Alternative medicine (non-Western)

[Kurious]

I would like to know about the different practices of alternative medicine in Japan. Is it common to find doctors of alternative medicine in Japan? Do people in general accept or reject this type of medicine? Is there a shortage or excess of doctors vs patients? Are medicines cheap or expensive? How does "Kampo" compare to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in terms of effectiveness, preference by patients, etc? Is acupunture commonplace? Do nutritionists recommend organic food? What other useful bits of information can be said?

I simply want to know because I like the topic of alternative medicine, and I like vegetarian/organic food. I also like learning about Japan.

Thanks in advance.

[keatonatron]

Do people in general accept or reject this type of medicine?

What type of medicine? Commonplace medicine in Japan could be considered "the alternative" in another country.

[Kurious]

I just want to learn which are the various modalities of medicine practiced in Japan, whether they are commonplace or not. TCM? Kampo? Western? Other? Which ones are in common or uncommon practice, and details about them.

[Mukade]

Kanpo is very commonly used, such that it is not really an alternative here, per se, just another type of medice. Most every doctor you visit here will give out western medicine typically, but will also subscribe kanpo to his patients, depending on the situation.

Acupuncture, moxibustion and chiropractic care are also all quite common, as well - you see 鍼灸整骨 clinics all over the place.

As for how kanpo differs from traditional Chinese medicine - never knew that it did. Guess I always assumed they were the same. You can get a more informed opinion than mine at wikipedia.

In addition, there also seems to be a fairly thriving, if somewhat underground, homeopathy community here.

[keatonatron]

Well Mukade, I must say I've never pegged you as a necroposter. Tsk tsk.

[two_heads_talking]

the OP posted on the 13th, today is the 25th, that's not even 2 weeks. Hardly necroposting. My understanding is that a month of innactivity would be considered necroposting. And I'm usually one of the first to point out a necromancer..

[keatonatron]

It would appear I was looking at the date the OP joined TJP, and not the date they posted.



Needless to say, I'm kind of out of it today...

[two_heads_talking]

:shock:

It would appear I was looking at the date the OP joined TJP, and not the date they posted.



Needless to say, I'm kind of out of it today...

lol, we all have days like that..

[AJBryant]

lol, we all have days like that..

Speak for yourself.



(I have *weeks* like that)

[two_heads_talking]

lol, we all have days like that..

Speak for yourself.



(I have *weeks* like that)

I was giving you old goats the benefit of the doubt.. /grin...

[furrykef]

I have lifetimes like that.

[Kurious]

Finally Just what I wanted to know, thank you Mukade. It's good to know that homeopathy is available. And that I can buy organic food from the local farmers (as explained in another thread). I try to eat vegetarian to maintain good health, though I don't always do. I no longer believe in being 100%, but I do believe in natural ingredients (as opposed to chemicals...), and a little meat on occassion. And I want to be aware of the alternative medicine available, which I prefer. So now I have a better idea of how is it in Japan.