HONZO Laboratory Suggests Ways to Use Medicinal Herbs for Healthy Minds and Bodies

The town of Taki, located almost exactly in the middle of Mie Prefecture, is blessed with an abundance of marine and land resources. The town has also turned out many pioneers in the field of herbal medicine who have advanced the study of natural medicinal herbs. Moreover, the region as a whole has embraced and fostered a tradition of herbal medicine. VISON, a large retail complex that brings together Japan’s finest food, culture, art, and technology, is home to the HONZO Laboratory, a joint research facility between Mie University and Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

For this article, we spoke with Soma Akihiro, a senior researcher at HONZO Laboratory and a member at the Medical Management Group of Rohto Pharmaceutical’s Corporate Planning Department. We discussed applications of medicinal herbs, which may enhance a person’s immunity, and modern interpretations of traditional herbal medicine in an age when people are expected to manage their own health.

Exploring modern health science while making the most of Taki’s traditions and potential

While aiding patients suffering from illnesses treatable only with pharmaceuticals, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. also focuses on improving pre-symptomatic conditions and boosting the body’s own natural healing power, under the slogan of Rohto: The drug company that does not rely on drugs.

“Our stance is that there are many ways to help people live healthy and happy lives, and that these methods do not necessarily involve medicine. We believe there are many lessons for delivering well-being to be found in the forces of nature, the wisdom of lifestyles left to us by our ancestors, and the traditions and culture of local communities,” says Soma, describing his company’s approach to business.

The company joined the Mie Hometown Creation Project, launched in 2014, because it wanted to participate in creating a healthy and vibrant community by drawing attention to Taki’s traditions and natural power.

Seasonal medicinal herbs are planted in the complex’s herbal garden. In this photo (taken in May) researcher Sakaue Minoru of Mokuji Co., Ltd. picks peonies, which happen to be the official flower of VISON.

“Mie, which boasted the longest healthy life expectancy for women in Japan in 2019, is a prefecture conducive to healthy living. And Taki is a place that has long cherished herbal medicine. So we wanted to establish an up-to-date health sciences facility here that follows the ideas and traditions of herbal medicine while also furthering them in concert with our modern lifestyles and lifecycles. The first stage of our exhaustive studies and joint research with Mie University led to the HONZO Spa, a hot-spring spa using medicinal herbs, which was created by fusing modern technology with herbal medicine and the Niu calendar.”

Honzo originally was the name for natural substances with medicinal properties. Today, they are called shoyaku, or crude drugs of plant or animal origin. You may have seen these crude drugs often in traditional kanpo medicines such as licorice extract and cinnamon bark.

The exact period when herbal medicine was introduced to Japan is unknown. But when the Compendium of Materia Medica, a foundational text on herbal medicine published in China during the Edo period (1603 to 1868), reached Japan, it caught the attention of the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. He apparently encouraged the study of herbal medicine as a way to reduce the cost of importing herbal medicines. Two herbal medicine scholars active at this time were Noro Genjo and Niwa Shohaku, both born in Mie. Following in their footsteps, numerous herbal medicine scholars came out of Mie, resulting in some dubbing the prefecture the land of herbal medicine.

We wish to soothe the minds and bodies of all visitors to VISON

You can enjoy 72 different medicinal herb baths over the course of the year at VISON’s hot-spring HONZO Spa. The number 72 comes from the Niu calendar, a traditional Mie calendar. The Niu calendar recorded seasonal variations and weather conditions and was published by the Kamo Clan, who lived in what is now Taki, in the late Muromachi period (1336 to 1573). The Niu calendar is considered to be the forerunner of the Ise calendar, which later spread throughout the country.

“The Niu calendar subdivided each of the 24 solar terms [used to denote the changing of the seasons] into three equal parts, forming 72 micro-seasons that express seasonal phases and weather conditions. The calendar is distinctive because it indicates familiar seasonal changes in intervals of approximately five days. HONZO Spa compounds medicinal herb formulas with local ingredients for each of these 72 micro-seasons.”

The medicinal herb bath formulas use common, all-natural ingredients that everyone has tasted or used. The medicinal herb baths also help relieve local community concerns by making effective use of citrus fruits that have grown on fallow land in areas surrounding VISON.

Machines are used to dry the plants harvested from the medicinal herb fields

The spa’s original medicinal herbal bath formulas, which combine a variety of plants, change roughly every five days

“Our herbal baths, which rely on nature and tradition, and our efforts to resolve social issues and revitalize communities and regions, are all part of our pursuit of well-being.”

Three characteristics are common to all 72 of the spa’s medicinal herbal baths.

＜Characteristics of HONZO Spa herbal baths＞
・Bathing in the herbs improves blood circulation and may promote metabolism
・The spa’s steam moistens mucous membranes in the throat and nasal passages, which may prevent the entry of foreign substances and resulting infections
・The spa’s fragrances work on the autonomic nervous system and may invoke a relaxing effect

The spa is a place we need in our modern times, when there is an emphasis on coping with stress and boosting immunity.

“Our approach to herbal medicine that we have reinterpreted for our modern age is not limited to medicinal herbal baths. At VISON, which is ringed by lush mountain forests, we work not only to maintain a healthy natural environment, but also to maintain good health by amassing traditional foodstuffs that help regulate people’s gut environments and transport healthy nutrients into the body. The HONZO Spa baths are just one method to accomplish this. We want people to know that if they visit VISON in Taki, a natural treasure trove, they can work toward boosting their immunity. Our wish is to create a healthy and vibrant community while also contributing to economic growth.”

Soma continues.

“I recommend plants with strong antioxidant properties, not just medicinal herbs, especially vegetables that can be eaten as food. When you ask kids what is the strongest thing in the natural world, they will usually say things like lions or tigers. But for me, the strongest things in nature are plants because they grow while exposed to nature’s harsh conditions like ultraviolet rays, wind and rain, and perennial enemies.

“I believe that being smart about incorporating plants, which have the ability to protect themselves, into your life can help protect the bodies and minds of humans. I encourage people to start at home with something simple like decorating with flowers or taking a bath with citrus peels.”

We want guests to include the wisdom of herbal medicine into their daily lives after a soothing experience at VISON

HONZO Laboratory RINNE, located beside the HONZO Laboratory, has a broad assortment of items to enrich your home life after relaxing at VISON. The establishment is a combined café and organic goods store operated by Rinnesha Co., Ltd., which was established in 1977.

In addition to selling Nikogusa-cha, Rinne’s original herb tea, the store sells daily goods, cosmetics, and organic food ingredients that help you lead a healthier life. In the café space, you can enjoy tasting original teas made with seasonal medicinal plants and herbs.

We recommend visitors seek out their favorite flavor, as many of these teas featuring exquisite blends of medicinal herbs are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

A three-tea tasting flight (complete with an assortment of vegan cookies)

The fusion of traditional Japanese wisdom with modern science and technology has produced the concept of modern honzo herbal medicine. Given that HONZO Laboratory RINNE places great importance on people-friendly production, why not pick up some of their items and try introducing them into your daily routine?