Plantes japonaises avec héritage kampo et de médecine populaire
31 ingrédients.
Japanese medicinal plants — covering the kampo (traditional Japanese herbal medicine) materia medica and a parallel folk-medicine tradition known as minkan-yaku — represent one of the most regulated and clinically integrated herbal supply categories in the developed world. Unlike most herbal markets, kampo formulations are reimbursed under Japan's national health insurance (over 148 formulas and 240+ crude drugs are listed), giving the supply chain pharmaceutical-grade rigor. Folk medicines such as yomogi (Artemisia princeps), dokudami (Houttuynia cordata), biwa (loquat) leaf, kakidoshi (Glechoma hederacea var. grandis), and gennoshoko (Geranium thunbergii) are sold both as dietary teas and as quasi-drug remedies. Combined exports of Japanese medicinal plant raw materials and standardized extracts are estimated at USD 200–280 million annually (industry estimate, 2024–2026), with growth concentrated in Europe (where kampo is gaining traction in integrative medicine clinics) and Greater China (where Japanese-grown crude drugs command a premium over domestic equivalents).
The heritage of Japanese medicinal plants is built on a 1,500-year transmission of Chinese materia medica, progressively adapted to Japanese flora and clinical philosophy. The Heian-period Ishinpō (984 CE) is the oldest surviving Japanese medical text and already lists many herbs still in modern kampo formulations. The Edo-period Koho-ha movement led by Yoshimasu Todo systematized formula-based prescribing in the 18th century, creating the framework still used today. Western medicine displaced kampo during the Meiji modernization, but the practice was rehabilitated in the 1970s when the Ministry of Health began approving kampo formulations for insurance reimbursement. Folk-medicine herbs developed in parallel: yomogi was used both as a culinary herb (kusa-mochi) and in moxibustion; dokudami earned its name 'poison-blocking' for its reputed detoxifying properties; biwa leaf has been used since Buddhist temple medicine traditions arrived in Japan.
The contemporary supplier base is dominated by Tsumura (the global leader in pharmaceutical kampo, holding over 80% of Japanese hospital kampo market share), Kracie Pharma (consumer-facing kampo and quasi-drug formulations), Kotaro Pharmaceutical, Honzo, and a network of crude drug houses including Uchida Wakanyaku, Tochimoto Tenkaido, and Matsuura Yakugyo. These suppliers operate Japanese GMP for pharmaceutical-grade extracts and supply both whole herbs and standardized hot-water extract powders. For folk-medicine and tea-channel supply, regional cooperatives in Kyushu (yomogi, dokudami), Tohoku (kakidoshi, gennoshoko), and Wakayama (biwa) lead production, with most holding JAS Organic and FSSC 22000 certification for export-oriented lines.
For overseas buyers, Japanese medicinal plants offer an unusually well-documented supply chain: each lot typically comes with botanical authentication (often DNA-verified for high-value species), heavy metal and pesticide residue COAs, microbial counts to Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18 standards, and (for kampo-grade material) full chromatographic fingerprinting against Japanese Pharmacopoeia reference standards. MOQs vary: pharmaceutical-grade standardized extracts often start at 50–100 kg, while crude herbs for tea-channel buyers can be sourced from 10 kg lots. Buyers should clarify intended end-use (food vs supplement vs cosmetic vs registered herbal medicine) early in the conversation, as documentation requirements diverge significantly between channels and lead times can stretch from 6 weeks for tea-channel material to 6 months for pharmaceutical kampo extract.
To explore the catalogue, begin with our Medicinal Plants sourcing list, then filter by kampo-grade, organic-certified, or folk-medicine tea-channel material. Related categories include Food Ingredients (for tea-channel and culinary herbs such as shiso, mitsuba, and yomogi), Beverage Ingredients (for kampo-derived functional teas and infusions), and Cosmetic Raw Materials (for kampo botanical extracts increasingly used in skincare). The Supplements glossary provides definitions of standardized extract specifications, marker compound assays, and FFC-relevant evidence frameworks for buyers building functional supplement formulas.
Sélections de la rédaction pour les nouveaux visiteurs de cette catégorie.
Medicinal plants occupy an unusually wide regulatory spectrum in Japan. Pharmaceutical-grade kampo formulations are governed by the PMD Act and require manufacturing site GMP licensing. Quasi-drug herbal preparations sit in a middle tier with PMD Act registration but lighter clinical requirements. Tea-channel and culinary herbs are governed by the Food Sanitation Act, with FFC available for actives with sufficient evidence. For exports, the destination-market classification typically determines pathway: an herb shipped as 'kampo extract' for European clinical use may need a Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product (THMP) registration under EU Directive 2004/24/EC, requiring 30 years of documented traditional use (15 in the EU). US buyers should verify FDA dietary supplement classification under DSHEA and check whether the ingredient is on FDA's 'old dietary ingredient' list (pre-1994) — many Japanese herbs require an NDIN. Key safety considerations for buyers: glycyrrhizin from kanzo (licorice) has a recognized aldosterone-mimetic effect and is dose-restricted in EU food supplements; shakuyaku and other Aristolochia-family botanicals have been the subject of nephrotoxicity concerns in adjacent Chinese herbs (Japanese kampo does not use Aristolochia, but buyers should verify supplier botanical sourcing); and several wild-harvested species fall under CITES — buyers should request CITES screening for any wild-harvested input. Heavy metal limits under Japanese Pharmacopoeia are stricter than US Pharmacopeia for several elements (cadmium, arsenic), giving Japanese-sourced herbs a quality advantage in tightly regulated EU markets.
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
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
Connaissance sectorielle — non encore rattachée à une source primaire unique
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
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
Connaissance sectorielle — non encore rattachée à une source primaire unique