• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2014

Here we described 2 cancer patients treated by acupuncture for abdominal pain as a complication of bowel obstruction. The patient 1, 43-year-old man was treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for rectal cancer. Two years after surgery, he complained of acute abdominal pain due to small bowel adhesion band. Bowel obstruction and symptoms were not improved by conservative therapy like as fasting, keeping Levin tube, and fluid therapy. 4 months later, he could eat a little rice water, but ileus and abdominal pain persisted despite of applying opiod drug and patch. Got started on acupuncture, electroacupuncture(ST-36) and moxa treatment, pain was relived gradually. He could stop opioids 1 month later and ileus was improved after acupuncture therapy for 2 months. The patient 2, 65-year-old woman got hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and chemotherapy with cholangiocarcinoma. 6 months after surgery, she got laparotomy again for biopsy of new mass around ascending colon. She started eating after gas passing, but felt abdominal distension. Diffuse paralytic ileus was diagnosed by abdominal X-ray, and she got started conservative therapy. During ST-36 electroacupuncture therapy, symptoms like abdominal pain and distension were improved and could stop opiod patch. But eating aggravated ileus again and clinical finding of mechanical bowel obstruction was appeared. Based on these cases, acupuncture and moxa therapy could be helpful for improving abdominal pain and ileus, but possibility of malignant bowel obstruction should be considered especially in cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.75-87
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• 1999

We reported that acupuncture on $LI_4$ effected thermal change on $LI_4$ and ST25 area, And this study was performed on 100 healthy students to observe the effects of acupuncture at Hap-kok ($LI_4$) according to the meridian and qi-xue(氣血) phenomenon of oriental medicine's theory, The results was 1. In healthy man, mean skin temperatures of $LI_4$, ST25, CV12 areas(Control) were decreased, 2. In left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the temperature of abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area had the tendency of increase, both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the temperature of abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area had not significant tendency. 3. In the research of thermal difference which eliminate a special region temperature, in the control group, the thermal changes had not significant tendency, in the left $LI_4$ acupuncture group and both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the thermal changes had tendency to be increased, 4. In the deviation analysis which mean of each group is excluded, in the control group, it turned out that deviation is regular for 10 minutes; in the left $LI_4$ acupuncture group and both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, it turned out that deviation is more larger than the control group for 10 minutes. The above results indicates that Digital Thermography is a useful method to observe effects and changes by acupuncture stimulation on objective evaluation of phenomenon for the meridian system. Thus, acupuncture on $LI_4$ affects to thermal changes of the abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area, but exact examination of thermal changes on abdominal skin will have to be done.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2020

Objectives: This report presents a case using acupuncture and moxibustion to treat postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction. Case Presentation: A 62-year-old male with two previous intra-abdominal surgeries, complaining of abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and general weakness, visited Korean medicine hospital. He was suffering from small bowel obstruction that had not improve for three weeks. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction. The patient received acupuncture and moxibustion in addition to intravenous fluid treatment. The patient underwent radiologic testing on a daily basis. Results: The symptoms improved quickly with the treatment, including acupuncture and moxibustion. He was able to start eating three days after he started receiving treatment. The abdomen X-ray also showed rapid improvement. No adverse effect was observed during the nine days of hospitalization. Conclusions: This report demonstrates that acupuncture and moxibustion may be effective in treating adhesive small bowel obstruction. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

This case study reports the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon, on Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) accompanied by chronic constipation and abdominal pain as the main symptoms. A 39-year-old woman diagnosed with LEMS with major symptoms, including chronic constipation and acute abdominal pain, received Western treatment. The treatment efficacy was weak and symptoms recurred, so the patient received outpatient treatment and 13 days of hospitalization for active Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon. During outpatient treatment and hospitalization, defecation frequency and the numeric rating scale (NRS) for abdominal pain and abdominal cold feeling were measured. The NRS for abdominal pain and cold decreased from 8 at admission to 3 and 0, respectively, at discharge. Defecation frequency increased significantly from once or twice a month to once every 2-3 days during hospitalization. This study results that complex Korean medicine treatment, including Nangan-jeon may be useful for treating patients who mainly complain of autonomic neurological symptoms, among patients diagnosed with LEMS. In addition, it is believed that it could be basic data applicable to more LEMS patient treatment cases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2023

Postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is an intractable disorder which sometimes leads to adhesiolysis or small bowel resection. These therapeutic reoperations, however, also have many limitations including complications. An 80-year-old female, who had undergone 4-abdominal surgeries, visited the hospital with continuous vomiting. Based on her clinical symptoms and history, multiple air-fluid levels and distention of the small bowel in an abdominal X-ray, we diagnosed her with postoperative incomplete ASBO. We conducted acupuncture and an herbal medicine enema to stimulate bowel movement and relieve pain. The patient came in complaining of abdominal pain and vomited more than 10 times on hospital day 0 stopping on hospital day 4. Comparing hospital day 0 with hospital day 4, the abdominal pain decreased from a numerical rating scale (NRS) 10 to 4. There were no side effects such as redness or burns during the treatment process. This study presented an acupuncture-based treatment will be helpful for clinicians managing cases of ASBO with poor performance in elderly individuals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.261-266
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• 2021

This study aim to report 4 cases with chronic abdominal pain whose symptoms are alleviated by Sihogyeji-tanggagam with Korean medicine treatments. The patients were decided to administer Sihogyeji-tanggagam through abdominal examination. The patients were treated by Korean medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Sihogyeji-tanggagam). We used Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Abdominal examination, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Subjective Unit of Clinical Symptoms to evaluate the progress of treatments. The improvement of clinical symptoms appeared to be effective with out any remarkable side effects. The abdominal pain of all patients stared to improve as soon as treatment begin, and disappeared in 1-2 weeks. We also confirmed that the abdominal symptoms improved together with the improvement of clinical symptoms. This study suggests that Sihogyeji-tanggagam is effective on reducing symptoms of chronic abdominal pain, but further studies should be followed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1017-1024
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine treatment for abdominal pain with acute kidney injury. Methods: A 80-year-old female patient presented with abdominal pain. Blood test results showed increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, amylase, and lipase. The patient was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine, specifically Hyangsayukgunja-tang-gahwangryeon for 4 days and Gagam-gunbi-tang for 11 days. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, and abdominal examination. Results: Gastrointestinal symptoms improved after taking Korean herbal medicine. Additionally, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, amylase, and lipase levels showed improvement compared to values before treatment. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment can improve clinical symptoms without damaging the kidneys of patients with acute kidney injuries.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1 s.31
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• pp.336-344
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• 1996

Clinical studies were done on 72 peoples (1 male, 71 females) who were treated with the electric acupuncture therapy to decrease body weight and abdominal length in the Yong oriental medicine clinic from march 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995. The result were obtained as follows : 1. Total judgement of efficacy: good(18.0%) moderate(31.0%) unchanged(32.0%) 2. Degree of average body weight loss during 1 week: 0-0.9Kg(22.2%) 1-1.9Kg(20.8%) 2-2.9Kg(16.6%). 3. Degree of average abdominal length decreased during electric acupuncture treatment : 1-1.9cm (40.2%) 2-2.9cm(22.2%) 3-3.9cm(9.7%)

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2020

Tetanus is an infectious disease that causes muscle spasm with spastic paralysis and pain. Localized tetanus is rare and milder than the generalized form, however, it should be immediately treated because it may precede the onset of generalized form. The authors experienced a case of localized tetanus in both legs with abdominal pain after lumbar radiculopathy acupuncture treatment and here report this case with relevant literature reviews.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of a patient with lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection after acupuncture therapy and herbal medicine. Methods : We treated the patient with Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication(木通大安湯), lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing. We measured the circumference of the patient's elbow and wrist every day at 6pm. Results : Since being hospitalized, the circumference of the patient' elbow and wrist has been decreased and VAS score has gotten lower gradually. Conclusions : We considered Dong-Qi acupuncture, herbal medication had a useful effect on lymphedema due to axillary lymph node dissection with lymph absorption massage, compresses, abdominal breathing.