Does Kampo Really Work? We Tried a Cup at Koubaido a Kampo Shop in Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi [Nishitsu Ad]

Does anyone here have any health concerns? Maybe you’ve had tests done at the hospital, but they couldn’t find the cause, and you’re left wondering what to do. If that sounds like you, there’s a shop we’d really like you to visit〜.

Here it is↓

This is Kampo Koubai-do Yakuhou, located a little north of ACTA Nishinomiya near Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi〜.

Here it is on the map↓

The address is Jeunesse Kitaguchi, 10-2 Takagi Nishimachi, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

These days, even hospitals often prescribe the Kampo medicine “Kakkonto” for early cold symptoms and the like, don’t they〜?

But Kampo shops have a kind of unique atmosphere, and they can feel a little intimidating to walk into〜.

Stepping into a Kampo shop

Feeling a bit nervous〜. Hello〜〜

Inside, the shop was bright and clean. And the gentle-looking female owner welcomed us warmly〜.

This is the owner, Ms. Yamamoto, who has over 20 years of experience in consultation-based sales. “Please, come on in〜〜”

First, she asks you to freely talk about the symptoms you’re worried about, in your own words and based on how you personally feel.

Even if you’ve been thinking things like “I have migraines, so I guess I just have to live with it” or “I have irritable bowel syndrome, so it won’t get better,” she wants people to feel free to come in and talk if they’re struggling with uncomfortable symptoms like that.

Kampo focuses not on the disease itself, but on the symptoms the body is showing. That’s why she listens carefully to those symptoms, looks into the possible cause, and suggests the most suitable Kampo medicine.

Round black eye drops you’ve never seen before?!

For example, this one is for people dealing with tired eyes. The Kampo medicine Kikujio-gan(杞菊地黄丸) is sometimes called “drinkable eye drops.”

The contents are pretty unusual〜

Round

And then inside, there’s a black filling.

It looks kind of like chocolate. It has a sticky texture and a distinctive taste, including some bitterness. But it doesn’t really linger afterward.

This “Shiunko” ointment is said to be good for chapped or cracked skin when mixed with the hand cream you usually use.
※Kracie has apparently discontinued this product, so it will be replaced with one from another manufacturer.

Most Kampo medicines are basically taken in powdered form. The shop carries around 80 different kinds of Kampo medicine〜.

Of course, they also have Kampo medicines many people have heard of, such as “Kakkonto” and “Maoto.”

Generally speaking, medicines at pharmacies are usually only sold by the “box”, right?

At Koubai-do, they sell them by the individual packet, so it’s great that you can buy the minimum amount needed to see whether it works.

And it’s also reassuring that they suggest the right Kampo medicine for your symptoms. That’s really comforting.

For acute symptoms, there are medicines that can work quickly, while chronic symptoms may take some time before you notice results. The owner explains everything in great detail, so ask as much as you need until you feel satisfied〜.

We got to try a little

As a Nishi2 writer, I’m always going here and there, then sitting at my PC writing articles. There’s no real year-end or New Year’s break either, so naturally the fatigue builds up a bit.

The bottle on the left is the nourishing tonic “Conclevan.” The packet on the right is “Kangen Granules,” used to help improve headaches, heaviness in the head, stiff shoulders, dizziness, and palpitations.

You mix these with hot water, and it’s ready. Conclevan contains liver hydrolysate made by breaking down liver (organ meat) with enzymes, along with heart extract and B vitamins. It’s for nutritional support in cases such as general nourishment, weak constitution, physical fatigue, and reduced strength after illness. It doesn’t contain caffeine〜

I thought it might be hard to drink, but it actually went down surprisingly smoothly.

A little while after drinking it, I felt a warmth in my stomach. And I slept well that night〜. Oh! I felt energized! Something like that… This is just my personal experience〜. Effects vary from person to person.

If you’re feeling a little tired or want to try it as part of a health consultation, they’ll let you sample it for free, so it might be worth giving it a try to see what it’s like〜.

Information Around Koubai-do

If you go this way, you’ll head toward ACTA Nishinomiya and the rotary at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station.

If you go the opposite way, you’ll reach the street with Miyawaki Shoten and Saizeriya.

This very retro-looking panda is the landmark.