• 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 the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 1998

This study was conducted to compare the serum composition and urinary excretion in four institutional groups and the effects of intakes of good foods and harmful foods according to the Sasang constitiution for a short time on serum and ruine compositon. The contitutions of 33 female stucdents were classified by O-ring test and muscular strength test according to the Sasang constitution, The number of each institutional group was So-yang-in 11, So-em-in 10 and Tae-em-in 12. No subject belonged to Tae-yang-in There were no significant differences among contitutional groups in the values of most serum composition and urinary excretion Serum levels of total cholesterol, glucose, calcium and phosphorus in Tae-em-in was the highest among groups and the level of albumin and total protein in So-em-in was highest. The values of serum compositions changed after the 33 subjects took good foods and then harmful foods according to The Sasang constitution for a short time(5 days). Dietary behavior of the subjects had some effects among the constitutional groups in the values of most serum composition and urinary excretion. But the effects of dietary behavior on the serum composition and urinary excretion showed various trends in the four institutional groups.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of medical nutrition therapy(MNT) on plasma lipid levels of hyperlipidemic patients with apo E3 genotype according to Sasang Constitutions. From March to July, 2001, the 33 hyperlipidemic patients admitted to K University Medical Center were studied. The study subjects were classified according to their Sasang constitutions by QSCC II questionnaire which have been used at K University Oriental Medical Center. The anthropometric assessments, blood analysis, and apo E genetic typing were carried out. Nutrient intake was determined by food record method of food taken during two weekdays and one weekend. The MNT including the instruction for hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic diet (step l diet) was performed for 12 weeks. The results are as follow; (1) The mean age of hyperlipidemic patients was $49.91{\pm}8.48$ years. (2) The distributions of Sasang Constitution were 60.6% of Tae-eum, 21.2% of So-yang, and 18.2% of So-eum. The distributions of apo E genotype were 6.5% of apo E2/3, 78.8% of apo E 3/3, and 15.2% of apo E 3/4. (3) The nutrient consumption of the apo E3 subjects before the MNT showed lower calorie, iron, calcium, and vitamin B2 intakes than the RDAs for each nutrients with no significant differences among the constitutions. After 12-week of MNT, only the fat consumption was decreased in the Tae-eum group. The MNT did not change the pattern of food intake. (4) The plasma level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were not changed after MNT in the three constitutional groups. The level of HDL-C was significantly increased significantly in Tae-eum and So-yang group and the level of homocystein was lowered in Tae-eum group after MNT. It could be concluded that the 12-weeks MNT with hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic diet did not change the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C effectively regardless of Sasang constitutions even though the subjects' dietary intake was improved by MNT.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 2022

Background Adherence to healthy diet acts as a key role to modify sedentary lifestyle in real life setting. Constitution type of traditional Korean medicine has been prediagnosed to risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aims to evaluate the associations between body composition and healthy eating status in Korean adults by their constitution type. Methods Of 4046 participants from Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort study, Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort (KDCC) study were included for analysis. Demographic, health-related behaviors and Korean Medicine (KM) type were surveyed based on a general health-related questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and dietary factors by using Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) were assessed only in the half of the original participants. Results 50.8% of Taeeum was observed from eligible 1967 participants (66.7%, women). The highest KHEI score was observed in soyang group (52.0±0.3, p=0.006) compared to other two groups. In taeeum group, lower appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)(%)(Taeeum: 38.7±0.1 vs. Soeum/Soyang: 39.2±0.1, p < 0.05), and higher percent of body fat (PBF)(%) (Taeeum: 32.9±0.2 vs. Soeum/Soyang: 29.0±0.2, p < 0.05) by the lowest tertile (T1) of the KHEI score, respectively. When the KHEI score increased by 1 point in taeeum group, a positive relationship was observed, which increased by 0.015% of ASM, however, a negatively related to in which body fat mass (BFM) decreased by 0.022 kg and PBF decreased by 0.024%. Conclusion Customized nutritional management is required that could help maintaining physical health and diet by their constitution type.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.85-109
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• 2009

Objective & Methods : The present study was to investigate the effect of Moutan Cortex Radicis Herbal-acupuncture (MCR-HA) at GB34 (Yangleungchean) on hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis induced by high fat diet in rats. Results : 1. Moutan Cortex Radicis herbal-acupuncture infusion solution (MCR-HAS) increased DPPH radical scavenging activity and HMG-CoA reductase inhibition rate in rat liver cells. 2. MCR-HA at GB34 decreased serum total cholesterol level, and increased serum phospholipid/total cholesterol in rats with high fat diet. 3. MCR-HA at GB34 decreased atherogenic index in rats with high fat diet. 4. MCR-HA at GB34 increased hepatic catalase activity in rats with high fat diet. Conclusion : These results suggested that Moutan Cortex Radicis herbal-acupuncture at GB34 has therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia and related complications in rats with high fat diet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2003

Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM) is based on the theory of Sasang (Taeyang, Soyang, Taeum, Soeum) in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). It is hypothesized that all of the things in the material world can be divided into the four categories of SCM. We made a new attempt to combine nutritive components, and patterns in physical activities with SCM. At first, we hypothetically divided the nutrients into 4 compartments according to SCM theory, and human body composition as well. These factors could be basically related to Sasangin Exercise Treatment (SET). Therefore, we applied sasangin theory to exercise prescription. As a research method, we hypothesized that human beings' types can be distinguished by mind and body. Mind was focused on exercise psychological aspects, and body also handled by nutrients, body compositions, body shapes, and exercise physiological aspects. For application of sasang theory to the exercise prescriptions, Taeumin as a sample sasangin was selected in this study. We concluded that in perspective of general traits, Taeumin have to reduce their carbohydrate intake volume, but greatly increase their intake of vitamins, minerals, and water in daily diet. They are also recommended exercises that can increase cardiorespiratory function and make them sweat, like endurance running, hiking, swimming, cycling, etc.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 2012

Objectives : Obesity is an important cause of diabetes, and lipotoxicity causes insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on high fat diet-induced obese type 2 diabetic mouse models. Methods : Diabetes was induced in ICR male mouse (23~25 g) with Surwit's high fat, high sucrose diet. Mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10) of normal, control, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and metformin. After 8 weeks, body weight, OGTT, fructosamine, lipid profile, serum level of adiponectin and leptin, epididymal fat pad, liver weight and epididymal adipocyte size were measured. Results : Salvia miltiorrhiza significantly reduced oral glucose tolerance levels, fructosamine serum level, epididymal fat weight, and epididymal adipocyte size. Salvia miltiorrhiza also increased HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin and leptin serum levels. Conclusions : These results show that Salvia miltiorrhiza improves insulin resistance. Therefore we suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza would be an effective treatment for obese type 2 diabetic patients.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.12-26
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• 2024

Objectives We aimed to identify the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its clustering components according to constitution type and lifestyle risk factors in Korean adults. Methods This study included 1,978 adults aged 30-55 years from the Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort (KDCC) study. We defined lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleep, dietary quality, and weight status. Total lifestyle scores were created based on the six lifestyle factors (ranging from 0 to 5 factors) and classified into two groups: unhealthy (0-2 factors), or healthy (3-5 factors). Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of primary endpoints: MetS events and their clustering components. Results During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, we documented 125 new onsets of MetS. Compared with participants with healthy, the HR of unhealthy participants was 2.401 (95% CI: 1.497-3.851) for MetS incidence. After adjusting for covariates, TE type with unhealthy was higher HR values of abdominal obesity (HRs: 1.499, 95%CI: 1.061-2.117) and hypertension (HRs: 1.840, 95%CI: 1.032-3.277), respectively. Conclusion Unfavorable lifestyle factors were highly associated with the prevalence of MetS and its clustering such as abdominal obesity and hypertension in Korean adults with TE. Tailored health management is needed to consider individual traits and healthy lifestyles to prevent cardiometabolic diseases.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.339-352
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• 1997

The oriental medicine based on the traditional chinese medicine has developed according to the historical and racial character respectively in China, Korea and Japan etcs. Particularly, the distinctive feature of Korea & Japan is characterized by the development of constitutional medicine compared with chinese medicine; Sasang Medicine of Korea and Ikkando Medicine of Japan. The constitutional medicines were so far developed by many clinical doctors, and in recent years much interest has centered on the application of these medicines in regarding originality, easiness and effectiveness etcs in treatment. Thus far only few attempts have been made at Ikkando medicine in Korea, what seems to be lacking, however, is practical application in clinic. Thus authors intend to help the clinical application by introducing Ikkando medicine to Korea oriental medicine through this paper. The Ikkando medicine was established by Dohaku Mori(1869~1931) and was known through the "Kampo Ikkando Medincine" which was published by his disciple, Kaku Yakazu(1893~1966), classified human beings into three types; type of blood stasis, type of stroke and type of allergy. The type of blood stasis may be responsible for factors which have occurred by a state of insufficient bleed circulation and blood stasis causing lesione of endothelial cells, and Tongdosan is mainly administrated. The predisposing factor of stroke's type is known as the excessive diet, and the prevalence of cerebrovascular accident is probably higher. In this type, it is likely that patients are prevented and cured with Bangpungtongsunsan. Allergy's type have three distinct types of childhood, adolescence and adult as to the age. Allergy's type of childhood predisposes patients such as these to upper respiratory infection and tuberculosis etcs, and Sihocheonggansan is frequently administrated. Allergy's type of adolescence has a tendency to rhinitis and infection of face legion etcs, and Heunggyeyeoungyotang is mainly administrated. Allergy's type of adult is subject to urogenital infection, and is more commonly treated with Yongdamsagantang. Judging from the above, we can say with fair certainty that Ikkando Medicine has considerable validity to clinical practice, though it should not be pushed too far.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2002

This study, as a basic research to manage a Chinese Medicine Health Promotion Center by way of showing an example, is a before and after experiment research for simple group to verify a difference with cholesterol, health status and perception of health in order to confirm a effectiveness of diet and regimen according to the 4th status of physical constitution. Research object was chosen of 42 persons who operate a physical constitutional dietary regimen among them after selecting professors and clinical nurses (55 persons) majoring in the science of nursing who participated in Chinese Medicine-oriented Nurse Training Course from Aug. of 2001 to Feb. of 2002 all over the country. Diagnostic tools for physical constitution was used of the questionary that is currently consisted of physical constitution grouping test in Eastern & Western Diagnose Center of K Medical Center, and rating of health status was used of the tool that standardized CMI(Cornell Medical Index) to be available for Korean, and perception measurement for health status was used of a visual analogue scale for the health status that each one perceive personally, and physiological status was measured of cholesterol in blood. Analysis for the collected data was carried out by percentage, $X^2$ test, paired t-test according to research object by using SPSS, and the results of this study are as follows. 1) There was no difference with cholesterol before or after the experiment for objects. As a result of estimation about difference with health status by areas before or after the experiment, there are more improved result in eyes, ears, digestive organs, bones and sinews organs, frequency of a disorder, habit, adaptation status, angry, healthy status than before the experiment. As a whole, after the experiment the health was more improved than before the experiment. As the result to inspect a difference of health perception between before and after experiment, after the experiment the health perception level was improved than before, however there was no meaningful differences. 2) As the result to inspect a difference of cholesterol between before and after experiment according to object's physical constitution, in the case of So-yang-in(a person with the minimum male: according to the male and female principles(the sun and the moon)) among the 4th status of physical constitution there was only meaningful difference statistically, however, after the experiment their cholesterol's value was increased. As the result to inspect the difference of health status between before and after the experiment according to physical constitution, all of Ta-um-in(a person with maximum the female), So-yang-in(with the minimum male), So-um-in(with the minimum female) had a meaningful difference before and after the experiment, which means that in all case by physical constitutional groups, after the experiment their health status was more improved than before the experiment. As the result to inspect a difference of health perception between before and after according to physical constitutions, in the case of Tae-um-in and So-um-in, average score after the experiment was risen than before the experiment so that it means that the level of health perception was improved, however, there was no meaning statistically. According to the above results, if continuous diet and regimen by each physical constitutions could be implemented, it is certain that the health could be maintained and promoted. And, what we are healthy is for oneself to feel it subjectively. However, I think that cholesterol score in blood that we can view objectively could be changed distinctly if we can implement a strict diet and regimen. Accordingly, it is necessary for a method and period of experiment to be more strict and longer. According to the above results, I would like to suggest as follows. 1) In order to understand health status by Korean's physical constitutions and to generalize it, these research will be repeated against much more objects that could be selected by proper grouping method to consider a representative. 2) It is necessary for a research to inspect health status by physical constitution by developing a health status measurement tool that has higher confidence and propriety based on physical constitutional theory.