Proposal of practicing Japanese Kampo in menopausal medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is now called "Kampo Medicine" in Japan. What is really needed for the treatment of human sickness and what is really wanted by sick people is medical care tailored to the particular patient, which respects the individual characteristics and personality of the patient. In Kampo medicine, therapeutic policy is determined on the basis of the physical constitution and condition of individual patients. For this reason, Kampo medicine is called "tailor-made medicine." One characteristic of Kampo medicine is that it is aimed at treating conditions preceding disease. The diagnosis system of Kampo medicine therefore includes identification of the personality of each patient and correction of its distortion, if any. Women with undefined complaints in the climacteric period often have multiple symptoms. To identify the characteristics of each patient and to provide treatment tailored to each patient, SHO diagnosis is needed. This diagnostic process is unique to Kampo medicine and is not included in modern Western medicine. Making full use of the traditional diagnostic approach of Kampo medicine, SHO is determined and the patient's condition is understood from the standpoint of Kampo medicine. Optimum treatment is then provided on the basis of such understanding of the patient and his or her illness. Kampo medicine is established as a science with art. Practicing Kampo medicine involves dealing with patients using a science with art and thus providing humane medical care to patients. Kampo medicine is thus of use to all the world.