Table 6.
CAM therapies under the current Japanese healthcare system.
| Type | National qualification | Health insurance coverage | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kampo | No | Yes(a) | A minimum of 8-h training at medical school |
| Acupuncture and moxibustion | Yes | Limited(b) | Three years education at college or |
| Four years education at university | |||
| Acupressure, massage and Shiatsu | Yes | No | Three years education at college |
| Seitai | No | No | None |
| Chiropractic | No | No | None |
| Aromatherapy | No(c) | No | None |
| Reflexology | No | No | None |
| Yoga (Ayurveda) | No(d) | No | None |
| Qigong | No | No | None |
| Health foods | No | No | None |
| Hypnotherapy | No(d) | No | None |
| Music therapy | No(d) | No | None |
| Meditation | No | No | None |
| Psychotherapy | No(e) | No | None |
| Balneotherapy | No | No | None |
| Thalassotherapy | No | No | None |
Kampo and balneotherapy have no national licensure system, but medical doctors who have completed 5 years of special training and have passed an examination conducted by the academic society of the respective fields are certificated as medical experts in the field.
(a)One hundred and forty-eight Kampo formulae are included under physician's prescription.
(b)Limited to six diseases. Consent by physicians is required.
(c)Academic society provides society certification for medical doctors or other licensed co-medical practitioners who meet the requirement and passed written examination. There are also qualifications offered by non-academic associations for non-licensed and licensed health professionals.
(d)Applicants who meet the requirements of academic society in the field and pass the examinations are provided qualification by the society.
(e)Applicants who meet the requirements of foundation in the field and pass the examinations are provided qualification by the foundation.