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eCAM 2009 6(Supplement 1):51-57; doi:10.1093/ecam/nep058
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Genetic Approach to Elucidation of Sasang Constitutional Medicine

Bu-Yeo Kim, Seongwon Cha, Hee-Jeong Jin and Sangkyun Jeong

Division of Constitutional Medicine Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 461-24, Jeonmin-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, Korea

Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM) offers a medical principle that classifies humans into four constitution groups and guides their treatment with constitution-matched medical assistance. The principle of this traditional medicine, although requires significant scientific support, appears to suggest a genetic influence on constitution type. The relative frequency of constitution types in a population, for instance, has remained relatively constant since Jema Lee first described them from his observations. In addition, the body compartment concept of SCM appears to be related to the anterio–posterior patterning of the embryonic gut and associated internal organs. This study describes the attributes of the constitution concept of SCM that can be interpreted in the language of genetics and current approaches to identity the genetic factors that make up the constitution. These efforts should make it possible to interpret the principle of this traditional medicine scientifically. Considering the recent trend in medicine that pursues individualized or tailored medical offerings, once SCM is proven to be explainable with scientific evidence, it will be able to contribute to and take a place in the rapidly evolving medicine environment.

Keywords: constitution – polymorphism – tailored medicine – traditional medicine

For reprints and all correspondence: Sangkyun Jeong, PhD, Department of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), 461-24 Jeonmin-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Tel: +82-42-868-9314; Fax: +82-42-868-9480; E-mail: skjeong{at}kiom.re.kr

All authors contributed equally to this work.

Received March 12, 2009; accepted May 22, 2009


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