Product information checked: 18 September 2026
Your Japan shopping list says “Inochinohaha”, but which one? Start with when the discomfort happens, then match A, ホワイト, アクティブ or メグリビ on the box. This guide compares four products often considered together, not every item in the wider Inochinohaha range.
Let’s start with when symptoms happen
I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist working in Japan. Discomfort around your period and ongoing menopausal symptoms are different starting points. If a family member has asked for an exact product, match that name. Age and a more premium-looking box are not enough reasons to substitute another medicine.
A 3-minute starting point: timing and symptoms
A
Consider the menopausal-symptom formula when discomfort is not limited to the menstrual cycle. It combines 13 herbs with vitamins and other ingredients; it is a medicine, not an everyday supplement for everyone.
WHITE
White is positioned for period-related discomfort, including period pain and premenstrual irritability. Its 11-herb formula is different from A; look at the link to your cycle first.
ACTIVE
Positioned for discomfort that continues after menopause, such as stiff shoulders, lower-back pain, heaviness and feeling cold. A different 10-herb formula, not an “extra-strength A”.
MEGURIBI
A Kampo formula for specified skin and other symptoms in people who match its physical profile. Read that profile below; it is not a general beauty or whitening product.
A starting point, not a diagnosis: uses overlap. Do not choose only by age or colour. All four are for ages 15+. A, White and Meguribi are Class 2 OTC medicines; Active is Class 3.
The Japanese names to match at the shelf
For a requested purchase, ask for the full name or a box photo. Save this section for the store. Different pack sizes can change the bottle or box shape, so match the words first.
女性保健薬 命の母A
Look for A
女性薬 命の母ホワイト
Look for ホワイト
女性保健薬 命の母アクティブ
Look for アクティブ
命の母 メグリビ（販売名：メグリビa）
Look for メグリビ
Product photos: Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. Photos are not shown to scale. Sources are listed at the end.
The pictured packs are A 420 tablets, White 180, Active 168 and Meguribi 168. “White” is the product name, not a whitening claim. Meguribi’s registered Japanese sales name is メグリビa.
Ingredients: the reason to choose matters more than herb count
| Product | Formula | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| A | 13 herbs plus vitamins, calcium compounds, taurine and other ingredients | Broad menopausal-symptom focus |
| WHITE | 11 herbs including Japanese angelica, peony, cnidium, moutan and peach kernel | Period-related discomfort; a distinct formula |
| ACTIVE | 10 herbs including achyranthes and licorice | Postmenopausal symptom focus |
| MEGURIBI | Kamishoyosan combined with Shimotsuto extract: 3.2 g per 12-tablet daily dose | A defined Kampo profile and a different meal schedule |
A, White and Active are multi-herb preparations; Meguribi uses a named Kampo formula. Thirteen herbs do not prove greater benefit than ten, and Class 3 does not make Active a supplement. The intended uses and formula matter more.
Meguribi needs one extra check
Its labelled profile is a person of moderate or lower physical strength, with rough, dry skin, sometimes a poor complexion, without gastrointestinal problems, and associated stiffness, fatigue, anxiety or irritability, sometimes itching or constipation. Within that profile, indications include eczema/dermatitis, pigmentation, sensitivity to cold, physical weakness, menstrual problems and menopausal symptoms. Wanting brighter skin or buying for your mother does not establish that fit.
Directions: four tablets per dose, but watch meal timing
| Product | Per dose, ages 15+ | Daily schedule |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4 tablets | 3 times, after meals |
| WHITE | 4 tablets | 3 times, after meals |
| ACTIVE | 4 tablets | 3 times, after meals |
| MEGURIBI | 4 tablets | 3 times, before meals or between meals |
None of these four is for under-15s. Take with water or warm water. For Meguribi, 食間 means between meals—about 2–3 hours after eating—not during a meal. Do not take the whole daily amount at once or invent a different schedule.
How long should you take it?
Response varies; these are not a promise of relief after one dose on your travel day. White can be started when your usual period-related symptoms appear. For A, White and Active, stop and seek advice if symptoms do not improve after a period of use. For Meguribi, the leaflet specifies about one month and also requires advice before prolonged use. Buying a larger pack should not decide how long you take it.
Before use: pregnancy, breastfeeding and other conditions
- Do not use A or White while breastfeeding. Their leaflets prohibit combining breastfeeding with use. Do not stop breastfeeding on your own just to take the product; get advice on an appropriate option. Different labelling for the other products is not a universal safety guarantee.
- If pregnant or possibly pregnant, check with your doctor first. Seek advice before use if you are receiving treatment or have a drug-allergy history. A, White and Meguribi have additional cautions for frailty or a weak stomach/tendency to diarrhoea.
- For Meguribi, older adults and people with swelling, hypertension, heart disease or kidney disease need prior advice. Its herbs include licorice and gardenia; do not casually combine Kampo products or use it long term without advice.
- Stop and seek advice for a rash, itching, nausea, poor appetite or other suspected reactions. With Meguribi, worsening weakness/muscle pain or repeated abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation or bloating needs prompt medical care. Do not dismiss persistent or unusual bleeding as a normal adjustment.
One useful check before buying for family
First confirm: “Did you mean A or White?” If the choice is still open, the timing of symptoms is more useful than the box colour. Choosing one understood product is more useful than bringing all four. Medicines are not one-size-fits-all souvenirs.
Questions before you buy or use it
Can I choose A or White just by age?
No. Both are for ages 15+. The manufacturer distinguishes ongoing menopausal symptoms from discomfort linked to the menstrual cycle; it does not require switching at a fixed age.
Is White a whitening medicine?
No. White is the product name. It is positioned for menstrual-cycle-related discomfort, not skin whitening.
Can I take two types together?
Do not combine them on your own. Herbs can overlap and each has its own conditions of use. Get product-specific advice before combining or switching medicines or Kampo formulas.
Is Meguribi taken after meals like the other three?
Its labelled timing is different: before or between meals, four tablets three times daily for ages 15+. Between meals means around 2–3 hours after food, not while eating.
Sources and photo credits
Based on Japanese manufacturer information. English names help you read this guide; match the full Japanese name when shopping. Official photos retain the original packaging artwork. Read the current leaflet supplied with your pack before use.
