ABSTRACT
The Koho school has a high regard for formulation corresponding to sho uniquely developed as a conspicuous feature of Kampo medicine, and Ruihobunrui (the classification of formulae based on the main crude drug : CF) has played an important role in structuring the foundation of this development in the Koho school. CF is a classification method used to express the adaptation and characteristics of formulae in the Koho school, and is useful for research on drug compositions. Therefore, CF can be used effectively in both clinical practice and education. CF has shown little development in China after the appearance of Xu Ling Tai ; however, in Japan the development of CF centered on such influential figures as Todo Yoshimasu of the Koho school, and Naohiro Kitamura of the Kosho school. Kenzo Okuda and Keisetsu Otsuka used CF for clinical practice and education during the revival stage of Kampo medicine in the Showa era ; moreover, CF had a large effect on structuring the foundation of clinical application by formulating Kampo extracts for prescriptions. Thus, CF has played an important role in Kampo medicine. However, the research has been stopped in the present circumstances of Japan. We focus here on CF of the Koho school in Edo and Showa eras, and carried out considerations of CF to establish one of the characteristics of Kampo medicine that places importance on Shang Han Za Bing Lun.
ABSTRACT
At present numerous Kampo formulae are used in Japan, and how we classify Kampo formulae into groups has become an important issue. Nevertheless, in recent-year Kampo formularies or prescription manuals, there is almost no comprehensive classification of all Kampo formulae covered by the older <i>Koho </i>or <i>Goseihou </i>schools, or recent Chinese Medicine. Furthermore no research has been performed on Kampo formulae classi fications. From a historical point of view, however, many classifications were made in formularies and prescription manuals of the Edo period then the early Showa period.<br>Kenzo Okuda, who belonged to the <i>Koho </i>School, was a Kampo physician in the early Showa period who attempted to make classifications of Kampo formulae. In this review, we researched his classifications as based on <i>Ruihou</i>-classifications, in other words the systematic collecting Kampo formulae by points of similarity between herb formations. Then we also studied the history of <i>Ruihou</i>-classifications preceding Okuda’s, and considered problems lying ahead for classifications of Kampo formulations in Japan.
ABSTRACT
Decoctions of Ephedrae Herba were prepared using tap water sampled in Changping District, Beijing City(China), tap water sampled in Niigata City (Japan) and some mineral water samples sold in markets. Various dissimilarities were found between drug extracts prepared using tap water in Japan and China, and the extraction efficiency of the alkaloids with Beijing tap water was approximately 80% of that with Niigata tap water. It is suggested that these dissimilarities result from concentrations of temporally hard components, such as calcium and magnesium bicarbonate salts, in the water. In addition, when Zizyphi Fructus and Ephedrae Herba were decocted together in hard water, the state of the decoction, ephedra-alkaloid content included, was found to come close to that of single Ephedrae Herba decoctions prepared using soft water. It was suggested that Ziziphi Fructus might possibly play roles as a softening agent in decoctions prepared using hard water.