• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.320-329
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• 2016

Objective We researched to analyze correlation between menstrual pain and Korean medical diagnosis - Sasang constitution and Pattern Identification - through clinical research of the patients of menstrual pain. Method Trial gruop who consists of women with menstrual pain is 193 people, and control group who consists of women without menstrual pain is 101 people. We producted analyzing of their Sasang Constitution and symptom with Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine(DSOM). This study used chi-square test, two sample t-test, analysis of variance, Wilcoxon's rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis test, correlation analysis. Results 1) In trial and control group, Soeumin was the largest and Soyangin was the least. There was'nt statistical significance between trial and control group. 2) In DSOM, deficiency of blood, stagnation of qi, blood stasis, coolness, spleen, kidney and phlegm pathogenic factors showed significant difference. Conclusion There were significant corelation between menstrual pain and Korean mdical diagnosis - Sasang constitution and Pattern Identification.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.967-975
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• 2021

This study investigated the case of a nineteen-year-old female patient with chronic nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension, who was diagnosed with CNVS and Spleen-Qi deficiency. Subjective symptoms were recorded with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) every morning, and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was used on the days of admission and discharge. For eleven days following admission, she took Bojungikki-tang-gagam and received acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. After three days of treatment, her nausea and vomiting ceased, and abdominal distension improved from NRS 3 to 0 after seven days of treatment. The GSRS score for the specific symptoms improved from 3 to 2; however, the total score remained largely unchanged (from 20 to 21). This case suggests that Korean medical treatment may improve CNVS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2019

In order to enhance the 8 principle pattern diagnosis rate comparing with diagnostic method by self-report questionnaire on cold/heat pattern in the clinical practice, a new diagnostic method using form-color-pulse-symptom (FCPS) system is proposed. FCPS system is composed of outputs of cold/heat pattern through the calculation process of contribution degree to the cold, heat pattern and qi, blood, yin, yang deficiency patterns, based on analysis of 16 mechanisms of disease calculated by diagnostic system of oriental medicine (DSOM) first. And second component is an output of differentiated 8 principle patterns in detail through binding and calculating process with digital informations of pulse, color, form, constitution obtained by computerized measurement system. Putting together above two processes consecutively, cold-heat complex or true/false cold/heat patterns and personalized characters of cold/heat patterns of each patient can be subdivided through a computation method of determining each pattern. In conclusion, 8 principle pattern identification can be performed more accurately using FCPS system than existent self report questionnaire method. These hypothetic proposal is needed to be proven by clinical trial for the future and then the accurate numbers used in each calculational function should be revised properly.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to collect and evaluate evidence of herbal medicine treatments for the residual effects of COVID-19. Methods: Nine electronic databases, namely PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang, J-STAGE, CiNii, OASIS, and Science ON, were searched with the following keywords: 'COVID-19'; 'sequelae'; 'Convalescence' for 'P (Population)' and 'Medicine, Chinese Traditional'; 'Korean medicine'; 'Herbal medicine' for 'I (Intervention)'. For the selected studies, various clinical data were extracted including patient symptoms, pattern identification, herbal medicines prescribed, and treatment results. Results: A total of nine clinical studies were identified (two case control trials; one case series; and six case reports). Various residual symptoms had been detected in the recovery stage of COVID-19 with the most commonly used pattern identifications being deficiency in both lung and spleen and in both qi and yin. Any herbal medicine prescriptions were written using these patterns. We found several reports of the positive effect of herbal medicines in that it improved symptoms, lung function, and lung inflammation. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The results indicate that treatment with herbal medicines has a possible therapeutic effect on the residual symptoms of COVID-19. Large-scale studies are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of these approaches.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 2022

Objectives : This paper examines major symptoms representation in COVID-19 patients as groundwork for development of an effective clinical data collection format in Korean Medicine. Methods : Major symptoms representation in COVID-19 related papers published worldwide were collected. Corresponding symptoms in Korean Medicine were then examined, followed by discussion of symptomatic features that require further consideration in regards to a more systematic clinical data collection. Results : Of 256 papers, most papers listed fever and cough while symptoms such as difficulty breathing, diarrhea, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, chest pain, phlegm, nasal discharge were also mostly listed. Clinical representations could be categorized into general symptoms, throat symptoms, chest symptoms, head and facial symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, musculo-skeletal and cutaneous symptoms, psychiatric symptoms and sensory problems. Conclusions : Although each clinical representation could be likened to certain clinical representations of Korean Medicine, the variety of symptoms were too limiting and lacking in detail to be applied in the pattern identification[辨證] of Korean Medicine. For effective clinical data collection and analysis in the future, symptom change according to time, comparison between location, climate and ethnicity, existence of interior symptoms when diagnosing exterior symptoms, deficiency-excessiveness of blood patterns, consciousness levels, etc., need to be considered in establishing criteria for symptom evaluation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.125-131
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• 2021

The scientific understanding of Korean medicine theory remains largely unknown, since there is a lack of proper methods to investigate its complex and unique characteristics. Here, we introduce a drug-centered approach, a novel method to investigate Korean medicine theory by analyzing the mechanisms of herbal medicines. This method can be effectively conducted by employing network pharmacology that can analyze the systems-level mechanisms of herbal medicines on a large scale. Firstly, we introduce the method of network pharmacology that are applied to analyze the mechanisms of herbal medicines in a step-by-step manner. Then, we show how the drug-centered approach employing network pharmacology can be applied to investigate Korean medicine theory by describing studies that identify the biological correlates of the cold-hot nature of herbs, spleen qi deficiency syndrome, or Sasang constitution. Finally, we discuss the limitations and future directions of the proposed approach in two aspects: The methods of network pharmacology for a drug-centered approach and the process of inferring Korean medicine theory through it. We believe that a drug-centered approach employing network pharmacology will provide an advanced scientific understanding of Korean medicine theory and contribute to its development by generating biologically plausible hypothesis.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.97-114
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• 2022

Objectives : Background research on the history of Huangbo's taste being written as 'pungent' was undertaken, after which its clinical meaning was examined from the medical perspective that was behind the medicinal's taste designation. Furthermore, through various understandings on the 'pungent' taste within the process of clinical application, the meaning of 'pungent' in Korean medicinal research was re-evaluated. Methods : Description of Huangbo's taste as 'pungent' as written in medical texts were chronologically examined to determine its origin. The clinical meaning of the pungent taste of Huangbo was examined within the broad medical perspective of doctors who were behind these descriptions. Results & Conclusions : The pungent taste of Huangbo was first described by Zhang Yuansu, followed by doctors of the Yishui School such as Li Dongyuan, Wang Haogu, etc., during which such knowledge was established and contributed to recognition of Huangbo's effect as tonifying Kidney deficiency and treatment of fire within water, after reaching the Kidney. Li Dongyuan understood the meaning of Huangbo's pungent taste as eliminating Yin fire and restoring the upward direction, ultimately restoring the general 'Rising-Falling-Floating-Sinking' mechanism within the context of his inner damage treatment. On the other hand, Zhu Danxi interpreted the pungentness of Huangbo based on his understanding of the nature of fire and action towards it. It seems as Huangbo's effects were understood within a relatively narrow frame, application of its pungent taste became vague, which gave rise to criticism by later period doctors, ultimately leading to an ambiguous understanding of the pungent taste of Huangbo.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.209-218
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• 2022

Objective : This study assessed the effect of a combination of Korean medicine on a chronic nipple eczema patient complaining of stress and immunodeficiency due to long-term steroid use. Methods : Herbal medicine, moxibustion and acupuncture were performed for a year. Treatment outcomes were evaluated with DLQI(Dermatology Life Quality Index), EQ-5D-5L(The 5 level of EuroQol 5 Dimensio scale), EQ-VAS(EuroQol-Visual Analog Scale), ADSI(Atopic Dermatitis Severity Index), pruritus NRS(Numeral Rating Scale), pictures and patient's statements. Results : After the treatment, symptoms have been alleviated, the quality of life has increased, and it has been maintained without further nipple eczema for three months. Conclusion : We suggest that Korean medicine is effective for chronic nipple eczema patient.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.237-252
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was done to investigate clinical frequency and correlation among the indicators of dampness-phlegm pattern identification settled by tentative Korean Standard Differentiation of the Symptoms and Signs for Stroke. Methods : The subjects were 147 hospitalized patients with stroke, and a list of registry was made for each of them. Among the five types of pattern identification, fire-heat, dampness-phlegm, blood-stasis and deficiency of Qi and of Yin, those that have shown a high frequency in dampness-phlegm type were categorized as the dampness-phlegm pattern group. Frequency of dampness-phlegm indicators was compared with those from the non-dampness-phlegm pattern group. Correlations among dampness-phlegm indicators were also studied. Results : 1. Dampness-phlegm pattern group included 26 patients out of 147. 2. Among the indicators of dampness-phlegm pattern. those, in order of highest frequency, were 'tiredness or sluggishness', 'white Coated tongue' and 'sputum'. 3. In comparing dampness-phlegm pattern group with non-dampness-phlegml group, the indicators such as 'lightheadedness', 'nigrescence', 'sputum', 'dermatic dysaesthesia' showed significantly high frequency. 4. Among the indicators, 'sputum' and 'tiredness or sluggishness', 'sputum' and 'yellow coated tongue', and 'white coated tongue' and 'yellow coated tongue' showed significant correlation. 5. In investigation of the correlation of scale in symptoms, various results such as positive correlation and negative correlation were obtained. Conclusion : In this study, more sensitive indicators of dampness-phlegm pattern identification were found. Based on these results, it is suggested that a more practical Korean Standard Differentiation of the Symptoms and Signs of Stroke would be established through continuous clinical studies by giving weight on each specific type of pattern identification.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

Background : Ginseng has traditionally been used in oriental countries to recover vital energy from Qi deficiency, and has shown various biomedical effects in the scientific literature. Recent reports suggest that ginseng could regulate blood pressure (BP), but much controversy still remains. Therefore, we intended to assess the anti-hypertensive effect of several ginseng types frequently used in clinics. We also investigated the anti-hypertensive effect on Koreans and Chinese, and by the body type according to Sasang Constitution Medicine (SCM). Methods : The study subjects were recruited from mildly hypertensive patients who exhibited pre-hypertension(120/80 to 139/89 mmHg) and stage I hypertension (140/90 to 159/99 mmHg) in Korea and China. After assigning the subjects into a Korean, a Chinese, a red, and an American ginseng group by randomization, we prescribed ginseng at a dose of 4.5 g per day for 4 weeks. To assess the anti-hypertensive effect, we compared the mean of systolic and diastolic BP between before and after ginseng medication using a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor (24 hr ABPM. We also monitored adverse effect and laboratory findings to secure the subjects' safety. In addition, all of the subjects in Korea consulted a specialist of Sasang Constitution Medicine to identify their constitutional type. Results : There were 64 subjects treated with Korean ginseng, 58 treated with Chinese ginseng, 33 treated with red ginseng, and 64 treated with American ginseng. Korean, Chinese, and American ginseng all reduced subjects' BP; Korean and Chinese ginseng showed more effect. The secondary analysis on the subjects' nationality revealed that all of the ginseng types showed more significant anti-hypertensive effect in Chinese patients than in Koreans. The third analysis on the constitutional type of SCM showed there was no significant difference in the effectiveness and the safety of ginseng among the constitutional types. Conclusions : We suggest ginseng, especially Panax ginseng without any steaming-drying process, could be useful for mild hypertension. Further, ginseng is safe regardless of subjects' constitutional type or type of ginseng within a dosage of 4.5g per day.