Kampō (漢方) is the Japanese study and adaptation of traditional Chinese medicine. In 1967, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan approved four kampō medicines for reimbursement under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program. In 1976, 82 kampō medicines were approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Currently, 148 kampō medicines are approved for reimbursement. The 14th edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (日本薬局方, Nihon yakkyokuhō) lists 165 herbal ingredients that are approved to be used in kampō remedies. Tsumura (ツムラ) is the leading maker making 128 of the 148 kampo medicines. The "count" column shows in how many of these 128 formulae the herb is found. The most common herb is Glycyrrhizae radix (Chinese licorice root). It is in 94 of the 128 Tsumura formulae. Other common herbs are ginger (51 of 128 formulae) and the root of Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony, 44 of 128 formulae).
Note 1: this character cannot be displayed correctly on a computer. "庶" is usually substituted in Chinese and Japanese. The "灬" in "庶" should be replaced with "虫". Note 2: this character cannot be displayed correctly on a computer. "梨" is usually substituted in Chinese. "梨" or "藜" is usually substituted in Japanese. The "勿" in "藜" should be replaced with "刂".
See also Kampo list Chinese classic herbal formula List of plants used in herbalism Pharmacopoeia
References
Tsumura Herb Handbook (in Japanese) Bensky, Dan, Steve Clavey, Erich Stöger, and Andrew Gamble "Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica" 3rd ed. Eastland Press, 2004. (ISBN 0-939616-42-4) Eastland Press Herb List Arranged by Pinyin Wiseman, Nigel. "Learner's Disney Character Dictionary of Chinese Medicine"
External links The World of Kampo