• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.111-123
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of high frequency electro-acupuncture (hf-EA) at Yanglingquan(GB34) on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. Methods : The author performed several experimental items, including measurements of body weight and liver weight, hematological analysis for RBC, WBC, PLT, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and biochemical assays for ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol in serum, and histological analysis of liver tissue. Results & Conclusion : 1. WBC level in blood was slightly reduced by acupuncture and hf-EA at GB34. 2. Lymphocyte level in blood was decreased by $CCl_4$-intoxication and significantly increased by acupuncture and hf-EA at GB34. 3. Neutrophils level in blood was slightly reduced by acupuncture and hf-EA at GB34. 4. ALT and AST in serum were reduced significantly by acupuncture and hf-EA at GB34. 5. The pathological changes of liver tissue induced by $CCl_4$ was reduced by hf-EA at GB34. 6. No significant difference was found between the effects of acupuncture and hf-EA on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.66-78
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• 2010

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly-encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the descending pain and the recovery of the locomotor function that follows sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Method: In order to assess the effects of acupuncture on the descending pain and functional recovery, we investigated the walking track analysis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) expression in the sciatic nerve, and on the expressions of c-Fos and nitric oxide synthase in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region resulting from sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Results: Acupuncture treatment at Huantiao (GB30), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Weizhong (BL40) facilitated functional recovery. C-Fos and nitric oxide synthase expressions in the brain and BDNF and TrkB expressions in the sciatic nerve were decreased by acupuncture treatment. The most potent effects of acupuncture were observed at the GB30 acupoint. Conclusion: It is possible that acupuncture can be used for pain control and functional recovery from sciatic nerve injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Objectives Disuse muscle atrophy occurs in response to pathologies such as joint immobilization, inactivity or bed rest. Muscle disuse is accompanied by an increase in apoptotic signaling, which mediates some of the responses to unloading in the muscle. GB34 (Yanglingquan) is a acupuncture point on the lower leg and one of the most frequently used points in various skeletomuscular diseases. In this study, the hypothesis that the acupuncture at GB34 could attenuate immobilization-induced skeletal muscle atrophy was tested. Methods The left hindlimb immobilization was performed with casting tape in both GB34 group (n=10) and Control group (n=10). The rats in GB34 group were daily treated with acupuncture at GB34. After 2 weeks of immobilization, the morphology of right and left gastrocnemius muscles in both GB34 and Control groups were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. To investigate the immobilization-induced muscular apoptosis, the immunohistochemical analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 was carried out. Results GB34 group represented the significant protective effects against the reductions of the left gastrocnemius muscles weight and average cross section area to compared with Control group. The acupuncture at GB34 significantly reduced the immunoreactivity of BAX and increased the immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 in gastrocnemius muscle compared with Control group. Conclusions These results suggest that the acupuncture at GB34 has protective effects against immobilization-induced muscle atrophy by regulating the activities of apoptosis-associated BAX/Bcl-2 proteins in gastrocnemius muscle.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.279-285
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• 1998

Effects of acupuncture at Sanyinjiao(SP6) and Yanglingquan(GB34) on bone mineral sensity(BMD) was investigated in ovariectomized(OVX) rats. BMD of OVX rats was measured left femur and tibia 2 and 4 weeks after acupuncture stimulation, respectively. Compared with sham-operated rats, a significant decrease in spine, pelvic and left femoral and tibial BMD was observed 2 and 4 weeks after OVX, respectively. In contrast, a significant increase of spinal, pelvic and left femoral and tibial BMD was elicited 2 and/or 4 weeks after acupuncture stimulation, respectively. These results show the possibility that acupuncture can play a role of ameliorating osteoporosis by elevating serum levels of female hormones related with bone metabolism.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2015

Objectives This study was carried out to investigate the experimental effects of Lonicerae Caulis and Bee-venom Acupuncture in Yanglingquan (陽陵泉, GB34) that have clinical efficacy in the Rheumatoid Arthritis. Methods Materials of present study are Lonicerae Caulis Extracts (LCE), Bee-Venom Acupuncture (BVP), Sprague-dawley rats (250 g or so, ♂), and various kinds of needing experimental studies. We measured several experimental items of the rats with the arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (0.2 ml/kg), such as body weight, rate of paw edema, analgesic effect by hot plate method, WBC, TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine and IL-10 cytokine. Rats were divided into four groups; Normal group that was treated with normal saline 1.0 ml (o.p) and $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to normal rats, Control group that was treated with normal saline 1.0 ml (o.p) and $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg, Experimental group A that was treated with LCE 1.0 ml (o.p) and normal saline $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg and Experimental group B that was treated with LCE 1.0 ml (o.p) and BVP $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg, and the experiment took over after 28 days. The results were analysed using SPSS for windows 12.0. Results Experimental group A showed the increase in body weight, paw licking times and IL-10 cytokine compared to Control group. Also it was decreased in rate of paw edema, WBC, and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine compared with Control group. Experimental group B showed the increase in body weight, paw licking times, and IL-10 cytokine compared to Control group, and showed the decrease in rate of paw edema, WBC and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine compared to Control group. Especially TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine and rate of paw edema were accepted statistical significance compared with Control group. Conclusions It is suggested that Lonicerae Caulis (o.p) and Bee-venom Acupuncture (GB34) can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 2002

Forteen cases were observed among the Temporomandibular Disorder who were outpatients at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Oriental Medical Hospital, Dae Jeon University. Objective : To improve the therapeutic rate of Temporomandibular Disorder by treatment of acupuncture, chiropractic therapy and exercise therapy. Methods : Forteen outpatients suffering from Temporomandibular Disorder were treated by acupuncture, chiropractic therapy and exercise therapy. Acupuncture therapy was taken on Waiguan(TE5,外關), Zulingi(G41, 足臨泣), Sidu(TE9, 四瀆), Yanglingquan(G34, 陽陸泉), Qiuxu(G40, 丘墟), Xiaguan(S7, 下關). Chiropractic therapy was taken, when the subluxation of outpatients's Cervical spine was observed. Results : The syndrome of TMD, that is the Pain, the movement disorder and the click sound, was disappeared by 2~3 times acupuncture, chiropractic and exercise therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.13-21
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture treatment (AT) in the tendency of increase of the need for AT for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide and to investigate the advancements in AT research in Korea and the future directions of research on this topic. Methods : Until May 2017, the PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and four Korean databases were searched. The searched keywords were "Parkinson's disease", "Acupuncture", and "Intervention study". The intervention groups from all screened original studies were analyzed and the methods used to determine the effect of AT on PD were examined. Results : A total of 17 studies were grouped by country on the basis of the first author's position, of which 10 studies were conducted in China, four in the United States, two in Korea, and one in Brazil. The most common type of intervention was electroacupuncture (nine studies), followed by AT (six studies), and a combination of AT and bee venom AT (two studies). The most frequently used acupoints in AT were Baihui (GV20), Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Yanglingquan (GB34). The most commonly used tool for evaluation of PD was the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III, which assesses motor functions. Conclusion : The screened studies reported that there were no adverse effects of AT on drug therapy, and AT reduced the dose of drugs used in PD treatment. Future studies on PD treatment with AT should use the acupoints GV20, LR3, ST36, SP6, and GB34, and the meridians Gallbladder meridian and Governor Vessel. Clinical studies on PD should use CONSORT or STRICTA to ensure the quality of national studies and allow the development of new tools for the assessment of the effect of AT on PD using the above criteria.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.211-219
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• 2008

목적 : 전통적으로 태충($LR_3$)과 양릉천($GB_{34}$)은 운동기능과 관련된 질환에 사용되어 왔다. 우리는 두뇌에 신경독을 주입하여 파킨슨병 쥐모델을 제작하였고, 쥐는 운동기능이 손상되고 도파민성 신경세포가 선택적으로 소멸하였다. 병증 모델 쥐에게 태충과 양릉천에 자침한 결과 운동기능이 개선되고 신경세포보호효과가 나타남을 관찰한 바 있다. 이에 실제로 태충과 양릉천에 자침하여 운동기능과 관련된 추체외로 영역에서 신경의 활성화가 나타나는지를 fMRI를 통하여 관찰하였다. 방법 : 자침은 수기침을 선택하였으며, 혈위는 (1) 태충, (2) 양릉천, (3) 태충+양릉천의 세군데를 설정하였고, 자침에 대한 대조자극으로 피부자극을 채택하였다. fMRI 스캐너는 3T를 사용하였고 뇌신경 활성화의 신호는 BOLD(blood-oxygen-level dependant)를 관찰하였다. 두뇌에서 관찰부위는 중뇌를 중심으로 추체외로로 한정하였다. 결과 : 태충에 자침하였을 때 두뇌의 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, pons 등이 활성화 되었다. 양릉천에 자침하였을 때 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, caudate nucleus, thalamus가 활성화 되었다. 태충과 양릉천에 동시에 자침하였을 때는 substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, globus pallidus가 활성화되었다. 대조자극에 의해서는 위의 영역들이 활성화되지 않았다. 결론 : 태충, 양릉천, 태충+양릉천 자극은 대뇌에서 추체외로 영역을 활성화시키며 특히 substantia nigra의 활성화는 파킨슨병과 같은 질환의 조절가능성을 시사한다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 1991

Hypertension is not the name of disease but that of syndrome, about which the record of causes and treatments did not exist in the classics. So I surveyed the oriental medical category of hypertension in the classics and studied on the causes and principal acupuncture points of treatment in the modern literature. And a result, I came to the following conclusion. 1. According to the category of hypertension in oriental medicine way, WIND(風), FIRE(火), PHLEGM(痰) were the evoked causes of hypertension. And the greater oart of hypertension's line in the classics was related to DIZZINESS(眩暈), APOPLEXY(中風), WIND OF THE LIVER(肝風). 2. There were exceedingly various causes such as inheritance, mind, emotion, change of nerve, other disease, etc. 3. In the treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion, there were Zusanli(足三里), Quchi(曲池), Fengchi(風池), Baihui(自會), Hegu(合谷), Sanyinjiao(三陰交), Taichong(太衝) which, 7 acupuncture points, showed high ratio. 4. According to the evoked causes, the major acupuncture points became to be different as follow; FIRE(火) : Neiguan(內關 ; P6) WIND(風) : Fengchi (風池 ; G20), Yanglingquan (陽陵泉 ; G34), Taichong(太衝 ; Liv3) PHLEGM(痰) : Zusanli(足三里 ; S36); Sanyinjiao(三陰交 ; Sp6). Basing on the Literature research, I have studied hypertension. I found that there were objective studies on the causes. But I couldn't find any objective study on the category of hypertension in oriental medicine way and the treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion. So I think that more profound study on the category and the interrelation between the acupuncture points of treatment and its dis tribution of the 14 meridians deserves to be continued from now on.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Objective: There are currently no disease-modifying medications or definite long-term sustainable interventions for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), indicating an unmet treatment need. Our goal was to create a long-term sustainable intervention for PD patients that can be used in Korean medicine clinics. Methods: The Meridian Activation Remedy System (MARS) was created to stimulate a patient's 12 meridians and sinew channels using a combination of acupoint stimulation and exercise. The acupoints and motions used in MARS were selected through literature studies and expert advice. The methodologies were refined using observational and case studies. With slow and fast movements, the MARS intervention was intended to activate both slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. Intradermal acupuncture and motion that shift the center of gravity were employed to enhance the patient's balance and proprioception. In addition, the intervention included alternating movement exercises to address the complex cognitive decline commonly occurring in PD patients. Results: The following acupoints were chosen for the MARS intervention: bilateral Hegu (LI4), Houxi (SI3), Waiguan (TE5), Neiguan (PC6), Zhongchong (PC9), Yuji (LU10), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Taichong (LR3), Kunlun (BL60), and Taixi (KI3). We also developed actions that can stimulate the body's 12 meridians. Conclusion: We developed the MARS intervention, which combines acupuncture and exercise, to address the unmet therapeutic needs of PD patients. We hope that with additional research, the MARS intervention can be set as an effective therapeutic program for PD patients.