Exploring the Legend of Kososan / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

In the clause of kososan (Xiāng sū sàn), which was added in “Wazaikyokuho (Hé jì jú fāng)” during the shàoxīng period (1131-1162), there is an anecdote that only the clan used this prescription showed defense against the epidemics at that time. Jiangnan area is the near place where COVID-19 became a pandemic in 2020. Considering these backgrounds and the similarities between the patterns (TM1) from the view point of Kampo medicine and prescriptions including kososan listed in the chapter of Cold Damage (Shanghan) of “Wazaikyokuho,” I hypothesized that formulas from this chapter may be effective for COVID-19. Many prescriptions including kososan in the chapter of Cold Damage were developed for the treatment of epidemics in the Jiangnan area during the Southern Song Dynasty. Epidemics were common at that time and place, and the prescriptions were left for posterity. The Kampo patterns (TM1) of COVID-19 were considered to have characteristics similar to those of the epidemics of the 11-13th century. The formulas including kososan from the chapter of Cold Damage in “Wazaikyokuho” may be effective against COVID-19, which warrants further investigation.