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Japanese Medicinal Herbs

The emperor of fifth century Japan began to dispatch medicine students to China to learn about the wide range of Chinese medicinal herbs and practices. This link brought to Japan important medicinal herbs that include sesame, ume and shiso. Much of the growth in herbal knowledge in Japan is due to the ruling of shogun Yoshimune, who in the eighth century encouraged farmers to cultivate medicinal gardens throughout the country.

  1. Ashitaba

    • A member of the Angelica family, ashitaba grows wild in the beaches of Japan, described as early as 300 years ago by Japanese medicine man, Kaibara Ekiken, as a powerful tonic medicine. Ashitaba is also bitter, which makes it a digestive stimulant and tonic, increasing the flow of bile and speeding the elimination of waste. When the stem of this herb is broken, an abundant yellow liquid comes out, which is used topically on cysts, pustules and a wide array of skin conditions to speed healing. The recommended dosage of the ashitaba 1:1 tincture is 20 ml per day.

    Hatomugi

    • A member of the graminae family, hatomugi was introduced to Japan by the Chinese Buddhist monk, Ganjin, during the sixth century. The herb is an annual grass that has traditionally been used both as medicine and food. Hatomugi is considered a source of life-building tonic medicine and contains more essential amino acids than any other grain, as well as oleic acid, fibers, vitamins and minerals. The oleic acid present in hatomugi helps prevent arteriosclerosis by strengthening blood vessels. Its fiber brings health to the digestive tract and prevents cholesterol absorption. The recommended dosage of the dried seed is 10 g per day.

    Shiso

    • A member of the labiatae, or mint family, shiso is an annual medicinal herb native to China, and brought to Japan in the eighth century. The herb's purple, red and green ovate leaves have a strong aromatic cinnamon scent, making it an essential spice in traditional Japanese cuisine. Shiso is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb, used abundantly to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, eczema, hay fever and inflammation caused by skin disease. It is also used alongside ginger root to treat chronic bronchitis. The recommended dosage of the shiso 1:1 tincture is 5 ml per day.

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