Traditional Japanese medicine kampo. Japanese medicine - ancestral traditions

Our expert - guide-interpreter, who has been living in Japan for 20 years, Yuri Borin.

From the feudal system to the 21st century

Before World War II, Japan was a relatively poor country with an almost feudal way of life. Health care was also at an appropriate level: thousands of people fell ill and died from infectious diseases, especially from tuberculosis.

In the 1970s, they began to increase the number of doctors, as well as to improve the system of medical education.

In the 1980s, reforms were carried out aimed at increasing the share of the state in financing social services and healthcare as well. This expanded the possibilities of insurance medicine. Now the system of public health insurance covers the entire population of the country.

By insurance

There are two types of pharmacies in Japan: over-the-counter pharmacies - these can be found in cities at every turn, and those where you can buy drugs prescribed by a doctor. The cost of some of them is covered by insurance, so sometimes the medicines are simply dispensed at the hospital or at the pharmacy attached to it.

Do not save on the elderly

The most expensive budget item in Japan (up to 30%) is the health care of the elderly. This is due to the demographic situation that has developed in recent decades: Japan ranks first in the world in terms of life expectancy (87 years for women and 80 for men). Therefore, there are more and more elderly people - and they do not spare money for them. The Japanese retire at the age of 65. Even the minimum pension does not make you make ends meet. In addition to it, there are many other options for support from the state: for example, before the New Year, all veterans are invited to municipalities, they allocate material assistance, they give vouchers for thermal springs organize trips within the country and abroad. Pensioners are supposed to free pass on railway, museum tickets and other perks. And health insurance is free for them.

Avoid imports

Tokyo has three higher educational institutions medical profile. The study of Latin is not compulsory here. After all, the recipes are written in Japanese!

The rapid development of pharmaceuticals was facilitated by significant state support, as well as a partial reorientation of other industries (for example, chemical, food and textile) to the production of medicines.

The center of the pharmaceutical industry is Osaka, from where last years the capture of international markets has already begun.

But most of all, the Japanese love to be treated not chemicals and not even using techniques oriental medicine whose traditions are very strong here. Their favorite type of healing are hot springs - onsen. They go there on a ticket, like in a sanatorium, or just for the weekend.

Japan. Photo: Shutterstock.com

For Russians living in Japan, some aspects of medicine in the Land of the Rising Sun seem strange. In Russia, communication between a doctor and a patient is highly valued. It is believed that the course of the disease depends on the ability of the doctor to talk with the patient, to set him up in a positive way. This is not the case in Japan. Everything here is computerized and automated. The doctor does not actually see the patient (the only exceptions are, probably, ambulance workers and surgeons).

At the appointment, the therapist carefully enters the medical history into the computer, and from there receives data on examinations. And it’s good if at least once he looks into the eyes of the patient. Therefore, it seems to the patient that he communicates rather with a mechanical being, an impassive robot.

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By quality medical services japan occupies one of the leading places in the world and often Japan is among countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Israel (data from the World Health Organization).

The high efficiency of the system is confirmed by the most high rates in the world by medium duration life (men - 79.19 years, women - 85.99 years).

It is a recognized leader in the field. Thus, the most important investment in the fixed assets of Japanese clinics is investment in technical equipment, and this factor is of great importance in the country. This is reflected in the first-class and ultra-modern equipment. Japanese medical centers. For example, by the number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and computed tomography(CT) in clinics and hospitals in Japan in proportion to the million inhabitants of the country, Japan ranks 1st in the world, and integrated into the system operation of Japanese hospitals make patient care faster and more efficient. And those methods of treatment that are often offered by European clinics as unique or using unique equipment, for Japanese clinics, can be normal or standard.

However, the main criterion for evaluating quality of work of Japanese doctors is not even equipment of Japanese clinics, and the percentage of successfully performed procedures and operations in Japanese hospitals. It is precisely the precise performance of their functions by the staff of Japanese hospitals, the functionality of each constituent element of the entire system health care in japan is the key to successful diagnosis and treatment in clinics in Japan. (To represent the antipode of such an organization system, one can, for example.)

Japanese clinics- mostly private (80%), however, due to the fact that all tariffs for paying for their services are set by the state, there is no difference for patients in choosing between a private or public Japanese clinic.

Thus, cost of medical services in Japanese clinics regulated by the state. In many respects, in terms of prices, treatment in Japan can be compared with the cost of treatment in European clinics, and is often the absolute leader in terms of price-quality ratio.

Japanese doctors Those who work in public Japanese clinics are salaried employees. For Japanese doctors practicing in private clinics, the amount of the fee is set by the state. It is usually determined on the basis of a fee for specific services, but in Lately payment for helping patients with certain chronic diseases"packaged" in one total amount. This system of payment reflects both , and attempts to reduce the growth of health care costs. For example, the Japanese have historically been opposed to invasive procedures, and surgeons tend to be paid for much more. low rates than treatment without surgery.

At treatment in clinics in Japan prices are the same for both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Treatment in Japanese clinics highly effective, as evidenced by the fact that while there is a 25% difference in health care spending between the United States and Japan, Japan has more low level morbidity and less “aggressive” methods are used in treatment (-15%).

In Japan medical centers and specialized clinics are often located near resort towns and balneological resorts (osens), which makes it possible to combine treatment with relaxation.

In Japan, science-intensive branches of medicine are especially developed, such as diagnostics, oncology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, aesthetic medicine, reproductive medicine, gastroenterology, etc. © treatment-abroad.ru

Japan is one of the countries with one of the most developed health care systems. The constant progress in science allows the Japanese to not be afraid of disease and live even longer and happier. However, what this people has now achieved has only been possible through the study of the science of medicine developed in the West. But how were the Japanese treated before the exchange of knowledge with Europe began? You will learn about this from this article.

First medical book

In the 6th century, along with Buddhism, Chinese books also came into the country, from which the Japanese of that time learned everything they needed for themselves. Chinese medicine was unique, unlike that practiced in neighboring countries. The Japanese carefully passed these works from generation to generation, and as a result, in the 10th century, the first Japanese medical book "The True Method of Healing" (医心方 isinbo:). It was compiled and dedicated to the emperor by a physician named Tanba no Yasuyori (丹波 康頼).

It is worth clarifying that the "books" at that time were not at all what we are used to seeing them now. They were long scrolls, where the text was written in hieroglyphs vertically and read from top to bottom, from right to left. you can see the scans of the very "True Method of Healing".

However, in ancient times, of course, both the level of knowledge and the vision of the world around us were completely different.

This is how Isinbo shows what happens in a woman's stomach during pregnancy ▼

At each stage of pregnancy, the little man in the stomach grows

In addition, once in the Japanese environment, the Chinese worldview has undergone some changes under the influence of local divination practices and traditions of interpreting the inexplicable. In China, all unusual phenomena were associated with the reign of the emperor. However, in Japan, everything incomprehensible and bad was explained by the wrath of the gods.

Therefore, healing was largely mystical in nature. If bright severe symptoms diseases or noticeable external injuries (for example, wounds, burns, fractures) were treated with the help of various means of plant and animal origin, powders from minerals, hot baths and cauterization, then everything unknown and difficult, such as fever, unconsciousness and the state of delirium of the patient, were considered tricks evil spirits.

So, the domestic Japaneseist M. V. Grachev, in his article on medicine in ancient Japan, cites the following excerpt from Isinbo: “If a patient’s heart suddenly expands and his stomach swells, and there is no diarrhea or vomiting, then he has mastered it” evil spirit".

Then, in the distant times of the Heian era (794-1185), it was very scary to get sick. After all, if a person did not help healing decoctions or other means of local doctors, the only thing that could save him was the prayers of the monks, who read Buddhist sutras to heal the patient. True, there was something even stronger: the challenge of an onmyoji, that is, an exorcist.

Onmyodo is the teaching of the Dark and Light principles, based on the fortune-telling and incantation practice borrowed from China, according to which all objects and phenomena can be reduced to certain combinations of five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) and two life-giving principles - yin and Jan.

Onmyouji at work

The only thing that could save the nobility from serious illnesses, when even prayers and exorcists did not help, was trade with China, which various reasons then interrupted, then resumed again.

Such Japanese Chinese medicine

Together with Buddhism, the science of herbal medicine also came to Japan in the 6th century. She received the characteristic name Kampo (漢方), which can be translated as " Chinese method". However, Kampo medicine began to develop only at the end of the 16th century, when healing monks began to promote in Japan the knowledge gained during their studies in China.

With time Chinese teaching began to acquire japanese character. The fact is that traditional Chinese medicine is based on the principles of natural philosophy of East Asia (yin and yang, five elements, etc.). For example, a Chinese doctor could (and still can) advise eating less meat in order to reduce the level of fire in the body. The Japanese, on the other hand, preferred to identify the disease based on specific symptoms. They criticized Chinese medicine for having too much theory that didn't fit the problems. real life. Thus, in the 18th century, the physician Yoshimasu Todo (吉益東洞) wrote: "In medicine, you need to rely only on your observations during the examination." Yoshimasu invented his own technique of probing the abdomen, with the help of which the doctor determines the herbal recipe that the patient needs.

Japanese doctors have simplified the methods used in China. Many Chinese variations from thousands of types of medicinal raw materials were reduced by the Japanese to 300 of the most effective recipes from herbs that could be obtained in Japan.

In Campo medicine, as a rule, herbs are ground into powder.

However, over time, the teachings of the West seriously competed with Campo medicine.

The Incredible Discovery of Japanese Doctors

After Tokugawa Iemitsu made Japan a closed country in 1641, the contact of Japanese and European culture became completely impossible. During this period, contacts with all countries of the world except China and Holland were prohibited. It was impossible to freely read the works of foreign authors, and even more so to travel abroad. However, even in this environment, people appeared who decided to study European sciences and arts. And Sugita Gempaku (杉田玄白) is one of them.

Sugita Gempaku

In the spring of 1771, Sugita Gempaku, a doctor from the city of Edo, obtained a Dutch translation of the German book Anatomy in the Tables (German Anatomische Tabellen, author: Johann-Adam Kulm; Dutch Ontleedkundige Tafelen, translator: Gerard Dikten). He did not know Dutch and did not understand a single line of what was written, but the illustrations offered in the book made him wonder. They did not at all correspond to the teachings popular at that time, which came from China.

Then Gempaku had an idea: “Why not dissect the body of an executed criminal and see what is inside him?”. Such an attempt was good opportunity make sure the illustrations of "Anatomy in the tables" are correct. He called his doctor friend Maeno Ryōtaku (前野良沢) with him, and, plucking up courage, they set about executing the plan together.

Anatomy in Tables Validation

The eyes of the two doctors were strained. First, they examined the opened body, then looked at the book they held in their hands, and then again at the body. As a result, it was experimentally proved that the illustrations do not lie.

The doctors were amazed, and they themselves wondered how they had could heal people without even knowing what they had inside. At that time, they did not yet understand the importance of the study. internal organs person.

Understanding the internal structure of a person (before and after the discovery of Genpaku)

That's how their surprise turned into a dream to try to translate this book.

Deciding on this, Sugita and Maeno immediately set to work. But in that era there were no dictionaries, and translating a book was by no means an easy task. First, they did not know Dutch. Once, colleagues for a whole day could not translate the sentence: “Eyebrows are hair growing above the eyes.”

There was also a phrase: “The nose is furuhehhando”(the nose is the protruding part), which also made the doctors scratch their heads. To understand the meaning of this word, they went through great amount books and as a result found such sentences: “If you cut off a tree branch, then there will be furuhehhando' or 'When you tidy up the garden and put the rubbish on the ground, you get furuhehhando". But what do branches, garbage, and a nose have in common?

Colleagues suffered, tried to figure it out, and as a result they realized: the cut of the branch on the tree sticks out a little; garbage laid on the ground also rises above the surface; Means furuhehhando- this is the protruding part.

They took apart one single word and already great was their joy. In the final version, the sentence reads like this: "The nose is a protruding part in the middle of the face."

In a period of approximately 4 years, Gempaku and Maeno completed the translation and released their book titled The New Anatomy Textbook (解体新書 kaitai shinsho). This book, the result of hard work, was Starting point in the dissemination of knowledge accumulated in Europe.

Below you can see some of her pages ▼

From the Edo period (1603–1868), the Dutch scientific work were transmitted throughout Japan, and it is believed that the study of Western science and culture began precisely with medicine.

But what now?

In the 19th century, the advantage of Western medicine, which objectively could better cope with topical problems, became obvious to everyone. infectious diseases that time. The Japanese switched to the German system of treatment, and in 1876 the government even put forward an official requirement that all doctors study Western medicine. By the way, here we understand why most medical terms borrowed from German in Japanese.

However traditional medicine Campo has not been forgotten, although its development has slowed down a lot. After the Second World War began to appear modern specialists by Campo. Herbal medicine continues to this day in Japan. This situation is similar to ours, when the presence modern technologies and medicines does not prevent many of us from having chamomile flowers in the locker for brewing.

So, in any pharmacy in modern Japan there is a Kampo department. It will not be difficult to find a special shop.

In 1971 traditional recipes Kampo has been included in the National Health Insurance System (国民健康保険) drug list. 148 available for sale now herbal preparations. However, if earlier doctors made their own diagnosis and chose treatment in accordance with it, now prescriptions are selected in accordance with the diagnoses of Western medicine.

Even in this topic, we can trace the immortal ability of the Japanese to combine other people's and their own achievements, resulting in a completely new product.

Times are changing, humanity is moving forward, but, unfortunately, in our world there is still a place for various diseases. Therefore, whatever surrounds you, be it modern hospitals or shamans dancing with a tambourine, we wish you good health and strength for great things: 3

Japanese medicine in her modern form is a combination of high technology and traditional methods folk medicine.

This approach of the doctors of the country rising sun called complex, and it is not aimed at treating a specific disease, but at finding and eliminating failures in the human body. Modern followers of Hippocrates, as well as their ancestors, believe that only a holistic diagnosis of the body will find out true reason disease, after which it can be treated.

High tech

Robotic surgeons are the future. But the pace of development of scientific and technical progress and the audacity of human thought convince: it is not beyond Mount Fuji. Today, Japanese medicine has the most modern equipment fleet, nanotechnologies, and the first important investment item in Japanese clinics is technical equipment. And in this matter, Japan is in first place in the world, because what they boast and are proud of in Europe or the USA has long been exploited in Japan, and some " innovative technologies are even considered obsolete here.

WHO statistics are objective and unbiased, and according to its data, Japan ranks first in the number of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the country's clinics and hospitals per capita. And these are just a couple of positions where Japan is a generally recognized leader. There is no point in voicing others - there are hundreds of them.

But the most revealing factor in the effectiveness of Japanese medicine is the life expectancy of the indigenous population. The Japanese live the longest in the world: men average 80 years, and women up to 86.

Public policy

But, in addition to the fact that the heads of the Japanese are distinguished by intelligence and quick wits, organization and discipline, as well as respect for the concept of "citizen", are in the blood of this nation. The state does not allow the industry to float freely, it controls and regulates the activities of the structure and takes care of the availability of medical services for the population.

Although about 80% medical clinics and centers in the country are privately owned, the tariffs for services are set by the state, so for patients there is no difference where to go in case of illness. Prices are the same everywhere. The same applies to staff salaries, the state determines the rates regardless of the form of ownership of the medical institution.

The state also controls the citizens who without fail have health insurance covering up to 70% of treatment costs. As for the prices for medical services, they are about the same as in Europe and the USA, but the quality is often higher. Particularly developed in Japan are such branches of medicine as cardiology, neurosurgery, reproductive medicine, and aesthetic medicine.

Charity is also an important part public policy. Each clinic has days when you can get medical examinations, take HIV tests and oncological diseases, and also pass preventive procedures for free.

preventive medicine

As mentioned, the Japanese approach to health is thorough, and also aimed at finding and eliminating the root causes. This, as well as disease prevention, provides the Japanese with many years of truly healthy life. Mandatory regular examinations of the population are also part of the state policy and they are carried out “not carelessly”, but with the help of the most modern equipment and professional medical staff.

The health of the nation is also promoted by the philosophy inherent in Japanese culture, which includes such aspects as diet (remember the Japanese food preferences - rice, seafood), sports and lifestyle in general. Of course, there are stresses in Japan too, where would we be without them in modern world, but the peculiarities of religion, aimed at contemplation, provide many with a worldview that promotes both spiritual and physical health.

Unity with nature

Part of Japanese philosophy is complete unity with nature. Many Japanese, although they are residents of the most technologically advanced country and have medical insurance as disciplined citizens, sincerely believe that not a single artificially synthesized drug is capable of providing healing effect equal in strength to natural plants.

Traditional medicine in Japan has not been driven underground, it coexists on the shelves of pharmacies with traditional drugs, and every Japanese has a choice of how to treat him: antibiotics or juice of oriental fruits, or maybe even the embryos of exotic animals.

For example, the Japanese believe (moreover, for more than one hundred years) that caviar sea ​​urchin removes radioactive substances from the body. And Japanese healers, along with herbal treatment, use psychoesoteric practices, massage and traditional medicines.

Achievements of Japanese medicine

Civilization came to Japan relatively recently. As early as the middle of the 19th century, the Middle Ages with feudal principles of government reigned there. And now Japan is what we know it: with the most advanced technology, but at the same time committed to tradition as well as many centuries ago.

Whether this is good or bad is not for us to judge. But the fact that thanks to a special, purely Japanese approach to life, the standard of living of the population has increased many times, and in a hundred years the life expectancy of the population has doubled - a fact that cannot be argued with.

Japan is an amazing country in which are closely intertwined Newest technologies with the richest experience of the East, accumulated by centuries of ancestors.

When communicating with the Japanese, not only their appearance is striking, but also their calm character. Almost not fat people Everyone looks much younger than their age. The Japanese have long broken all records for quality and duration average life: men 79-89 years old, and women - 85-99 years old. There are many centenarians who have crossed the line of 100 years.

Where do diseases come from?

In Japan, they believe that illnesses come from evil spirits. Merged with environment happened in ancient times, because the country was for a long time isolated from other countries.

Any diseases were treated only with herbs and various conspiracies. Seaweed was widely used (to improve memory, heal wounds, etc.). The iodine it contains in large numbers contributed to rapid results.

Japanese medicine is recognized all over the world; even cerebral palsy, psoriasis, as well as multiple sclerosis. In the best European clinics, they can only stop these diseases, but not cure a person completely.

What is considered alternative medicine in Russia, in Japan and in some Eastern countries have long been traditional. Modern Japanese medicine uses various options in the treatment of diseases.

Types of treatment in Japan

Massage. Anesthetic massage has been used to treat the wounded since ancient times. Plant and animal resources were previously lacking. And today massages treat almost all ailments. Much later, knowledge came from China, and the experience of Buddhist doctors began to be applied.
- Acupuncture - activation of important points with needles on the human body.
- Aromatherapy - treatment with essential oils.
- Shiatsu - ancient technique stimulation key points muscles and internal organs with the help of fingers.
- Homeopathy, naturopathy, etc.

Ancestral Recipes

• Vision. The knowledge of healers, preserving the traditions of their ancestors, still serve today. The Japanese of the older generation avoid taking any means to improve their eyesight. Every day they periodically tap a thin tube of wood between 2 and 3 toes, they respond to our eyes.
• Circulation. The Japanese carry specialized sticks with them, they need to knock on the veins, and also walk backwards.
• Radiation. Sea urchin caviar is considered the best remedy from radiation. It is difficult to get caviar, taking it daily for 7 days, the blood is completely renewed.

Who survived after the atomic bombing, thanks to the sea urchin. Such expensive medicine get only in the "black" Japanese market.

The unconventional approach of Japanese traditional medicine to every disease and a very mobile lifestyle keeps the nation in good shape. There are practically no disabled people in wheelchairs. Most older Japanese walk 10 km a day.

are considered the best medicines from all diseases - shiatsu and reiki (laying hands on a sore spot).

When most of of the country's population are long-livers, you can trust Japanese folk medicine!

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