• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.241-255
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• 2005

Objectives : In order to comprehend and utilize external therapy, we considered that we needed to research Wu Shi-Ji who was a medical specialist of external therapy. We looked at the special study on external therapy in his book, ${\ll}li-yao-pian-wen{\gg}$, especially ; in this part his generai approach to external therapy was well-detaiied. Methods : We translated and analyzed . Results : In , he gives a supplementary explanation about the insufficient attention paid to external therapy, 膏(gao) - (ti) 坐(zuo) (yu) 抹(mo) 纏法(chan fa), through San Jiao(三焦). And he insisted on his conception of external therapy: ointment(膏) and the moth of sneezing, sitting on herbs(坐), steaming or attaching herbs patients's navel, rubbing(抹) and binding(縛), based on ${\ll}nei-jing{\gg}$ and ${\ll}shang-han-lun{\gg}$. He put forward the general rules of external therapy using those methods. And through , he explained that the efficacy of his external therapy was basically the same as internal therapy and medicine, the only difference was in the method. In addition, this external therapy has some merits when compared with internal medicine. First, it's easier to diagnose a disease and treat patients compared to internal medicine. For instance, when a patient has a problem with his abdomen, we just have to diagnose a disease of the abdomen and treat using one method of external therapy on the abdomenal area. Second, external therapy has fewer side effects. And third, we can utilize the meridian theory when we use external therapy. Conclusions : Through , we basically understood his conception of external therapy. Although more research is needed, we suggest that we need to enlarge our usage of external therapy, not just confine ourselves to smaller areas of focus. His point of view suggests that external therapy is not merely an adjunct to internal therapy, but an interdependent course of study and action in its own right.