Medicinal plants
Japanese traditional medicinal plants with kampo heritage and K-Beauty demand — yomogi, dokudami, related botanicals.
11 ingredients in this category.
- Raw material6 suppliers
Shiso / Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
紫蘇葉エキス
Perilla frutescens, known in Japan as shiso (紫蘇), is a herb of the mint family used in Japanese cooking and traditional medicine. The leaves contain rosmarinic acid, perillaldehyde, and anthocyanins (in the red variety). Used in cosmetics for soothing and antioxidant positioning.
Aichi (green/red shiso), Tottori +1MOQ 10–30 kg - Raw material5 suppliers
Kuromoji / Lindera Umbellata
黒文字
Kuromoji (Lindera umbellata) is a deciduous shrub in the Lauraceae family, native to Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu mountain forests. Traditionally used for tea-ceremony toothpicks and premium wagashi picks. Steam-distilled essential oil offers a fresh, citrusy-woody profile with major components linalool, 1,8-cineole, α/β-pinene. Positions as a uniquely Japanese alternative to hinoki with satoyama sustainability credentials.
Gifu, Nagano +4MOQ 100 ml – 1 L essential oil; 1–10 kg dried - Raw material5 suppliers
Aomori Hiba
青森ヒバ
Essential oil from Thujopsis dolabrata, designated as Aomori Prefecture's official tree. Contains ~2% hinokitiol with strong antimicrobial properties.
Aomori PrefectureMOQ 10 ml – 1 L (essential oil) - Raw material3 suppliers
Okinawa Ukon (Turmeric)
沖縄ウコン
Three species of turmeric cultivated in Okinawa. Autumn turmeric is curcumin-rich, spring and purple varieties are essential oil-rich.
Okinawa Prefecture, Amami IslandsMOQ 1-100 kg (powder) - Raw material4 suppliers
Goya (Bitter Melon)
ゴーヤ
Tropical vine cultivated in Ryukyu Islands for over 500 years. Central ingredient of goya chanpuru.
Okinawa Prefecture, Miyazaki +2MOQ 1-100 kg (powder) - Raw material9 suppliers
Yomogi (Japanese Mugwort)
ヨモギ
Japanese mugwort species, distinct from Korean Artemisia asiatica. Long-standing use in kampo and Okinawan cuisine (Fuchiba).
Nationwide (mainland); Okinawa (Fuchiba variety)MOQ 1-100 kg (dried); 100 g – 10 kg (extract) - Raw material8 suppliers
Dokudami (Houttuynia Cordata)
ドクダミ
East Asian medicinal herb known in kampo as Jūyaku. Star ingredient in K-Beauty, with growing global demand.
Nationwide; commercial cultivation in Tochigi, ShigaMOQ 100 g – 10 kg (extract); 1-100 kg (dried) - Raw material4 suppliers
Green Papaya
青パパイヤ
Unripe papaya harvested before ripening, rich in papain, chymopapain, and carpain enzymes. Japanese fermentation techniques enable safe supplement use (raw papain is pharmaceutical-designated).
Okinawa Prefecture (primary), KagoshimaMOQ 1–50 kg (powder); 100 g – 10 kg (fermented extract) - Raw material3 suppliers
Botanboufu (Sakuna)
ボタンボウフウ
Hardy perennial herb (Apiaceae family) native to Yonaguni Island and other subtropical Ryukyu coastlines. A local Okinawan longevity herb with chlorogenic acid and rutin content comparable to or exceeding kale.
Yonaguni Island (Okinawa), Amami Islands +1MOQ 1-100 kg (powder); 500 g – 10 kg (extract) - Raw material5 suppliers
Japanese Jujube
日本産ナツメ
Premium domestic Japanese jujube, primarily cultivated in Fukui Prefecture's Natsume district. Kampo medicine grade Taisō (大棗) variety dominates, pesticide-free and traceable.
Fukui (Natsume district), Nara +1MOQ 100 g – 10 kg (dried); 100 g – 1 kg (extract) - Raw material3 suppliers
Japanese Reishi Mushroom
日本産霊芝
Domestic Japanese reishi mushroom, including rare rokkaku reishi (deer-antler form with 50%+ β-glucan content). Japanese cultivation technology pioneered in the 1970s. Sakamoto Bio (Akita), Ōkō (Hokkaido, organic JAS), and Jōyaku Kenkyūsho are primary Japanese producers.
Akita, Hokkaido (Mibai) +1MOQ 100 g – 10 kg
FAQ: sourcing medicinal plants from Japan
Q. Are Japanese medicinal plants (kampo botanicals) regulated as foods or drugs?
Most Japanese medicinal plants in this catalog (yomogi, dokudami, kuko-no-mi) are food-classified when sold as teas, extracts, or supplements without medical claims. They become OTC/prescription drugs only when used in registered kampo formulations or with medical claims. Buyers should verify final-product claim positioning for their target market.
Sources
- MHLW — List of substances classified as drugs (専ら医薬品)
- Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th Edition — kampo crude drugs
Q. What's the difference between Japanese (wakanyaku) and Chinese (zhongyao) medicinal herbs?
Many shared species exist between Japanese kampo and Chinese TCM, but Japanese cultivation often emphasizes lower pesticide load, cleaner growing regions (e.g., Hokkaido, Iwate), and stricter curing standards. Japanese-grown crude drugs typically command 2–5x the price of Chinese-imported equivalents.
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese vs Chinese herbal supply chain
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Are Japanese medicinal plants compliant with US dietary supplement and EU food/herbal standards?
Most are compliant when used with appropriate claim restrictions. EU Novel Food status should be checked for less common species (e.g., specific kampo crude drugs not common in Europe). US DSHEA generally accommodates traditional Japanese herbs with documented use history. China NMPA has separate approval pathways for medicinal plants used in cosmetics or supplements.
Sources
- EU Novel Food Catalogue
- FDA — DSHEA dietary supplements
Q. What's the typical MOQ for Japanese medicinal plant extracts?
Standard kampo crude drugs (dried whole or sliced) ship in 5–10 kg minimums. Concentrated extracts (5x–20x) typically start at 1–5 kg. Premium organic-certified or GAP-grown materials may have higher minimums and longer lead times (8–12 weeks).
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese kampo and herbal supply
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source