Kusuri – Guide to Japanese Remedies to take in Japan

Are you traveling to Japan and have no idea what Japanese medicine to take for headaches, flu, poor digestion, hangovers, aches and other problems? In this article we will see a guide to Japanese remedies for various problems and situations.

It is worth remembering that many medicines in Japan usually come in packs with many small pills. It is usually necessary to take 2 or more pills to equal one pill in Brazil. It's best to follow the instructions!

Kusuri and Yakkyoku – Drugstore in Japan

Kusuri [薬] means medicines, pharmaceuticals, medicines and medicinal drugs. You already know what to ask if you are in a pharmacy.

Pharmacy in Japanese is called Yakkyoku [薬局] and they usually offer more than just medicine. Some Japanese pharmacies are big markets with different types of products.

Throughout this article you will learn the names of some remedies to take care of your health. If you are feeling very unwell, we recommend looking for one: hospital in japan.

Curious about what drugstores are like in Japan? See a video below:

Classification of medicines in Japan

On the packaging of Japanese medicines, you will find the following characters [第○類医薬品] where in place of the circle will be a number from 1 to 3. This number is the classification of the medicine where each number means:

Class 1 drugs: They cannot be purchased directly, but are delivered by pharmacists. The medicine is usually strong and has several side effects.

Class 2 drugs: Sold by registered pharmacists or retailers. While class 2 drugs are not as intense as class 1 drugs, keep an eye out for side effects.

Class 3 drugs: These are regular medications available at any pharmacy. Registered pharmacists and resellers will be able to answer any questions about this over-the-counter drug.

In some medicines you will find the characters [第[2]類医薬品] – These class 2 medications should not be taken with other medications and are not suitable for pregnant women and children.

Japanese Remedies for Headaches and Others

Many people experience headaches because of the change in weather or mental fatigue. O bufferin [バファリン] is a medicine used mainly for headache symptoms and costs an average of 1,000 yen.

It also has other different versions, each targeting a certain type of pain symptom:

• Bufferin A – Standard;
• Premium Buffering – Extreme pain;
• Bufferin Luna – Cramps and other pains;
• Bufferin Kaze EX – Related to colds;

Tylenol [タイレノール] is another remedy used for headaches, it is the equivalent of paracetamol. It is usually indicated against fever, flu, toothache, headache, menstrual cramps, arthritis and back pain.

Another very common remedy for headaches is EVE QUICK which is composed of ibuprofen. Both tylenol and EVE and other headache meds can cost around 1,000 yen.

When we take a trip to Japan, we can also end up suffering from muscle aches. But in Japan this is not a problem when you have the Vantelin [バンテリン] that can be found easily.

Japanese cold and flu remedies

In addition to those mentioned bufferin and tylenol that can combat certain types of flu symptoms, there are Japanese remedies for flu and colds.

pabron [パブロン] is a remedy that relieves your cold, eases symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and runny nose. This remedy can be found in pill and powder forms for around 1300 yen.

We also have Lulu Attack EX [ルルアタック EX] which relieves chills, nasal congestion, phlegm, fevers and sneezing. The medicine Kakkonto [葛根湯] has the same effect, but is mostly used at the beginning of colds.

If you want a remedy that directly combats a symptom, you can search the pharmacy for the words below:

• 風邪 (kaze) – common cold;
• 喉 (node) – throat;
• 咳 (seki) – cough;
• 咳き込む (sekikomu) – violent cough;
• 痰 (tan) – phlegm;
• 鼻づまり ha (hanazumari) – stuffy nose;
• くしゃみ (kushami) – sneezing;
• さむけ (samuke) – shaking;
• 発熱 (netsu) – fever;
• アレルギ (arerugī) – allergy;

Japanese remedies for sore throat

For sore throat and sore throat we have the Loxonin S which also serves against joint pain, sprains, headaches, bruises, broken bone pain, shoulder pain, neuralgia, muscle pain and cramp.

But if you have a weak stomach it is better to look for other medicines because the Loxonin S affects the stomach and is more expensive than other pain relievers. You can just buy cheap medicine like throat lozenges.

Go to a pharmacy and look for node [のど/喉] which means throat. You can even find throat lozenges at grocery stores and convenience stores.

Japanese Medicines for Nausea and Digestion

The travelmin [トラベルミ] is the medicine indicated to help you with nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. O Travelmin Junior [トラベルミンジュニア] is suitable for children over 5 years old.

However, another remedy that can be used for this same problem is Seirogan [正露丸], it pretty much has the same effect and relieves your stomach pain and your poor digestion.

The Seirogan It has a very strong smell and taste, not being very pleasant, that is, not everyone can take this type of medication.

Fibe Mini is a drink that promises to relieve constipation. Anyone who has intestinal problems and becomes constipated easily, whether from stress or food, Fibe Mini can alleviate quickly in emergencies.

Another remedy that can help with this same problem is Gaster 10 which mainly relieves heartburn and improves the functioning of the stomach, this medicine has its liquid, powder and tablet formula.

Japanese medicines for insect bites

The kinkan [キンカン] is mostly used for bites of all kinds of insects, body aches in the hips, shoulders, sprains and bruises. this remedy is a liquid that is applied to the area where the insect has bitten.

But there is not only kinkan [キンカン], there is also the muhi [ムヒ]. This remedy can be used for frostbite, dermatitis, rashes, inflammation, eczema and hives.

This medicine comes with tubes or roll-on, that are applied in the desired places where they were bitten by the insects. You can also choose to repellents and other creams that we mentioned in the article about insects from Japan.

Japanese hangover medicines

The heparize [ヘパリーゼ] will help you through a hangover, this miracle medicine will help you to have strength the next day after a night out in a izakaya or at a party.

At the Mikata [ノミカタ] is a medicine that by taking it can avoid the symptoms of hangover, you can take it before drinking alcoholic beverages or during, even after drinking. We also recommend the Ukon No Chikara [ウコンの力].

These remedies can also be found in convenience stores in a beverage version in a small glass bottle. Some can be dissolved in water. If you are looking for another remedy, search for the word futsukayoi [二日酔い].

female japanese medicines

Ninokyua used for dry skin, red bumps, itchiness, irritated skin and other symptoms of those with sensitive skin. These symptoms can be found in the arms and legs and cause an uncomfortable feeling.

The BB chocolate helps with hormonal issues that can be common especially in women. O BB chocolate they are pills that have vitamins and fight acne and even canker sores from the inside out.

Bo-koren helps relieve the typical pain of a urinary tract infection, decreases that feeling of going to the bathroom and helps to eliminate the bacteria that causes the infection.

meditator is quite popular in Japan for vaginal infections [kanjida chitsuen]. many women use before go to the doctor for symptom relief. found in ointment, spray or tablet formulations.

Vocabulary to find your medicine in Japan

To finish the article, I will leave a list of words that are symptoms and you can look up the medicines or ask a pharmacist or registered seller.

I hope you enjoyed the article, if you liked it share and leave your comments.

Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>

Portuguese	Japanese	Romaji
common cold	かぜ／風邪	kaze
acne	ニキビ	nikibi
pressure point sticker	つぼ用シール	tsuboyō shīru
allergy	アレルギー	arerugī
antihistamine	抗ヒスタミン剤	kōhisutaminzai
burning, burning	ヒリヒリ	hiri-hiri
Job's tears draw	はとむぎエキス	hatomugi ekisu
asthma	ぜんそく／喘息	zensoku
heartburn, sour stomach	胸やけ／胸焼け	munayake, muneyake
saffron	ウコン	ukon
nutritional drink (energy/vitamins)	栄養ドリンク	eiyō dorinku
bubble, pimple	おでき	odeki
corn, corn	たこ	tako
face	かお	kao
carnitine	カルニチン	karunichin
poultice	パップ剤	pappuzai
phlegm	たん／痰	tan
scar	傷あと	kizuato
scar, mark	あと	ato
itchy eyes	目のかゆみ	me no kayumi
cholesterol	コレステロール	koresuterōru
collagen	コラーゲン	korāgen
eye drops	目薬	megusuri
eat a lot	食べ過ぎ／食べすぎ／たべすぎ	tabesugi
itch	かゆみ	kayumi
pill	錠劑	jōzai
compress	シップ剤	shippuzai
freezing	しもやけ／霜焼け	shimoyake
excessive consumption	飲み過ぎ／飲みすぎ／のみすぎ	nomisugi
elbow	ひじ	hiji
cream	クリーム	kurīmu
calcium	カルシウム	karushiumu
capsule	カプセル	kapuseru
daiper	おむつ	omutsu
blue light damage	ブルーライトダメージ	burū raito damēji
peeling skin due to dryness	皮むけ	kawamuke
discoloration	シミ	shimi
diarrhea	下痢／げり	geri
diet	ダイエット	daietto
stomach pain discomfort	胃の不快感	i no fukaikan
stomach ache, nausea	むかつき	mukatsuki
eczema	しっしん	shisshin
bruise	打ち身	uchimi
bagged	パック	pakku
mouthwash	うがい薬	ugai-gusuri
rash	かぶれ	kabure
rash, acne	吹き出物	fukidemono
heat rash	あせも	asemo
scald, burn	やけど	yakedo
sneezing	くしゃみ	kushami
steroids	ステロイド	suteroido
stomach	おなか	onaka
heavy stomach, troublesome digestion	胃もたれ	imotare
eyestrain	目の疲れ	me no tsukare
fever	発熱／熱	netsu
wound	きず	kizu
fissure	あかぎれ	akagire
ribbon	テープ剤	tēpuzai
throat	のど／喉	nodo
cream gel	クリーミィーゲル	kurīmī geru
jam	ゼリー	zerī
Royal jelly	ローヤルゼリー	rōyaru zerī
plaster	プラスター剤	purasutāzai
ginkgo	イチョウ	ichō
granule	スティック顆粒	sutikku karyū
hydrogen	水素	suiso
individual	ひび	hibi
inflammation, inflammation	ただれ	tadare
soy isoflavone	大豆イソフラボン	daizui isofurabon
knee	ひざ	hiza
tearing due to dry skin	かきむしる	kakimushiro
languor	だるさ	darusa
lecithin	レシチン	reshichin
contact lenses	コンタクトレンズ／コンタクト／レンズ	kontakuto renzu, kontakuto, renzu
calorie limit	カロリミット	karorimitto
lotion	ローション	rōshon
lutein	ルテイン	rutein
powder medicine	粉薬	konagusuri
corn on the foot	うおの目／魚の目	uo no me
mineral	ミネラル	mineraru
multi-mineral	マルチミネラル	maruchi mineraru
multivitamin	マルチビタミン	maruchi bitamin
stuffy nose	鼻づまり／鼻詰まり	hanazumari
nausea	吐き気／はきけ	hakike
nausea, gagging	こみ上げる	komiageru
dry eyes	ドライアイ	dorai ai
dry eyes	目の渇き／目のかわき	me no kawaki
stiff shoulders	肩こり	katakori
dry skin	かさつく	kasatsuku
dry and scaly skin	粉ふき	kofuki
rough and cracked skin	荒れ肌	arehada
to hang	さかむけ	sakamuke
Bug bite	虫刺され／虫さされ	mushi-sasare
pigmentation	黒ずんだ	kurozunda
placenta	プラセンタ	purasenta
athlete's foot	水虫	mizumushi
sunburn, tan	ひやけ／日焼け	hiyake
chitosan	キトサン	kitosan
hangover	二日酔い	futsukayoi
neck stiffness	寝違え	nechigae
freckles	そばかす	sobakasu
feeling sick, nausea	むかむか	mukamuka
feeling bloated, gassy	おなかのハリ、おなかのガスだまり	onaka no hari, onaka no gasu-damari
feeling dry, rough	ガサガサ	gasa-gasa
somnolence	眠気	nemuke
spray	スプレー	supurē
supplement	サプリメント	sapurimento
cough	せき／咳	seki
violent cough	咳きこむ／咳き込む	sekikomu
tremor	さむけ	samuke
moisture	うるおい	uruoi
redness	赤み	akami
wart	いぼ	ibo
blurry vision	目のかすみ	me no kasumi
Vitamin	ビタミン	bitamin
zinc	亜鉛	a’en
hyaluronic acid	ヒアルロン酸	hiaruronsan