• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Objectives : To study the Korean Medical understanding of the overview, typical symptoms, mechanism and treatment of GERD in the Donguibogam and Jingyue Quanshu focusing on the 'Tunsuan[(呑酸), acid reflux]' text. Methods : Comparison between the two medical texts in terms of overview, mechanism and treatment of the condition was made, followed by examination of medical texts of the Four Great Physicians of Jin Yuan to determine the origins that lead to such differences. Results : In the Donguibogam, the major mechanism of the illness was understood as Dampness Heat, following the theories of Liu Hejian and Zhu Danxi. In the Jingyue Quanshu, such perspective was criticized, and it was understood as Spleen-Stomach Deficient Coldness, following the theory of Li Dongyuan. Conclusions : Rather than seeing the two different understandings as contradictory, the illness should be approached with an integrative understanding of the two theories as complementary of each other.