Childhood "Kan" Symptoms Were Concerns for Parents Long Ago Too — Learning About Herbal Medicines, Kampo Formulas, and Pediatric Sedatives for Childhood Kan Symptoms — July 26, 2026 (Sunday) R8

## Introduction

While studying for the Registered Salesperson Examination, I learned about herbal medicines, Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine) formulas, and pediatric sedatives used for childhood "Kan" symptoms.

At first, I was confused by the word "Kan" (疳).

I wondered if it meant "liver" because the Japanese pronunciation is the same, but it is completely different.

"Kan" refers to a traditional Japanese expression describing various childhood conditions, such as:

- Night crying
- Convulsions or sudden body stiffness
- Irritability
- Nervousness or excessive sensitivity

It is not a modern medical diagnosis, but an old expression used to describe children’s physical and emotional difficulties.

## Remembering My Child’s Fever Convulsion

When I studied the word "convulsion," I remembered my oldest son when he was about one year old.

He had a high fever and suddenly his body became stiff and stretched out.

At that moment, I was extremely frightened and thought something terrible might happen.

Fortunately, it stopped quickly.

Today I understand that what I saw was likely a febrile seizure, a type of seizure that can occur in young children with a high fever.

Learning about the old word "hiki-tsuke" (ひきつけ) helped me understand how frightening sudden changes in a child’s condition must have been for parents in the past.

## Important Points About Herbal and Kampo Medicines

Because herbal medicines have been used traditionally for a long time, people may think:

"Natural medicines are always safe."

However, this is not correct.

Herbal medicines can also have effects on the body and may cause side effects.

One important example is:

### Glycyrrhizic Acid and Licorice (Kanzo)

Licorice (甘草, Kanzo) is a common ingredient in many Kampo formulas.

It contains glycyrrhizic acid.

Excessive intake of glycyrrhizic acid may cause:

- Swelling
- Increased blood pressure
- Low potassium levels

This condition is called pseudoaldosteronism.

Special attention is needed for infants and small children because their body weight is low, meaning the amount taken per kilogram of body weight can become relatively high.

## Representative Kampo Formulas Used for Childhood Kan Symptoms

### Shokenchuto (小建中湯)

Shokenchuto is used for children who:

- Have a weak constitution
- Become tired easily
- Have abdominal pain
- Have poor physical strength

It may also be used for:

- Childhood weakness
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Bed-wetting
- Night crying

### Saikokaryukotsuboreito (柴胡加竜骨牡蛎湯)

This formula contains:

- Ryukotsu (竜骨)
- Borei (牡蛎)

Ryukotsu is fossilized animal bone, and Borei is processed oyster shell.

These ingredients have traditionally been used with the purpose of calming mental and nervous excitement.

### Keishikaryukotsuboreito (桂枝加竜骨牡蛎湯)

This formula also contains Ryukotsu and Borei.

It has traditionally been used for conditions involving nervous sensitivity and excessive tension.

## Musk (Jako, 麝香)

One unfamiliar herbal ingredient I learned about was Jako (麝香).

Jako comes from the secretion of the musk gland of a male musk deer.

I was surprised to learn that some traditional medicines come from animals.

Musk has historically been used in traditional medicine for purposes such as supporting circulation and restoring consciousness.

## What I Learned

Childhood herbal medicines and Kampo formulas are not simply medicines that remove symptoms.

They are based on the idea of supporting the child’s constitution and overall condition.

Although the names of herbs and formulas were difficult to read and remember, understanding their meanings made this study more than memorization.

It became a way to understand how people have observed and cared for children’s health throughout history.

#RegisteredSalespersonExam  
#KampoMedicine  
#HerbalMedicine  
#ChildhoodHealth  
#TraditionalJapaneseMedicine  
#KanSymptoms  
#Licorice  
#GlycyrrhizicAcid  
#LearningJourney

### What is the Musk Gland (Konou, 香嚢)?

The musk gland (香嚢, Konou, also called 麝香嚢 Jako-no) is a pouch-like organ located in the lower abdomen of a male musk deer, between the navel and the reproductive organs.

It stores a strongly scented secretion called musk (麝香, Jako).

The musk gland has the following characteristics:

- Location: It is found in the lower abdomen of male musk deer.
- Contents: It contains a secretion produced by a gland.
- Purpose: During the breeding season, the strong scent helps attract females from a distance.

### Uses of Musk

Perfume:  
When dried, the secretion produces a sweet and distinctive fragrance known as musk. It has traditionally been used as a perfume ingredient and as a fixative to help fragrances last longer.

Medicine:  
Musk has also been valued in traditional medicine as a medicinal ingredient, including for uses such as restoring consciousness and supporting heart function.

Today, because musk deer are protected and international trade is restricted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), synthetic musk fragrances are increasingly used instead.