• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between intake of food unconformable to each Sasang constitution and the recognition of irregular symptoms of health condition. The study subjects, 362 university students nationwide, were classified according to their Sasang constitution. Regarding the correlation between intake of constitutionally unconformable food and health recognition, the Soeum type showed a positive correlation between unconformable food intake and multiple subjective symptoms. According to the detailed food type, the Soyang type showed a positive correlation between chicken intake and the symptoms of eyes and skin, and between pepper intake and multiple subjective symptoms. The Soeum type showed a negative correlation between mackerel intake and the symptoms of mouth and anus. A negative correlation was observed between mung-bean intake and multiple subjective symptoms, and this tendency persisted in the correlations between nonglutinous millet intake and multiple subjective symptoms, between wheat powder intake and multiple subjective symptoms, and not only the symptoms of the respiratory system but also eyes and skin. Positive correlations were found between banana intake and multiple subjective symptoms, and between mile intake and the symptoms of the respiratory system. However, the Taeum type didn't display any significant correlation with any food type.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Background Abdominal obesity, a major public health concern, is related to many health problems. In addition, it is influenced by individual characteristics. We investigated sleep quality and physical activity (PA) as risk factors for abdominal obesity, according to the Sasang constitutional medicine. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 5,221 community-based participants. Sleep quality and PA were measured using structured questionnaires, and abdominal obesity was classified according to waist circumference. Sasang constitution (SC) was classified as Taeeumin (TE), Soeumin (SE), or Soyangin (SY) type, using an established SC questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to access the association of sleep quality and PA with abdominal obesity in individuals stratified according to the SC types. Results The percentage of poor sleep quality and inactive PA was the highest in the SE type, and the higher prevalence of abdominal obesity was found in the TE type. After adjusting for variables, inactive PA was associated with abdominal obesity in the TE type (OR=1.694, 95% CI=1.42-2.021), and in the SE type, abdominal obesity was associated with poor sleep quality (OR=1.688, 95% CI=1.091-2.611) and low PA (OR=2.127, 95% CI=1.163-3.89). Moreover, the combination of these two factors were also significantly associated with abdominal obesity in the TE and SE types. Conclusion Abdominal obesity was associated with sleep quality and PA, and these results were different in each SC type. Taking various associated lifestyles and individual characteristics in consideration may contribute to better management of abdominal obesity in clinical practice.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.235-247
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• 2020

Objectives: In this study, we examine whether Sasang constitutions include all 8 attitude-function types, forming a complete paradigm from the perspective of Jungian psychological type theory. Methods: Analysis of the meanings of psychological attitudes and function of each Sasang constitution was performed, comparing them with the typological theories of C.G.Jung and John Beebe, both of whom are eminent minds in Jungian typology. Results and Conclusions: (1) Each Sasang constitution had all 8 psychological attitude-function combinations, which are diversely differentiated by type within their conscious and unconscious psyches. This is likely because attitudes and functions that develop in the conscious mind build up compensating attitudes and functions in the unconscious. (2) It seems that extroversion and introversion coexist within every Sasang constitution as psychological descriptions reported by Lee, Je ma state. The superior and inferior functions are disposed in the order of organ size in Sasang constitutions, but dominance of extroversion or introversion as defined by Jung's concepts of attitude does not seem to be determined by constitution.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2009

1. Objectives The purpose of this study is to find the ground why constitution must be classified into 4 types. 2. Methods I analysed the basic presuppositions to class 4 Type Constitution in Sasang Constitutional Medicine(SCM). And I connected the presuppositions with other theories from the viewpoint of directional properties of human body. 3. Results and Conclusions The most important presupposition to class 4 Type Constitution and apply to clinical therapy in SCM is that there is native strength and weakness of lung's Exhale Dispersing Qi, liver's Inhale Gathering Qi, spleen's Ascending Yin Qi and kidney's Descending Yang Qi. If there is superior tendency of Qi flow direction in human body, 6 directions(upward, downward, forward, backward, outward and inward) will be remarkable. But, in embryonic period, the outer skin is originated from the back(ectoderm) and the alimentary canal is from the front(endoderm). Therefore 4 directions(upward, downward, outward and inward) will be more remarkable, and those directions are included in the former presupposition.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.54-71
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study was to revise Sasang Digestive Function Inventory (SDFI) and improve its validity and reliability using clinical data. Methods The Sasang type and Cold-Heat pattern differentiation by certified clinical specialist and responses to SDFI items were acquired from 419 hospital patients. The revision of SDFI was performed using item analysis and Explorative Factor Analysis (EFA). Furthermore, the validity and reliability of the revised SDFI (rSDFI) were investigated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Internal Consistency and Item Response Theory (IRT). And, clinical significance of the rSDFI was examined for the differentiation of Sasang types and Cold-Heat patterns. Results The number of the SDFI items were modified from 21 to 15. And, the validity and reliability of the rSDFI subscale structure were found to be acceptable. The scores of rSDFI-total and rSDFI-E significantly decreased in the order of Tae-Eum (TE), So-Yang (SY), So-Eum (SE) types, and the rSDFI score of SE type was significantly lower than that of TE and SY types. The rSDFI-total score could differentiate Cold-Heat pattern in both SY and SE types. And the difference of digestive function between Cold and Heat pattern of SE type could be explained with the rSDFI-D score. The rSDFI-total score in Cold pattern significantly decreased in the order of TE, SY, and SE types, and the rSDFI-total score of TE type is significantly higher than that of SE type in Heat pattern. Conclusions Current results demonstrated the reliability, validity and clinical usefulness of the rSDFI in clinical patients. Therefore, rSDFI can be utilized as an objective clinical measure supporting the differential diagnosis of Sasang typology.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2014

Although Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are generally treated by western medicine, many of them strongly believe in the traditional oriental Sasang constitutional classification and depend on it for food, health supplements, and oriental medicines decision making. Sasang constitutional classification is a part of traditional Korean medicine that divides people into four constitutional types (Tae-Yang: TY, Tae-Eum: TE, So-Yang: SY, and So-Eum: SE), which differ in inherited characteristics such as appearance, personality traits, susceptibility to diseases, and drug responses. It is recommended for T2DM patients to control their blood glucose very well from early stages with drugs and diet. However, many T2DM patients respond differently to their drugs, even though they receive the same medicine. Therefore, the present study investigated whether Sasang constitutional type can explain the therapeutic differences between oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) therapy (mono, dual and triple drug therapy). Patients of 618 with T2DM diagnosis and Sasang constitutional type known who received both western and oriental medicine treatment in a hospital between April 2006 and April 2013 retrospectively studied. HbA1c (%) and blood glucose (mg/dl) levels before OHAs therapy and 3 month after were collected for metformin (MET) or sulfonylurea (SU) monotherapy, MET+SU dual therapy, MET+except SU (where was either alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, meglitinide or thiazolidinedione) dual therapy, and triple therapy, according to Sasang constitutional type. For statistical analysis, ANOVA was used and paired t-test by SPSS 19.0 where P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Pattern was similar levels of HbA1c and blood glucose and which was decreased in order of mono, MET+SU dual, MET+except SU dual and triple therapy. In all patients comparison, for the So-yang (SY) constitutional type, either monotherapy was less effective; for Te-eum (TE) type, MET+SU dual therapy was less effective while MET+except SU dual therapy was more effective and the triple therapy was less effective; and for So-eum (SE) type, the triple therapy was more effective. For the management of TE type it is recommended to use drugs except SU when dual therapy is needed, restrict triple therapy and consider dual and insulin therapy; for SY type it is recommended to follow current guidelines; and for SE type it is advisable to skip dual therapy and start the triple therapy early. Finally, the therapeutic response to OHAs is different among Korean T2DM patients with different Sasang constitutional types. Taken together, the choice of effective OHAs therapy for each type is necessary in order to minimize the poor control of blood glucose level, the risk of complications, and the costs from a failure of therapy.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.361-373
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• 2011

1. Objectives: The purpose of this study was done to learn the Sasang constitutional distribution and to find out if there are differences in the type of diseases and symptoms according to the Sasang constitution in Japan. 2. Methods: We collected data from 366 patients who visited the Department of Oriental Medicine, Keio University and recruited 132 healthy persons in Tokyo, Japan. For sasang constitution diagnosis, they all have done SSCQ-P(Sasang Constitution Questionaire for Patients) questionnaire. and a sasang constitution specialist diagnosed the sasang constitution of them. And We classify the diseases and symptoms of 313 patients according to KCD(Korean Standard Classification of Diseases) and learn the prevalences of diseases and symptoms according to Sasang Constitution. 3. Results: 1) Among the total 498 subjects, distributional rate of Taeyangin, Soyangin, Taeeumin, and Soeumin were 2.0%, 26.3%, 29.9%, and 41.8%. Among the 366 patients, distributional rate of Taeyangin, Soyangin, Taeumin, and Soeumin were 0.8%, 27.3%, 28.7%, and 43.2%. Among the 132 healthy group, distributional rate of Taeyangin, Soyangin, Taeeumin, and Soeumin were 5.3%, 23.5%, 33.3%, and 37.9%. 2) The prevalences of 'V.Mental and behavioural disorders', 'XI.Diseases of the digestive system', 'XV.Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium' and 'feeling of coldness(X VIII.Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, NEC)' of Soeumin were significantly higher than those of the other constitutions.(p-value<0.05) 4. Conclusions: The distributional rate of Sasangin of Japanese was different from that of Korean and especially the distributional rate of Soeumin of Japanese was significantly higher than that of Korean. There were significant differences on the prevalences of some diseases and symtoms according to KCD in Soeumin.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.263-274
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• 2011

1. Objectives: We report a series of 4 obesity cases who responded well to the weight-loss therapy based on the Taeeum Sasang constitutional therapy. 2. Methods: In treating 4 obese patients who were constitutionally typed as the Taeeum type, Case 1 and Case 2 fell into the category of the Lung Dry-Cold symptomatology, Case 3 into the Dry-Heat symptomatology, and Case 4 into the Exterior-Interior Combined symptomatology. Each patient was given Sasang medication according to protocol: Taeeumjowi-tang (Taiyintiaowei-tang) to Case 1 and Case 2, Cheongpyesagan-tang (Qingfeixiegan-tang) to Case 3, and Seunggijowi-tang (Chengqitiaowei-tang) to Case 4. On each visit to the clinic (7-21 times in total), the patients were checked on their general condition and change in body weight. 3. Results and Conclusions: All patients showed improvements in their general condition and a satisfactory decrease in weight (Case 1 showed a decrease of 12.7 kg in 84 days, Case 2 a decrease of 8.9 kg in 39 days, Case 3 a decrease of 33 kg in 250 days, and Case 4 a decrease of 29.3 kg in 155 days). Treating obesity based on Taeeum constitutional therapy was found to be effective for weight loss and general improvement of health. The sustained effects of the therapy should be checked during the following visits. The obesity treatment protocol suggested in this investigation should be explored and verified in future studies.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.209-214
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• 2006

This study is validity study of the questionnaire for doctors for Sasang constituion diagnosis. (an objects of this study : 314 patients) We analyzed the results of questionnaires about 314 patients who were diagnosed in Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine from June to November, 2004. The questionnaire for doctors consists of objective valuation about the patients for Sasang constituion diagnosis. In the analysis about all variables, we obtain the diagnosis accuracy of 92%. In the analysis about body type variable, we obtain the diagnosis accuracy of 44-48%. In the analysis about external appearance, mental characteristics, physiology & pathologic symptoms variables, we obtain the diagnosis accuracy of 46-72%. After all, in order to increase of the diagnosis accuracy, we have to analysis total variables(body type, external appearance, mental characteristics, physiology & pathologic symptoms) for sasang constituion diagnosis. Hereafter, We need many data and standardization for sasang constituion diagnosis.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.13-26
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in allergic reactions by type of Sasang constitution using multiple allergen simultaneous test(MAST). Methods This study was conducted using the big data of Korean medical health checkups. Subjects with a history of allergic disease, Sasang constitution type information, and MAST results were included. Subjects who had taken drugs before MAST that affected allergic reactions were excluded. We compared total immunoglobulin E(IgE) concentrations, and the number of positive antigens by Sasang constitution using analysis of variance. The presence or absence of a positive reaction and specific IgE concentration classes of 92 antigens in MAST were analyzed by Fisher's exact test or Chi-squared test. Results The distribution of Sasang constitutional types of Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, and So-Eum among 147 subjects was 2.7%, 42.9%, 38.1%, and 16.3%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the total IgE concentration, the number of positive antigens, and specific IgE concentration classes for each antigen. There was a statistically significant difference in MAST-positive reaction for alder and pine antigens by type of Sasang constitution, and Tae-Eum had the most. Conclusions Tae-Eum showed a relatively strong positive reaction to a large number of antigens compared to the other types, but no statistically significant difference was observed. It is necessary to continuously investigate allergic reactions to provide evidence for the treatment of allergic diseases by Sasang constitution.