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by Kim Eun Kyung & Han Soo Ryun
(Grade 3, Writer)
In Korean Medicine, it is said that obesity is the result of Dampness of the Spleen. Obesity is thought to be a symptom arised from excessive accumulation of Mucus and Dampness of the Spleen inside the body. Mucus and Dampness of the Spleen are waste materials caused by bad circulation of Ki and Blood.
Stagnated Food is one of the main factors causing Stagnant Ki and Congealed Blood. Consuming too much greasy food and it becoming stagnant, is called Stagnated Food. In this case, stimulating the flow of Ki and Blood and decreasing appetite are required for obesity treatment.
The Seven Emotions is also one of the factors causing obesity. When an emotion becomes excessive or insufficient over a long period of time, or when it arises very suddenly with great force, then it can generate stagnation of Liver Ki and Heat in the Stomach. It results in arising appetite. In this case, the patient should remove the stagnation -let Ki enter and leave the Lung properly.
Obesity can be explained differently. It is caused by the disharmonious Organs in the body. Disharmony brings about over-accumulating Dampness of the Spleen. A person becomes obese when Liver and Spleen, the organs that rule flowing and spreading and digesting, lose their harmony and get accelerated because of their own problems or the disharmonious correlation among other organs. On the contrary, when Heart (the organ that regulates the flow of Blood), Lung (the organ that administers respiration, adjust water channels) and Kidney (the organ that regulates excretion, stores Jung) lose their harmony and get weaker, one can also become fat.
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Dong Eui Bo Gam : When Essence derived from food wins Primordial Ki, one becomes fat and when Primordial Ki wins Essence derived from food, he becomes thin.
Nei Jing : Eating too much greasy and sweet food is the cause of obesity.
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Physical constitution is very important in classifying the features of obesity. Some get fatter just by drinking water. Others don't gain weight even if they eat too much. This is caused by difference of one's own constitution. There is a considerable difference in degree of accumulating Dampness of the Spleen. Under the influence of constitution, diet and exercise are to be differentiated.
There are four constitution types - Tae Yang In, Tae Eum In, So Yang In, So Eum In.
<Characteristics of each constitution type>
| Tae-Yang-In |
normal physique or tend to be lanky
strong in consuming energy and excreting
weak in digesting, absorbing energy and accumulating nutrients
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| Tae-Eum-In |
likely to be obese
strong in absorbing energy and accumulating
weak in excreting
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| So-Yang-In |
possible to be fat
strong in absorbing energy and accumulating
weak in consuming energy and excreting
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| So-Eum-In |
tend to be thin
strong in consuming energy and excreting
weak in absorbing and accumulating
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<Recommended food for each constitution type>
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recommended food
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the reason
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| Tae-Yang-In |
marine products and vegetables
food tasting sour but not hot
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have a lot of heat in the body
tend to release his energy and not to absorb
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| Tae-Eum-In |
hot taste such as ginger, garlic and red pepper
not salty taste, not greasy food
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have good digestive power
be apt to overeat
should be careful not to be obese
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| So-Yang-In |
vegetables and marine products
bitter, salty, sour, astringent taste
not hot and sweet taste
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strong in digesting
have a lot of heat in the body
have good spleen function
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| So-Eum-In |
sweet and warm food that stimulates one's appetite
not cold food- raw grains and vebetables
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have a very cold body
weak spleen and stomach
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< Proper exercise for each constitution type>
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exercise
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details
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| Tae-Yang-In |
yoga
golf
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shouldn't do excessive exercise because of weak Liver function (it may make the Liver ill and worse)
weight training is also good (especially the lower part of the body)
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| Tae-Eum-In |
climbing
cycling
swimming
tennis
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aerobic exercise is recommended
(helpful for improving the function of Heart and Lung,
stimulating the flow of blood)
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| So-Yang-In |
walking
cycling
water sports
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walking and running is recommended to strengthen the lower part of the body
exercise that can cool down the heart is also good
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| So-Eum-In |
taking a walk
slight exercise
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Be inclined to be blue because the body is very cold and blood are congested
Take a walk as often as possible to stimulate the flow of blood
Not severe exercise, but slight movement
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As shown above, knowing one's constitution can be effective for staying fit. So if you are Tae-Eum-In, how about trying more hot food and aerobic exercises?
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