• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to assess the general distribution and clinical effectiveness of Korean medical treatment on lumbar disc herniation. Methods : This is an observational study. 72 patients admitted to Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine with a diagnosis of herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) by lumbar-CT of lumbar-MRI were observed from July, 2014 to April, 2015. They were analyzed according to sex, age, the period of disease, causal factors, symptoms on admission, admission day, disc herniation type and treatment efficacy. All patients received a combination of treatments during hospitalization, including acupuncture, Chuna, herbal medicines and physical therapy. A zero to ten numerating rating scale(NRS) assessing pain, Oswestry disability index(ODI) and EuroQol-5 dimension(EQ-5D) was used before and after treatments. Results : Average admission duration was $28.00{\pm}12.85$ days in lumbar disc patients. For lumbar patients, lower back pain NRS decreased from $5.89{\pm}2.00$ to $3.42{\pm}1.87$(p<0.001) and radiating pain from $5.96{\pm}2.12$ to $3.38{\pm}1.83$(p<0.001). ODI decreased from $46.69{\pm}19.25$ to $35.69{\pm}16.67$(p<0.001), and EQ-5D index increased from $0.63{\pm}0.26$ to $0.71{\pm}0.20$(p<0.05) after treatment in lumbar disc patients. Conclusions : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life for patients with lumbar disc herniation. This study further confirmed the efficacy of Korean medical treatment on HIVD.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate on the application of the yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) lasers for acupoints irradiation. Methods : We conducted a systematic search for peer-reviewed studies published from inception to November 2023, in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in English, Science ON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) in Korean, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang in Chinese, and Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii) in Japanese. Inclusion criteria were original articles including clinical and experimental studies related with YAG lasers for acupoints including Ashi or meridian sinews. Results : Among the 8 selected studies, there were 7 studies on human subjects and 1 study on animals, 7 studies on Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser, and 1 study on Er:YAG (2,940 nm) laser. A total of 16 acupoints were used, 15 of which were in the face and 1 of which was located in the foot. In addition, there were two studies using Ashi. 4 studies looked at the effect of pain relief, 2 studies looked at safety, 1 study looked at changes in blood flow, and 1 study looked at the effect of skin care. There were no reported adverse events, and the YAG laser was confirmed to be safe and effective in pain relief, beautifying the skin, and increasing blood flow. Conclusions : We suggest that high intensity YAG lasers can be applied to laser acupuncture or laser moxibustion. YAG lasers are considered to be worth using for various clinical indications of Korean medicine because of photobiomodulation effects, analgesic action, and deep penetration depth. Further scientific research and clinical evidences should be warranted.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2000

Objectives : To satisfy the demand of good treatment of constipation Methods : we investigated the literatures of Oriental Medicine about Constipation. Results: 1. There are three categories of etimological factors of constipation, that is, endogenous, exogenous and non-exo-endogenous factor. The endogenous factor is caused by seven emotions, called depression of Ki and stagnation of Ki. The exogenous factor is six excessive atmospheric influences, for example, wind, cold, dampness, heat and dryness. And the non-exo-endogenous factors are overfatigue, improper diet, stagnated blood and deficiency of Ki and blood that comes from old age, long disease and after delivery. 2. Classification: According to cause of disease it is classified by constipation due to cold, heat, wind, dryness, retention of undigested and phlegm. According to Internal Organs there are constipation due to deficiency syndrome of the stomach, excess syndrome of the stomach, deficiency syndrome of kidney and splenic constipation. And Differentiation of syndromes according to Ki and blood, there are constipation of deficiency type and excess type. There are constipation due to stagnation and deficiency of Ki, deficiency of blood and stagnated blood. 3. Principles and Methods of treatment 1) Herbal Medicine (1) Excess type [1] Constipation due to heat : Seunggitang(承氣湯) and Majainwhan(麻子仁丸) [2] Constipation due to stagnation of Ki : Samatang(四磨湯) and Yukmatang(六磨湯) (2) Deficiency type [1] Constipation due to deficiency of Ki : Whanggitang(黃?湯) [2] Constipation due to deficiency of blood: Yunjangwhan(潤腸丸) [3] Constipation due to cold : Jechunjun(濟川煎) and Banyuwhan(半硫丸) 2) Enema therapy: It is a method to induce defecation by honey or pig's bile juice for weak people. 3) Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Acupoints used to treat constipation are BL25, ST25 and TE6. Moxibustion at CV8, CV6 is good for constipation due to cold. (4) Diet therapy: It is very important that we eat meals regularly and defecate on the same time even if you don't. And we have to eat food like fruits, vegetables and beans. (5) finger pressure: Finger pressing around these points like ST25, SP25, BL25, BL31, BL32, BL33 and BL34 is good for it. (6) Kigong therapy: Abdominal breathing (7) Old man' s constipation: Hip bath or diet therapy is commended. Laxation with lubricant like Supungyunjangwhan(搜風潤腸丸) is used. (8) Women' s constipation: After delivery, we have to administer tonifying prescription Sipjundaebotang(十全大補湯) and enema can be used. Conclusion : We have to examine the cause of disease and bowl movement carefully. After comprehensive analysis of the data gained by the four methods of diagnosis, we diagnose and treat patients on the base of overall of symptoms and signs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.45-59
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• 2023

Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the trends of researches on oriental medicine treatments for supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods We used five databases for searching researches; Korean studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Research Information Sharing Service, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Only randomized controlled trials suitable for the subject were selected. The methodological quality of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results Twenty randomized controlled trials were analyzed. There were 9 types of treatment interventions; acupuncture, acupotomy, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, fire needling, warming needle, catgut-embedding therapy, herbal medicine, cupping. The most frequently used treatment intervention was acupuncture and acupotomy. There were 9 outcome measurements including visual analog scale (VAS), Constant-Murley Score (CMS), and range of motion. The most used measurement was VAS. As a result of meta-analysis, acupuncture was more effective than control group in VAS. Additionally, acupotomy was clinically significant compared to control groups in VAS and CMS. Conclusions In this review, we analyzed researches on effectiveness of oriental medicine for supraspinatus tendinopathy. A provisional conclusion can be produced that acupuncture and acupotomy showed beneficial effect to supraspinatus tendinopathy. Although there were some RCT studies, many of them had a high risk of bias, so it is hard to conclude that our study can include overall clinical status. Further well-designed trials are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Sophorae radix pharmacopuncture(SRP) therapy on the Chunchu($ST_{25}$) on intestinal disease in rats with dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis. Methods : The experimental model of colitis was induced by an infection of DSS for fifteen days. After colitis was induced, SRP therapy was practiced on the Chunchu($ST_{25}$) once every three days for a total of five times. Afterward, colon length, damage to the colonic mucosa, complete blood count, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine transferase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 were measured. Results : The results were obtained as below. 1. Colon length was significantly increased in the SRP group 2 compared to the control group. 2. Damage of colonic mucosa was observed less in the SRP groups than in the other groups. 3. The mean rates of white blood cell(WBC), neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly increased in SRP group 2 compared to the control group. 4. The mean rates of HGB and hematocrit(HCT) were significantly increased in the SRP compared to the control group. 5. No significant differences were shown in AST, ALT, BUN and Creatinine between the SRP groups and the control group. 6. The mean rate of TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly decreased in the SRP groups compared to the control group. 7. The mean of IL-6 was significantly decreased in the SRP groups compared to the control group. Conclusions : These results indicated that SRP therapy on Chunchu($ST_{25}$) functions as a treatment to the dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2009

Purpose: We investigated the efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy in obese Korean women in order to make basic guidelines for the use of oriental medicine in treating obesity. Methods: Forty women were divided into two groups and each was treated 12 times: 1) one group was treated using electroacupuncture (EA) involving auricular acupuncture and physical treatment, without exercise (EA group, n=10), and 2) the other group was treated using electroacupuncture and exercise (EA plus exercise group, n=30). The EA was applied to subcutaneous fat tissue manually. Body weight was evaluated every visit and body composition was checked at the $1^{st}$ and $12^{th}$ visits. Statistical comparisons were made using SPSS13.0. We compared the weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and body composition before and after treatment using the pairedt-test. The correlations between weight loss and BMI and age were examined. Results: After the $12^{th}$ treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat, and body fat percentage. The weight loss averaged 4.58${\pm}$3.87% in the EA group and 4.69${\pm}$3.10% in the EA plus Exercise group. The reduction in skeletal muscle was significant in the EA group, but not significant in the EA plus Exercise group. The speed of the weight loss was correlated with age using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Based on BMI, normal and obese subjects in the EA plus Exercise group had significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat, and body fat percentage; the obese subjects also had a significant reduction in skeletal muscle. Conclusion: Combined EA therapy may be effective for weight reduction. Age and BMI were related to weight loss using EA therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.100-109
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• 2016

Objectives: Hematuria can occur frequently for various reasons, but there are so many patients who suffered from unexplained hematuria. This study aims to report the clinical effect of Korean medicine on unexplained hematuria with chronic pelvic pain.Methods: The patient received Korean medicine therapies such as herbal medication, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, and Korean medicine steam therapy (about 20 days).Results: Urine occult blood and urine micro red blood cell of the patient were noticeably reduced during the treatment. The clinical symptoms about chronic pelvic pain were also improved.Conclusions: This case shows that Korean medicine is effective on unexplained hematuria with chronic pelvic pain.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2007

This study report the good reslut for chronic Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) patient with Herbal medication treatment and Counseling therapy. The case was a 56 years old female who worried about small matters too much. This patient treated in western medicine, However, didn't see any improvement. So, the patient admitted in our hospital. We diagnosied this patient as 'The Defiency of the Spleen energy', caused by too much thinking and concern. Herbal medication(Nokyonggunbitang)and psychotherapy applied to this patient for hospitalized 22 days. The result showed that blood platelet increased at discharged moment(37,000 / ${\mu}{\ell}$) compared with the admission time(19,000 / ${\mu}{\ell}$). The present result indicated that Herbal medication treatment and psychotherapy may play a role elevate and maintain the number of blood platelet.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore the trends of Chuna(manipulation) treatment on neck pain and cervical disc displacement. Methods : We set up the two searching strategies and investigated the latest clinical trials on Chuna(manipulation) therapy for Neck disorders and cervical disc herniation through PubMed search. The searched papers were analyzed and the year, journals, article types of literatures were examined. Of the articles, Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) are assessed by Jadad scale. Results : Studies on Chuna(manipulation) treatment to cervical disc herniation were very few. Articles on Chuna(manipulation) treatment to neck pain were relatively more than those of cervical disc herniation. The most frequently published journal was J Manipulative Physiol Ther. The main design of study was RCT. The limited quality assessment of RCT was conducted by Jadad scale and the average Jadad score was 1.73, which indicates low quality in terms of Jadad evaluation criteria. Conclusions : International trends of studies on Chuna therapy of cervical disease is increasingly reviewed. Although this review has several limitations, analyzing the latest trends of studies on Chuna(manipulation) treatment on neck pain and cervical disc displacement is necessary for further studies.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.115-123
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• 2021

This study reports the effects of Korean medicine treatments including Chuna manual therapy (CMT) and exercise treatment for a patient suffering with cervical spinal stenosis. We treated patient diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis. The patient was treated with CMT once a day for 26 days. Manual muscle testing (MMT), ratio and degree of numbness, numerical rating scale (NRS) were used as tools for evaluating the patient's progress. MMT was increased from 3+ to 5, ratio and degree of numbness were decreased from grade (Gr.) 9 to Gr. 4, NRS was decreased from 5 to 3. This study suggests that CMT and self-exercise can be considered as effective treatment for cervical spinal stenosis.