Kampo medicine uniquely defines the human body is composed of three elements: Qi (Energy), Blood,” and Water (Body fluids). “Qi” is a fundamental energy driving all body functions, “Blood” nourishes tissues and organs, and “Water” is the fluid from food and drink that hydrates the body. Kampo applies these natural principles to bodily functions to restore balance, helping return the body to its optimal state.
- Qi (pronounced “chee”): Qi is often described as the vital energy or life force that flows through the body. It is responsible for providing energy and nourishment to all bodily functions. Qi can be further categorized into different types based on their functions and locations within the body, such as Yuan Qi (Original Qi), Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), and Zong Qi (Gathering Qi).
- Blood (Xue): Blood is considered a vital substance in Kampo, responsible for nourishing and moistening the body’s tissues and organs. It is associated with the production and regulation of menstrual cycles in women. Healthy blood flow is believed to be essential for overall well-being.
- Body Fluids (Jin Ye): Body fluids refer to various fluids within the body, including saliva, tears, sweat, and mucus. These fluids play a role in moisturizing and lubricating the body’s tissues and organs. Adequate balance and circulation of body fluids are important for optimal bodily functions.
- Essence (Jing): There are also two types of Essence (Jing): Pre-Essence, inherited from your parents, and Post-Essence, obtained from natural food and clean air, both stored in the kidneys. Essence is associated with growth, development, and reproduction. Kampo medicine places great importance on preserving and nourishing Essence to support overall vitality and longevity.
Kampo considers the individual’s condition from various perspectives, including body constitution, disease state, and environment, and treats based on “Pattern (Sho).” A pattern is a syndrome identified by the patient’s symptoms and complaints. Patterns include deficiencies and excesses, as well as cold and heat. For example, deficiency refers to low resistance to illness, while excess refers to a state with high resistance. Cold indicates a state of coldness in the body, while heat indicates a state of heat in the body.
Treatment based on patterns is unique to Kampo and a significant difference from Western medicine. Different Kampo medicines may be used for the same disease, or the same medicine for different diseases if the underlying cause is the same.
