Ishimpo

醫心方

Formulary from the Heart of Medicine

Author: Tanba Yasuyori

丹波康頼

Year: 984

Country: Japan

Ishimpo (also spelled as ishinpo ) was written by Yasuyori Tamba, Acupuncture Doctor and Imperial court physician.  It is the oldest surviving Japanese medical text, which contains 30 volumes in length. It is a compilation of medical knowledge and theories that were prevalent during the Sui (589-618 A.D.) and the Tang Dynasties (618-907 A.D.). The Ishimpo quotes from hundreds of ancient Chinese medical texts, many of which had already been lost in China, and have only survived to the present day through their inclusion in the work. Therefore, Ishimpo is not only considered highly valuable among philologists in Japan, but also scholars in China and other countries.  The oldest and most completed copy of Ishimpo is collected by the Tokyo National Museum and is designated as a National Treasure of Japan.

Ishimpo focuses primarily on clinical medicine and the structural organization of the text is as follows:

1: Overview of Medicine

2: Acupuncture and Moxibustion

3: Respiratory Diseases (Diseases caused by Wind-Evil)

4: Cosmetology (Conditions of the Head, Face and Hair)

5: Conditions of the Ear, Eyes, Nose, Teeth, Throat

6: The Five Viscera and Six Bowels

7: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Hemorrhoids, Parasites

8: Conditions of the Hands and Feet

9: Coughing and Vomiting

10: Repletion and Vacuity

11: Diarrheas

12: Urinary Problems

13: Fatigue and Debilitating Illness

14: Epidemic Disease, Sudden Death and Resuscitation

15-16: Tumors, and Cancer

17: Dermatology

18: Traumatic Injuries

19 – 20: Pharmacology (Use of mineral based medicine and their side effects)

21 – 24: Gynecology and Obstetrics

25: Pediatrics

26: Public Health

27: Wellness Promotion

28: Sexual Health (Taoist Sexual Practices)

29 – 30: Diet and Nutritional Medicine