What is Inchingoreisan?

Inchingoreisan is a Kampo herb mix from Japan. In Japan it counts as a single drug (Kampo), so it comes ready-made and you do not blend it yourself. It joins the herb capillaris (inchinko) with a five-herb mix called Goreisan, so it is also known as Capillaris with Goreisan.

Kampo doctors give it for jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and for hepatitis (a sore, swollen liver). It is also used for strong thirst and for oliguria (passing very little urine). It is picked for people who are not constipated.

Here is the short verdict. The tradition behind it is long, but we found no human trials of this exact mix. Long use in a tradition is not proof that a remedy works, and that gap is worth knowing before you start.

How does Inchingoreisan work?

No one has shown how it works in the body.

In Kampo terms, it is said to clear "damp heat" tied to the liver and to move stuck water out through the urine. That is a traditional idea, not a tested one.

Lab and animal work gives a few clues. Capillaris and one of its compounds, scoparone, have moved bile and cut swelling in animals. Some of the other herbs make animals pass more urine.

None of that proves the same thing happens in people. Jaundice and hepatitis have many causes, and a few of them are serious. A doctor needs to find the cause first.

What forms does Inchingoreisan come in?

Most people take it as dry granules.

In Japan it comes in small foil packs from a pharmacy. You tip the granules into warm water and drink them.

You may also see it as a fine powder, as pills, or as a tea boiled from raw herbs. The boiled tea is the old way. Granules are far more common now.

Strength can differ from maker to maker. Read the pack for the daily amount.

Where it comes from:

The recipe is old. It comes from a Chinese text, the Jingui Yaolue, written about 1,800 years ago.

Japanese doctors took it up and kept it in use as Kampo grew. Its job stayed much the same: yellowing of the skin with thirst and scant urine.

Today Japan lists it as one approved drug. Doctors there can write it on a health insurance script. Its traditional tier is T2, a long-standing staple of one tradition.

What does Inchingoreisan help with?

• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes): This is the classic Kampo use, and it is the reason the mix exists. We found no human trials that test it for jaundice. Yellow skin or eyes always needs a doctor. The cause can be a blocked bile duct, a virus, a drug, or alcohol. Some causes are urgent, so get tested first.
• Hepatitis (a sore, swollen liver): Kampo doctors in Japan have long used it here, often beside normal care. We found no human trials of this mix for hepatitis. A related Kampo mix, Inchinkoto, has been studied more. That is a different recipe, so its results do not carry over. Do not use this in place of treatment for hepatitis B or C.
• Strong thirst with oliguria (passing very little urine): This pairing is how Kampo doctors pick the mix. Thirst plus scant urine, and no constipation, is the target pattern. The herb evidence here is animal work on urine flow, not human trials. Passing very little urine can also mean you are dry or that your kidneys are in trouble, so get it checked.
• Mild puffiness or water swelling: The Goreisan part of the mix is used in Kampo for water that sits in the body. Human trials of this mix for swelling have not been published as far as we can tell. New or fast swelling of the legs, belly or face needs a doctor. It can point to the heart, kidneys or liver.

Which foods are rich in Inchingoreisan?

Heavy use of cinnamon does add to one of the herbs in the mix, but food is not a source of the mix itself.

What are the side effects of Inchingoreisan?

• Feeling sick or being sick
• Belly pain or a full, bloated feeling
• Loose stools or more trips to the toilet
• Loss of appetite
• Passing more urine, and feeling dry or thirsty
• Rash, hives or itching
• Dizziness when you stand up
• Rare: signs of liver harm, such as deeper yellow skin, dark urine, pale stools or bad tiredness
• Very rare: a strong allergic response with a swollen face or mouth and trouble breathing

Good to know:

Most people who take it report nothing. When there is a problem, it is usually mild stomach upset that fades when you stop.

Two things matter more. Herbal mixes can, now and then, harm the liver. That is hard to spot here, because the mix is given to people whose liver is already sick.

So do not treat liver signs at home. Your doctor should check your blood while you take it. Stop and get help if your yellowing gets worse.

How much Inchingoreisan should you take?

• Recommended daily: In Japan the usual adult amount is 7.5 g of extract granules a day, split into two or three doses. Some makers set 6 g a day. Always follow the pack and your prescriber. Doses for children are smaller and should be set by a doctor. Outside Japan no standard dose is agreed.
• Best time of day: Two or three doses spread through the day, taken with warm water.
• With or without food: The Japanese custom is an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before a meal or between meals. If it makes you feel sick, take it just after food instead.
• Time to effect: Thirst and urine output may shift within a few days. Liver signs move slowly, and only blood tests can show it. Do not judge that part by how you feel.
• How long to take it: Think in short courses, not in years. Review after about two weeks. If nothing has changed, stop and go back to your doctor. If you are using it alongside care for a liver problem, your doctor should track your blood tests while you take it.