• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.33-49
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• 2022

Objectives : This paper aims to investigate the role of the sweet flavor within the contexts of 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' and the meaning of the two concepts. Methods : Related contents in databases including the Siqu Quanshu were searched with 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin', whose understanding and application were examined. Results & Conclusions : The theories of 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' originate from Cheng Wuji's comparison of the Gancaoqianjiangtang and Shaoyaogancaotang in the 29th verse of the Shanghanlun. The two terms first appeared in the Qing period among the Wenbing school. In other medical texts, the combination with sweet flavors could be found with salty, bitter and bland flavors other than with pungent and sour. The role of the sweet flavor in 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' is to accomplish the dispersing and converging action slowly and effectively, by supplying energy in small amounts preventing it from happening too quickly, corresponding to its Earth nature of the Five Elements which harmonizes the Yin and Yang. While 'becoming Yin' and 'becoming Yang' could be understood as tonifying Yin and Yang, it could also be understood as 'doing Yin' and 'doing Yang', The specific actions differ according to herb and mixture. The point of distinction between the aforementioned tonification and that of medicinals that have Yin and Yang tonifying properties is that due to the other flavor that is matched with the sweet flavor, Qi is given motility which allows for tonification without stagnation.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-99
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• 2024

Objectives : This study examined the possibility of therapeutic application of natural pigments in the Joseon Period other than aesthetic purposes. Methods : The medicinal properties of natural pigments as written in the texts Sangayorok, Gyuhapchongseo, Imwongyeongjeji were searched and analyzed in the texts Bencaogangmu, Encyclopedia of Eastern Medicine, and the Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicinals focusing on their Qi, flavor, effects and application. Of the conditions they treated, we examined whether they treated skin conditions using external application. The Korean Medical effects of these pigments were examined based on the content of the skin chapter of the Donguibogam. Results : We were able to extract 47 kinds of natural pigments, most of which had cold nature and bitter tasting properties. In addition, most of the pigments had the effect of treating skin conditions, illnesses due to micro-organisms, and of detoxifying. Conclusions : After consideration of medicinal properties and effects of the herbs that were used as pigments in the Joseon period, it could be concluded that as these herbs not only function as pigments but also hold properties that prevent skin conditions, their therapeutic functions could have been considered when using them as pigments.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2020

Purpose : This study compares prescriptions in the 1901 edition of the Donguisusebowon (東醫壽世保元) and the 1901 edition of 24 Revised Tae-eum constitution prescriptions (新定太陰人病應用要藥二十四方) (1901PCDT) with medical herbs found in classical texts. This study also examines whether to include patterns which compose medical herbs for the person of Tae-eum constitution (太陰人). Method : The prescriptions for Tae-eum-in in the Shinchukbon and the ingredients of medical herbs of the prescriptions of the Complete Works of Zhang Jingyue (景岳全書), Secret Works of Universal Benefit (廣濟秘笈), Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine (東醫寶鑑), Comprised Edition for Formulas (方藥合編), Protecting Essence for Longevity (壽世保元), Introduction to Medicine (醫學入門), New Book for Saving People (濟衆新編 ENGLISH), and Compendium of Local Medicinals and Formulas (鄕藥集成方) were input into a database. The prescriptions were examined and combinations of medical herbs used to treat the person of Tae-eum constitution were noted. Result : Among the prescriptions for the person of Tae-eum constitution, similar examples of the 17 prescriptions of Kudzu Decoction to Relieve the Muscles (葛根解肌湯), Regulate the Stomach and Coordinate the Purity Decoction (調胃升淸湯), Clear the Heart and Lotus Pip Decoction (淸心蓮子湯), Decoction for Stabilizing Asthma with Ephedra (麻黃定喘湯), Profuse Heat and Sparse Cold Decoction (熱多寒少湯), Decoction for Coordinating Qi with Kudzu (葛根承氣湯), Major Decoction for Coordinating Qi with Kudzu (葛根大承氣湯), Minor Decoction for Coordinating Qi with Kudzu (葛根小承氣湯), Decoction for Dispersing the Exterior with Ephedra (麻黃發表湯), Boost the Lung Essence Decoction (補肺元湯), Major Supplementing Decoction with Deer Antler Velvet (鹿茸大補湯), Boosting Black Essence Pill (拱辰黑元丹), Honeylocust Fruit and Rhubarb Decoction (皂角大黃湯), Kudza and Duckweed Decoction (葛根浮萍湯), Sweet Flag and Polygala Powder (石菖蒲遠志散), Liriopis and Polygala Decoction Powder (麥門冬遠志散), and Cattle Gallstone Formula to Clear the Heart (牛黃淸心元) were found in important ancient literature and Dried Chestnut and Holotrichia Decoction (乾栗蠐螬湯) and Dried Chestnut and Tree of Heaven Root Bark Decoction (乾栗樗根皮湯) are the combination originally set by Lee Jema. Conclusion : Because 70.8% of the prescriptions in 1901PCDT could be found in literature which were pervasive in the period of the Joseon Dynasty (the period of Ming and Qing), it corresponds with Lee Jema's view that medical men in the Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties disclosed half of the prescriptions for Tae-eum person by studying these texts more.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2014

Objectives : To determine a dose of medicine precisely and conveniently, this study was tried to specify the weight of Bangyakhappyun pills by measuring in terms of grams. Methods : 1. Selected typical prescriptions in order of size and formula written down in Bangyakhappyun. 2. Pulverized each medicine in prescription and weighed one Bangchonbi(方寸匕). 3. Weighed the 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) which were mixed with auxiliary materials such as water, honey, starch paste, etc. 4. The dosages of other type forms were measured based on the weigh of 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大). Results : 1. A well-used size of pills is Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) 2. Honey and starch paste are typical auxiliary materials for formulating pills. 3. A weigh of starch paste based 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) ranged between 1.09g and 2.55g. 4. A weigh of honey based 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) ranged between 1.18g and 2.77g. Conclusions : A dosage of each prescription can be calculated in terms of grams. 1. In case of Firminia simplex sized one(梧子大) with paste, a daily dose is 5.28g to 17.8g. 2. In case of Firminia simplex sized one(梧子大) with honey, a daily dose is 11.8g to 17.3g. 3. The dosage of pills with toxic herb and mineral medicinal material for baby is the least amount of 0.017g. 4. The dosage of most tonifying medicinals are over 10g. Table 3. shows more details.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.792-812
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• 2010

In the 18th century, Xu Lingtai (徐靈胎) and Yoshimasu Todo (吉益東洞) were famous doctors advocating ancient medicine, though they lived in different countries, China and Japan. We compared their major books, analyzed their academic thoughts and then took conclusions as below. 1. The first, for instance "Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論類方" and "Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions, 類聚方". Based on essential thought that a prescription and a syndrome should correspond, these books arranged and classified the Zhang Zhongjing (張仲景)'s texts."Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases", based on the thought that principles, methods, formulas and medicinals (理法方藥) were integrated in prescriptions, tried to find out the implicit treatment rules in prescriptions and syndromes through analyzing "Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論". On the other hand, because Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions focused on the syndromes of ancient prescriptions (古方), it classified and collected the related texts of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, 금궤요략", and then suggested only simple instructions on how to prescribe medicine. So in this book, the trend of experience was clear. 2. The second, there is "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經百種錄" and "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences, 藥徵". Though both of these books are professional oriental pharmacology publications that advocate reactionism, there were remarkable differences in writing style between them. "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences" was based on "Treat on Cold Damage Diseases" and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber", just explained the effects of medications and discussed 'matter of course (所當然)', but not discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it confirmed through research, and emphasized the inductive method. On the other hand, "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica based on "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經", explained the nature of medications and discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it annotated and explained, and emphasized the process of reasoning. 3. The third, there is "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine, 醫學源流論" and Severance of Medical evils, 醫斷". Aiming the then medical theories fallen in confused state, these books brought order out of chaos, clarified the categories of medical research, and emphasized the scientific method that could put theories into practice and verify them. The difference is that "Severance of Medical Evils" researched only macroscopic viewable clinical phenomena, and even denied the existence of names of diseases and etiological causes. Thus, it emphasized the accumulation of experiences, laid emphasis on "watching and realizing (目認)", and "understand and taking in (解悟)". Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine extremely emphasized the research of 'something not occuring (未然)', that is to say, induced notions of a disease from observing clinical phenomena, furthermore based on these, predicted the 'something not occuring (未然)' and emphasized researching 'the reason why (所以然)'. As regards how they deal with the traditional theories and post-Zhang Zhongjing's medicines, "Severance of Medical evils" took completely denying attitudes. In case of "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine", it could be used reasonably through specific situation and detailed analysis. Collectively speaking, there were some differences between medical theories of Xu Lingtai and Yoshimasu Todo. Actually, these differences were whether he tried to research the essence of disease, whether he tried to consider it rationally, and how he treated various opinions occurring in the theories of traditional medicine and clinical experience.