Researching Medicinal Plants (Kampo): How I Won the MEXT Scholarship

Motivation for Researching Kampo Medicinal Plants

For a while now, I’ve been motivated to make my professional career more meaningful. I want to reach more patients and do my part to improve access to quality healthcare for people in the US and around the world. To do that, I will study Kampo Medicine in Japan.

Winning the MEXT Scholarship

In 2023 I was fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to research access to Kampo. I was selected as one of the few people who earned the MEXT scholarship. I am now a postgraduate researcher at a wonderful university in Tokyo, Japan working towards a PhD. 

The incredible scholarship is a full-ride, all-expenses-paid opportunity to conduct research in Japan. They pay for your visa, flight to Japan, flight home at the end, any tuition costs, and living expenses. 

For anyone interested in more details about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, check out my article about the MEXT scholarship and application pro-tips.

What Is the Plan?

Coming up in this article, I’ll share details about my research plan. I will go over what I’ll be studying about Kampo medicine in Japan. Then, I will talk about my long term goals after I finish my research.

The Mission

As regular visitors to my site know, my mission is to democratize access to health and well-being. I try to do this by providing scientifically validated health information.

I absolutely love modern medicine. There is a reason that I spent years getting my first doctorate in pharmacy. The ability to use chemicals to manipulate our bodies allows us to enjoy the highest standard of living in human history! It is absolutely astounding. 

But I noticed a catch. Everything seemed to revolve around getting people in the doors of some kind of institution like a clinic, a hospital, or a pharmacy. What about those folks who want to take care of their own health? I certainly love my independence. So I started asking myself, what areas of healthcare could be focused on to help people live better, longer, more independent lives?

Missing Pieces of Modern Medicine

The answer came to me when I realized there is one thing modern medicine is very good at: treatment. When it comes to healing specific diseases, we do an amazing job. But there are other parts of health that are just as important. These include lifestyle balance, health maintenance, illness prevention, and recovery. 

I took time to investigate other forms of medicine and healing which focused on these areas. Eventually, I learned about the science of Kampo medicine. 

Kampo Medicine

Kampo medicine caught my curiosity immediately. This branch of medicine is a blend of the old wisdom and modern scientific study. It uses medicinal plant-based treatment to target the mibyou (pronounced me-bee-yo) pre-disease state. The way I usually explain this feeling to people is when I ask them to think about getting a cold. The day or so before symptoms show, it feels as if something is not quite right. Folks might often say, “something feels off” or “I think I’m coming down with something”.

An example of good balance can be understood when thinking about basic health like an upset stomach, lack of sleep, and mood changes. We can use medications to treat all of these. However an alternative and, in my opinion healthier, way to deal with these issues is by having a balanced diet, enough exercise, and self-care. This helps avoid problems before they become serious. Care for our bodies should focus on the entire person, not just the parts that aren’t working. 

Some examples of Kampo used in Japan are for the common cold, menopause symptoms, and weight loss.

Why Kampo?

Kampo is a uniquely Japanese version of plant-based medicine that was adapted from Chinese herbalism hundreds of years ago. Unlike other forms of herbal medicine, Kampo has the benefit of being scientifically validated. It is taught as required education in Japanese medical and pharmaceutical universities. In fact, there have even been clinical trials in the United States with Kampo medicine. 

While it would seem that Kampo is very useful, I do not think it is the right type of medicine for every person and every situation. So I began to wonder, what is Kampo good for? And how do people know when to use it?

My Kampo Research Proposal

In Japan, there are two main ways people can get care with Kampo medicine. One way is to visit a Kampo medicine clinic or doctor’s office. The other way is to access it themselves. That means they can buy it in pharmacies or through the recommendation of a pharmacist. 

But the more I looked, the more I realized there just wasn’t any data about how people were making these decisions. Were they asking friends and family, looking on the internet, using their local pharmacist? It struck me that, if I want people around the world to access this life-improving science, I need to first understand what is the best way to reach people looking for it. 

To do that, I designed a research proposal to examine how people in Japan pick their Kampo products. This will help me understand what Kampo is good for, how people access it, and how they feel about using it to improve their lives. 

By understanding the details of how Japanese people have gone through this process for hundreds of years, I can create a valuable patient experience for people looking to improve their healthcare routine in the United States and around the world. 

Kampo in the United States

Ultimately, in order to provide people with more healthcare options, I would like to increase access to Kampo medicine. These days, there is not a lot of talk about Kampo in the US. There is however a different kind of growing movement. 

People are becoming more and more interested in self-care and how to maintain their health. This includes people taking a serious look at wellness. That’s a huge topic including things like nutrition and lifestyle. It also includes the use of alternative medicine like massage therapy, herbal medicine, and acupuncture. 

Legal Status of Kampo and Supplements

In the United states, herbal and supplemental products are largely unregulated. This means that as long as they do not hurt consumers, they are able to be used without medical supervision. 

Many pharmacies already carry natural supplements and herbal products. Examples of these include melatonin for sleep and echinacea for colds. Not to mention all the vitamins available. Whether you want vitamin C to support your immune system or B Vitamins for energy, there are tons of options to choose from.

Although Kampo is a scientific study with real medical results, many Kampo products are considered herbal supplements in the US. To me, that means they would make a great addition to other alternative medicine options.

Final Thoughts

Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers in the United states. In fact, nearly 90 percent of the population lives within 5 miles of a pharmacy. That means it is often the first stop for people looking to take care of their well being. And pharmacists are at the ground level of the delivery of community-based healthcare.

After studying Kampo medicine in Japan, I would like to export this knowledge to the US. By educating American patients and care providers, we can safely and effectively add another tool in the collective toolbox of medicine. This will enable people to bring balance into their lives, and potentially prevent complications and costs. 

There is a time and a place for everything and I do not believe Kampo is the best medical practice for every situation. However, I do believe that it will help some people enjoy a higher quality of life. And if I can make a living by bringing that kind of wellness to people, I will consider my mission a success. 

Any thoughts about Kampo Medicine? Feel free to comment below or contact us.

References

1. Koizumi K, Oku M, Hayashi S, et al. Corrigendum to “Suppression of Dynamical Network Biomarker Signals at the  Predisease State (Mibyou) before Metabolic Syndrome in Mice by a Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo Formula) Bofutsushosan”. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:9760307. Published 2021 Apr 22.  doi:10.1155/2021/9760307
2. Arai YC, Yasui H, Isai H, et al. The review of innovative integration of Kampo medicine and Western medicine as  personalized medicine at the first multidisciplinary pain center in Japan. EPMA J. 2014;5(1):10. Published 2014 Jun  27. doi:10.1186/1878-5085-5-10
3. Hyun, Min & Yoon, Hong & Yoshino, Tetsuhiro & Park, Minjung. (2019). Japanese government research grants for  Kampo medicine: aAn overview of 10 years (1997–2017). Integrative Medicine Research. 8.  10.1016/j.imr.2019.11.006.
4. Manolakis PG, Skelton JB. Pharmacists’ contributions to primary care in the United States collaborating to add ress  unmet patient care needs: the emerging role for pharmacists to address the shortage of primary care providers. Am J  Pharm Educ. 2010;74(10):S7. doi:10.5688/aj7410s7