Objectification of the Qi Blood Yin Yang Deficiency Pattern by Using a Facial Color Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess a Qi Blood Yin Yang evaluation method systematically and objectively and to identify the correlation between the Qi Blood Yin Yang deficiency pattern (QBYYDP) and facial color. Methods: Thirty-seven participants (17 males, 20 females) were enrolled in this study. Twenty-four (10 males, 14 females) had ages from 40 to over 60, and 13 (7 males and 6 females) were in their twenties. After sufficient rest, facial images were taken with a camera. Based on the results from a questionnaire survey, we divided the participants into five groups: the normal and the Qi-, Blood-, Yin-, and Yang-deficient groups, after which the relationships between the L, ‘a’, and ‘b’ values in the Lab color system and the characteristics of the participants in each of the deficient groups were elucidated using a facial color analysis program. Results: The color analysis for Qi-deficient (QD) participants revealed that the L value was fairly decreased in comparison with the n

Keywords

• deficiency pattern questionnaires
• facial color analysis
• Qi-blood
• traditional Korean medicine
• Yin-Yang