ABSTRACT
Background : Kampo, or traditional Japanese medicine education, was accepted into the education system after a new requirement of being able “to roughly explain Wakan (Japanese/Chinese) medicines" was added to the core curriculum model.<br>Purpose : Kampo medicine has been taught at all 80 medical schools and universities since 2007. We con ducted a nationwide survey to understand the present situation, gain insights from several Kampo education viewpoints, and elucidate any challenges for the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine (JSOM) in future.<br>Method : A postal questionnaire survey was sent to 80 medical schools and universities from the Liaison Committee of JSOM.<br>Results : 67 out of the 80 medical institutions (83.8% return rate) responded to the survey. The answered survey results were as follows : Kampo medicine is needed in regular clinical practice (91%), studies are needed to evaluate the outcome of Kampo Medicine education (77%), and dedicated staff members are being trained (46%).<br>Conclusions : Further development of graduate education and its standardization as well as improvement of bedside training is needed for Kampo education. In addition, establishment of a post-graduate Kampo education system will be crucial in the future.
ABSTRACT
Muscle hypertonicity, excitability, and insomnia were observed after improvement of cough, appetite loss, and general fatigue in four cases of severe mental and physical disability, and three cases of developmental disorder, while being medicated with bupleurum root-containing formulations for bronchial asthma, or other physical symptoms. By comparison with three trouble-free cases medicated with saibokuto, these four index double handicap cases used to react better to others with voice, gesture, and non-verbal communicative facial expressions, and they also used to have muscle hypertonicity with involuntary movements. In two cases with yokukansan, behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, excitability, and impulsive action were also prominent, and we might give more consideration toward both unapparent hot flushes or netsu-sho (hot states) of the head, and insufficiency of liver yin. We discuss the pharmacological function of bupleurum root drugs on the central nervous system, and suppose that the events presented in this paper might be adverse physical reactions rather than formulation side effects. Moreover, this should remind us to evaluate sho (Kampo diagnoses) carefully, and consult with parents on both mental and physical conditions, when prescribing Kampo medicines for handicapped children.
ABSTRACT
Academic dissertations on Kampo medicine have a certain peculiarity about them, when they are drawn up by the rules of western medical writing. Compared to western medicine, oriental medicine tends to employ more subjective terms, because of its many humanistic elements.Study objectives, methods, results and discussions however, need to be stated objectively in a way that makes a paper easy to understand for both referees and readers. Although it would be ideal to use designated terms when making objective statements, there are in fact many terms that have multiple meanings, which need to be clarified in a paper. And when presenting new evidence, one must declare how far any problems have been resolved, as clearly as possible.We have explained the recent changes to our regulations for contributors, regarding Kampo formulae naming conventions, abstract word counts, and contributions by mail. Here we discuss how our editing work proceeds, and our thoughts on how papers are re-reviewed or rejected.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Kampo , Medicine , Academic DissertationABSTRACT
The world has now rediscovered the value of traditional medicine. Much traditional medicine in South-East Asian countries originated from the medicines of ancient China, and developed independently within those individual countries. As a measure toward information exchange and communication among these countries, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) has published its International Standard Terminologies (IST) for use globally. While domestically in Japan, Kampo is now taught as a regular subject in all medical schools. In this light, there is significant meaning to holding conference with the purpose of understanding the current status of Japanese Kampo around the world, and considering the best ways to disseminate Kampo information globally. The International Conference of Kampo Medicine (provisional title) has been held thus far a total of three times, to address the current status of Japanese Kampo, Japanese Kampo issues from global point of view, as well as the current status of traditional medicine in China and Korea also originating from the ancient Chinese medicine. The conference was entitled &lsquoWhy Kampo? Why Now? Why Me?—The reason why foreign medical doctors worldwide choose Japanese Kampo, and the situation or development of Kampo medicine in their own countries”, in which foreign doctors in Japan, medical students, and leading Kampo medical practitioners were invited to give lectures, which were followed by free discussions by all participants.