• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.25-48
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aims to analyze the terms describing anti-aging effects in Dongeuibogam, and to propose the methodology for selecting medicinal herbs related to anti-aging effects. Methods : We considered aging or anti-aging theories by reviewing the major literature in korean medicine or traditional chinese medicine, and then we deduced the concepts describing anti-aging effects and the medicinal herbs for anti-aging effects. We investigated the medicinal herbs based on the terms describing anti-aging effects in Dongeuibogam and drew the methodology for selecting and classifying the medicinal herbs related to anti-aging. Results & Conclusions : The following conclusions could be drawn. 1. A set of causes and signs of aging in Dongeuibogam and a set of therapies for alleviating the aging signs in Chengumikbang, Yanglobongchinseo, and Nolohangeon was found. 2. Anti-aging effects should not be confused with disease treatments. Therefore, we defined the medical terms of anti-aging effects as "the terms expressing the effect of delaying or alleviating the subjective or objective signs of aging concretely". Based upon the terms of anti-aging effects, we defined the medicinal herbs for anti-aging effects as "the medicinal herbs whose effects are described in medical terms expressing the effects of delaying or alleviating the subjective or objective signs of aging concretely". 3. We considered Lycii Fructus, Asparagi Tuber in Dongeuibogam as examples of medicinal herbs whose effects are described in medical terms expressing anti-aging effects. It shows that we can select medicinal herbs for anti-aging effects by comparing the effects of 937 single therapies in Dongeuibogam to the terms describing anti-aging effects defined in this study. Futhermore, the results could be utilized as the basic materials of experimental study on anti-aging.