• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.45-51
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• 2004

Background : Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic and recurrent skin disease. it is characterized as itch-scratch cycle and topical or systemic use of corticosteroids is required in western medicine. Though its effects on major symptoms are impressive, these treatments are prone to several side effects and tend to recur after months or years. So potential treatments have been actively studied in Estern medicine, especially Sasang constitutional therapy, which has fewer side effects. Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Sasang constitutional therapy on treating severe adult Atopic Dermatitis and preventing its recurrent symptoms. Methods : fifteen patients who had severe adult Atopic Dermatitis attended treatment of Sasang constitutional therapy and were followed up for one year. An oriental internal specialist first isolated Sasang constitution and a distinctive body type. Grading of Atopic dermatitis was measured by the guidelines offered by Rajka G. and Langeland T. Results : After treatment with Sasang constitutional therapy, the patients symptoms were improved and the mean Rajka and Langeland score reduced significantly from $7.73{\pm}0.79\;to\;3.4{\pm}10.91$. During the follow-up period of one year, the mean Rajka and Langeland score was $2.72{\pm}2.06$ which was lower than last treatment. Conclusions : The results of this study support Sasang constitutional therapy as an effective therapy for severe adult Atopic Dermatitis. Follow up data suggest that this Eastern medical approach is of greater clinical value than the western medical approach in the long term.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.204-215
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• 2000

Objectives: This study was conducted to establish the study form of atopic dermatitis in oriental medicine, to find out the effect of herbal medicine and to compare Bangpungtongsungsan group with symptom-complexes prescription group. Methods: We gave scores(1-3) to the 37 outpatients who visited the dept. of Ophthalmotolaryngology & Dermatosurgery of the Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from June 1,2000 to September 30, 2000. According to transformed the G. Rajka, T. Langeland and Jon M. Hanifin standard. We checked the Eosinophil count, IgE and the scores (intensity: the degree of itching, course: the degree of itching during a year, extent: erythema, lichenification, scaling. dryness, erosion' oozing). After herbal treatment for 6 weeks, we checked the above factors again in the same way. In treatment, we divided the patients into Bangpungtongsungsan group and Symptom-complexes group for cross-comparison. Results: There were 19 patients we could check by score and 14 patients by laboratory. 1. In the 14 lab cases, the number of abnormal value of Eosinophil count and IgE was decreased but it was not significant. 2. In the 19 cases by score, clinical severity of the intensity of itching, lichenification, scaling' dryness was significantly decreased between the before- and after-herbal treatment periods (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05). 3. In 19 cases, clinical severity of erythema, erosion. oozing was decreased after herbal treatment but it was not significant(p>0.05). 4. In point of total score, clinical severity of atopic dermatitis was significantly decreased after herbal treatment(p<0.01). 5. There was no significant difference between Bangpungtongsungsan group and Symptom-complexes group(P<0.05). Conclusions: Although more study is needed, these results indicate that herbal treatment is effective on atopic dermatitis.