Implication of Korean Medicine Principles in Herbal Medicinal Preparations on Pharmaceutical Affairs Act

Objectives : In Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, herbal medicinal preparations are defined as medicines made by Korean medicine principles. But in Act, Korean medicine principles are vague. Thus, there is a request to explain what the Korean medicine principles are. The aim of this study is to suggest implications of Korean medicine principles in definition of herbal medicinal preparations. Methods : With regard for definition of Korean medicine principles, we referred to the domestic and foreign regulations and literature about the history of herbal medicinal preparations. As a result, the meaning of Korean medicine principles was historically examined from various angles. Results : Through this study, we studied the Korean medicine principles from the past medical history. Due to the broad definition of Korean medicinal principles, we tried to extract general ideas of medicine principles first. We also found that we had scientific formulations based on korean medicine principles which could be used in modern society. In the end, we found that numerous medicine principles which include ‘Four qi and five flavors theory’, ‘Processing of medicinals’, ‘Yin and yang theory’, ‘Five phases theory’, ‘Meridian entry of viscera and bowels theory’, ‘Herb Couplet Interaction theory’, ‘Sovereign, minister, assistant and courier theory’, etc. Conclusions : Innumerable principles used from the past existed. These principles were broad and could be used as modern scientific principles. Based on these facts, we illustrated details of Korean medicine principles, hope this principles be widely shared and Korean herbal medicinal preparations be further developed.