Medicina alternativa e integrativa

Kampo Treatment for Facial Redness: An Approach Based on Five Underlying Causes

Abstract

Mayumi Nomoto

Kampo medicine is a medical system that specializes in balancing the human body and enhancing its natural healing power. Kampo medicine has been used in Japan since ancient times. Facial redness associated with chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea, rosacea-like dermatitis, acne vulgaris, and seborrheic dermatitis is sometimes difficult to resolve with Western medicine alone. In these cases, the inclusion of Kampo medicine in the treatment can enhance the therapeutic effect of conventional drugs while avoiding side effects. According to the Kampo medical system, the causes of facial redness can be classified into five categories: (1) heat and inflammation, (2) microcirculation disorders and telangiectasia, (3) autonomic nerve disorder (stress), (4) dry skin, and (5) oily skin (endocrine imbalance). We aimed to elucidate how to choose the suitable Kampo medicine for facial redness caused by each of these causes.