[Camphor in the Edo era - camphor and borneol for medicines]

Abstract

Since borneol was frequently importe to Japan by way of China for a long time, many names have been introduced from China together with it. As technical terms for camphor were not introduced because Japan was a country that manufactured camphor and exported it, the terms were not affected by the Chinese language either. Regarding the medical use of camphor and borneol, there was not remarkable difference between medical treatment in Japan and China because such treatment was influenced by China in the Edo period. But as an industry for manufacturing drugs was developed and the business became prosperous after the 17th century in Japan, medical practitioners found their own usages for medicines incorporating borneol nad camphor.