A dynamic discovery has occurred in Korea ― unknown to most of the public. It's no other than the discovery of the human DNA system.

One hundred years ago, Yi Je-ma, an Oriental doctor in Korea, discovered the Sasang, or Four Body Types, and this became the foundation of present day Oriental medicine. However, anyone who has visited an Oriental clinic will tell you that it's incomplete in many ways. And now we know why; it was only half of the theory.

Over the last 60 years, Dr. Kwon Do-won, Ph. D., has worked on his DNA theory of the body, at one point correcting the Sasang and later on inventing his own system ― the present day Eight Body Types, known in Korea as Palchejil (팔체질).

How does it work? The eight types are Tree Yang, Tree Yin, Earth (including fire) Yang, Earth Yin, Metal Yang, Metal Yin, Water Yang and Water Yin.

Each type has two excessive large organs and two excessive small organs and is focused on either the parasympathetic system or sympathetic system.

Disease or imbalance comes from either going too far toward the excess organ or deficient organ.

For example, Tree has a strong liver and a weak lung, which work together like a see-saw. Thus one should stay way from anything that strengthens the liver and focus on empowering the lung.
 

Each body type has a different personality, trait, job possibility, illness potential, food to eat, and thus knowing this is knowing the destiny given to you at birth.

Let's explore more. The Earth person has a strong stomach but a weak kidney, which means a weaker lower body. The Metal person has strong lungs but a weak liver and often suffers from allergies; Water has a strong kidney but a weak stomach and often has constipation problems.

The Yang body types have internal heat and external coolness, the Yin are the opposite. Thus one body type should take cold showers and not sweat while the other should take hot ones and sweat often.

Interestingly, there's no body type that can take both cold and hot showers, or that can eat all of these ― chicken, beef, pork and fish.

Metal is the only vegetarian body type, owning to its large lungs. Meat supports the lungs and causes allergies and skin problems for the Metal type. Metal is the natural leader and the designer of systems.

This person should stick to fish and vegetables. Metal can come down with extreme diseases if they eat meat. One theory is that madness can be attributable to a Metal person eating meat.

Tree is the meat and potatoes person, and is the typical athlete. This person will be healthy as long as they stay away from fish, which aggravates their strong liver. High blood pressure is normal for them as well, so they should be wary of receiving a mistaken diagnosis at the hospital.

Earth has the strongest digestion and make up the ``ppalli, ppalli" people. They are jovial and have faith. Due to their internal heat, they should stick to cold foods, especially iced drinks, pork and barley and stay away from chicken. Often diplomats and artists have this body type and also, women who chose not to marry fall into this category.

The Water person can sit for hours at a time and is the perfectionist and the detailer, and tidy up after others. They need to be careful about constipation and heat stroke and avoid sweating.

Here's the theory in brief. Now is the universe schedule for humanity to know their DNA design, get their health back and then figure out the meaning behind their certain schedule. In short: Tree is propriety; Earth, action; Metal, design; Water, planner.

Dr. Kwon has been working for the health of humanity. At 87, he now devotes himself to curing cancer patients. He doesn't trust doctors worrying more about profit.

I recommend you think of your personal health history and visit one of the clinics near you, or contact me to find out more about this. Only the checking of the pulse can tell your body type at the moment. Knowing is half the battle.

Roar Sheppard is the director of Seon Meditation Center in Insa-dong, central Seoul, and has done research on Korean traditional treatments and breathing meditation methods. Contact him at nukeroar@suseonjae.org or look at www.suseonjae.com.