Study on the origin and theoretical foundation of I Dong-won(李東垣)'s pulse diagnosis distinguishing internal and external injuries(內外傷辨脈法)

이동원(李東垣) 내외상변맥법(內外傷辨脈法)의 유래와 이론적 근거에 대한 고찰

Pulse diagnosis that distinguishes internal injury from external injury by comparing the left and right of the chon pulse was formed in the process of Naegyoung's pulsation theory of ST9 and LU9 being assimilated into diagnostic method by taking chon pulse. The founder of school of internal injury, I Dong-won, expanded the horizon for this method to be widely used in clinical practice by especially explaining the specific application and theoretical background. According to him, pulse at ST9 which means chon pulse at the left hand, is bigger than the chon pulse at the right hand, it reflects external injury. Bigger "entrance pulse", a chon pulse at the right hand means internal injury. The reason is the left side of the body is a path for Yanggi so it controls the exterior part and the right side of the body is a path for Eumgi to descend so it controls the interior part. Internal injury develops as the spleen and stomach get injured. If the spleen and stomach is damaged essence derived from food cannot ascend to the stomach and will flow back to the lower part. As a result, fire of Eum type formed at the lower part will shoot up to the upper part and manifests external injury-like exterior syndromes. In this case, evidence distinguishing between internal and external injury is the fact that right hand pulse is bigger than the left hand. The important reason for distinguishing between internal and external injury is because when treating external injury caused by excess syndrome, pathogenic Gi should be dispelled. However, treating internal injury cased by deficiency syndrome, requires promoting the primordial Gi.