Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective
The primary aim of this article is to introduce the revised second edition of the “Kampo Utilization Guide for Cancer Supportive Care” (2026) and to describe the decade of activity by the Japanese Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (JASCC) Kampo Study Group that produced it.
Methods
Since its establishment in 2016 with six members, the Group has grown into an 18‐member multidisciplinary team, reflecting the expanding role of Kampo medicine in cancer supportive care. To ground the revision in real needs, the Group conducted the KAMPUS Study (
n
= 618), which found that 87.8% of healthcare professionals wished to learn about Kampo medicine while 56.4% experienced insufficient opportunities to do so.
Results
The revised guide responds to this gap: it pairs symptom‐based algorithms with detailed formula‐based descriptions, integrates available evidence with traditional Kampo theory, gives explicit attention to safety and drug interactions, and is structured for practitioners from beginners to specialists. Compared with the first edition, it adds and updates symptom domains such as gastrointestinal symptoms, menopausal symptoms, and chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy, and strengthens guidance on the recognition and management of major Kampo‐associated adverse effects.
Conclusion
Together, the Group‘s activities and the revised guide illustrate how evidence and classical practice can be combined into a practical resource for multidisciplinary cancer care.