초록
As eight constitution acupuncture began to be applied in clinics, the acupuncture method and the method of differentiating constitution became widely known. However, no official principles of composing acupuncture prescriptions have been established so far. Therefore, this study examined unique and novel interpretations among a variety of theories on the composition of acupoints of eight constitution medicine. The basic principles of the general formula of unit prescription discussed in the study are that the compatibility and incompatibility of the five elements is acknowledged not in one way but in interactive way, and that when an energy shown in the compatibility and incompatibility chart of five elements is tonified, its two neighboring competible energies are tonified due to the effects of compatibility. On the other hand, two other energies which are incompatible with the energy and exist on the opposite side of it are sedated due to the effect of incompatibility. In contrast, when an energy is sedated, its two neighboring competible energies are sedated while two other energies in incompatible with it are tonified. In addition, eight constitution acupuncture could be explained as a variant of Saam acupuncture. It is unfortunate that there exist no established theory but hypotheses with regard to the composition of acupoints of eight constitution acupuncture. It is expected that young scholars will produce better results if they continue researching eight constitution acupuncture.