Abstract
In ancient society, royal court was the core of authority and as such, almost all of the national resources were available to it. In terms of medicine, it was where the best medical techniques were applied. Especially since producing offspring is very important for the preservation of the throne, the medical treatment related to such an affair would have been the most efficient methods available in the era. This study focuses on the record of pregnancy and childbirth in the royal court of Joseon dynasty (a Korean kingdom that lasted for approximately five centuries, from July 1392 to October 1897) to analyze what medical treatment was used in the period. The pregnancy and childbirth related to the royal family was systematically managed by the state with a specific kind of treatment manual and protocol. Compound use of natural herbal medicine was common among diverse treatment methods. It seems that the oral medication of herbal medicines served to minimize miscarriages and post-natal aftereffects, and for this purpose Angelica Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma were frequently used.
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This work was supported by a grant from Kyung Hee University in 2007 (KHU-20071640).
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Gwak, D., Park, J., Um, JY. et al. Study on prescriptions for pregnancy and childbirth of the royal family in Joseon dynasty. Orient Pharm Exp Med 15, 227–237 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-015-0208-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-015-0208-4