Kampo Formula-Pattern Models: The Development of 13 New Clinically Useful Standard Abdominal Pattern Models in the Fukushin Simulator

Shuji Yakubo; Masaki Baba; Hiroshi Odaguchi; Akino Wakasugi; Mariko Sekine; Toshihiko Hanawa; Tadamichi Mitsuma; Takao Namiki; Makoto Arai; Shin-Ichi Muramatsu; Yutaka Shimada; Naotoshi Shibahara

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.688074

Kampo Formula-Pattern Models: The Development of 13 New Clinically Useful Standard Abdominal Pattern Models in the Fukushin Simulator

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Apr 29:13:688074. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.688074. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Kampo Medicine, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan.
² Oriental Medicine Research Center, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Kampo Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
⁴ Department of Japanese-Oriental (Kampo) Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
⁵ Department of Kampo Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
⁶ Division of Oriental Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
⁷ Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
⁸ Division of Kampo Diagnostics, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Abstract

Aim: In Kampo medicine, there exists an important system of diagnosis called Fukushin, or abdominal diagnosis or palpation. By applying pressure to the abdomen of the patient, the physician can gain important information on the patient's physical state and use those indications to choose a suitable Kampo formulation. We have previously developed a Fukushin simulator, a teaching tool that reproduces the important abdominal patterns that doctors will encounter in clinical practice and that has received favourable feedback for students and practitioners. In order to make diagnosis and prescription easier, it is desirable to have matched formula-pattern pairings. The present study aims to develop such pairings. Methods: With the previously developed models as a foundation, in the present study the production team (two members) used materials such as urethane foam and silicone rubber to build an additional 13 standard abdominal pattern models matched to Kampo herbal formulas commonly used by practitioners in Japan. Subsequently, the evaluation team (the remaining 10 authors) investigated the viability of these models. Results: The evaluation team determined that abdominal pattern models matched to the following typical Kampo formulas were created successfully: Dai-saiko-To (), Dai-joki-To (), Shigyaku-San (), Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-To (), Keishi-bukuryo-Gan (), Hachimi-jio-Gan (), Hange-shashin-To (), Sho-saiko-To (), Hochu-ekki-To (), Sho-kenchu-To (), Toki-shakuyaku-San (), Ninjin-To (), and Dai-kenchu-To (). Conclusion: We suggest that these new formula-pattern models can make an important contribution to the standardization of abdominal diagnosis and prescription and to Kampo education.

Keywords: Kampo (traditional Japanese herbal medicine); abdominal diagnosis; abdominal palpation; medical education; simulator; standardisation; training.