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Several Chinese herbal medicine textbooks describe that a short menstrual cycle indicates "Yang" status and a long cycle indicates "Yin" status. However, we sometimes encounter Yang patients with a long cycle or Yin patients with a short cycle in daily practice. Therefore, we reviewed the relationship between Yin-Yang and length of menstrual cycle. A questionnaire addressing both menstrual cycle and several parameters for determining Yin-Yang was completed at the time of the patients' visit to the hospital. Patients were divided into Yang or Yin groups, and menstrual cycle was compared between the two groups. A short menstrual cycle was mostly observed in Yin patients (27.42 ± 1.73, 95% CI: 26.32 ~ 28.52, n = 12) and a long cycle was mostly observed in Yang patients (31.63 ± 3.96, 95% C.I: 29.51 ~ 33.74, n = 16). The difference in menstrual cycle between the two groups was significant (p = 0.002), and this result was entirely opposite to the traditional theory. This study identified a discrepancy between the traditional theory and the actual menstrual cycle findings in this small population. Current reexamination of the relationship between Yin-Yang and menstruation in a larger population is warranted.

In order to diagnose Kampo medicine-induced liver injury, a challenge test using the suspected medicine is the most reliable method of assessing the relationship between Kampo medication and liver injury. However, such a challenge test may cause severe liver injury. We examined the clinical features and safety of challenge tests conducted by a physician in a case of Kampo medicine-induced liver injury that we encountered as well as in the previous literature (six cases) in Japan. In all cases except two, one-third of the daily dose was given a few times for the challenge test (challenge dose was not described in two cases). The reaction induced by the challenge peaked 1–3 days after challenge. Mild eosinophilia (6%) was observed in two cases. All liver injuries induced by challenge cleared within 2 weeks, and neither severe nor fatal liver injury was observed. In conclusion, a challenge with a small dose of Kampo medicine conducted in our case and in the previous literature induced mild and reversible liver injury. The safety and availability of challenge with a small dose of Kampo medicine should be further examined in a larger population with Kampo medicine-induced liver injury.

Glossodynia, or tongue pain, is resistant to conventional therapies. Kampo medicines were evaluated in patients suffering from incurable glossodynia. Patients were diagnosed by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory in order to determine the appropriate herbal prescriptions. Five Japanese females (50–76 years old) with glossodynia refractory to conventional therapy were enrolled in this study. Small portions of Rikkunshito, Jiinkokato, Hachimijiogan and Ryutanshakanto worked for a female diagnosed with "Spleen" and "Heart" Yin deficiency, "Kidney" Yang deficiency and "Liver" Qi stagnation producing heat syndrome. Seishoekkito and Bakumondoto were effective for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" deficiency and "Stomach" Yin deficiency producing heat syndrome. Rikkunshito, Kamikihito and Chikujountanto worked for a patient diagnosed with "Spleen Qi" and "Heart Yin" deficiency, stagnation of "Liver" Qi producing fire and "Gallbladder" Qi deficiency. Rokumijiogan, Kamishoyosan and Kambakutaisoto were effective for a patient with Yang rise based on Yin deficiency of "Kidney" and "Liver," and restless organ disorder based on Yin deficiency of 5 viscera. A patient diagnosed with "Spleen" Yang deficiency responded to a combination of Anchusan and Hangeshashinto. These patients with glossodynia had resolution of pain within 1 month of treatment. Herbal mixtures containing Ganoderam lucidum, not prescribed based on TCM theory, but effective for herpes virus infection, worked for a female suffering from glossodynia for 1 year after artificial teeth were placed, but required about 5 months to note improvement. Kampo medicines, properly prescribed based on TCM theory, quickly resolved the pain of refractory glossodynia.

The improvement effect of Nanpao, a Kampo medicine, on the age-related decline in reproductive function was evaluated in female rats given the test drug for a long-term period. Young rats were allocated to the cesarean section and natural delivery groups to examine reproductive performance (young rat groups). Five-month-old rats were allocated to the 3 groups (aged rat groups): 1 — control and 2 — Nanpao-treated groups. They were given orally in a dose of 0, 30 or 100mg/kg/day of the test drug, respectively. In aged rats, the first mating experiment was initiated at week 21 of dosing to evaluate reproductive performance by natural delivery and the second mating experiment at week 31 of dosing was evaluated by cesarean section. In the first and second mating experiments, various reproductive functions decreased in aged rats as compared to the young rats. On the other hand, loss of regular estrous cycles, decreases in delivery and pregnancy rates and mean fetal weights were inhibited in the treated groups as compared to the control group. In addition, decreases in the numbers of mean live offspring and fetuses were inhibited in the 100mg/kg/day group. In conclusion, Nanpao maintained normal embryo-foetal development in female rats.

Herbal medicines have been used clinically in Eastern Asia, and traditional Japanese herbal (Kampo) formulas are approved as ethical drugs. The Kampo formulas are mixtures of the crude extracts of several herbs, each of which contains multiple components. Numerous investigators have reported that some herbal medicines are efficacious for treating several human diseases. We reviewed the literature on traditional herbal medicines and treatment of ocular diseases. Oral Orengedoku-to and Kakkon-to inhibit postoperative uveitis in humans. Oral Goshajinki-gan improved ocular surface disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Oral Hachimijio-gan increased retinal blood flow. Keishi-bukuryo-gan Sho might be associated with vitreoretinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oral Hachimijio-gan and Goshajinki-gan delayed lens opacification in rats and mice. Oral Sairei-to, Orengedoku-to, Senkanmeimoku-to, Scutellariae radix extract, Gardeniae fructus extract, topical Liguisticum wallichii rhizoma extract, and intravenous injection of tetramethylpyrazine, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and crocetin inhibited some forms of experimental uveitis in rabbits. Topical glycyrrhizinate improved allergic conjunctivitis in humans and rats. Oral crocetin improved eyestrain in humans. Oral berberine diminished experimental uveitis in rats. Baicalein, wogonin, berberine, and berberrubine inhibited in vitro expression of several cytokines in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. Some Kampo formulas are efficacious for treating several ocular diseases in humans and animals. Some herbal extracts and their components inhibit some forms of experimental uveitis.

Large-scale natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons, occur worldwide. After the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, our medical support operation’s experiences suggested that traditional medicine might be useful for treating the various symptoms of the survivors. However, little information is available regarding herbal medicine treatment in such situations. Considering that further disasters will occur, we performed a literature review and summarized the traditional medicine approaches for treatment after large-scale disasters. We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library for articles written in English, and Ichushi for those written in Japanese. Articles published before 31 March 2016 were included. Keywords “disaster” and “herbal medicine” were used in our search. Among studies involving herbal medicine after a disaster, we found two randomized controlled trials investigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), three retrospective investigations of trauma or common diseases, and seven case series or case reports of dizziness, pain, and psychosomatic symptoms. In conclusion, herbal medicine has been used to treat trauma, PTSD, and other symptoms after disasters. However, few articles have been published, likely due to the difficulty in designing high quality studies in such situations. Further study will be needed to clarify the usefulness of herbal medicine after disasters.

The Scientific Basis of Chinese Medicine and Cancer Care: A Western Medicine Perspective.

Kampo Treatment for Cancer.

A Chinese Medicinal Plant to Combat Cancer.

Using Endangered Animal Species in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

We propose an approach to identify activated transcription factors from gene expression data using a statistical test. Applying the method, we can obtain a synoptic map of transcription factor activities which helps us to easily grasp the system's behavior. As a real data analysis, we use a case-control experiment data of mice treated by a drug of Kampo medicine remedying degraded myelin sheath of nerves in central nervous system. Kampo medicine is Japanese traditional herbal medicine. Since the drug is not a single chemical compound but extracts of multiple medicinal herb, the effector sites are possibly multiple. Thus it is hard to understand the action mechanism and the system's behavior by investigating only few highly expressed individual genes. Our method gives summary for the system's behavior with various functional annotations, e.g. TFAs and gene ontology, and thus offer clues to understand it in more holistic manner.

The history of Kampo Medicine in Japan began with the introduction of continental medicine through the Korean Peninsula in the 5th and 6th centuries. Since then, Kampo Medicine, having its origins in ancient Chinese Medicine, has made its unique progress to this day. There are several reasons for its uniqueness of development, and the biggest one is geographical isolation. There were few opportunities to study continental medicine directly, except for some cases, such as envoys and priests who travelled to the continent, and physicians who learned medicine from foreign physicians from the Korean Peninsula and China. Most Japanese physicians indirectly learned through shipped manuscripts. Also, medical knowledge was often transmitted to Japan along with the Buddhism view of the universe, and the knowledge of Chinese Medicine was sometimes integrated with Buddhist knowledge. Another unique tendency in Japan is to attach importance to findings obtained by palpation; palpation of the abdomen is especially emphasized. Furthermore, the transmission of anatomical knowledge to Edo Japan prepared the foundation for accepting the Western medical view of the body, even among the physicians practicing traditional medicine.

On one hand, the rapid modernization has brought Japanese Kampo Medicine to a state of discontinuation from tradition, but on the other hand, chemical and pharmacological studies of crude drugs used in Kampo medicines and the studies of the effects of acupuncture on the autonomic nerves have been conducted. Research methods on the therapeutic effect of traditional medicine have diversified even after the war. However, the best research methods are still being sought that match traditional medicine, which is characterized by the provision of individualized treatment for patients.

Kampo medicine originated in ancient China and developed uniquely in Japan. More than 70% of Japanese physicians use Kampo medicine in daily practice. As for cancer treatment, Kampo medicine is widely used by surgeons and oncologists. It is used in the regular practice for the treatment of cancer and cancer-related symptoms from the early stage to the terminal care. This paper describes Kampo treatment for cancer, making references to publications in clinical and basic research.