• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.132-142
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• 2000

Purpose In Sasang Constitution Medicine, persons are divided into four types such as Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin and Soeumin according to their appearance, moral nature and characteristic of constitutional symptoms. In teenager group, diagnosis of constitution based on their appearance was so difficult that we adopted new diagnostic method which measures and compares body compositions. Methods 180 middle school students who live in Pusan were studied from 20th of March, 1999 to 20th of March, 2000. After practicing Questionnaire(I), QSCC(Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution) I , QSCCII, we have measured the height and body compositions with Inbody 3.0, five times. Results 1. The results of Sasang Constitution analysis showed 91 students were classified as Taeumin(50.3%), 75 as Soyangin(41.4%), 14 as Soeumin(7.7%), and 1 as Taeyangin(0.6%). 2. The level of total body water, muscle area, BMR(Basal Metabolic Rate), BCM(Body Cell Mass), and AMC(Arm Muscle Circumference) were increased during spring and summer. That of body weight, fat body weight, fat body weight ratio, waist hip ratio, and BMI(Body Mass Index were increased during fall and winter. 3. In Taeumin and Soyangin groups, the changed capacity of total body water, muscle area and BMR were increased with statistical significance. 4. Waist hip ratio of Soeumin group was reduced more than those of Taeumin, Soyangin groups with statistical significance.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2010

Objectives : Recently, in Sasang Constitution Medicine (SCM), many researchers have studied to construct objective diagnose tool for the SCM type. It is most important to collect correct constitutional clinical data in these studies. Methods : In our work, we construct a web-based system for collecting constitutional clinical data effectively. Results & Conclusion : The system offers 4 types of input programs, which helps to collect clinical information from various hospitals, and performs verification service to minimize input errors. Currently, we have collected about four thousands data using the our system and we will provide several analysis tool in the system for researchers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.13
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• pp.51-72
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• 1989

In this thesis, I examined the mental, philosophical aspects and the aesthetic sense of our ancestors through the study of the patterns pictured in the mural paintings of Koguryo dynasty's old tomb. To view the mode of construction in Koguryo dynasty from present angle, the detailed analysis of the patterns was done. As a result, I could fully understand the formative consciousness of our nation. 1. I defined the process of transition of the mural paintings by putting some 70 mural aintings into the form of a diagram. 2. The cultural aspects of the mural paintings in Koguryo dynasty were characterized by the fusion of our primitive religion and Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism which were introduced from China. From this fact, I could inferred that Koguryo people were giving off the strong desire for the faith by means of the mural paintings. Further more I found that configuration of the patterns such as religious elements. 3. The types of the patterns were classified into four types, this is, geometric type, natural type, cultural type and abstract type, Among these types, geometric type and natural type were nonsymbolic in nature but became cultured and abstracted in course of time. cultural pattern and abstract pattern got the symbolic meaning in the long run. Of all the constitution of the patterns represented in the mural paintings such as repeat constitution, left and right symmetric constitution, top and bottom symmetric constitution and rotary symmetric constitution, the left and right symmetric constitution was mainly used and some monotony of left and right symmetric constitution. The analysis of motif which was got from the mode of the patterns showed that the mixing of symbolic and nonsymbolic patterns made it possible to regard the separate symbol as compound in nonsymbolic patterns and the combination between nonsymbolic patterns ensured the understanding of other patterns in certain cases. Our ancestors made great efforts to transmit certain meaning symbolically. Also to heighten the symbolism, they drew the meangless patterns firstly and then appended meaning to those patterns secondly. Furthermore, they offered the background to the patterns comblined with symbolism, so that meaning transmission was clarified at last. As mentioned above, the patterns shown in the mural paintings of Koguryo dynasty's old tomb were characterized by natural beauty. And natural beauty was found out clearly in the form and constitution of the patterns. Therefore I concluded that our nation's religious, philosophical tradition was acted on the patterns strongly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.827-837
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• 1999

Presently Sasang constitutional medicine draws public attention and a diet based on this theory in gaining popularity. However, scientific data are not available to probe the effects of constitutional diet and the correlations between constitution and food consumptions. Thiry-four healthy subjects[26 females and 8 males] with Tae-eum(females: 5, males: 7), So-yang(females: 9)and So-eum(females: 12, males: 1), were studied. Subjects were not told the kind of constitutional diets they were consuming. Tae-eum constitutional diet was given to all subjects more than 2 meals a day for 8 weeks. The Sasang constitutional classification, food frequency questionnaire and food habits were assessed. The anthropometric assessment, dietary assessment, health status assessment and blood analysis were carried out before and after taking the Tae-eum constitution diet. In case of females, the body weights and BMI were different among the constitutional groups in the following order : Tae-eum constitutional diet. In case of females, the body weights the body weights and BMI were different among the constitutional groups in the following order: Tae-eum>So-yang>So-eum. In case of males, the body weights and BMI of Tae-eum were significantly higher than those of So-eum. In general, habitual food consumption of all of these four groups were very close to those for each of Sasang constitutional types described by Sasang medicine. After 8-weeks of Tae-eum diet, the health status and blood biochemical parameters were not significantly changed.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1014-1022
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• 2008

This study focuses on practical appliance of color therapy to skin care. After visiting the notion of color therapy and skin care, this study considers the ideas and background theories for diagnosis of constitution and skin. Cosmic duals force five element theory developed in China was the first introduction; Ayurvedic medicine and seven chakra notion are examined. Cosmic duals force five element theory, an idea describing the composition and movement rule of the cosmic components, adopted five colors(white, yellow, red, blue, and black) for cure purposes. In future, mental effect of the color is examined in the latter part of this study. The practice of the color therapy assigns solarized cream treatment and photo therapy, simultaneously proposes the use of color therapy to the skin care. For the diagnosis of the constitution, cosmic duals force five element theory and ayurvedic medicine are followed in a sequence. Cosmic duals force five element theory introduces five colors. Constitution medicine considers four types, ayurvedic medicine adopts three types, and seven colors are mentioned as chakra colors. Such a variations lead to possible disagreement on constitution analysis and driven colors. This study adopts the above methodologies for selecting potential color therapy for skin care. Adopt of selected cases are purely a part of the proposal. Initially, examined theories serve as a pilot for selecting a representative hypothesis. Followed selection of constitution and matched color for the use of the skin care are the scope of this study. In summary, background methodologies are implemented for the calculation of color therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.1 s.32
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• pp.228-238
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• 2007

Objectives ; Sasang Constitional Medicine is a part of Korean traditional Medicine, and classify human constitution into four types. Scalp and hair is a part of skin. Skin is one of constitutional charasteristic element. So we researched a correlation between Sasang constitutions and Korean adult scalp and hair condition. This is a basic study to find constitution can be a important factor to care scalp and hair. Methods ; We examined Sasang constitutions and scalp and hair condition of 80 human who aged from 20-50. Scalp disease, dandruff was observed by video micro scope and sebum tape diagnosis. Thickness of hair was measured by Laser Scan Micrometer(LSM-3100). Itching sense and life habit was also investigated. Constitution diagnosis and scalp, hair diagnosis was investigated seperately as a blind test and the data was statistically analyzed with chi-square test, correlation analysis, one-way analysis of varience. Results ; 1. In Sasang Constitution, Taeumin group had significant tendency of oilily scalp. 70% of Taeumin group had oilily scalp. 2. The group of dry or oilily scalp had more itching sense and more sensativity of scalp compaired to neuter scalp group. 3. There was no correlation between height, weight, thickness of hair, itching sense, scalp disease and Sasang constitution. 4. There was correlation between loss of hair and drinking alcohol, obesity, curly hair, soft scalp. Conclusions ; Korean adult scalp and hair condition had correlation with Sasang constitution.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2008

Objectives: This study aimed at comparing Sasang constitutional medicine(SCM) with other constitutional theories of the world. Methods: From PubMed database, we first searched all papers using the term 'constitution', then filtered those having really constitution-focused papers. Then, they were analyzed to compare each constitutional theory and medicinal practice. Results: There were five constitution-related medicines which have been practiced in medical field: Sasang, iridology, somatotype, dermatoglyphics and Ayurveda. There was the largest number of scientific researches for dermatoglyphics while the smallest number of papers was for SCM. The other three constitutional theories were based on anatomic/histologic difference between types in contrast to SCM and Ayurveda, which relied on inherited functional differences of four or three internal organs. Conclusions: This study simultaneously compared five major constitutional theories currently practiced as medicines in the world. We found that even as SCM seems to have the most potential as therapeutic medicine it should be studied more using scientific methodologies to be a world-wide medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.21-46
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• 2008

Though modern medicine has taken rapid strides, varieties of intractable maladies and diseases go on increasing more and more. And so medical technologies and academic achievements related to diagnoses and prognoses are being carried on. As the progress of genetics, all sorts of diseases have proved to be hereditary. This makes efficient use of the prevention of diseases. According to Sasang-Constitution medicine, each person inherently possesses a unique constitution different from that of any other person. The shapes and sizes, temperaments and characters of people have enormous variations that must affect our health and happiness. Without understanding our particular constitution, we must fall into poor health and disease. The food and exercise that are good for one person's constitution may not be good for another. No standardized medicine can adequately deal with our individual variations. Only a system that can discern our different constitutional types has this capacity. This paper is to study Life-Regulating Science that has taken firm root in our culture from time immemorial, so that I suggest the methods of diagnoses and prognoses by using Life-Regulating Science. In the medical texts, psychological imbalances of Eum-Yang and Five Phases generate all kinds of diseases. Accordingly visceral manifestation and diseases as a future possibility may be known by the Four Pillars.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.8-12
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• 2007

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the circadian variation in stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, and Sasang constitutions. Methods : 295 patients with acute stroke within 14 days onset were included, who were admitted to Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from October 2005 to May 2007. The stroke onset time was subdivided into four groups of 6-hour intervals in a day. Stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, and Sasang constitutions in four groups were examined. Results : Most ischemic stroke occurred between 6:01-12:00 hours (30.2%). For ischemic stroke subtypes, the peak period of small-vessel occlusion was between 6:01-12:00 hours (33.2%), large-artery atherosclerosis was most common between 12:01-18:00 hours (39.5%), and cardiac embolism was most frequent between 18:01-24:00 hours (50%). In terms of Sasang constitution, Soyeumin and Taeyeumin were most common between 6:01-12:00 hours (36.4% versus 41.5%, respectively), but the peak time of Soyangin was between 12:01-18:00 hours (35.2%). Conclusion :Most ischemic stroke events occurred in the mid-to-late morning hours in the present study and there was a circadian variation of onset in ischemic stroke subtypes and Sasang constitution.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.144-152
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• 2009

Background : Ephedra (Ephedra sinica) has been widely used to treat respiratory disease in traditional medicine of East Asia for over a hundred years. Despite safety concerns raised by some, the use of ephedra in traditional medicine is documented over more than 1,800 years. It is well established that ephedra is one of the central medicines in Korean 'Seseng constitution' medicine. In Sasang constitution medicine, all humans can be divided into one of four types: Soeumin, Soyangin, Taeumin or Taeyangin, and each constitution type has their own typical characteristics. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the adverse effects of ephedra differ depending on the Sasang constitution classification. Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine adverse effects of ephedra which is classified as a Taeumin herb, and to observe whether the response differs or not. according to Sasang constitution classification. Methods : The study design was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The subjects were healthy adults 20 - 50 years old who agreed to participate in this study. They were allocated through randomization to either ephedra group (N=55) or placebo group (N=24). where ephedra extract (6 g of dried ephedra) and placebo with similar opaque capsules were given twice for one day. To compare the adverse events of ephedra according to Sasang constitution classification, we analyzed blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), pulse rate, the morning questionnaire, and patient's global assessment scale score for well known adverse events: palpitation, headache, sweating, tiredness, dyspepsia, and dry mouth. Results : After ingestion of ephedra, the pulse rate had a significant increase in all constitution types. The changes of diastolic pressure in Soeumin and the changes of pulse rate in Soeumin, Soyangin and Taeumin had a significant increase in the ephedra over the control group. In the ephedra group, the palpitation and dyspepsia score of the patients' global assessment scale had a significant increase in Soeumin, with palpitation and sweating score increasing in Soyangin. Others observations were insignificant results. Conclusion : The results of this study may confirm that the physical responses or adverse effects of herbs differ for each type of Sasang constitution. Future studies using other herbs will be required to ascertain the herbal drug reaction of Sasang constitutions.