Review of the Blood-letting Therapy Written in the Donguibogam

(5) Korean Journal of Acupuncture, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 201∼220, 2011

Review of the Blood-letting Therapy Written in the Donguibogam

Young-Wan Kwon, Sang-Ryong Lee

Abstract

Objectives: This study is designed to use a review of the literature recorded in the Donguibogam to improve the practical possibility of using Blood-letting therapy.

Methods: Records on Blood-letting therapy were extracted from the Donguibogam. First all articles containing the key words ‘Hyul (血)’ and ‘Rak (给)’ were extracted. Of them, records associated with Blood-Letting therapy that had been cited and classified in terms of search patterns for Blood-Letting area, instruments for Blooding-Letting, cautions and side effects for the practice, applicable symptoms, acupoints/extraordinary acupoints, and Blood-Letting areas were selected.

Results: The regions capable of Blood-Letting are generally engaged with abnormal skin color such as black, bluish red, dark purple, dark blue, etc. and with localized collection of fibrous exudate. Several instruments are used for Blood-Letting therapy: Samreongchim (三陵敏), Chogyong (草圜), Pichim (微阚), Lodaeguan (藁管尖), Sachim (砂缄), Saechim (傩缄), Gichim (蜞缄), Eunjam (銀簪), nail, etc. Several cautions and side effects of Blood-Letting therapy are presented. Blood-Letting therapy can be applied to a broad spectrum of symptoms. The body parts to where it had been applied were not only several acupoints but also effective points of the body.

Conclusions: This study shows that the Donguibogam presents Blood-Letting therapy in a clear fashion so as to enhance the convenience and practicality of its use.

Key Words: Donguibogam; blood-letting therapy; Hyul; Rak