• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.90-106
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Eight constitution medicine (ECM), which was first introduced in 1965, has been further developed and refined over the decades, and has consolidated its foundation through many studies on theories, diagnosis and clinical application. However, there have been few reviews on dissertations of ECM. In this study, we reviewed previously published studies related to ECM. Methods: We reviewed a total of 55 ECM-related studies published from 1965 to 2010 found on PubMed and various domestic Oriental medicine journals. Each thesis was classified as a theoretical, diagnostic, or remedy-related study. Results: 1. In the review of theoretical studies, shortly after ECM's introduction in 1965 by Kwon, the authors found studies on constitutional diseases, diets and food table which helped establish the background of ECM. ECM has further developed by comparing its theories with Sasang constitutional medicine, Huang-di-nei-jing, Saam, and Taegeuk acupuncture theories. 2. Research on diagnosis has been focused on its objectivity and accuracy. Constitution could be diagnosed by pulse-taking. To compensate for the lack of accuracy innate in pulse-taking, the Eight Constitution Questionnaire has been invented. 3. Remedies can be largely divided into acupuncture and diet. There were case studies comparing treatment effect of ECM acupuncture to other treatments. Diet related studies were carried out in the fields of immunology and nutrition. Conclusions: The authors reviewed studies that contributed to improved understanding of theories and clinical implications of ECM. Although there were various approaches to its theoretical and clinical grounds, more clinical research is needed. There is also a need to evaluate the accuracy of the experts' diagnoses of the constitution. The relationship between the diet and constitution also needs further research.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.22-41
• /
• 2008

Background: Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) devides the human body into eight constitutions. Up until now, checking the pulse types is only way to classify the eight constitution. Recently we try to make a questionnaire that is based on the Eight-Constitution characters and analyze the answer from patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy Objective: This study intends to analyze each answer of the Eight-Constitution Questionnaire with independent sample t-test. Methods: Participants of this study were outpatients in ECM clinics located in Korea. The resources were collected from 925 patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used for independent sample t-test. Results and Conclusions: 1. The proportion of participants' constitutions is in the order of Pancreotonia (28.0%), Colonotonia (17.3%), Pulmotonia (18.1%), Hepatonia (18.1%), Vesicotonia (8.5%), Cholecystotonia (7.0%), Renotonia (2.6%) and Gastrotonia (0.4%). 2. Eight-Constitution Questionnaire consists of 5 parts; Appearance, Character, Body reaction, Physiology & Pathology and Food reaction. 3. 10 items were chosen among 42 question about Appearance. 4. Due to the deficiency of Gastrotonia examples, useful items have to be given up. If we can gather Gastrotonia examples, we can use meaningful items more than 10.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.89-110
• /
• 2009

Background : Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) devides the human body into eight constitutions. Up until now, checking the pulse types is only way to classify the eight constitution. Recently we try to make a questionnaire that is based on the Eight-Constitution characters and analyze the answer from patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy. Objective : This study intends to analyze each answer of the Eight-Constitution Questionnaire with independent sample t-test. Methods : Participants of this study were outpatients in ECM clinics located in Korea. The resources were collected from 925 patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used for independent sample t-test. Results and Conclusions : 1. The proportion of participants' constitutions is in the order of Pancreotonia (28.0%), Colonotonia (17.3%), Pulmotonia (18.1%), Hepatonia (18.1%), Vesicotonia (8.5%), Cholecystotonia (7.0%), Renotonia (2.6%) and Gastrotonia (0.4%). 2. Eight-Constitution Questionnaire consists of 5 parts; Appearance, Character, Body reaction, Physiology & Pathology and Food reaction. 3. 18 items were chosen among 81 question about Character. 4. Due to the deficiency of Gastrotonia examples, useful items have to be given up. If we can gather Gastrotonia examples, we can use meaningful items more than 18.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of our study is to know Temperament & Character of each Eight Constitutions (Hepatonia, Cholecystonia, Pancreotonia, Gastrotonia, Pulmotonia, Colonotonia, Renotonia, Vesicotonia) classified by the short form Eight-constitution medicine questionnaire (ECM-32) test. Methods: We analyzed the result of ECM-32 test and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) submitted by 32 patients who had visited the ${\triangle}{\triangle}$ oriental medicine clinic in Nowon-gu, Seoul between September and October at 2011. Results: -The participants were classified as one of Eight Constitutions (3 Hepatonia(9.4%), 7 Cholecystonia, (21.9%), 3 Pancreotonia(9.4%), 0 Gastrotonia(0%), 5 Pulmotonia(15.6%), 4 Colonotonia(12.5%), 6 Renotonia(18.8%), 4 Vesicotonia(12.5%)) by ECM-32. -The seven dimensions of TCI were compared between the different Eight Constitutions using Kruskal-Wallis test. There were significant differences between Hepatonia and Pulmotonia, Hepatonia and Colonotonia, Cholecystonia and Pulmotonia, Pulmotonia and Renotonia, Pulmotonia and Vesicotonia in the Reward Dependence of Temperament dimensions. -The Subsclaes of TCI were compared between the different Eight Constitutions using Kruskal-Wallis test. There were significant differences between Cholecystonia and Pulmotonia, Pulmotonia and Renotonia, Pulmotonia and Vesicotonia in the RD3. There were significant differences between Hepatonia and Cholecystonia, Hepatonia and Pancreotonia, Hepatonia and Pulmotonia, Hepatonia and Renotonia in the RD4. Conclusions: There is not a significant interrelationship between Feature of each Eight Constitutions and Temperament & Character in TCI. This study is meaningful because it is the first study to verify Temperament and Character of Eight Constitutions. Further studies with increased case and improved questionnaire are needed to supplement this research.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Eight Constitution Medicine (ECM) categorizes individuals into eight constitutions based on physiological differences in organ relations and recommends different diets for different constitutions. This study presents a preliminary analysis of the effect of following constitutional food regimens on quality of life and health outcomes for different constitutions. Methods: This cross-sectional, comparative study used subjects recruited from Essen University Hospital Traditional Chinese Medicine Center in Germany. From a convenience sample of 243 Germans, those in the groups Hepatonia/Cholecystonia (n = 95) and Pulmotonia/Colonotonia (n = 26) were analyzed for health outcomes in relation to their dietary habits of either including or avoiding meat. Health outcomes were measured with SF-36, self-reported survey. Results: The two groups had no significant differences in the health outcomes of SF-36. However, subjects in Hepatonia/Cholecystonia who had followed their dietary habit for more than 20 years had significantly better scores on general health, social functioning, mental health, emotional role functioning, and mental component scores than those in Pulmotonia/Colonotonia, regardless of their meat intake. Conclusions: This study established initial groundwork for considering patients' constitutions when evaluating health outcomes and their relation to diet. Further studies are warranted on the effects of regulating food intake according to individual constitution.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.27-44
• /
• 2007

Background: Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) classifies the human body into eight constitutions. Diagnosis of discrimination of the eight constitutions depends on a unique pulse diagnosis. However, pulse diagnosis is subjective and requires vigorous training. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the validity and reliability of the Eight-Constitution Questionnaire as a diagnostic method. Methods: Participants of this study were outpatients in six ECM clinics located in Seoul. The resources were collected from 409 patients who were classified into one of the eightconstitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis: factor analysis, reliability analysis, independent sample t-test, and multinomial logistic regression were used to verify the results. Results and Conclusions: 1. The proportion of participants' constitutions is in the order of Pancreotonia (23.7%), Colonotonia (19.8%), Pulmotonia (18.1%), Hepatonia (16.9%), Vesicotonia (8.1%), Cholecystotonia (7.3%), Renotonia (5.3%) and Gastrotonia (0.7%). 2. Sevencomponents and 74 items were selected through factor factor and relaibility analysis performed on about 251 items. 3. The firstcomponent's mean is significantly higher in Pancreotonia than that in other constitutions (p<0.05). The second is in Pulmotonia and Colonotonia, whereas the third is in Hepatonia and Cholecystotonia. Fifth is in Vesicotonia, the sixth is in Colonotonia, and the fourth and seventh are not significant in specific constitutions. 4. The percentage that Pancreotonia is correctly predicted is 96.9%, Pulmotonia is 91.9%, Colonotonia is 91.4%, Hepatonia is 88.4%, Vesicotonia is 81.8%, Gastrotonia is 66.7%, Renotonia is 66.7%, Choleeystotonia is 30.0%, and the total percentage is 85.3%.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.45-77
• /
• 2009

Background : Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) devides the human body into eight constitutions. Up until now, checking the pulse types is only way to classify the eight constitution. Recently we try to make a questionnaire that is based on the Eight-Constitution characters and analyze the answer from patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy Objective : This study intends to analyze each answer of the Eight-Constitution Questionnaire with independent sample t-test. Methods: Participants of this study were outpatients in ECM clinics located in Korea. The resources were collected from 925 patients who were classified into one of the eight constitutions according to their pulse types and their responses to constitution-acupuncture therapy. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used for independent sample t-test. Results and Conclusions: 1. The proportion of participants' constitutions is in the order of Pancreotonia (28.0%), Colonotonia (17.3%), Pulmotonia (18.1%), Hepatonia (18.1%), Vesicotonia (8.5%), Cholecystotonia (7.0%), Renotonia (2.6%) and Gastrotonia (0.4%). 2. Eight-Constitution Questionnaire consists of 5 parts; Appearance, Character, Body reaction, Physiology & Pathology and Food reaction. 3. 44 items were chosen among 128 question about Body reaction, Physiology & Pathology and Food reaction. 4. Due to the deficiency of Gastrotonia examples, useful items have to be given up. If we can gather Gastrotonia examples, we can use meaningful items more than 44.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.105-129
• /
• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to obtain basic data about the effects of Constitution-Acupuncture (CA) based on Eight-Constitution Medicine (ECM) by the expert CA Oriental Medical Doctors. Methods: The resources were collected from the internet survey method. 35 samples were collected. The SPSS 13.0 for windows and Answer Tree 3.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The results from this research are as follow. 1. The motivation that apply ECM to clinic are 'Because ECM is effective for diagnosis, treatment and prevention against disease' 48.6% and 'Because CA therapy is effective' 25.7%. 2. The advantage that CA therapy compare to the other acupuncture therapy are 'Management and prevention against disease are available by ECM theory to a person who exact constitution is confirmed' 82.9%, 'CA therapy is superior in treatment of hard symptoms to treat by the other acupuncture therapy' 80%, 'Treatment effect is good' 77.1%, 'Needle manipulation of CA is simple comparatively' 57.1%, 'It is definite whether treatment effect is good or not' 54.3% and CA therapy is superior all in diseases of twelve category. 3. When the effects of CA is good, patients expressed much 'Eyesight lightened', 'Took deep sleep at night', 'Fatigue decreased', 'Body is light', 'Feelings became refreshing' as well as 'Symptoms were improved' and also physicians confirmed as those reactions whether treatment is effective. Conclusions: The research suggest that CA is effective therapy in clinic, and so further study is needed for CA therapy.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.59-70
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Pulse diagnosis by Expert is the only way to classify 8 Constitutions so the study to supplement classifying method by the questionnaire has developed and modified and ECM-32 System has designed in 2010. But analyzing with Decision tree had many nodes and 32 important questions omitted while processing the data. So this study was to classify the 8 constitution patients into 2 groups first and analyze its characters in consecutive order. Methods : The participants of this study were 1027 patients who classified into one of the 8 constitutions according to pulse diagnosis and answered 251 questionnaires in 2010. They were divided into sympathetic nerve acceleration constitution and parasympathetic nerve acceleration constitution and analyzed with decision tree. Results : The reponses of the questionnaire were analyzed with 4 methods of 5 scales interval method from 0 to 5, Na, Low(1,2), Medium(3), High(4,5), average value, Y/N dichotomy. Average Value had no significance. 1. From the 5 scale interval method 6 questionnaires with 7 nodes (F5e, B1d, F7f, F2a, F1b, C4L) were significant. The accuracy was 92.5%. 2. From L, M, H method 7 questionnaires with 7 nodes(F5e, B1d, F7f, F1a, B1c, C4L, P3d) were significant. The accuracy was 92.5%. 3. From Y/N dichotomy 9 questionnaires with 9 nodes( F5e, B1d, F7f, F1a, B1c, C4L, B1b, P1i, B2a) were significant. The accuracy was 93.18%. Conclusions : Based on this study, Yes or No dichotomy method was most significant and categorized among the 4 methods. Unlike previous studies which used interval scale method only, Y/N dichotomy method was more statistically significant with the questionnaire to supplement the method of pulse diagnosis. For further study by analyzing decision tree method in consecutive order, the patients can be divided into 8 Constitutions with higher significance with less questionnaires.