• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2010

1. Objectives This paper investigates the origin, the progressive changes and the constructive principles of Palmulgunja-tang (八物君子湯). 2. Methods Palmulgunja-tang and other related prescriptions were analyzed in terms of their pathological indications, based on previous literature including "Donguisusebowon Chobongwon (東醫壽世保元 草本卷)", "Donguisusebowon Gabobon (東醫壽世保元 甲午本)", "Donguisusebowon Sinchukbon (東醫壽世保元 辛丑本)" and "Dongmuyugo (東武遺稿)". 3. Results and Conclusions 1) The Palmulgunja-tang most likely originates from Paljin-tang introduced in "Donguisusebowon Chobongwon (東醫壽世保元 草本卷)". Paljin-tang progressively transformed into Seungyangpalmul-tang ("Donguisusebowon Gabobon (東醫壽世保元 甲午本)") and ultimately into Palmulgunja-tang ("Donguisusebowon Sinchukbon (東醫壽世保元 辛丑本)"), a prescription appropriate for usage in the Ulgwang symptomatology (鬱狂證). Also, Seungyangikgi-tang in "Donguisusebowon Sinchukbon (東醫壽世保元 辛丑本)" can be presumed to have been affected by Seungyangpalmul-tang. 2) The variational prescriptions (變方) of Palmulgunja-tang shows increasing Seungyang (升陽) effect in order of Baekhaogunja-tang, Sipjeondaebo-tang, Palmulgunja-tang, and Doksampalmul-tang. 3) Palmulgunja-tang is composed of 8 herbs. Of these, Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥), Glycyrrhizae Radix(甘草), Angelicae gigantis Radix (當歸), and Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎) fortify the Soeumin Spleen Element (脾元). Ginseng Radix (人蔘) and Astragali Radix (黃芪) support the ascension of Yang, whereas Atractlodis Rhizoma White (白朮) and Citrus unshiu (陳皮) encourage the descension of Yin.