• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.90-106
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• 2012

Objectives: Eight constitution medicine (ECM), which was first introduced in 1965, has been further developed and refined over the decades, and has consolidated its foundation through many studies on theories, diagnosis and clinical application. However, there have been few reviews on dissertations of ECM. In this study, we reviewed previously published studies related to ECM. Methods: We reviewed a total of 55 ECM-related studies published from 1965 to 2010 found on PubMed and various domestic Oriental medicine journals. Each thesis was classified as a theoretical, diagnostic, or remedy-related study. Results: 1. In the review of theoretical studies, shortly after ECM's introduction in 1965 by Kwon, the authors found studies on constitutional diseases, diets and food table which helped establish the background of ECM. ECM has further developed by comparing its theories with Sasang constitutional medicine, Huang-di-nei-jing, Saam, and Taegeuk acupuncture theories. 2. Research on diagnosis has been focused on its objectivity and accuracy. Constitution could be diagnosed by pulse-taking. To compensate for the lack of accuracy innate in pulse-taking, the Eight Constitution Questionnaire has been invented. 3. Remedies can be largely divided into acupuncture and diet. There were case studies comparing treatment effect of ECM acupuncture to other treatments. Diet related studies were carried out in the fields of immunology and nutrition. Conclusions: The authors reviewed studies that contributed to improved understanding of theories and clinical implications of ECM. Although there were various approaches to its theoretical and clinical grounds, more clinical research is needed. There is also a need to evaluate the accuracy of the experts' diagnoses of the constitution. The relationship between the diet and constitution also needs further research.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the medical contents of Korean medical textbooks and intervention usage in clinical practice. Method : We conducted an email survey of Doctors of Korean Medicine(DKMs) registered with the Association of Korean Medicine and analyzed the 259 responses that we received. Results : 1, The study showed that most DKMs used western medical knowledge concerning "history taking and diagnosis"(96.5%), "management and prevention"(95.8%), "causes and overview"(91.9%), and "prognosis"(90.3%). DKMs did not usually use western medical knowledge with regard to "diagnosis and treatment evaluation tools"(40.9%) or "western medical treatments"(25.1%) in their clinical practice. 2. Of the DKMs surveyed, 39.0% usually used traditional and western medical terms at similar levels of frequency in explaining their patients' conditions, while 35.9% used western medical terms more often and 20.8% used Korean traditional medical terms more often. 3. Most DKMs usually used acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy, Moxibustion in their practice and used herbal prescriptions presented in Dongeuibogam(57.1%), Bangyakhappyeon(52.9%), and Sa-Sang Constitutional Medicine(36.7%), although 27.8% used their own herbal prescriptions in creating for patients. In practice, DKMs usually used meridian acupuncture(64.1%), needling myofascial trigger points(54.8%), sa-am acupuncture(42.1%), dong-shi acupuncture therapy(24.7%), and constitutional acupuncture therapy(8.5%). Conclusions : We found that most DKMs use western medical contents as well as Korean medical contents in clinical practice. New Korean medical contents should be establish based on these results.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.409-421
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• 2014

Objectives The aim of this study was to report a improvement of tension type headache severity after using the Melonis Pedicus. Methods 3 Taeeumin patients, suffering from headache, treated with Melonis Pedicus, herb medicine, and acupuncture. After the treatment, Severity of headache was evaluated by Numerical Rating Scale(NRS). Also we checked the reponse of the Melonis Pedicus, and vital sign. Results & Conclusions After using the Melonis Pedicus, the severity of headache decreased from NRS 8 to NRS 1(case1), from NRS 10 to NRS 7(case 2), and from NRS 8 to NRS 6(case 3). And there was not any adverse effect. In conclusion, this study shows that using Meloni Pedicus can be effective treatment for Taeeumin tension type headache patient.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.765-772
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• 2001

Paraquat has been widely used as herbcide since 1960s. Paraquat played a great role in agriculture history and rescued many people from starvation. On the other hand, it also killed lots of people. Paraquat is so lethally toxic that most of them who taken it come to die, even small amounts of ingestions. Therefore many methods has been tried for treating Paraquat intoxication, but they're still in controversial. In this study, the author report a case of Paraquat intoxication by using 8 constitutional acupuncture therapy, diet and herbal medication. The result was relatively acceptable.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.73-88
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• 2008

Objective : The aim of this research was to investigate the effect on five element constitutional acupuncture(Sa-am acupuncture) at 4 acupoints by needle manipulation to sedate Six Fu-Organ on hyperlipidemia induced by high fat diet in rats. Method : We recorded data of weight gain, food intake, food efficiency, weight of liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney, levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT in serum of rats fed high fat diet for 5 weeks. Spraque Dawley rats were divided into eight groups(normal; normal diet and non-acupuncture group, control; non-acupuncture group, Acu-LI; acupuncture at $SI_5{\cdot}LI_5{\cdot}BL_{66}{\cdot}LI_2$ group, Acu-ST; acupuncture at $GB_{41}{\cdot}ST_{43}{\cdot}LI_1{\cdot}ST_{45}$, Acu-SI; acupuncture at $BL_{66}{\cdot}SI_2{\cdot}ST_{36}{\cdot}SI_8$, Acu-BL; acupuncture therapy at $ST_{36}{\cdot}BL_{40}{\cdot}GB_{41}{\cdot}BL_{65}$, Acu-TE; acupuncture at $BL_{66}{\cdot}TE_2{\cdot}ST_{36}{\cdot}TE_{10}$, Acu-GB; acupuncture at $LI_1{\cdot}GB_{44}{\cdot}SI_5{\cdot}GB_{38}$. After needles inserted, it was rotated clockwise and anticlockwise 12 times on rats fed high fat diet. Results : The body weight was decreased in Acu-SI, Acu-TE, Acu-GB group, /the food intake was decreased in Acu-TE, / the food efficiency was decreased in Acu-SI, /serum triglyceride was decreased in Acu-LI, Acu-ST, Acu-BL, Acu-GB, /serum total cholesterol was decreased in Acu-LI, Acu-BL, serum ALP was decreased in Acu-LI, Acu-ST, Acu-BL, Acu-TE, Acu-GB. While the relative weight of heart was increased in Acu-LI, Acu-SI, the relative weight of kidney was increased in Acu-SI, Acu-GB. Conclusion : These results suggest that five element constitutional acupuncture(Sa-am acupuncture) may be having an therapeutic influence on hyperlipidemia induced by high fat diet. Further researches of acupuncture manipulation are needed in the future based on our study.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2001

Purpose: In general, Acute Pyelonephritis is effectively treated with the use of antibiotics. However, some antibiotics are reported to cause side effects, and the abuse of antibiotics results in the increase of the disease's tolerance to antibiotics. Recently, I have effectively treated five cases of Acute Pyelonephritis by using only Constitution - Acupuncture and Herb, and therefore I would like to report about these cases. Methods: I diagnosed Acute Pyelonephritis of these five patients by confirming symptoms and employing a urine analysis with reagent strip(Multi $stix{\circledR}$). I used Kuon's method of constitutional diagnosis for the purpose of the diagnosis of the constitutional 8 morbidities. I relied on Sungjeong(性情) and Chehyungkisang(體刑氣像) in diagnosing Sasang Constitutions(四象人). I performed acupuncture on the left and right sides, depending on 8 constitutions, by employing Chang - temperament Inflammation Formula(臟系炎症方) that is used for the treatment of all kinds of chang-temperament inflammation diseases, as well as Bactericidal Formula(殺菌方) that is used for the treatment of all kinds of bacterially caused diseases. I prescribed by consulting the appearance of disease and general symptoms of each case with Dongyi Soose Bowon(東醫壽世保元)'s prescription symptoms. Result: Two of them showing severe symptoms were hospitalized, while three others took OPD treatment. The patient who was PANCREOTONIA and Soyangin improved through hospitalization for three days, another patient who was PULMOTONIA and Taeyangin with severe symptoms, improved through hospitalization for seven days, and completely recovered through OPD treatment later. The three others took only OPD treatment, and improved within 5-7 days. Conclusion: I confirmed that each of 8-constituions and Sasang Constitutions were all treated effectively without antibiotics.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.414-424
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this case study was to report the main effect of Yangdokbaekho-tang to a Soyangin atopic dermatitis patient. Methods This patient was treated by Yangdokbaekho-tang, topical herbal extract, moxa and acupuncture according to the result of Sasang constitutional diagnosis. Results and Conclusions The patient's subjective symptoms of atopic dermatitis and general condition were improved after using Yangdokbaekho-tang in spite of patient's loose stool. The SCORAD index (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index) which was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Sasang constitutional treatment on atopic dermatitis was also decreased from 86.3 to 42.8 without using anti-histamine or steroid medications.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2011

1. Objectives: Pharmacopuncture according to Sasang Constitutional Medicine is new field of constitutional medicine. We investigated safety of pharmacopunctures to develop this treatment. 2. Methods: We searched for papers in fifteen Korean oriental medical journals and four online searching portal articles. Hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and general toxicity tests were investigated about one hundred thirty kinds of pharmacopunctures. 3. Results: Toxicity test about 36 kinds of 130 pharmacopunctures were investigated. 1) Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity test of pharmacopunctures were searched in 11 of 38 Soeumin herbs, 8 of 36 Soyangin herbs, 5 of 44 Taeeumin herbs and 1 of 12 Taeyangin herbs. From among these herbs, toxicity was detected in Radix aconiti lateralis preparata(附子), Fructus alpiniae oxyphyllae(益智仁), Semen crotonis(巴豆), Radix bupleuri(柴胡) and Semen armeniacae amarum(杏仁) pharmacopunctures. 2) General toxicity test of pharmacopunctures were searched in 8 of 38 Soeumin herbs, 9 of 36 Soyangin herbs, 6 of 44 Taeeumin herbs and 2 of 12 Taeyangin herbs. from among thes herbs, toxicity was detected in Radix aconiti lateralis preparata(附子), Radix ginseng(人蔘), Semen crotonis(巴豆), Rhizoma seu radix notopterygii(羌活), Radix aralia cordatae(獨活), Semen armeniacae amarum(杏仁) and Radix scutellariae(黃芩) and Cortex acanthopanacis(五加皮) pharmacopunctures. 4. Conclusions: From these results, we must decide extraction method, concentration and dose carefully to use the toxic pharmacopuncture. More toxicity test and further study is needed about pharmacopuncture treatment in Sasang Constitutional Medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

Objectives : To assess the characteristics of electropyography(EMG) and heart rate variability(HRV) values in idiopathic facial palsy inpatients of different Sasang constitutions. Methods : Medical records of 103 idiopathic facial palsy inpatients who underwent facial EMG testing and HRV testing were retrospectively reviewed. All subjects had been consulted to the department of Sasang constitution for constitution differentiation. The Sasang constitutional and age distribution were initially analyzed, and axonal loss percentage values on EMG were correlated with Sasang constitution and sex. HRV results were also correlated with Sasang constitution and sex. Results : 1. 24.4 percent of idiopathic facial palsy inpatients were of the Soyang constitution, 52.4 percent were of the Taeum, and 23.3 percent were of the Soeum. Patients in their fifties were most common in all constitutions(27.8%). 2. Mean axonal loss values for the temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches were all statistically significantly lower in the Taeum constitution compared with Soyang or Soeum(p<0.05). 3. Mean axonal loss values for the temporal, zygomatic, and buccal branches were all statistically significantly lower in men than women(p<0.05). 4. The mean LF/HF ratio was significantly lower in idiopathic facial palsy inpatients of the Soeum constitution compared with Soyang and Taeum(p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in mean MHRT, SDNN, TP, VLF, LF, and HF of different constitutions. 5. The mean SDNN was significantly lower in women inpatients compared with men(p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in mean MHRT, TP, VLF, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio. Conclusions : The Sasang constitutional composition of idiopathic facial palsy inpatients closely adheres to the composition proposed in Dong-eui-su-se-bo-won, but the Taeum and Soeum proportion is slightly larger and the Soyang proportion slightly smaller. Axonal loss value on EMG was significantly lower in the Taeum constitution, and in men(p<0.05, <0.05). Mean LF/HF ratio was significantly lower in the Soeum constitution compared with Soyang and Taeum(p<0.05), and mean SDNN was significantly lower in women(p<0.05).