• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1247-1260
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• 2009

This dissertation aims to study the five tastes in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine. Medicinals as well as Foods are classified by the five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent, which can be tasted by the tongue. With the development of the theory dealing with the medicinal properties, some flavors are summarized out of clinical actions of medicinals, therefore, there is a little difference between the flavors of medicinal herbs and the tastes got by tongue. Each taste acts on or has direct influence on a specific vital organ, and each of which has different physiologic actions. Taste also has a long-term or post digestive effect on the body and its metabolism. When each taste is consumed in moderation, it benefits the corresponding organ. Over-indulgence in any taste harms the organ and creates imbalance among the five vital organ systems. The Korean medicinal herbs with same flavor mostly possess similar actions while the medicinal herbs with different flavors show different actions in the treatment, which are shown as follows. Sour has absorbing, consolidating and astringent actions and acts on the liver. Bitter has the actions of drying or resolving dampness, purging and lowering and acts on the heart. Sweet has the nourishing, harmonizing and moistening actions and acts on the spleen. Pungent has an action of dispersing and promoting circulation of gi and blood and acts on the lungs. Salty has the effects of softening hard nodes or masses and promoting defecation, etc and acts on the kidneys. The five organ systems control and support each other. Proper coordination only exists when there is no one organ stronger or weaker than the rest. Since the five tastes have direct influences on the five organs, the diet we take should have a good combination of the five tastes in order to promote internal balance and harmony. They control our well-being and create dietary balance. Excessive consumption of any of these could result in adverse effects. In a word, when the properties of the five tastes respectively are distinguished, their natures and flavors cannot be separately considered. I think the harmonization of food and medicinals should be stressed on good nutritional diet to maintain good health. The traditional belief that food and medicine share the same origin is a part of Korean medicine tradition.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was conducted to test alopecia by external application with traditional oriental hair care products. Methods : A total of 20 males who visited Daegu Hanny Oriental Medical Center from December 15th, 2007 to September 30th, 2008 were included in this study. In this study, they were treated with the hair care products(shampoo, hair tonic) containing herbs. For 12 weaks hair density and hair thickness content were measured by Folliscope 2.5. Comparative analysis result between before treatment and after treatment was checked. And satisfaction after using shampoo, hair tonic was checked. Results : Change of hair density and hair thickness between before treatment and after treatment (4, 8, 12 weeks) showed significant changes(p<0.05). Comparative analysis result between before treatment and after treatment showed significant changes(p<0.0001). Satisfaction after using shampoo, hair tonic was near good. Conclusions : Considering the above results, we have concluded that hair care products containing herbs have the remarkable effect on alopecia.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.304-317
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• 2011

1. Objectives: Aromatherapy is one of the alternative medical treatments by flavors of essential oils extracted from plants. This study was to investigate the classification of aroma essential oils by Sasang Constitution for clinical applications. 2. Methods: 1) We searched scientific name of aroma essential oils and scientific name of herbs, classify aroma essential oils according to Sasang Constitution. 2) If the method 1) is impossible, sort them by regard of aroma essential oils' flavors, specific characters and efficacies. 3. Results: Aroma essential oils suitable for Soeumin are 27 kinds, for Soyangin and Taeeumin are each 16 kinds, and for Taeyangin are 5 kinds.(Duplicates are allowed.) The cases which can not be classified clearly, are 10 kinds, so they are able to consider the Constitution of the more than two-phase. 4. Conclusions: Most of aromatic herbs are warm and spicy by pre-reports. So, aroma essential oils suitable for Soeumin are most often. After this study, studies about Sasang Constitutional herb recipes and more clinical studies are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.40-49
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• 2006

Background and Objectives : In oriental Medicine, there is a concept that herb works only in it's own specific site called 'Guikyung(歸經)'. If two herbs have same effect and different Guikyung, two herbs would work at different site respectively. so we want to prove that whether Guikyung has significance or not in experimentally. Methods : In order to investigate the effects of Victicis Fructus & Bupleuri Radix on the Allergic rhinitis, BALB/c mouse was used. Control and experimental group 1, 2 were induced allergic rhinitis. Experimental group 1 was administered Victicis Fructus for 28 days and group 2 was administerd Bupleuri Radix for same period. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured and histological examination was performed. The statistical significance was examined by Independent Samples T test. Results : 1. WBC, neuoophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ showed no statistically significant differences in three groups. 2. Histological examination had no differences in three groups. Conclusion: Victicis Fructus & Bupleuri Radix have no effect on allergic rhinitis and the reason is estimated that Guikymg plays a important roll to determine the effect of herb from the viewpoint of oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2004

The decocting method of herbal medicines is various with a prescription or herbal medicine's characteristics. But it has common principles by which effective elements can be easily extracted with synergistic actions of herbs and which the therapeutic effect of a medicine is amplified. When decocting a herbal medicine, the volume of water is an important factor. Fire for decocting drugs and decocting time are also important factors. The excessive water and unproper decocting time and temperature can reduce the effect of the decoction. Besides a better decoction can be obtained by squeeze. According to herbal medicine's characteristics and prescription, there are herbs that should be treated after a specific method. For example, decoct first and decoct later. It also affects the therapeutic if a right taking method is not carried out. Methods of taking drugs include both the time and the method. We can confirm these decocting and taking methods in the ancient medical literatures of herbal medicine. This article deals with these things in detail.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2002

The aim of this study is to find out the relationships between the vocal sounds and physiologie and pathologic mechanisms based on the Eum-yang and five phases theory[陰陽五行論]. Firstly, concrete characters of vital rhythm of five-viscera were analyzed and patterns of the five-note in oriental music were converted into that of western music, then it was investigated, the possibility of oriental music therapy using sounds as stimulation methods like herbs, acupuncture, and moxibustion. In conclusion, it was found that controlling the Five-visceral vital rhythm by sounds could be used as one of methods for prevention and treatment of disceases, growing on and balancing a body, etc.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.25-53
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• 1999

This study was conducted to provide basic data for policy of Oriental medicine by analyzing community residents' consciousness of taking herb medicine and its related factors. Data were collected from 1478 residents from March 2, 1999 to May 31, 1999. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. According to general characteristics of the subjects, 52.3% of the subjects was 'female'; 25.0% 'fifties of age'; 21.4% 'forties of age'; 20.9% 'thirties of ages'; 69.1% 'married'; 60.1% 'resident in a big city'; 12.1% 'residents in a small town or village'; 39.0% 'highschool graduate'; 35.9% 'above college graduate'; 23.4% 'housewife'; 23.4% 'professional' 34.1% 'Buddhist'; 81.1% 'middle class'. 2. The rate of experience of taking herb medicine was 85.2%(88.2% of 'male'; 82.5% of 'female'). It appeared to be significantly higher in the groups of 'the married', 'housewife', and 'Buddhist'. As the age increased, so the rate of experience of taking herb medicine was significantly high. 3. In case of purpose of taking herb medicine, taking herb medicine as a restorative(66.8%) was much higher than taking it as a curative medicine. Taking herb medicine as a curative medicine appeared to be significantly higher in the groups of 'male', 'thirties of age', 'resident in a town or village', 'above college graduate', 'professional technician', 'Christian', and 'the upper class'. 4. 52.1% of the respondents satisfied with the effect of herb medicine. The groups of 'male', 'older age', 'residents in a big city', 'insurant in company', and 'the employed' showed significantly high rate in satisfying with herb medicine than the other groups. 5. According to the reason for preferring herb medicine, 36.7% of the respondents preferred herb medicine because the herb medicine was effective, while 27.8% preferred it because its side effect was low. 16.7% preferred it. because persons around them recommended it. The preference for the herb medicine displayed significantly higher rate in the groups 'sixties of age', 'the unmarried', 'resident in a big city', 'office clerk', and 'the lower class'. 6. 42.6% of the respondents did not want to take the herb medicine because the price of the herb medicine was high. Also 20.6% of the respondents did not want to take herb medicine because it is uneasy to take herb medicine. 15.8% did not want to take it because certain foods should not be taken during the period of taking it. 9.4% did not want to take it because it tasted bitter. 7. In case of opinions on side effects of herb medicine, 40.8% of the respondents thinks that herb medicine is free from side effects, while 37.5% thinks that it causes side effects. There were significant difference in the opinions on side effects by sex, age, marital status, resident area, education level, occupation, and type of health insurance. 8. 60.7% of the respondents thinks the price of herb medicine is not resonable, while only 10.9% thinks it is resonable. 9. 14.2% of the respondents thinks health foods which contain herbs are good, while 16.8% thinks it is bad. 76.7% thinks that medicinal herbs in packages must be included in health insurance coverage, while only 3.0% thinks it needs not be included in health insurance coverage. 10. 45.2% of the respondents uses packs of decocted herbs although they think the packs of decocted herb are a little low effective because decocting herbs in home is bothersome. 45.2% uses packs of decocted herbs because they are convenient, being not related to the effect. 7.6% takes medicinal herbs after decocting them in a clay pot because they think the packs of decocted herbs have low effect. 11. According to the level of satisfaction with Oriental medical care, the respondents marked $3.47{\pm}0.64$ points on the base of 5 points. It was significantly higher in the groups of 'male', 'the married, resident in a big city', 'highschool graduate', 'the unemployed', 'office clerk', 'growing up in a big city', 'insurant in region', and 'the middle class'. 12. According to the result of a regression analysis of factors influencing preference for herb medicine, the factors displayed significant difference by sex, age, education level, health status, and times of receiving Oriental medical care. As shown in the above results, the community residents satisfy with the effect of herb medicine. Therefore, the method of taking herb medicine without difficulty must be devised. The medicinal herbs in packages need to be included in health insurance coverage and resonable price of herb medicine must be set. Also, education program for community residents must be developed in order to provide right information in herb medicine. Therefore, related public authority, associations, and professionals must make efforts, forming organic cooperative system.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.176-184
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• 2003

This experiment was planned to develop a functional supplements by food resources to prevent and lessen the bad effects caused by the environmental pollution such as bad food, air, water and heavy metals exposed to people these days. As for Its primary stage, the nutrient profile and sensory characteristics of the duck-extract were evaluated in this study. The duck-extract was formulated by the mixture of bone and internal organs of ducks and 6 medicinal herbs which were able to be used as foods and known to help the excretion and the repression of the poison inside the body for a long time. As we compared the six medicinal herbs mentioned above to the vegetable herbs, the nutrient profile of the medicinal herbs were superior to the vegetable herbs. The duck-extract was composed of protein 49.92%, carbohydrate 37.02%, dietary fiber 20.99%, lipid 7.60% and ash 5.46%. The ratio of Ca to P was 1 : 1.4, which was a suitable ratio for absorption, the contents of Na and K were low and those of micro-elements such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu high compared to other meat extracts. The essential amino acids accounted for 30.91% of total amino acids. The result of sensory evaluation was better in overall preferences than the ones which are already in the market. From these results, the nutrient profile of the duck-extract was estimated to be able to supply enough nutrients to the people whose nutritional balance was destroyed these days. This study also showed the effective way of using duck-extract and its application to the oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.345-360
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the content of sulfur dioxide residues in medicinal herbs in Seoul in 2009. Sulfur dioxide in the samples were determined by Monnier-Williams's modified method. A total of 1,821 samples of 205 different types of herbs were collected from Kyung-Dong Herb markets and Oriental medicine hospitals in Seoul. Of these samples, 642 samples were domestic, and 1,179 samples were imported. Of the 1,821 samples, 61 (3.3%, 31 types) failed to meet the regulations for sulfur dioxide residues of KFDA in medicinal herbs. Among these 61 unsuitable samples, 17 (7 types) were domestic, and 44 samples (26 types) were imported. The content of sulfur dioxide in the domestic medicinal herbs ranged from 0 to 809 mg/kg, while those in imported medicinal herbs ranged from 0 to 4,481 mg/kg. Approximately 84.6% of the samples contained less than 10 mg/kg of sulfur dioxide and about 10.0% of samples contained more than 30 mg/kg of sulfur dioxide.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.516-520
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• 2003

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to determine the contents of psoralen and angelicin from some medicinal herbs. The optimum eluent for chromatography was 20 v/v% acetonitrile in water on a Zorbax 300SB $C_{18}$ column. The identification was carried out by comparing the retention time and mass spectra of the relevant peaks with their standards. The variation of the concentration of psoralen and angelicin was wide between different species. The seeds of Psoralea corylifolia showed the highest contents of psoralen (7.8 mg/g) and angelicin (2.3 mg/g) among the tested herbs.