Research for Developing Medical Nutrition Therapy on Korean Medicine : Literature Study and a Survey

Abstract

aksun(藥饍), or ‘Traditional oriental medicine nutrition therapy’, is expected to be an effective nutritional intervention for the patients suffering from chronic diseases. However, there are no systemized protocol that utilize Yaksun as an effective nutrition therapy for Asian patients even though they are accustomed to traditional oriental diet. We investigated the possibility of using Yaksun for developing an effective Medical Nutrition Therapy for Asian patients and proposed factors that have to be considered. Articles published between 1995-2012 about MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapy) and Yaksun were reviewed. Male and female patients of two Korean Medicine Hospitals (n=93) and one Korean Medicine Clinic (n=20) answered a questionnaire asking about their thoughts on the effectiveness of nutritional intervention for their disease management and about their expectations toward Medical Nutrition Therapy on Korean Medicine. 92.9% of the patients have perceived that nutritional intervention is important in disease management. 79.6% of the patients have positively responded that they are willing to use the Medical Nutrition Therapy on Korean Medicine as a clinical nutrition therapy if developed. Female patients, aged in their forties and fifties, educated equivalent to high school graduates and more, and who visited Korean medicine clinic were most interested in the Medical Nutritional Therapy on Korean Medicine. The factors considered in developing the protocol are 1. effectiveness 2. safety 3. expense, in order of importance. Nutritional intervention protocol using Yacksun is necessary for the patients. Medical Nutrition Therapy on Korean Medicine is in need of development. Accumulated case-control studies, cost effectiveness studies, and studies about programming and systemizing the protocol are needed.