A literature study on the controlling methods of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) for patients with cancer

A literature study on the controlling methods of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) for patients with cancer Hyeonjin Jeon.Hyun-Joo Oh.Sookyung Lee Cancer Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Dept. of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong Objective The management of psychological distress in patients with cancer is a major concern in clinical practice. In this paper, we discussed how to apply the controlling methods of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) of Sasang constitutional medicine to patients with cancer. Methods We investigated the controlling methods of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) through the literature of 󰡔 Gyukchigo (格致藁)󰡕, 󰡔Donguisusebowon-Sasangchobongyun (東醫壽世保元 四象草本卷)󰡕, 󰡔Donguisusebowon (東 醫壽世保元) and 󰡔Dongmuyougo (東武遺稿)󰡕, and presented the controlling methods of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) for patients with cancer based on the clinical experience. Results We identified the equilibrium and harmony (中節) of sorrow-anger-joy-pleasure (喜怒哀樂) is the basis of treatment and suggested ‘understanding of the others (知人)’, ‘understanding of the diseases (知病)’ and ‘knowing and acting (知行)’ as methods to control of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾). The ‘understanding of the others (知人)’ and ‘understanding of the diseases (知病)’ could reduce the psychological distress. The ‘knowing and acting (知行)’ encourages the patients to overcome the covetous desire (心慾) and have a positive attitude to life and disease. Conclusion The controlling method of Seong-Jeong (性情) and covetous desire (心慾) of Sasang constitutional medicine could help cancer treatment controlling the psychological distress of patients with cancer, and could impact positively on the view of life and disease.