A Literature Study of Kampo Drug Treatment for Children in Japan

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze studies on pediatric disease treated by kampo drug, kind of kampo drug used in children, treatment period, and the result of kampo drug treatment for children in Japan. MethodsWe got 263 search result with searching word 'kampo medicine' and '小兒', 'children', '乳兒' in J-stage. We selected 34 articles among them which were related to objective of research to analyze studies by type of pediatric disease treated with kampo drug, kinds of kampo drug for each disease, treatment period and result of kampo drug treatment for children. We considered frequency of kampo drug use & pediatric disease treated with kampo drug and significance of research. ResultsAccording to analyzed results, respiratory diseases are the most frequent diseases that are healed by kampo drug. Next sequenced diseases are skin disease. In Kind of kampo drug for pediatric disease. Goreisan (五苓散) and Shosaikoto (柴胡桂枝湯), Shokenchuto (小建中湯) are used frequently. Also, various disease treated with kampo drug were improved. ConclusionsJapanese Doctors consider the Kampo drug is safe and has a lot of merit compared to modern medication. Especially for symptom with unknown origin & immune diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections.Referring to clinical cases of kampo drug in Japan, we will use kampo drug for various pediatric diseases in future.