Kampo Medicine – Classical Chinese Herbs
Kampo is herbal medicine, based on the classical herbal formulae of master Zhāng zhòng-jǐng (张仲景，150 – 200 AD), who was the mayor of a county in the Southern China province in the East Dynasty (东汉，25 – 220 AD). He would have been forgotten in Chinese history if he had not been involved in healing his constituents in a pandemic similar to COVID-19. His formulas were recorded in his monumental formulations book, Shānghán zá bìng lùn (伤寒杂病论 Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Illnesses).
Shan-han (伤寒) literally means to be injured by the cold evil during the pandemic. He grieved in the preface of his book about the loss of ⅔ of his family. The purpose of compiling his book of 113 formulations was primarily for the wellbeing of future generations. His heritage has been passed down and generations of herbalists used his formulas for acute and chronic conditions. It was not limited to China, having survived the turmoil of civil wars, this knowledge has spread throughout eastern and south-eastern Asia.
Kampo reached Japan via Korea at about 600AD. Japan developed its own herbal medicine based on the original formulations of master Zhāng zhòng-jǐng, and added diagnosis techniques such as Fukushin (Abdominal examination).
The Japanese contributions are mainly on the improved accuracy on pattern differentiation with adherence to master Zhang’s original herbal formulas. It has been presented to the modern world as a collection of formulations that have been essentially in clinical use for 2000 years for various chronic conditions. It has been incorporated into Japan’s national health system. It is especially beneficial for children, women, and the ageing society.
