria

administration was discontinued. After that the

From June 20xx pollakisuria and a feeling ofresidual

urine

developed,

but

entrance

examination,thepollakisuria

patient did not visit the clinic.

examinations

performed in this clinic ruled out organic diseases,

2. Category 2 cases

leading to the suspicion of the involvement ofCase No. 1

psychological factors. During the summer holidays

14-year old girl, junior high school student, general

the symptoms decreased slightly but the girl hadlassitude, sensitivity to cold

pollakisuria while in boarding school. Due to an

She has an anamnesis of atopic dermatitis,

aggravation of symptoms in September I invited herbronchial asthma. One month ago she indulged inby the end of the same month to the Kampo

excessive eating of eggs and chocolate, resulting in

outpatient service. Until then I prescribed thethe development of generalized urticaria and shepatient Tofranil, but because it caused drowsiness,wasshe could not take the drug and choreito wasaggravation of the AD. During the height of theineffective. The frequency of 12-13 micturitions

summer on August 15 she visited the clinic

while in school and 7-8 times more after returningcomplaining of generalized lassitude and chills. She

home irritated her and she complained of being

reported being tired since about one month ago and

10hospitalized for

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)ashort period duetoVolume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

since about 2 weeks ago she felt cold like being

cleared his throat with a dry cough. Physicalattached to a cooler. Since before she had alreadyexamination and general laboratory tests did not

had conflicts with her mother and on this occasion

reveal any anomalies. I suspected maladjustment tothere was trouble too. Physically, apart from a minor

school conditions and diagnosed psychogenic coughdegree of AD, no abnormal findings were observed.

(vocal tic).

Simultaneously with the generalized lassitude

I explained to the grandmother the involvement

and sensitivity to cold she felt hot in the chest andof psychogenic factors and chose to observe thecomplained about getting irritated. Her pulse wascourse with only an antitussive over a period of two

wiry and the abdominal muscles were tense. Basedweeks. The cough itself slightly improved, but sinceon the course and findings I thought stress had

his clearing of his throat worsened, I added

induced excessive tension and caused a mild degreesaibokuto extract. Following the begin of theof microcirculatory disorder (category 2).

medication the cough and clearing of his throat

I

used

shigyakusan

extract(toreleasemarkedly decreased, and the anxious impression

anabated. Since the symptoms had almost completely

unrestrained development). After four days ofbe alleviated 4 weeks later, the treatment was

medication the generalized lassitude was relieved,

discontinued

but the sensitivity to cold remained unchanged.

occasionally took medicine on his own will, but

After 10 days of medication the generalized lassitude,commuted lively to school. From the Kampo medicalsensitivity to cold and chilliness of hands and feetperspective the Qi flow was considered to have

had disappeared. After 15 days of medication she

stagnatedappeared to be very healthy and I discontinued theunrestrained

medication. This is a typical category 2 case.

respiratory symptoms (category 2). Based on thepsychosomatic

tensionandfacilitate

outcome
old

the

this

8

weeks.

caseanddevelopment,
use

of

After

thus

that

he

prevented

manifestinginsaibokuto (shosaikoto +hangekobokuto) extract was considered to have been

Case No. 2
10-year

in

after

by,

elementary

schoolstudent,

effective.

psychogenic cough (vocal tic)
The parents divorced during his infancy and he

3. Category 3 cases

lives now mainly with the father's side grandparents.

Case No. 1

There is no obvious history of asthma and no

3-year old girl, atopic dermatitis (AD)problem with school attendance. Approximately two

Six months after birth eczema and at the age of 2

months ago a persisting cough developed for which

years AD was diagnosed. Eight months ago thehe commuted to several clinics. He was treated withconditions worsened, the girl was taken to four

antitussives, expectorants and macrolides, but sincedifferent clinics and a pharmacy consulted, butthese did not produce any relief, he was introduced

because of insufficient relief in spite of theto this clinic in November 20XX and came with his

administered medication, she was brought to thisgrandmother for consultation. Examination did notclinic. She complained of itching after trouble withreveal any anomalies. The cough was dry and hefriends in kindergarten. She is always very nervous.

frequently cleared his throat. There was no cough

There is also night crying. She was calm at the time

during sleep. There was discomfort in the throat andof consultation, but throughout asked her mother tohe felt suffocated in enclosed spaces. He is timid andscratch her (almost all of which was more like gentle

becomes easily tense. Recently he seemed to be

stroking). The symptoms had aggravated after her

anxious. During his outpatient visits he frequently

younger sister was born. The eczema had developed

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

only on the neck and the extremities. I surmised theviolent

symptoms to be a manifestation of separation

conspicuously marked by kicking his desk evenanxiety.

during classes, when he did not like things and

In Kampo terms the patient was diagnosed asmoodstormingoutswings

of

and

the

his

behaviorclassroom.

wasFollowing

category 3 and yokukansan extract prescribed,

recommendation by the class teacher he visited thisexpecting it would relief the complaints. Two weeks

clinic during summer holidays.

later the patient was markedly calmer and after 4

He was fidgety, irascible, showed impulsive

weeks the scratching frequency and intensity had

behavior, was disorganized, but also gentle and crieddecreased to 1/3 of the original level. After 4 months

easily.

the scratching behavior had disappeared and thechecklist: 13/17 (standard 6/17), predominantly

medication was discontinued. Later however thehyperactive and impulsive, high-functioning autism,scratching behavior exacerbated, so that medication

Aspergerwas restarted, resulting again in relief andpsychosomatic checklist: below standard value,

subsequently continued over a period of one year.

WISC: normal.

Pavor

nocturnus:

checklist:

below

once/month,standard

ADHD

value,

Based on the above described findings I diagnosed
Case No. 2

an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. From a

5-year old boy, extensive developmental disorder

Kampo medical point of view the probability of a

At the age of 3 years he was diagnosed withcategory 3 disorder was high, but an involvement ofautism and started to commute to specialized facility.

category 1 also conceivable. Therefore I prescribed

Because of a marked communication disorder,

yokukansan extract for 2 weeks, expecting to obtaindelayed speech development and hyperactivity andsome sedative effect. After two weeks some

impulsive behavior at home, he was brought to thisimprovement had been achieved, so that I added

clinic requesting Kampo treatment. During the

kanbakutaisoto and another two weeks later theoutpatient visit he avoided my gaze, ignored thepatient had calmed down. In school too the impulsive

environment and wandered restlessly around. I

behavior had decreased as compared to the first term.

diagnosed category 3 and prescribed a decoction

The class teacher said: "During the second term hecentering mainly on the formula yokukansan,

could almost follow the class schedule. The problem

expecting a tranquillizing effect. Two weeks after thehas been markedly reduced." At home the impulsive

begin of the medication some changes were observed

behavior decreased from a level of 10 to 3. He himself

and four weeks later the hyperactivity and impulsive

said: "Taking the medicine makes things easier" andbehavior had been alleviated so much as to astonish

took it voluntarily. The medication was continued forthe facility he commuted to. The administration was

about three years and after that gradually tapered

continued over a period of 3 months, but after that

off.

discontinued, because he moved far away.

Although this may deviate slightly from the pointof this argument, in Table 7 I show some case series

4. When two categories are mixed

studies

pertaining

Case No. 1

neurodevelopmental disorders that in recent years

6-year old boy, elementary school first grade,have become a problem in the fields of pediatrics andattention deficit hyperactivity disorder

psychiatry.

During infancy he was a restless, easily angeredchild, but during kindergarten this did not causemuch problems. After school started there were

12

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

to

Kampo

treatmentforVolume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

Table 7 Reports pertaining to the correlation between

After one week of medication the abdominal pain,

pediatric developmental disorders and Kampo treatment

frequent defecation behavior and night crying had(Case series studies)

stopped and after two weeks she started to dislike

・ Autism: daisaikoto, yokukansankahangechinpi,

being accompanied, so that her mother stopped

shigyakusan
Iida (2004) – 30 cases4); marked improvement of tension
related symptoms
・ Generalized developmental disorders:
17 formulas, Kawashima (2007) – 53 cases5)
49% improvement of mental symptoms，yokukansan,

accompanying

her.

She

could

now

commutenormally to school. After that there was no
abdominal pain any longer. The medication was
discontinued after 4 months. (both the mother andthe class teacher had the following impression:

yokukansankahangechinpi, kanbakutaisoto has a highalthough she had been so quiet as to cause concern,

efficacy rate, markedly improved hyperactivity, behavior

after the treatment began, she suddenly became

disorders, panic disorders

much livelier and played with the boys).

・ Pediatric mental disorders (mainly developmental

Shokenchuto is a Kampo formula used in case ofdisorders): yokukansankahangechinpi，

low strength and easy fatigability. In particular in

Ujiie (2010) – 73 cases6), efficacy 81%. Improvement ofchildren it warms the body and relieves excessive

irritability, rage and similar emotional behavior disorders

tension of the digestive tract and is therefore used to
improve digestive functions. It is frequently used,

5. Kampo medicines used for other purposes can also

like in the present case, for troubles with digestive

expected to have emotionally stabilizing effects

functions and of its components only jujube fruit

Case No. 1(Taiso) is a crude drug with emotionally stabilizing

6-year old girl, psychogenic abdominal pain

effects, but it relieves generalized tension and helps

The girl had a history of night crying andrecurrent fever and ate very little.
She had the habit of having bowel movements

to bring ataractic actions about. This formula is easy
to take and widely used in children (Table 8).
Table 8 Shokenchuto

Source: "Shang Han Lun / Jinafter returning home from the kindergarten. After

Gui Yao Lue"school started she could not return home by her

・Cinnamon twig: warms the body, induces mild sweating

accustomed bowel movement time and thus held the・Peony root: relieves muscle tension, improves

urge back. She tried to have bowel movements in the

microcirculation

morning, but from the middle of May complained of・Jujube fruit: improves digestive function, stabilizes

abdominal pain and began to go to the bathroom 2 to
4 times. She did not attend school for about 3 days,
but after that required her mother to accompany her
on her way to school and the night crying recurred
too. For this reason she visited this department in
the middle of June. She was diagnosed withpsychogenic abdominal pain and in Kampo medical
terms her condition was considered to be due todisharmony of liver and stomach (stress induced
tension that decreased digestive function). I usedshokenchuto extract to relieve muscle tension andimprove digestive function.

emotions
・Ginger root: warms the body, improves digestive function
・Roasted Glycyrrhiza: improves digestive function, relievesmuscle tension, mitigates drug effects
・ Malt sugar: supplementing nourishment, antitussive
Effects: improves digestive function, relieves muscle
tension, stabilizes emotions

Mental problems in children can not always be
fitted neatly into categories, but those are still
considered have a certain degree of real meaning
regarding the selection of appropriate Kampo
medicines. That is why I have listed them here.
Moreover, several of the Kampo medicines included

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

in these categories have characteristic medicinal
effects, but because of limited space will not be

VI. Dose
Regarding

the

dose

of

Kampo

extract

detailed here. I would like to refer the reader to the

preparations for children generally Von Harrnak's

reference works for further details.

calculation based on body surface and body weight isThis may be a little digression, but the mostused, but depending on the individual condition it

important Kampo classic "Shan Han Lun" is an

may be necessary to increase this dose, so that those

excellent guideline for the treatment of acutevalues should be regarded as estimates.

infections. The crude drugs and Kampo medicines

Note that the dose for adults may also vary

described therein are still today used for a variety of

depending on the manufacturing pharmaceuticalconditions and are considered to have various

company or the type of administered drug. Basicallynatural immune function adjusting actions (anti-

drugs are taken divided into three portions per day,inflammatory actions). On the other hand, recently

but it is also possible to use two portions. In principle

various psychophysiological and neuritic conditions

they should be taken before meals, but there is nothave been receiving much attention7),8). Currently

really any major difference when taking them afterthemeals9).

mechanisms

underlying

theemotionallystabilizing effects of Kampo medicines are still
obscure, but their "anti-inflammatory" actions may
be one possible hint.

Conclusion
In this article I tried to explain as simple aspossible the fundamental properties of Kampo

V. Characteristics of Kampo treatment
Naturally,

expectingemotionally

medicines in relation to psychiatric problems instabilizingchildren. Naturally, there are limits to the treatment

action from Kampo treatment has both merits andwith Kampo medicines, but using their property of

demerits.

being compounds to complement Western medicine,

A merit is, that in conjunction with an emotional
stabilization physical (mainly digestive function)

I believe we can extend the pharmacological therapyof psychiatric problems in children still further.

functions can be expected to improve, the treatment
is mild, it does not induce drowsiness, cause loss ofappetite, dryness of the mouth or other side effects.
Again, although this is not much discussed and apartfrom the degree of their efficacy, these formulas canbe used without much reservation for patients withvarious mental problems. In this respect they meetthe expectations of both patients and their families,
allowing to link to the subsequent development.
A demerit is, that in cases of domestic violenceetc., requiring a fast sedation, that kind of powerfulaction can not be expected. Taste may also be a
problem, requiring some ingenious measures tofacilitate the administration and finally, there arealmostnoreportspresenting

highlyreliableevidence.

14

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 7, Number 3 | Fall 2012

References1)

Hideaki Yamaguchi (2012): Outline of pediatricKampo medicine．The Journal of Ambulatory
and General Pediatrics; 15：305-312

2)

Ji Xiao fan：Chief editor (2004): Pediatrics: 4-5．
China Science Publishing & Media Ltd, Beijing,
China

3)

Tao Nei li Chief editor (2000): Differential
Diagnosis of Chinese Medical Symptoms, 2nd
Edition. Peoples Medical Publishing Hous,
Beijing, China

4)

Makoto Iida (2004): Pediatric Kampo therapy –Autism．The Journal of Pediatric Practice 67:1489-1492

5)

Koichiro Kawashima (2007): Study into theusefulness

of

Kampo

for

generalized

developmental disorders. Kampo Medicine 58：
175
6)

TakeshiUjiie(2010):

The

effectsof

Yokukansankahangechinpi for the treatment ofpediatric psyciatric disorders; Phil Kampo №
32： 18-19
7)

Akira Moji (2012): Neuritis hypothesis of
psychiatricdisorders;

Psychiatria

etNeurologia Japonica 114：124-133
8)

Hiroshi Ihara, et al.: (2012) Depression as aform of inflammation. Japanese Journal of
Clinical Psychiatry 41: 1065-1073

9)

Shinichi Tashiro (2001): Correlation between
the time of ingesting Kampo medicines andmeals． The Journal of Practical Pharmacy 52：
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