Kampo (more properly Kanpo) is an actual medical technique that you must be trained to perform, much like Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM). Medical Kampo is not a magical art; it is founded on herbs that have been shown to have demonstrable and repeatable physiologic effect. However, in the past when these herbs were used to heal, it was thought they had magical properties, and thus the use of herbs became incorporated into magical systems. This page is about the use of Kampo as a component of magic. If you are interested in Kampo as a medical practice, this website is an excellent resource.
To my knowledge, there is no fixed compendium of herbal properties, nor how to prepare them or use them. Herbs can be used fresh, dried, steeped, eaten, or burned. Some plants, such as bamboo, are used to craft ritual tools.
Below I have compiled a list of magical Kampo herbs, along with their magical association, if known. This is in no way an exhaustive list, and depending on region and type of practice, the associations are contestable. Note that some herbs contain toxic substances, and all herbs pose an allergen risk. This site assumes no responsibility for improper use of herbs. It is upon the reader to determine and assess the risks involved with herb use.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Part Used | Kanji | Katakana | Use |
| Achyranthis | Achyranthes fauriei | Root | 牛膝 | ゴシツ | Glamory, Rejuvination |
| Anemarrhena | Anemarrhena asphodeloides | Rhizome | 知母 | チモ | Divination, Longevity |
| Angelica Root | Angelica dahurica | Root | 白芷 | ビャクシ | Protection. Warding, Luck |
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca | Flower, Fruit, Seed | 杏仁 | キョウニン | Prophesy, Psychic Ability, Glamory, Rejuvination |
| Jack in the Pulpit | Arisaema heterophyllum | Rhizome | 天南星 | テンナンショウ | Banishing, Purging, Exorcism |
| Astragalus | Astragalus membranaceus | Root | 黄耆 | オウギ | Banishing (dried whole seed pods), Divination |
| Atractylodes | Atractylodes lancea | Rhizome | 蒼朮 | ソウジュツ | Longevity, Exorcism |
| Bamboo | Bambusa tuldoides | All | 竹筎 | チクジョ | Longevity, Luck, Crafting Ritual Items |
| Barley | Hordeum vulgare | Sprouts, Seed Stalk | 麦芽 | バクガ | Fertility, Wealth, Luck |
| Betel Nut/Areca Nut | Areca catechu | Nut | 檳榔子 | ビンロウジ | Fertility, Warding, Psychic Ability, Unlock Ki |
| Bitter Orange | Citrus aurantium | Peel, Flower, Juice | 枳実 | キジツ | Rejuvination, Protection, Exorcism |
| Black Cardamom | Amomum xanthioides | Seed | 縮砂 | シュクシャ | Purification, Protetion |
| Bugbane/Cohosh | Cimicifuga simplex | Rhizome | 升麻 | ショウマ | Transformation, Love |
| Capillary Wormwood | Artemisia capillaris | Leaf, Flower | 茵蔯蒿 | インチンコウ | Banishing, Protection |
| Carmichael’s Monkshood | Aconitum carmichaelii | Rhizome | 附子 | ブシ | Glamory, Rejuvination, |
| Carrot | Daucus carota subsp. sativus | Root | 人参 | ニンジン | Stability, Good Luck, Wealth, Prosperity |
| Chameleon Plant | Houttuynia cordata | Leaf | 十薬 | ジュウヤク | Protection. Warding, Banishing, Immortality |
| Chinese Angelica Root | Angelica acutiloba | Root | 当帰 | トウキ | Prophesy, Psychic Ability, Divination |
| Chinese Asparagus | Asparagus cochinchinensis | Root | 天門冬 | テンモンドウ | Immortality, Unlock Ki |
| Chinese Bellflower/Balloonflower | Platycodon grandiflorus | Flower, Root | 桔梗 | キキョウ | Divination, Purging, Breaking Curses |
| Chinese Cinnamon | Cinnamomum cassia | Bark | 桂皮 | ケイヒ | Banishing, Purging, Exorcism, Protection, Purification |
| Chinese Cucumber | Trichosanthes kirilowii | Root, Flower Seeds | 栝楼根 | カロコン | Unlock Ki, Healing |
| Chinese Foxglove | Rehmannia glutinosa | Root | 地黄 | ジオウ | Curses, Banishing, Protection |
| Chinese Gentian | Gentiana scabra | Root | 竜胆 | リュウタン | Love, Luck, Summoning |
| Chinese Knotweed | Polygonum multiflorum | Root | 何首烏 | カシュウ | Glamory, Rejuvination, Transformation |
| Chinese Licorice | Glycyrrhiza uralensis | Root | 甘草 | カンゾウ | Purification (Fumigation/Smudge) |
| Chinese Moonseed/Orient Vine | Sinomenium acutum | Rhizome | 防已 | ボウイ | Tranquility, Peace, Purging |
| Chinese Motherwort | Leonurus japonicus | Leaf | 益母草 | ヤクモソウ | Love, Luck, Purification |
| Chinese Peony | Paeonia lactiflora | Root | 芍薬 | シャクヤク | Love, Luck, Fortune, Prosperity |
| Chinese Plantain | Plantago asiatica | Seed | 車前子 | シャゼンシ | Divination, Prophesy |
| Chinese Senega | Polygala tenuifolia | Leaf | 遠志 | オンジ | Prophesy, Psychic Ability, Psychic Defense, Protection |
| Chinese Thoroughwax | Bupleurum falcatum | Root | 柴胡 | サイコ | Unlock Ki, Purging, Exorcism |
| Chinese Wild Ginger | Asarum sieboldii | Root | 細辛 | サイシン | Curses, Banishing, Protection |
| Chinese Yam | Dioscorea polystachya | Rhizome | 山薬 | サンヤク | Rejuvination,Longevity |
| Chocolate Vine | Akebia quinata | Stem | 木通 | モクツウ | Breaking curses, Purification (of a person) |
| Chotoko/Cat’s Claw | Uncaria rhynchophylla | Leaf, Flowers | 釣藤鈎 | チョウトウコウ | Tranquility, Peace, Protection, Appeasing Spirits, Exorcism |
| Chrysanthemum | Chrysanthemum morifolium | Flower | 菊花 | キッカ | Tranquility, Peace, Protection, Purification, Power |
| Clematis | Clematis chinensis | Root, Flower | 威霊仙 | イレイセン | Curses, Induce Ecstatic State |
| Clove | Syzygium aromaticum | Flower | 丁子 | チョウジ | Banishing, Protection, Purification, Influence, Luck |
| Cnidium | Cnidium officinale | Root | 川芎 | センキュウ | Love, Lust, Fertility, Unlock Ki |
| Cork Tree | Phellodendron amurense | Bark | 黄柏 | オウバク | Transformation, Divination |
| Corydalis | Corydalis turtschaninovii | Rhizome | 延胡索 | エンゴサク | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Channel Ki |
| Daikon | Raphanus sativus | Root | 大根 | ダイコン | Longevity, Stability, Good Fortune, Crafting Ritual Tools |
| Ephedra | Ephedra sinica | Leaf | 麻黄 | マオウ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Divination, Psychic Ability, Curses |
| Eucommia | Eucommia ulmoides | Bark | 杜仲 | トチュウ | Love, Lust, Fertility, Unlock Ki,Vitality, Longevity |
| Evodia | Tetradium rutaecarpa | Fruit | 呉茱萸 | ゴシュユ | Purification, Purging, Breakig Curses |
| Chinese Parsnip/Siler Root | Saposhnikovia divaricata | Root | 防風 | ボウフウ | Banishing, Purification, Psychic Abilities |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Fruit, Seed | 茴香 | ウイキョウ | Courage, Strength, Love, Fertility, Purification, Psychic Ability |
| Forsythia | Forsythia suspensa | Fruit, Flower | 連翹 | レンギョウ | Unlock Ki, Wealth, Prosperity, Rejuvination |
| Fritillaria | Fritillaria verticillata | Bulb, Flower | 貝母 | バイモ | Tranquility, Banishing, Purging |
| Gambir | Uncaria gambir | Leaf, Flowers | 阿仙薬 | アセンヤク | Strength, Purging, Courage, Crafting Ritual Items |
| Gardenia | Gardenia jasminoides | Bulb | 山梔子 | サンシシ | Tranquility, Protection, Divination, Love |
| Gastrodia | Gastrodia elata | Rhizome | 天麻 | テンマ | Breaking curses, Purification (of a person),Exorcism |
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale | Rhizome | 生姜 | ショウキョウ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Vitality, Luck, Happiness, Wealth |
| Ginseng | Panax ginseng | Root | 人参 | ニンジン | Love, Lust, Fertility, Unlock Ki,Vitality, Longevity, Luck |
| Glehnia | Glehnia littoralis | Rhizome | 浜防風 | ハマボウフウ | Breaking curses, Purification (of a person), Protection |
| Goldenthread | Coptis japonica | Rhizome | 黄連 | オウレン | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Psychic Ability, Curses |
| Greater Burdock | Arctium lappa | Fruit, Seeds | 牛蒡子 | ゴボウシ | Longevity, Warding, Protection, Luck, Crafting Ritual Items |
| Houpu Magnolia | Magnolia officinalis | Bark, Flowers | 厚朴 | コウボク | Purification, Longevity, Luck, Loyalty,Divination, Psychic Ability |
| Japanese Catnip | Schizonepeta tenuifolia | All | 荊芥 | ケイガイ | Breaking Curses, Purging, Purification (of a person) |
| Japanese Cattail | Typha latifolia | All | 蒲 | ガマ | Creation, Summoning, Talisman, Divintation, |
| Japanese Cherry/Sakura | Prunus serrulata | Flower, Fruit, Bark | 桜 | さくら | Immortality, Divination, Pyschic Ability |
| Japanese Cornelian Cherry | Cornus officinalis | Fruit | 山茱萸 | サンシュユ | Bresking Curses, Protection, Warding, Banishing |
| Japanese Ginseng | Panax japonicus | Root | 竹節人参 | チクセツニンジン | Love, Lust, Fertility, Unlock Ki,Vitality, Longevity, Luck |
| Japanese Hawthorn | Crataegus cuneata | Fruit | 山楂子 | サンザシ | Breaking Curses, Tranquility, Longevity |
| Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica | All | 忍冬 | ニンドウ | Love, Loyalty, Tranquility |
| Japanese Mugwort | Artemisia princeps | Leaf, Flower, Root | 艾葉 | ガイヨウ | Banishing, Purification, Psychic Abilities |
| Japanese Pepper Tree | Zanthoxylum piperitum | Fruit | 山椒 | サンショウ | Glamory, Rejuvination, Longevity, Purification |
| Japanese Spikenard | Aralia cordata | Rhizome | 和羌活 | ワキョウカツ | Unlock Ki, Longevity, Vitality |
| Japanese Water Lily/Jap. Spatterdock | Nuphar japonicum | Rhizome | 川骨 | センコツ | Breaking Curses, Purification (of a person) |
| Job’s Tears | Coix lacryma | Seed | 薏苡仁 | ヨクイニン | Luck, Prosperity, Granting Wishes, Crafting Ritual Items |
| Jujube/Chinese Date | Ziziphus zizyphus | Fruit, Bark (thorns) | 大棗 | タイソウ | Curses, Breaking Curses, Banishing (thorns), Tranquility, Purification (fruit) |
| Kudzu | Pueraria lobata | All | 葛根 | カッコン | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Vitality, Love,Loyalty |
| Lesser Galangal | Alpinia officinarum | Rhizome | 良姜 | リョウキョウ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Vitality, Luck, Happiness, Wealth |
| Longan | Euphoria longana | Fruit | 竜眼肉 | リュウガンニク | Talisman, Summoning (Dragon’s Eye), Divination, Protection, Immortality, Longevity |
| Loquat | Eriobotrya japonica | Leaf, Fruit | 枇杷葉 | ビワヨウ | Breaking Curses, Banishing, Purification (of a person) |
| Lotus | Nelumbo nucifera | All | 蓮肉 | レンニク | Talisman, Divination, Psychic Ability, Purification, Banishing (dried seed pod), Wisdom |
| Lumpy Bracket/Umbrella Polypore | Polyporus umbellatus | All | 猪苓 | チョレイ | Strength, Vitality, Purification |
| Mikan Orange/Satsuma Mandarin | Citrus unshiu | Peel | 陳皮 | チンピ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Vitality, Luck, Happiness, Wealth, Purification |
| Milk Parsley/Marsh Hog Fennel | Peucedanum praeruptorum | Root | 前胡 | ゼンコ | Unlock Ki, Longevity, Vitality |
| Mondo Grass/Monkey Grass | Ophiopogon japonicus | Rhizome | 麦門冬 | バクモンドウ | Tranquility, Longevity, Vitality, Talisman (berries) |
| Notopterygium | Notopterygium incisum | Rhizome | 羌活 | キョウカツ | Tranquility, Vitality, Purification (of a person) |
| Nutgrass | Cyperus rotundus | Rhizome | 香附子 | コウブシ | Banishing, purification, Psychic Abilities, Breaking Curses |
| Peach | Prunus persica | Fruit, Seed | 桃仁 | トウニン | Tranquility, Banishing, Protection, Talisman, Love, Luck, Fortune, Immortality |
| Pinellia | Pinellia ternata | Rhizome | 半夏 | ハンゲ | Unlock Ki, Longevity, Vitality |
| Puncture Vine Fruit | Tribulus terrestris | Fruit | 蒺藜子 | シツリシ | Summoning, Protection, Love, Lust, Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Vitality, |
| Purging Croton | Croton tiglium | Flower, Seed, Fruit | 巴豆 | ハズ | Curses, Banishing, Protection |
| Purple Gromwell | Lithospermum erythrorhizon | Root | 紫根 | シコン | Breaking Curses, Protection, Crafting Ritual Tools (dye) |
| Purple Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus | Root | 大根 | ダイコン | Longevity, Stability, Good Fortune, Crafting Ritual Tools |
| Rice | Oryza sativa | Seed, Seed Stalk | 粳米 | コウベイ | Purification, Prosperity, Luck, Fortune, Wealth |
| Safflower | Carthamus tinctorius | Flower | 紅花 | コウカ | Tranquility, Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Crafting Ritual Tools (dye) |
| Sakaki | Cleyera japonica | Leaves, Flowers | 榊 | サカキ | Purification, Protection, Summoning |
| Sappanwood | Caesalpinia sappan | Bark, Heartwood | 蘇木 | ソボク | Tranquility, Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Crafting Ritual Tools (dye) |
| Saw Wort/Snow Lotus | Saussurea lappa | Root | 木香 | モッコウ | Banishing, Purification, Increase Ki, Crafting Ritual Tools (dye) |
| Sawtooth Oak | Quercus acutissima | Bark | 樸樕 | ボクソク | Banishing, Protection, Fertility, Crafting Ritual Tools (dye, nut) |
| Schisandra | Schisandra chinensis | Fruit, Seeds | 五味子 | ゴミシ | Unlock Ki, Longevity, Rejuvination, Vitality, Immortality, Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Love, Lust |
| Senna | Senna obtusifolia | All | 決明子 | ケツメイシ | Purging, Purification (of a person) |
| Sesame, White | Sesamum indicum | Flower, Seed | 胡麻 | ゴマ | Luck, Wealth, Prosperity, Love |
| Sesame, Black | Sesamum indicum | Flower, Seed | 胡麻 | ゴマ | Curses, Banishing, Protrction |
| Shiso/Perilla/Beefsteak Plant | Perilla frutescens | All | 蘇葉 | ソヨウ | Banishing, Purification, Balance Ki, Safe Pregnancy |
| Skullcap | Scutellaria baicalensis | All | 黄芩 | オウゴン | Tranquility, Peace, Balance Ki, Purification |
| Sophora Root | Sophora flavescens | Root | 苦参 | クジン | Banishing, Purification, Breaking Curses, Glamory, Transformation |
| Spicebush | Lindera strychnifolia | Root | 烏薬 | ウヤク | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Psychic Ability |
| Swertia | Swertia japonica | Leaf | 当薬 | トウヤク | Banishing, Purification, Warding |
| Tea Bush | Camellia sinensis | Leaf Bud | 茶葉 | チャヨウ | Wealth, Prosperity, Luck, Good Fortune, Divination |
| Tiger Lily | Lilium lancifolium | Bulb, Flower | 百合 | ビャクゴウ | Love, Luck, Tranquility, Peace |
| Tree Peony | Paeonia moutan | Bark | 牡丹皮 | ボタンピ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Balance Ki |
| Tuckahoe mushroom | Wolfiporia extensa | All | 茯苓 | ブクリョウ | Tranquility, Peace, Balance Ki |
| Turkey Rhubarb | Rheum palmatum | Rhizome | 大黄 | ダイオウ | Protection, Purification, Purging, Talisman |
| Water Plantain | Alisma orientale | Rhizome | 沢瀉 | タクシャ | Banishing, Purification, Warding, Psychic Abilities |
| Wheat | Triticum aestivum | Seeds, Seed Stalks | 小麦 | ショウバク | Purication, Fertility, Luck, Prosperity, Wealth, Happiness |
| White Atractylodes | Atractylodes japonica | Rhizome | 白朮 | ビャクジュツ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Balance Ki |
| White Mulberry | Morus alba | Bark, Fruit | 桑白皮 | ソウハクヒ | Tranquility, Unlock Ki |
| Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | Leaf | 薄荷 | ハッカ | Divination, Psychic Ability, Purification, Strength, Vitality |
| Willow Leafed Magnolia | Magnolia salicifolia | Bark, Flowers | 辛夷 | シンイ | Tranquility, Peace, Restoration |
| Winter Melon | Benincasa cerifera | Fruit, Seed | 冬瓜子 | トウガシ | Unlock Ki, Increase Ki, Balance Ki |
| Wolfberry/Goji Berry | Lycium chinense | Bark, Flowers, Fruit | 地骨皮 | ジコッピ | Divination, Psychic Ability, Purification, Strength, Vitality, Tranquility, Peace, Balance Ki |
For more materials used in Shinto based magic, see the ritual tools page. Or head over to the Mikkyo, Onmyodo, or Shugendo pages.
NAVIGATION
Shinto Sanctuary 