초록
Objectives : This study aimed to report observed effectiveness and safety of Taegeuk acupuncture for patients in sub-health status. Methods : We analyzed clinical medical records of 36 outpatients who have visited the Pusan national university Korean medicine hospital between March and June, 2010. Patients received 6 sessions of Taegeuk acupuncture according to their constitutional types. Hepatic dullness sound and symptom reduction were used for the evaluation of clinical effectiveness of Taegeuk acupuncture. One traditional Korean medicine doctor performed all treatment procedures and assessments. Patients were allowed to continue their previous medication during acupuncture treatment. However, no additional traditional Korean medicinal interventions except the acupuncture were conducted during the whole treatment period. Results : After 6 sessions of Taegeuk acupuncture, mean hepatic dullness sound scores (0~100) were reduced from $97.3{\pm}9.0$ to $24.3{\pm}23.7$ with statistical significance (n=36, p<0.001). Mean symptom reduction scores (0~100) were changed from 0 to $53.3{\pm}29.6$ with statistical significance (n=24, p<0.001). 24 patients reported 44 cases of additional improvements of perceived health condition during or after the treatment course. No serious adverse events related to the Taegeuk acupuncture treatment were observed. Conclusions : Taegeuk acupunture may be a feasible, effective and safe treatment intervention for patients with chronic symptoms. Further well-designed studies are needed to confirm those observed improvements and evaluate benefits of Taegeuk acupuncture.
