KIKUOKA Traditional Japanese Medicine Speciality Pharmacy selling traditional
herbal medicines is located in Nakanoshinya-cho, Nara City.
The longstanding establishment opened in 1184 and has been in business for 24
generations.
The pharmacy can give you advice on all kinds of chronic illnesses (making an
appointment is recommended).
In addition to prescribing traditional herbal medicines, the pharmacy also
sells medicinal herb teas; ginger candies; and Daranisukegan, a traditional
stomach medicine.
|
Kikuoka Traditional Pharmacy.
Dating back to 1184, this traditional herbal medicine store is now run
by the 24th generation of the same family.
|
|
Daikokuten wooden statue.
Daikokuten is a syncretic Japanese deity of fortune and wealth.
-
Upon being introduced to Japan via the esoteric Tendai and Shingon
sects, Mahakala (as 'Daikokuten') gradually transformed into a jovial,
beneficent figure as his positive qualities (such as being the
purveyor of wealth and fertility) increasingly came to the fore -
mostly at the expense of his darker traits.
-
The sack or bag Daikokuten carries served to further associate the god
with Okuninushi: in the story of the Hare of Inaba, the young
Okuninushi is said to have originally been treated by his wicked elder
brothers as their luggage carrier.
-
Besides the sack, Daikokuten began to acquire other attributes such as
the golden mallet called uchide no kozuchi (lit. "tap-appear
little mallet", i.e. a mallet that strikes out anything the user
desires) and two big bales of rice.
-
See more at
Daikokuten - Wikipedia.
|
|
Looking around.
Looking around the quaint store, it feels like very little has changed.
With the vogue for holistic remedies, this traditional store has become
quite popular again.
-
Even if you don’t need medicine, you are welcome to look around and
try a cup of free herbal tea.
|
|
Kampo medicine.
Kampo medicine (Kanpo igaku), often known simply as Kampo (Chinese
medicine), is the study of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan
following its introduction, beginning in the 7th century.
-
Rather than modifying formulae as in traditional Chinese medicine, the
Japanese Kampo tradition uses fixed combinations of herbs in
standardized proportions according to the classical literature of
Chinese medicine.
-
Kampo medicines are produced by various manufacturers. However, each
medicine is composed of exactly the same ingredients under the
Ministry's standardization methodology. The medicines are therefore
prepared under strict manufacturing conditions that rival
pharmaceutical companies.
-
See more at
Kampo - Wikipedia.
|
|
Ancient Ceramic Teapot with Rattan Handle.
Each of the herbal prescriptions is a tailor-made cocktail of plants for
the patient.
-
An assortment of medicinal herbs is usually infused twice in an hour.
-
The practitioner usually designs a remedy using one or two main
ingredients that target the disease.
-
Then he adds other ingredients to adjust the formula to the yin/yang
conditions of the patient.
-
Sometimes ingredients are needed to negate the toxicity or side
effects of the main ingredients.
-
Some herbs require the use of other ingredients that act as catalysts
or the infusion is ineffective.
-
The last steps require a lot of experience and knowledge, and make the
difference between a good herbalist and an amateur.
|
|
Advertising Daranisukegan.
The primary ingredient in Daranisuke is Oubaku, or the bark of the
Phellodendron amurense tree, commonly known as the Amur cork tree.
-
Oubaku is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese
medicine, and a folk remedy used in Japan since ancient times.
|
See also
Sources
Location
