• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1 s.31
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• pp.447-464
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• 1996

Hyperemesis gravidarum is one of the most common symptom in the early pregnancy and if it cause severe malnutrition by means of heavy vomiting as a basic sign of disease of pregnant syndrome, appropriate treatments are necessary. In the clinics the methods of treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum include herb-medication usually. But herb-medication therapy is rather difficult because during pregnancy it may cause vomiting by the smell and taste of herbs. So the author investigated the literatures referred to the external treatments of hyperemesis gravidarum excluding herb-medication and the results obtained here were as follows. 1. The external methods of treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum are various and include moxibustion, the method of applying drug at the umbilicus, ear-acupuncture method, pressure massage therapy, naso-spray method, acupoint injection, intervenous injection 2. Among the external methods of treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum , the method of applying drug at the umbilicus is most variable and almost all prescriptions use Zingiber officinalis Rose, characteristically. 3. Ear-pressure massage method to treat the hyperemesis gravidarum uses the car-acupoints of Gan, We, Shin-mun, Gyo-gam. 4. Among the external methods of treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum , moxibustion, pressure massage, and acupoint injection select frequently Nae-gwan(PC6), Chok-samni(ST36) and Chung-wan(CV12). 5. In the both the internal and external methods of treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum one have to differentiate syndromes in the viewpoint of oriental medicine and treat with the principls of treatment and prescriptions which are fit to each differentiation model under the principle of regulating the stomach and relieving vomiting.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

Objectives: Considering high prevalence of myopia in Asian countries, social cost paid for myopia may gradually increase in Korea. However, studies for developing myopia treatment are deficient. The study was to evaluate whether the periocular acupressure with a medical massager is effective for suppressing myopia progression. Methods: This study was an investigator-sponsored, prospective, open-labeled, and superiority pre and post single-armed study. 14 myopia children aged 7-12 years wore a medical massager for 15 minutes to stimulate periocular acupoints. For 24 weeks, the participants used the device twice a day. Based on prior studies, the refraction change of naturally proceeded myopia was set as -0.38 D. The axial length change of naturally proceeded myopia was set as 0.228 mm. To assess the safety, we performed vital sign check, physical examination, visual acuity test, slit lamp examination, IOP measurement, and fundus examination. Results: The refraction and axial length of the participants increased. For 24 weeks, the change in refraction was -0.38 D at the right eye and -0.40 D at the left. The change in axial length was 0.21 mm at the right and 0.22 mm at the left. In the safety assessment, any adverse event did not occur. Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the control group and the intervention group. The effect of growth may have more contributed to our result than that of acupressure. Based on our result, a full-scale study will not be conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.11-24
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• 2007

Objectives : Hemiplegic shoulder pain is one of the common sequelae of stroke. Although many different methods of treatment are applied, none have yet been proved to be effective. In this study we assessed the effectiveness of bee venom in patients with shoulder pain after stroke. Methods : This study was a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All subjects received either 0.6 ml bee venom injection (venom:saline = 1:10000) or 0.6ml physiological saline solution (placebo) at three acupoints. The effectiveness was assessed by visual analogue scale, pain rating score, Fugl-Meyer assessment and passive external rotation. Results : There were 24 patients in the venom group and 22 patients in the placebo group. The venom group5,hewed more effectiveness in VAS and PRS than the placebo group. Conclusions : This study suggests that bee venom injection has significant analgesic effect on hemiplegic shoulder pain. Further study based on multi-centers, larger population, and long term 1311ow-up is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was performed to find differerces between postmenopausal and premenopausal women on HRV and DITI. Methods : 26 postmenopausal women(mean age${\pm}$SD, 50.96${\pm}$2.75) and 26 premenopausal women (mean age${\pm}$SD, 49.46${\pm}$3.33) were compared with HRV which was conducted in the sitting position for 5 minutes. Temperature of specific acupoints-Indang, Chonjung(CV17), Kwanwon(CV4) was checked using DITI image and obtained ${\Delta}T1$(Chonjung-Kwanwon), ${\Delta}T2$(Indang-Kwanwon), T0(Kwanwon) value in each group. Results : HRV measurements generally decreased in postmenopausal group than premenopausal group but there was no significance. ${\Delta}T1$ increased significantly in postmenopausal group compared with premenopausal group. ${\Delta}T2$ also increased in postmenopausal group but there was no significance. Conclusion : It can be suggested that Chonjung(CV17) can be the useful point to evaluate postmenopausal women by using DITI.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.18-26
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at acupoints suggested by oriental medicine to be related to the treatment of cerebrovascuiar diseases. Materials and Methods : Rest/electroaeupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 5 normal male volunteers (age range from 27 to 30 years) using electroacupuncture at acupoint, ST 36. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM$^{(R)}$ for Windows$^{(R)}$. Results : Electroacupuncture applied at ST36 increased rCBF in the left hemisphere, that is, the left parietal lobe(angular gyrus), the left temporal lobe, the left inferior frontal lobe around rectus gyrus and the left cerebellar hemisphere, a part of the left inferior frontal lobe. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. Conclusion : The results demonstrate that electroacupuncture increases rCBF in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.229-240
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to show the effect of complex traditional Korean medical care focused on warm needling(WN) and bee venom(BV) injection for a patient suffering from traumatic brachial plexus injury(BPI). Methods : A 51-year-old female patient with BPI was suffering from paresis and hypoesthesia with upper-extremity impairment. The patient had been treated once a day from 4 Feb to 11 Apr of 2015 mainly with WN and BV injection on the acupoints near the distribution of the brachial plexus. Improvement of the symptoms was measured by range of motion(ROM), manual muscle test(MMT) grip strength, and with the numeric rating scale(NRS) of tactile and pain sensitivity. Results : After 67 days of treatment, all obtained results showed remarkable improvement. The patient's satisfaction declaration was recorded through an interview at the end of the treatment. Conclusions : The results suggest that anatomically concerned WN and BV treatment can be a valuable option in reducing or normalizing pains from traumatic BPI.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

Objectives : Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common female gynecological diseases. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been used to treat dysmenorrhea in Korea. The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for primary dysmenorrhea as described in studies in Korea. Methods : A total of 8 databases were searched, with the search concluding February 15, 2015. These were the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DBpia, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Research Information Sharing Service, and Pubmed. Randomized controlled Trails(RCTs) comparing acupuncture or moxibustion therapy with non acupoints stimulation or medication were selected. Data abstraction and assessment of methodology was conducted by authors and disagreements were resolved by discussion. Results : 7 trials were included in this review, with a total of 308 participants. 4 trials reported on acupuncture, 1 trial reported on acupress by magnet, 1 trial reported on pharmacopuncture, and the other trial reported on moxibustion. Quality of methodology was low. 2 trials showed that experimental therapy was effective for pain relief compared to the controlled group. However, 5 trials did not show a significant difference in pain relief. Conclusions : Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy may reduce period pain, however, it is needed for well designed RCTs in Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 2014

Objectives : To observe the regenerative effects of indirect moxibustion, a traditional Korean medical treatment on skeletal muscles using mouse model of skeletal muscle adiposity. Methods : Twenty seven ICR male mice were randomly assigned into Intact control(n=3), glycerol treatment together without moxibustion(n=12), and glycerol treatment together with moxibustion (n=12) groups. Mice of glycerol treatment groups were injected with 50 ${\mu}l$ DW(distilled water) containing 50 % of glycerol into the two tibialis anterior. After injection, moxibustion was applied at 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) acupoints three times per each session, every days for twelve days(total 12 treatments). Phospho-Erk1/2, Myostatin protein levels were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluo-rescence staining techniques for tissues of the tibialis anterior muscle. Smad, phospho-Smad were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Results : 1. Histological analysis of sections from injected TA muscles showed that glycerol induced rapidly muscle necrosis, with a maximum at day 3. 6 days and 9 days after injection, muscle was regenerating. 2. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Erk1/2 protein signals in glycerol treatment with moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment without moxibustion group. 3. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, myostatin protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 4. According to immunofluorescence staining, Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 5. According to immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. Conclusions : These results confirm that indirect moxibustion of 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) influences muscle regeneration in mouse models of skeletal muscle adiposity. Further discussion, and the establishment of moxibustion mechanism will prompt clinical application of moxibustion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the difference of abdominal skin temperature responses following moxibustion comparing stimulation method. Methods : Moxibustion was applied on the acupuncture points of $CV_4$, $CV_6$, $CV_{12}$. Thirty healthy men were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving a single moxibustion stimulation in three locations '$CV_4{\cdot}CV_6{\cdot}CV_{12}$'(n=15) and the other receiving triple moxibustion stimulations in one location '$CV_{12}$'(n=15) for 30 min. To obtain the skin temperature on abdominal region, a thermograph was used. Three arbitrary frames(the upper abdominal, lower abdominal, whole abdominal regions) were made to analyse skin temperature. Thermographic images were obtained at before and after the procedure of indirect moxibustion and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 min afterwards. Results : An increase in skin temperature on the three abdominal regions was observed following both one point and three points moxibustion administrations. Significant increase in skin temperature of the whole abdominal region was observed at 30 min after the procedure of three points moxibustion compared with one point moxibustion stimulation. A tendency of skin temperature changes over time was observed. Conclusions : In this study, skin temperature of lower abdominal region does not increase after triple moxibustion stimulations on $CV_{12}$. Administration of single moxibustion on $CV_4$, $CV_6$, $CV_{12}$ makes greater changes in skin temperature on the whole abdominal region than triple moxibustion on $CV_{12}$.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to review clinical trials of pharmacopuncture treatment for Frozen Shoulder and to evaluate trends in this field. The literature search was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and 5 Korean electronic databases. A combination of "pharmacopuncture," "acupoint injection," "Frozen Shoulder," "adhesive capsulitis," and "periarthritis of shoulder" search terms were used. A total of 9 studies were included in this review. The studies were classified into herbal extract-based (5 types) and animal-based (2 types) pharmacopuncture treatment of Frozen Shoulder. There were 14 different acupoints and Ashi points used in the 9 studies. The total volume of herbal extract-based pharmacopuncture injected was usually between 2 mL and 4 mL, and for animal-based pharmacopuncture it was 1 ml. In most studies of Frozen Shoulder, pain was reduced and function was significantly improved after pharmacopuncture treatment. These results demonstrate that pharmacopuncture alleviates pain and restores function in patients with Frozen Shoulder. Further studies must be conducted on pharmacopuncture for management of Frozen Shoulder.