Welcome to a Kampo UK’s ongoing exciting project, “Ask a Kampo Doctor!”!  In this project, a number of great Kampo doctors and Kampo specialists from different countries will be interviewed about their first hand experiences of Kampo medicine in their clinical practices.  Hoping that this will be a great space to learn and be inspired about traditional Japanese medicine, Kampo Igaku 漢方医学.

Our Today’s guest is a Kampo doctor at Keio University Hospital, Centre for Kampo Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Tetsuhiro Yoshino.  Dr. Yoshino runs very busy clinics as well as is actively engaged in scientific researches on Kampo Medicine.

******************************************************************************************

Kampo UK: Thank you for participating in this project.

Kampo UK:  What was the inspiration for you to start using Kampo in your practice?
Dr. Yoshino:  I had become interested in the world of Kampo when I had a great result with the Kampo treatment for my own atopic dermatitis while I was a medical student.

My doctor then turned out to be my boss now.

Kampo UK:  What are the most common conditions/illness for which you use Kampo to treat in your practice?
Dr. Yoshino: Many of my patients’ complaints are mainly Hiesho (cold sensation), atopic dermatitis, insomnia, dysmenorrhea, etc.  Around 70-80% of our patients who consult to our Kampo clinic are women.  This is common in many Japanese Kampo clinics.

Kampo UK:  What was the most memorable case throughout your entire practice of Kampo?
Dr. Yoshino:  Although I have many memorable experiences, the most memorable one has to be that a young mother became calm after taking yokukansan. It must have been very stressful for her to take care of her first child.

She and her son started to take yokukansan according to a classic textbook.  The formula was very beneficial for both of them, and they regained their own selves getting rid of inappropriate anger and irritability.  Now, they take yokukansan as necessary.

Kampo UK:  Could you share one memorable experience with Kampo that it did not work as well as you would have liked?
Dr. Yoshino: It was my first patient in my residency at internal medicine. She was diagnosed as pseudoaldosteronism, which was a side effect by overuse of licorice. Her previous doctor overused licorice, and her balance of mineral was abnormal. Prevention and early detection of such a side effect of Kampo formulas are my important study issue.

Kampo UK: What is the most important lifestyle advice you give patients to maintain good health?
Dr. Yoshino:  About the meals.  I think that it is important to avoid cold meals for patients with hiesho (cold sensation), and to avoid oily or sugar-rich foods for patients with atopic dermatitis.

Kampo UK:  Thank you for the valuable stories!

** If you would like to read this interview in Japanese, click here.
** ここをクリックするとこのインタービューを日本語でご覧いただけます。

 

About Dr. Tetsuhito Yoshino
2008 Graduated School of Medicine, Keio University
2010 Senior Resident of Center for Kampo Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
2011 Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
2013 Board Certified Member of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine
2014 Lecturer of Center for Kampo Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
2015 Fellow of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine

Contact Details:
Tetsuhiro Yoshino, M.D.
Center for Kampo Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan  〒160-8582
TEL：+81-3-5366-3824
FAX：+81-3-5366-3825