Abstract
This study was designed and performed to identify the effects of oriental medical therapy on hwabyung patients by investigating the life events as the cause of Hwabyung, recent stress perception which influences the clinical appearances and change of symptoms by means of objective scales. 1. Through life events rating scale, life events are reported as follows, in the order of majority. Health, discord within family, martial life, friendship and interest, religion etc. Hwabyung patients experienced negative stress much more than positive stress. 2. Through the GARS (Global Assessment of Recent Stress), there were some significant decreases of stress perception in stress4(stress of sickness or injury), stress7(stress of change or no change in routine) and stress8(overall global stress)(p<0.05, respectively), but there were no significant decreases in five items out of eight items. 3. There were significant decreases of all rated symptoms(feeling of chest oppressed, stuffy in the chest or epigastric mass, feeling of something pushing-up, flushing of body or face, abrupt impulsion of anger, resentment), which were checked weekly for 4 times (p<0.05, respectively). In this study the symptoms of hwabyung were improved regardless of stress perception. It means that hwabyung can be improved significantly with oriental medical therapy.
