Overview
History of the Society Purpose of the Society Research Areas
History of the Society
The predecessor of this Society was the "Symposium on Wakan-Yaku (Traditional Japanese Medicines)." In 1967, the first symposium was initiated by the late Dr. Yuichi Yamamura (former President of Osaka University) and his colleagues, and was held at a mountain lodge in Midagahara, located halfway up the Tateyama Mountain Range in Toyama Prefecture.
For the following 17 years, the symposium continued to be held at various locations across Japan. In 1984, reflecting a growing membership and a well-established academic foundation, the symposium was reorganized and officially dissolved to pave the way for the establishment of the "Japanese Society for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Wakan-Yaku."
Purpose of the Society
The purpose of the Japan Society of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Traditional Medicine is to promote scientific discussion and the exchange of the latest knowledge concerning traditional medicines, including their resources, quality control, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications. The Society aims to bridge basic research and clinical practice through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Specifically, the Society seeks to:
- Provide a forum for researchers and healthcare professionals—including pharmaceutical scientists, medical scientists, physicians, and pharmacists — who study traditional medicines from diverse perspectives to exchange knowledge and ideas.
- Foster collaboration among scholars investigating traditional medical systems, including Kampo medicine and other forms of traditional medicine.
- Promote the integration of modern natural sciences, which are often based on reductionist approaches, with the holistic and multi-component perspectives characteristic of traditional medicine.
- Contribute to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies and translate scientific achievements into benefits for public health and society.
Research Areas
The Society welcomes research contributions in the following fields. Members are encouraged to present their latest findings at the Society’s Annual Meeting and publish their work in the official journal, Traditional & Kampo Medicine.
Traditional Medicine Resources
- Resources and sustainable utilization of traditional medicinal materials
Quality Control and Standardization
- Development of quality control and standardization methods for traditional medicines
Efficacy and Clinical Evaluation
- Scientific evaluation of the preventive and therapeutic effects of traditional medicines through basic and clinical research
- Development of methodologies for clinical evaluation of traditional medicines
Mechanisms of Action
- Investigation of pharmacological mechanisms and biological activities of traditional medicines
- Development of methods for evaluating their mechanisms of action
Kampo and Traditional Medical Concepts
- Regulatory effects of Kampo medicines on pathophysiological conditions, including concepts such as Oketsu (blood stasis), Jinkyo (kidney deficiency), and Kikyo (qi deficiency)
- Modern scientific interpretation of traditional concepts such as Sho (pattern diagnosis) and Mibyo (pre-disease state)
Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interactions
- Pharmacokinetic studies of Kampo medicines
- Evaluation of efficacy and safety when traditional medicines are used in combination with conventional pharmaceuticals
Functional Foods and Complementary Medicine
- Biological effects and clinical applications of functional foods, complementary medicine, and related healthcare approaches associated with traditional medicine
Drug Discovery and Innovation
- Development of novel Kampo formulations
- Drug discovery and development based on traditional medicine research
Functional Foods and Complementary Medicine
- Biological effects and clinical applications of functional foods, complementary medicine, and related healthcare approaches associated with traditional medicine