• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.43-61
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the acupuncture treatment for cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet. Methods : We searched articles in 7 search engines with keywords related to 'Cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet' and 'Raynaud disease' in March 2021. Clinical studies that used acupuncture for cold hypersensitivity of hands or feet were included. Animal studies and nonclinical data were excluded. Data on acupuncture treatment such as methods, site, duration, frequency, and period were analyzed. Also, network analysis between acupoints was conducted. Results : Of 41 selected articles, there were 32 case reports, 7 randomized controlled trials, and 2 uncontrolled clinical studies. Studies were conducted using manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, warm needling, pharmacopuncture, fire needling, and auricular acupuncture. Most studies used more than one acupoint (n=40), and there were 111 acupoints selected for acupuncture treatment for cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet. The most commonly used acupoint was LI11 (n=27). In terms of the correlation of acupoints, LI11 had the highest value of degree centrality at 0.6989. The mean treatment time, number of treatments, and duration were 26.8±8.87 minutes, 15.51±15.75 times, and 77.69±132.80 days. Conclusions : The results of this study could be useful in establishing the evidence for performing standardized acupuncture treatment for cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.90-103
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this case study is to report the effectiveness of Baliao acupoints electro-acupuncture treatment on a neurogenic overactive bladder induced by stroke. Method: A patient suffering from middle cerebral artery infarction was diagnosed with a neurogenic overactive bladder and treated by Korean medicine, including electro-acupuncture on Baliao acupoints six times per week. The evaluation was performed by monitoring urinary frequency and using the Korean versions of the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL). Results: After 27 days of electro-acupuncture treatment, the OABSS score improved from 6 to 3. The I-QoL total score improved from 60 to 87. The patient also showed a decrease in nocturia frequency. Conclusion: This case suggests that electro-acupuncture on Baliao acupoints can be effective for overactive bladders due to supra-pontine lesions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.100-104
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to observe the effectiveness of the Korean medical complex treatments for functional dyspepsia (FD). And we observed NDI-K (Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version) and algometer on acupoints to confirm the treatment effectiveness. In this retrospective study, we investigated 77 patients with FD symptoms who admitted to 00 Korean Hospital for 2 weeks from April 14, 2020 to March 31, 2021. All patietns were treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxa treatment, aroma therapy, So-jeok and So-jeok II therapy. On the day of admission and discharge, NDI-K, algometer on acupoints (CV12, CV10, ST25, ST27, SP14) were examined twice. Among the NDI-K values, all 14 items except for poor breathing were decreased statistically significantly. The algometer values were increased statistically significantly in all acupoints (CV12, CV10, ST25, ST27, SP14). These results suggest that Korean medical treatment can be useful in the treatment of FD.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.91-96
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the stimulation intensity in acupuncture manipulation techniques for tonification and sedation therapy. Methods : To describe the level of stimulation used in acupuncture manipulation techniques for tonification and sedation therapy, we reviewed the acupuncture manipulation techniques described in classical medical textbooks. Results : Based on the patients' conditions and pattern identification, acupuncture manipulation strategies for tonification and sedation therapy were chosen. For example, the excess condition was treated with sedative therapy, and the deficiency condition was treated with tonification therapy. For tonification therapy, weak to modest stimulation was applied in acupuncture manipulation techniques, whereas intense stimulation was applied for sedative therapy. Even though the intensity of acupuncture stimulation was chosen based on the clinical examination, deqi sensation is a crucial component of acupuncture treatment, and during acupuncture practice, the practitioner should choose the right intensity of acupuncture stimulation based on deqi response in each patient. Conclusions : We concluded that the tonifying and sedative effects of acupuncture treatment are related to the stimulation intensity of acupuncture manipulation techniques. For individualized medicine, the right amount of acupuncture stimulation should be administered based on the patients' conditions and responses, such as deqi responses.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.121-142
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review the acupuncture treatment Urinary incontinence (UI) and Overactive bladder (OAB) in postmenopausal women. Methods: We searched articles in 8 search engines with keywords related to 'Overactive bladder', 'Urinary incontinence' and 'Menopause' in July 2022. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) that used acupuncture on Urinary incontinence (UI) and Overactive bladder (OAB) after menopause were included. Animal studies and non RCT data were excluded. Data on acupuncture treatment such as methods, site, duration, frequency, and period were analyzed. Also, network analysis between acupoints was conducted. Results: 15 articles were selected and analyzed. Studies were conducted using manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture and fire acupuncture. Most studies used more than one acupoint, and there were 32 acupoints selected for acupuncture treatment for UI and OAB after menopause. The most commonly used acupoint was 中極 (CV3) (n=8). In terms of the correlation of acupoints, 太谿 (KI3) had the highest value of degree centrality at 0.75. The mean treatment time, number of treatments, and duration were 26.42±6.10 minutes, 18.71±9.09 times, and 6.87±4.77 weeks. Conclusions: The results of this study could be useful in establishing the evidence for performing standardized acupuncture treatment for Urinary incontinence and Overactive bladder in postmenopausal women.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2023

Objectives : Our goals were to examine how the well points in the fingers came to be and how their placements have changed, as well as to determine how they relate to the EX-UE11 points. Methods : We reviewed the classic textbooks to understand the origin and the changes of locations of the well points in the fingers. We also compared the location and indications between well points in the fingers and EX-UE11 points. Results : At first, the tips of the fingers, which are now thought to be the locations of EX-UE11 points, were once described as containing well points. Currently, well points are positioned 0.1 F cun distal-medial (or lateral) to the medial (or lateral) corner of the nail. In addition to the locational commonality, we found similarities between the well points in the fingers and the EX-UE11 points in terms of their indications; for example, bloodletting at these places is frequently utilized to treat emergencies, including acute stroke and fever. Conclusions : We suggest that it is highly likely that well points in the fingers and EX-UE11 points were initially the same acupuncture point and later classified into two different acupuncture points, given their identical locations and indications. If the clinical relevance between the change process of the well points' locations in the fingers and the EX-UE11 is studied in the historical literature, it is anticipated that the significance and clinical application of well points can be expanded.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.131-144
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to review clinical studies on thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) for the treatment of patients with post-stroke spasticity (PSS) Methods: Clinical studies related to TEA treatment for PSS were searched for in several electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, OASIS, and CNKI. After the selection/exclusion process, information on study design, disease, experimental/control group, intervention, outcome measurement, between-group differences, and adverse events was extracted. Results: A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. The usual frequency of TEA treatment was once every 1-2 weeks, and the treatment most commonly included 4 sessions. In the dorsal area, EX-B2 and the acupoints in governing vessel meridian were commonly used. Acupoints in the meridian of the large intestine were most frequently used in the treatment of upper limb spasticity. Except for HT1, PC6, and PC8, all TEA points for treating PSS of the upper limb were on the Yang meridians. For the lower limb spasticity, the most frequently used acupoints were ST36, GB34, GB30, BL60, and BL57 on Yang meridians, and LR3, SP6, SP9, and SP10 on Yin meridians. TEA treatment showed better effects than conventional treatment for PSS in terms of spasticity, motor dysfunction, and activities of daily livings. Nevertheless, the absence of the follow-up observation, lack of sham TEA treatment, and low quality of the included studies necessitated caution in interpreting the results. Conclusions: The results of this review are expected to provide basic data on the modalities of TEA treatment for PSS and provide insights to facilitate well-designed studies in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.99-108
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• 2023

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess the quantitative characteristics of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure depth (PD) at the abdominal conception vessel (CV) acupoints according to subjective digestive status and digestive discomfort levels, accomplished by comparing a large group of healthy men and women, using the modified digital algometer. Methods : A total of 1,504 healthy adults aged 19 years or older participated in this study. A questionnaire was administered to evaluate participants' digestive status and discomfort. PPT (kgf/cm²/s) and PD (mm) measurements were obtained at CV14, CV12, and CV4 acupoints using a modified digital algometer. General characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test, and differences in PPT and PD were assessed using two-sample t-tests and ANCOVA. Results : Significant difference in PPT was found based on digestive status at CV14 and CV12 for both sexes, and in PD at CV14 for women. Women exhibited significant difference in PPT based on digestive discomfort at CV14, CV12, and CV4, while men showed significant difference at CV14 and CV12. Significant difference in PD was observed at CV14 and CV4 among women. Even after adjusting for age and body mass index, significant difference persisted in PPT based on digestive discomfort at CV14 and CV12 for both sexes. PD exhibited significant differences at CV14, CV12, and CV4 among women. Conclusions : Using the modified digital algometer, this study showed the significant difference of pressure pain threshold at the CV14 and CV12 acupoints for subjective digestive discomfort levels in healthy men and women.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.149-155
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• 2023

Objectives : Hapgok (LI4) is one of the most widely used acupoints in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the trend of clinical studies including LI4 acupoint stimulation in Korea. Methods : Papers of clinical researches including LI4 acupoint stimulation in Korean journals were searched in Korean databases of Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Korean Studies Information Service System, Korea Citation Index, DBpia, Research Information Sharing Service, and ScienceON. The papers were then analyzed focusing on the number of publications by year, the types of the clinical research, interventions, research topics, institutes, and journals. Results : A total of 154 publications were included in this study. The first paper was published in 1981, and the number of papers has gradually increased since the 1990s. Although LI4 acupoint stimulation was included, most of the papers had additional acupoints and interventions. Diseases of the nervous system were the most common, followed by diseases of the digestive system and diseases of the circulatory system. Kyung Hee University is the institution that published the most papers, and the journal that published the most papers is The Journal of Korean Oriental Internal Medicine. Conclusions : Since the 1990s, the number of clinical studies on LI4 acupoint has increased. However, the results of the studies are insufficient to prove the efficacy of LI4 acupoint because most of the studies were case reports using additional acupoints and interventions. Therefore, more rigorous studies are needed to prove the efficacy of LI4 acupoint.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.433-444
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study aimed to provide evidence of the combined use of Korean Medicine treatments, including electroacupuncture (EA) on scalp acupoints, as a useful intervention for post-stroke delirium. Methods: The patient in this study was diagnosed with Cerebral Infarction in Right Corpus Callosum and post-stroke delirium. The patient received eight sessions of EA on scalp acupoints, rehabilitation medicine treatment, and other Korean Medicine treatments such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Evaluation of treatment effectiveness was done mainly through the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale Korean (MDAS-K) and Mini-Mental State Examination Korean (MMSE-K). Results: MDAS-K score dropped from 20 to 9 and MMSE-K score increased from 15 to 21 during hospitalization, showing improvement in symptoms. Conclusions: Combined use of Korean medicine treatments including EA on scalp acupoints may be an effective treatment for post-stroke delirium.