Role of Kampo Medicine in Integrative Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Clinical trials to date demonstrate that standard cancer treatments are currently the most efficient treatments for large numbers of cancer patients. Cancer treatments will increasingly require approaches that allow patients to live with cancer, by increasing their natural healing power and tumor immunity, as well as attenuating the progression of their cancers, instead of only attacking the cancer cells directly. Complementary and alternative medicine, including Kampo medicine, compensates for the drawbacks of western medicine by increasing patients' self-defense mechanisms. In Japan, clinicians who have studied both western medicine and Kampo treat cancer patients by fusing the two medical systems into a unitary one. The goal of the system is to assist the functional maintenance and recovery of the living body complex with the physical, mental, social, and spiritual balance, rather than addressing direct antitumor effects. In this review, we describe the usefulness of Kampo medicine, especially juzentaihoto, and outline the reports on evidence, in addition to the report on an attitudinal survey about the use of Kampo medicine in cancer treatment in Japan.

Proliferative effect of Hachimijiogan, a Japanese herbal medicine, in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

“… 15 Because Kampo formulas are of high quality and contain standardized ingredients, recently, their pharmacologic actions have begun to be studied at the molecular level. 16 – 20 …”

Proliferative effect of Hachimijiogan, a Japanese herbal medicine, in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

“…15 Because Kampo formulas are of high quality and contain standardized ingredients, recently, their pharmacologic actions have begun to be studied at the molecular level. [16][17][18][19][20] The underlying mechanisms of the proliferative effect of HJG on C2C12 cells and the active ingredient(s) for this effect are currently unknown. Because HJG consists of eight herbs and contains many ingredients, further studies are necessary to clarify the active components at the molecular level.…”

Evidence of Antidepressive Effects of aWakan-yaku,Hochuekkito, in Depression Model Mice with Learned-Helplessness Behavior

“…In addition, another Wakan-yaku prescription Juzentaihoto ( Shi Quan Da Bu Tang in Chinese) is also used to expect the clinically antidepressant effect in Kanpo -traditional medicines. Although there are many reports about Juzentaihoto for cancer treatment and immune functions [ 15 ], the scientific evidence about the antidepressant effect is not provided yet. Both Juzentaihoto and Hochuekkito are constructed by ten kinds of crude drugs, and five kinds are the same among the ten.…”