It has lengthy been thought of that TCM was launched in Japan by the monk, Jianzhen or Ganjin, who visited Japan within the 8^th century to advertise the teachings of Buddhism on the invitation of two Japanese clerics. Born in Yangzhou, the monk Jianzhen was well-versed in TCM and was proficient in Buddhism. When he arrived in Japan in 753 CE, it’s stated that he had with him 36 sorts of natural medicines, every with completely different pharmacological results and recipes for various mixtures to deal with a wide range of ailments. Alongside together with his Buddhist teachings, whether or not Jianzhen imparted his pharmacological and medical information, thereby influencing present conventional Japanese drugs, stays debated.

Now, researchers from Japan and China, led by Professor Toshihiko Matsuo of the Graduate College of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Well being Programs, Okayama College, have carried out an intensive evaluation of accessible Chinese language, Japanese, and English literature to make clear this longstanding thriller. The crew composed of Shihui Liu, former assistant professor in Okayama College, visiting analysis fellow Chie Matsuo, and senior assistant professor Takumi Abe, each from Okayama College. Their article, printed on 18 October 2022 within the journal Compounds, gives fascinating insights on the lifetime of Jianzhen as seen via the lens of his ethnopharmacological information.

On his journey to Japan, Jianzhen gathered and introduced with him issues he discovered on his approach, issues as insignificant as stalactites and Zixue (a TCM element), whereas additionally bringing conventional components from China, together with musk, agarwood, snail, rosin, dipterocarp, aromatic gall, benzoin, incense, dutchman’s pipe root, Pistacia lentiscus, Piper longum, Terminalia chebula/haritaki, asafetida, sugar, sucrose, 10 bushels of honey, and 80 bunches of sugar cane. Of their article, the researchers have reviewed the 36 natural medicines and their therapeutic results that have been delivered to Japan. Native lore suggests Jianzhen additionally had with him a e book referred to as Jianshangren (Holy Priest Jianzhen)’s Secret Prescription, which has been misplaced for hundreds of years. The crew additionally reviews being profitable in monitoring down a duplicate of one other e book that holds the identical prescriptions.

Most curiously, their findings present that the prescriptions by Jianzhen kind the idea of natural medicinal observe in Japan, widespread underneath the title of Kampo. The natural medicinal observe may be very a lot built-in into the material of Japan’s present healthcare system. Kampo medicines are prescribed alongside Western drugs and trendy medicine and is roofed by the reimbursement of the nationwide medical insurance.

“Folks in Japan can purchase Kampo medicines as over-the-counter medicine at pharmacies. This distinctive system in Japan has derived from an extended historical past of systematic prescription of Kampo medicines and would have an origin in Jianzhen’s prescription within the eighth century,” observes Prof. Matsuo with a lot pleasure.

He hopes for the unfold of the usage of Kampo drugs past Japan. “Folks in different nations even have an opportunity to make use of Kampo medicines together with Western medicines.” His inspiration in saying so is presumably, Jianzhen, once more. “Jianzhen is likely one of the first individuals to deliver Chinese language conventional drugs to Japan. He’s thought of an ancestor of Kampo drugs, who molded Chinese language conventional drugs to go well with the wants of Japanese individuals,” displays Prof. Matsuo. Within the age of globalization, the journey of conventional medical information that took 11 years to succeed in Japan from China could also be achieved in lower than 11 seconds with the clicking of a button.