SCM is a unique traditional Korean therapeutic alternative form of medicine. Based on the Yin and Yang theory and on Confucianism, humen are classified into four constitutions.
These differ in terms of ①Sensitivity to certain group of herbs and medicines ②Equilibrium among internal organic functions ③Physical features and ④Psychological characteristics.
Historical Background
Lee, Jema, a devout Neo-Confucian, the mind-body interaction concept in SCM. Lee, Jema was based on the four Neo-Confucianism moral concepts Benevolence, Rightness, Propriety and Wisdom.
His observation implied that the adverse response of the human body to a specific medicinal herb was not temporary but congenitally influenced. He also emphasized the mutual interaction of mind and body in a whole as the crucial point of human physiology and pathology.
Lee, Jema created SCM theory, classifying human beings into four constitutional types and developed systematically unique physiological, pathological, herbal pharmacological, dietary and mind-body-related theories.
Constitutional Physiological Principles of SCM
SCM excludes the theory of the five elements and considers the human internal visceral system differently. Even though the visceral theory of SCM uses the same terminology found in TCM, they have different meanings.
SCM regards the heart as the king among the viscera, which is equivalent to the mind. Departing from the visceral theory in TCM where viscera are assigned in pairs, zang and fu, SCM assumes a theory of visceral groups: The lung, kidney, liver and spleen groups.
The lung group includes lungs, tongue, esophagus region, ears, brain and skin. The spleen group consists of spleen, stomach, breasts, eyes and tendon. The constituents of the liver group are the liver, small intestine, nose, lumbar region and muscle. The kidney group has the kidney, large intestine, urethra, bladder, mouth and bones.
Physiological Functions of Visceral Groups and the Key Features of constitutional Types
According to SCM, the spleen group is in charge of the intake of raw materials such as food and drink, whereas the kidney group regulates the process of waste discharge, including bowel movement and urination.
The functions of the lung and liver groups are described as dealing with the critical bodily substances including the Qi and body fluid. Within this perspective, the lung group is in charge of process of consuming Qi and body fluid, whereas the liver group is responsible for the process of producing and storing these inner substances.
According to the perspective of SCM, most of humans have a tendency of skewed state in terms of the seesaw balance between the visceral groups of the specific pair: the lung-liver pair and the spleen-kidney pair.
Based on a skewed equilibrium of these visceral group pairs, SCM classifies human beings into four constitutions: TaeYang type (Greater Yang person-TY), SoYang type (Lesser Yang person-SY), TaeEum type(Greater Yin person-TE), SoEum type(Lesser Yin person-SE)
The TY type has a hyperactive lung group and a hypoactive liver group that manifests a state of strong consumption and weak storage of Qi and body fluid. In contrast, the lungs of the TE type are hypoactive, whereas the liver of this type is hyperactive.
As such, the TE type is characterized by a state of weak consumption and strong storage of Qi and body fluid. The SY type has a hyperactive spleen group and hypoactive kidney group, which leads to a consistent state of strong raw material intake and weak waste discharge.
In contrast, the SE type has a state of weak raw material intake and strong waste discharge due to its congenital hypoactive spleen group and hyperactive kidney group.
Such differences in physiological patterns result in a series of typically distinct characteristics of each constitution, including external appearance, personality traits, manifestation of healthy and unhealthy state and response to medicine and treatment.
(This is summary of a article “Sasang Constitutional Medicine as a Holistic Tailored Medicine”, published online by Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 9/19/2011.)
|
CONSTITUTIONS |
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| CHARACTERISTICS | TY type | SY type | TE type | SE type |
| HYPERACTIVEVISCERA AND
FUNCTIONS |
Lung-process of consuming of Qi and body fluid | Spleen-process of raw material intake | Liver-process of producing and storing Qi and body fluid | Kidney-process of waste discharge |
| HYPOACTIVE VISCERA AND FUNCTIONS | Liver-process of producing and storing Qi and body fluid | Kidney-process of waste discharge | Lung-process of consuming of Qi and body fluid | Spleen-process ofraw material intake |
| PERSONALITY TRAITS | Creative PositiveProgressive
Charismatic Heroic Rash mind |
UnstableEasily get bored
Sacrificing Righteous Easily acceptable Hot temper Anxious mind |
GentleCommercial
Endurable Humorous Coward Fearful mind |
NeatMild
Negative Selfish Organized Jealous Persistent Nervous mind |
| EXTERNAL APPEARANCE | Developed nape of the neckSlender waist | Developed chestSmall hip | Thick waistWeak nape of the neck | Developed hipWeak chest |
| HEALTHY SIGN | Smooth urination | Good bowel movement | Existence of perspiration |
Good digestion |
| UNHEALTHY SIGN | Musculoskeletal weakness, emesis | Existence of constipation | Absence of perspiration | Indigestion |
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