• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Objective: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has emerged as an important optical imaging modality in non-invasive medical diagnostics. Hence, the aim of this study is to measure the similarity of the diagnosis by a traditional method using doctor's hand for feeling of pulse and by the non-contact/non-invasive pulse analyzing system using OCT on Chon(寸), Kwan(關), Chuk(尺). Method: Four korean medical doctors and the non-contact/non-invasive pulse analyzing system using OCT have measured the rapidity, the dimension, and the power of pulse waves of 25 volunteers. First, four korean medical doctors measured pulse waves of volunteers. During measuring, four doctors were separated from each other and so were volunteers. And then, the pulse waves of volunteers were measured by OCT. This was performed on the right Chon(寸), Kwan(關), Chuk(尺). Results: The study showed that the traditional method and the OCT based method had the 88% matches on the values of the slow and rapid pulse condition (遲數), 64% matches on the values of the small and big pulse condition(微細弱緩大[洪]), and 72% matches on the values of the weak and strong pulse condition(虛實). Conclusions: Based on the high similarities of the measurements of two approaches, we suggest that the OCT based pulse diagnosis method is useful for compensating the traditional method for the pulse diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2010

Objectives: The information on the depth where pulse wave appears is as important as pulse waveform. The aim of this study was to classify pulse pattern using pressure-height(P-H) volume-curve by 5 applied pressure levels to find out the information on the depth of pulse and interpret the floating & sinking pulse in oriental medical pulse diagnosis. Methods: We used 3 dimensional pulse imaging analyser (DMP-3000, DAEYOMEDI Co., Korea), which measures radial pulse waveforms noninvasively by way of tonometric method at 5 applied pressure levels, and shows P-H volume-curves by applied pressure. 448 subjects were enrolled, pulse waveforms were measured and the P-H volume-curves were gained on the three locations of Chon, Kwan, and Cheok. Results: Gained P-H volume curves were classified into 3 types ; increase type, decrease type, and increase-decrease type. Increase-decrease type appeared more often on Chon and Kwan, while increase type appeared more often on Cheok. In a few cases, decrease-type appeared on Chon and Kawn, however it never appeared on Cheok. Conclusions: Through the classification of pulse by P-H volume-curve, we gained the information on the depth of pulse. We speculate the decrease type as floating pulse, the increase-decrease type as middle pulse, and the increase type as sinking pulse in oriental medical pulse diagnosis. After more researches on P-H volume-curve by applied pressure, the P-H volume-curve may be used as an important factor for pulse diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.39-52
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• 2009

Objectives : Cue reactivity is a key factor that modulates motivational goal-directed behavior associated with compulsive drug-taking and relapse. We investigated whether acupuncture attenuated the skin conductance response and the heart rate response to smoking-related visual cues in smokers. Methods : Twenty-nine smokers were treated with real acupuncture (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA). The stress response inventory was measured on the 5th day after quitting smoking. The skin conductance response and the heart rate were measured to evaluate the autonomic changes to the smoking related visual cues on the same day. Results : The sympathetic alterations in skin conductance and the heart rate induced by the smoking-related visual cues were significantly lower in the RA group, as compared to the SA group. The stress response inventory, such as somatization and frustration, in the RA group was significantly lower than that of the SA group. Conclusions : Acupuncture ameliorated the stress symptoms as well as the sympathetic activation to smoking cues during withdrawal. These findings indicate that acupuncture might be a useful tool in smoking cessation by inhibiting smoking cues-induced autonomic responses.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.177-195
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• 2009

Objectives : This study is performed to investigate the acupuncture on Sciatica through the literature of oriental medicine. Methods : We collected the oriental medical literature from ancient to modern times, and extracted the causes, symptoms, treatments and acupoints of sciatica. Results : The findings of this study are as follows: 1. The etiology of Sciatica is differentiated into the exogenous pathogenic factors(wind, cold, dampness, trauma, bad posture) and the internal pathogenic factors(deficiency of the kidney energy, congenital debility). 2. The symptoms of Sciatica are pain, weakness and dysesthesia in the low back, hip and lower limb. 3. In the treatment of Sciatica, The Leg Greater Yang Bladder (BL) Meridian and The Leg Lesser Yang Gall Bladder (GB) Meridian out of 12 meridians were mainly used and the acupoint GB30(Hwando) was most frequently used in the acupuncture literature. 4. The number of acupoints used for sciatica was 95, and those acupoints in the order of frequency were GB30(Hwando), GB34(Yangnungch'on), BL40(Wijung), BL60(Kollyun), GB31(P'ungshi), GB39(Hyonjong), BL57(Sungsan), ST36(Chok-samni). Conclusion : The most frequently used acupoints for the treatment of sciatica are as follows; GB30(Hwando), GB34(Yangnungch'on), GB31(P'ungshi), GB39(Hyonjong) of The Leg Lesser Yang Gall Bladder Meridian, BL40(Wijung), BL60(Kollyun), BL57(Sungsan) of The Leg Greater Yang Bladder Meridian.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to gain the objective indicators for the classification of hypertension by oriental medical pulse diagnosis, through finding out the parameters which can distinguish the pulse of hypertensive patient from that of normal subject, and characterizes the wiry pulse of hypertension. Methods: 30-59 yr, male, 946 healthy volunteers and 35 hypertensive patients were enrolled in this study. All the hypertensive patients were taking medicine to control the blood pressure and the blood pressure of the hypertension group was not statistically different from that of the normal healthy group. Data were acquired using 3 dimensional pulse imaging analyser(DMP-3000, DAEYOMEDI, KOREA) and analysed according to the age bands and the applied pressure levels. Results: 1. RAI/t, w/t and t2/t decreased with the levels of applied pressure and increased with age in the normal healthy group, not in the hypertension group. 2. RAI/t, w/t, t2/t were significantly higher in the hypertension group than the normal healthy group in the 30-age band, and elasticity coefficient was higher in the hypertension group than the normal healthy group in the 40-age band. 3. Researches on the patients without hypotensive agents are needed to figure out whether these parameters are the components of hypertensive wiry pulse. Conclusions: Analysing the radial pulse at 5 applied pressure levels using 3 dimensional pulse imaging analyser may be useful to differentiate the pulses of the hypertensive patients from those of the normal subjects, and characterize the hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.53-66
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• 2009

Objective : Acupuncture has been widely used throughout the world for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (knee OA). This study investigated whether acupuncture, particularly Sa-am acupuncture, could be effective in relieving pain and improving the symptoms of knee OA. Method : This study was conducted as a prospective, randomized, controlled, and patient- and investigator-blinded clinical trial. Forty volunteers with knee OA participated in the study. All participants were screened through an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty four participants completed the clinical trial. In total, forty subjects were randomly selected to receive Sa-am acupuncture. Eight sessions of acupuncture were given at the contralateral side of the problematic knee for 4 weeks. Korean translation of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) scores were measured twice: at the beginning and end of the clinical trial period. Both the Patient Global Assessment and physical health scores based on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were also used to measure the results. Results : Compared to the pre-trial scores, the Sa-am acupuncture group (n=34) showed a significant decrease in KWOMAC total scores according to a paired t-test. The Sa-am acupuncture group also showed significant improvement in the Patient Global Assessment when compared to the pre-trial. Conclusions : Sa-am acupuncture for knee OA resulted in an improved KWOMAC total score. This was mostly driven by the function component score that was greatly affected by acupuncture. However, further studies with expanded designs are needed to solidify this finding with scientific rigor.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

Objective: ZhangJinYoPian(藏珍要編, ZJYP) is a book witten by Song-WooGe in the late 19th century. While Korea has lost this book to tell us Korea traditional acupuncture treatment in the late 19th century, This book appeared as a manuscript in Japan. There is no reaserch or study carried out for this book. Furthermore, a few people know existence of this book. So I analyzed acupuncture treatment of the ZJYP and sort out the distinctive feature of it. Method: For that, I studied bibliographic information of this book and classified contents of it into three parts - medical thought, needle manipulation and acupoint selection to consider it's caracteristics. Results and Conclusions: 1. The author of ZJYP thought that weakness of good power in the body and strongness of evil power out of the body cause a disease. so Doctor should examine quality of both to care patient's pain. 2. The author of ZJYP thought that needle manipulation is one of the most important thing. Doctors can use needle manipulation to control patient condition. Especially, he suggested cooling and heating manipulation except reinforcement and reduction. 3. He stressed viscera and bowels. he located viscera and bowels theory in front of the book to explain relationship of these. It shows us that ZJYP maintained academic characteristics of acupuncture in Chosun-Korea. 4. While He minimized the number of acupoints used in treatment, he multiplied its combination. He selected one or two acupoints from each meridian pathway. It include Eight Confluent points(八脈交會穴). But these points were used in different ways to control the viscera and bowels, not to care the eight extra meridians.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.151-158
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• 2010

Objectives and Methods: The present study was performed to investigate acupuncture point location of SI11 through reviewing literatures. Results: 1. The first description of the location of SI11 appeared in "ChimGuGabEulGyong(ZhenjiuJiayiJing)", however the point description was not precise. 2. The first proportional measurement for SI11 showed up after Ching dynasty, which describes "SI11 is the point obliquely superiour 1.7 B-cun and transeversly interior to SI9" however this does not match the present WHO's standard location of SI11. 3. The WHO standard location of SI11 is in the scapular region, in the depression between the upper one third and lower two thirds of the line connecting the midpoint of the spine of the scapula with the inferior angle of the scapula, but there is no evidence to support this in classical literatures. 4. Based on myology and theories of meridian, we suggest that it is more reasonable to locate SI11 at the point in the depression between the upper two third and lower one thirds, not the upper one third and lower two thirds, of the line connecting the midpoint of the spine of the scapula with the inferior angle of the scapula. Conclusions: More studies are needed for the more reliable standard location of SI11.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.77-88
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• 2009

Background : Qigong is an exercise therapy based on the principles of Traditional East Asian Medicine. The exercises combine the practice of motion and breathing, both guided by mental imagery. Beneficial effects of qigong have been reported on a variety of complaints in chronically ill patients and on gait imbalance in the elderly. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects neurophysiological function, movement abilities, and quality of life. Objectives : We developed a qigong program based on the Traditional East Asian medical theory regarding the improvement of clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Methods and Results : Our qigong program consists of three parts. The first one includes movements which stimulate the meridians that run from the toes to the top of the head. The second one is composed of breathing and qigong movements that create harmony and balance with the circulation of Qi and blood on the Meridians. The third is a stage of finger pressure therapy and massage from Daoyin medical qigong to maintain meridian stability. Conclusions : These qigong program would help relieve the clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.143-150
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• 2010

Objectives: This research aims to know the current status and prospect of traditional medical market to provide sources in setting a development strategy and making a policy on the traditional medicine Methods: This research categorized 11,611 clinics registered in telephone directory as of 2008 by region and some clinics were extracted with simple random method. The inquiry was made with questionnaires and analyzed on the base of frequency. Results: 1. The number of the employee in a clinic were slightly decreased from 2.9 in 2005 and 2006 to 2.8 in 2007. That of the patients also showed a downward tendency from 11,811 in 2005 through 11,716 in 2006 to 11,344 in 2007. 2. An annual turnover in a clinic amounted to 257 million won in 2007 from 232 million won in 2005 through 245 million won in 2006. 3. Approximately 92% of the responses made a negative diagnosis on the traditional medical market and 21% of responses indicated the overall economic recession as a primary reason in their opinions. 4. About 29% of responses presented the extension of medical insurance on traditional medicine as a prior policy. Conclusions: Based on the survey, the prospect of traditional medical market is positive, but the effort of the people in traditional medical system and the systematic support from government are required to activate the stagnated traditional medical market.