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

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.445-457
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• 2011

1. Purpose Lee Je-Ma had continued to revise "Donguisusebowon" by adding the contents of the Symptomatic-pharmacology(病證藥理論) on Soeumin, Soyangin and Taeeumin to it from the first establishment of the old version in 1894 to 1900.(new version). This paper tries to find out the contents and meaning of the Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases(病證論) between the old version and new version and what the Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases affected the Theory of Eight Constitution created in subsequent years. 2. Methods I classified the Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases in "DongYiSuseBowon" into old version and new version and tried to find out the Theory of Eight morbidities(8病證論) which is the predecessor of the Theory of Eight Constitution, before reviewing their relation. 3. Conclusions 1) The Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases in the old version specify that the externally sensed diseases are caused by the deep sediment of nature(性) and that the internally touched diseases are caused by the violent activities of emotion(情). In addition, it said that all diseases are caused by the specific characteristics of patient's smaller internal organs(偏小之臟). But in new version, the diseases were understood through the concept Exterior, Interior, Heat and cold(表裏寒熱). The new version said that the diseases may be caused not only the specific characteristics of patient's smaller organs but also by bigger organs(偏大之臟). 2) The Theory of Eight Constitution was derived from the Theory of Eight morbidities, in which all kinds of human diseases are caused by 8 disease-orgin organ and that the diseases therefore can be classified into 8 morbidities. The Theory of Eight morbidities reorganized the Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases in "DongYiSuseBowon" by classifying them into first morbidity and second morbidity. 3) The Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases in "DongYiSuseBowon" has decisively affected the creation of the Theory of Eight morbidities which is the predecessor of the Theory of Eight Constitution. The Theory of Eight morbidities may be deemed another interpretation of the Discourse on the Constitutional Symptoms and Diseases in "DongYiSuseBowon". As the Theory of Eight morbidities put emphasis on the genetic characteristics, the Theory of Eight Constitution stating that Eight morbidities are caused by different specific constitution was derived.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2011

1. Objectives: This study intends to identify the contents of Sasang Constitutional Diet through a book by Lee Je-Ma, to review the implied contents, and to analyze the influence of this information and principles on the formation of Eight Constitutional Diet. 2. Results and Conclusions: 1) The Sasang Constitutional Diet was systematically established by Lee Je-Ma, and is composed by the principles of 'food is on different from medicine(食藥同源)', principles of 'reinforcement of one organ(一臟補强)', principles of 'should not be mixed(混用不可)' and principles of 'food abstinence'(飮食節制)'. 2) The Eight Constitutional Diet has already been studied before 1962, and "Classification Of Constitutional Regimen and Diet", which recorded harmful and good food, has been used in clinical practices since 1962. The basis that can transform Eight Constitutional Diet into Sasang Constitutional Diet can be found in the fact that the Eight Constitution is based on the Sasang constitution. However, because clinical research on the relationship between 8 constitution and Sasang constitution is still sketchy, directly transforming the current Eight Constitutional Diet into Sasang Constitutional Diet seems unreasonable.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.45-77
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• 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 Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.41-51
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• 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
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-44
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• 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%.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2010

1. Objectives Herbal Extracts are used in Korean Oriental Medicine clinics. The sixty eight kinds of single herbal extracts and fifty six kinds of mixed herbal extracts has been using since the first year of execution of Korean medicine national insurance policy in 1987. This paper was performed to make a guideline of using herbal extracts. Single herbal extracts and mixed herbal extracts were discussed and classified according to Sasang constition. 2. Methods The sixty eight single herbal extracts were classified into four categories according to Sasang Constitution and fifty six mixed herbal extracts were classified by six Korean oriental medical doctors. Mixed herbal extracts were considered in terms of drug roles[sovereign, minister, assistant and courier(君臣佐使)] or most included ingredient herb. 3. Results Sasang constitutions which were suitable for fifty six mixed herbal extracts were Soeumin(46.4%), mixed constitution(39.2%) and Soyangin(8.9%), Taeeumin(5.3%). Sasang constitutions which were suitable for sixty eight single herbal extracts were Soeumin(47.1%), Soyangin(32.4%) and Taeeumin(20.6%). 4. Conclusions The rate of Soeumin herbal extracts was the most highest among all constitutions. It is regarded that warming and enforcing herb medicine were most used in all prescriptions.

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

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.06b
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• pp.9-12
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• 2001

In oriental medicine, it is possible to classify each person into eight kinds of constitutions based on the eight constitutional medicine theory. We developed a piezoelectric 3-channel tactile sensor using PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film for pulse detection of the radial artery. High frequency buffer (impulse buffer), amplifier, 60 Hz noise notch filter and low pass filter were integrated on three sheets of PCB board. The pulses of the radial artery at three points were checked using our system. Each constitution of the eight ones has different combinations of pulses.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-101
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• 1997

The physiologic and pathologic theories of "The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine (黃帝內經)" were based on yin-yang theory. It has been an important constituent of traditional Chinese medicine, and the eight principal syndromes have been main guidelines in diagnosis and treatment. Recently it had an great influene on the formation of the pathophysiology of Constitutional medicine. Therefore each constitution menifests special pathophysiologic propriorities of the eight pricipal syndromes, especially specific to one's constitution. So we can recognize specific patterns of the yin and yang, cold and heat, exterior and interior, deficient and excessive syndromes through a series of processes distinguishing one's constitution. The theory of the Constitutional medicine, however, has contained those achievements in a new angle and view the problem from a little different standpoint. The dynamic relationships inevitably have caused certain changes and distortions in the meaning and application of eight principles. These are a progress in medical science, and this advance is the stirring venture of Lee jaema. This thesis has intended to show the delicate relationship between the two, and investigate into these "changes and distortions".