Difference in Taste of Herbal Medications among Sasang Constitution Groups

Difference in Taste of Herbal Medications among Sasang Constitution Groups Han-Beom Son, Ji-Hwan Kim, Seong-Sik Park, Hyo-Sang BaeDepartment of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, Dongguk UniversityObjectivesPurpose of this study was to examine difference of taste score in herbal medicine among Sasang Constitution groups.Methods Seventy-three healthy students tasted salt solution, sucrose solution, four herbal medications (Hyangsayangwi-tang, Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang, Yeoldahanso-tang, and Mihudeungsikjang-tang), and then immediately scored intension of stimuli for each taste which they felt. Data of sixty-four final participant were analyzed by SPSS version 18,as follows: frequency analysis for characteristic data of participants, Kruskal-wallis test for difference in taste scoreamong Sasang Constitution groups, and Pearson correlation analysis for the correlation between taste score of singletaste stimuli and taste scores of herbal medications.Results Significant difference was shown in sweet taste score of Hyangsayangwi-tang among Sasang Constitution groups,that Soyangin showed higher sweet taste score of Hyangsayangwi-tang than Soeumin’s. No significant differencewas shown in other tastes or other herbal medications. Positive correlation between taste score of sucrose solutionand sweet taste score of herbal medication was shown in Soemin.ConclusionsThere is difference in sweet taste score of Hyangsayangwi-tang among Sasang Constitution groups. There is positivecorrelation between sweet taste score of sucrose solution and herbal medication. This research has limitation, sowell-designed research is needed.Key Words: Taste, Difference, Herbal Medication, Sasang Constitution