• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.169-178
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture at LI4 and LR3, BL18 and BL25 on serum gastin level in rats. Methods : LI4 and LR3 which belong to Large Intestine Meridian and liver Meridian are acupuncture points frequently used for healing gastrointestinal disease in oriental medicine. BL18 and BL25 which belong to Bladder Meridian are acupuncture points used for healing hepatic disease and intestinal disease in oriental medicine. Serum gastrin level by radioimmnunoassay was measured at 3 days after acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture of those acupoints. Results & Conclusion : Moxibustion applied to the BL18 acupoint, BL25 acupoint decreased gastrin level of serum, but moxibustion applied to the BL18+BL25 acupoints did not produced significant effect. Acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint did not produced significant effect, but acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints increased gastrin level of serum, Electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint increased gastrin level of serum, and electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints also increased gastrin level of serum.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.149-157
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of SAAM acupuncture treatment for patients with fatigue. Methods : The clinical study was carried out with 56 fatigue patients who had visited the Fatigue Clinic in Dong-Seo Oriental Medical Hospital from April 2007 to September 2007. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups : SAAM acupuncture treatment group or control group. The acupuncture points used in the SAAM acupuncture treatment group were $LU_8$, $SP_3$, $HT_8$, $CV_6$, and $BL_{15}$. Acupuncture points used in the control group were non-acupoints near $LU_8$, $SP_3$, $HT_8$, $CV_6$, and $BL_{15}$. The patient's symptoms were assessed at baseline, after 1 week and after 2 weeks of treatment using theMultidimensional Fatigue Scale(MFS). Results : After 2 weeks, MFS score differences between the SAAM acupuncture treatment group and the control group were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusions : The results suggest that SAAM acupuncture treatment can be used to improve symptoms in patients with fatigue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.115-125
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• 2006

Objectives & methods : This study aimed to investigate and compare the traditional acupuncture treatment and Sa-am acupuncture treatment of stroke. We investigated ${\ll}$Sa-am chimgujeongjeon(舍岩鍼灸正傳)${\gg}$ for Sa-am acupuncture treatment, and ${\ll}$Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑)${\gg}$ and ${\ll}$Chimgudaesung (鍼灸大成)${\gg}$ for traditional acupuncture treatment. Results & Conclusion : 1. In the traditional acupuncture treatment, acupoints on CV, GV, GB, LI, ST meridians to remove pathogens such as fire, damp, phlegm, blood stagnation and Ashi points (nearby points) are often used rather than acupoints according to the diagnosis of excess & deficiency in organs and meridians. 2. In ${\ll}$Sa-am chimgujungjeon(舍岩鍼灸正傳)${\gg}$, symptoms of stroke are classified into 21 and each symptoms are analyzed according to the diagnosis of excess & deficiency of organs and meridians, consequently treated using tonification & sedation of corresponding meridians. 3. For the treatment of stroke in ${\ll}$Sa-am chimgujungjeon(舍岩鍼灸正傳)${\gg}$, tonification & sedation of the acupoints on related meridian is often omitted, using only the acupoints on targeted meridian. 4. In ${\ll}$Sa-am chimgujungjeon(舍岩鍼灸正傳)${\gg}$, empirical points are preferably used for the treatment of stroke.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.79-95
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• 2009

Background : Eye diseases refer to a wide range of disconveniences from conjunctivitis, pterygium, glaucoma to even blindness. Acupuncture has been widely used in Korea throughout the history and provides an efficient method in the treatment of them. Objectives : Establish a distinctive and efficient acupuncture method for the treatment of eye diseases based in literature research. Method : We reviewed four Korean medical literature, "Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment[治腫指南]", "Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine[東醫寶鑑]", "Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion[鍼灸經驗方]", and "Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Saam[舍岩鍼法]", and analyzed the therapeutic characteristics in the treatment of eye diseases. Result : 1. According to "Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment[治腫指南]", various methods were applied in the treatment of eye diseases. We can cite salt water washing method after needling, pricking bloodletting method using three-edged needle, surgery method using bent needle and lance needle, or sore treatment using sliced bean-curd and ground Aristolochiae Fructus among others. Acupuncture points like GV20[百會], BL1[睛明], EX-HN5[太陽], GB20[風池], GV24[神庭], GB1[瞳子髎], and GB15[臨泣] were mostly needled. 2. In "Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine[東醫寶鑑]", pricking bloodletting method were most frequently used in comparison to single acupuncture or moxibustion methods. Applied points were GV20[百會], BL1[睛明], LI4[合谷], EX-HN5[太陽], GB37[光明], BL18[肝兪], GB20[風池], BL2[攢竹], GB1[瞳子髎], and ST36[三里]. Also selections of adjacent points were considered important. 3. In respect to treatment methods "Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion [鍼灸經驗方]" has some similarity to "Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine[東醫寶鑑]" as pricking bloodletting method were mostly used. Also focused on normal Qi flow through meridian. Points like BL18[肝兪], BL1[睛明], LU5[尺澤], EX-HN5[太陽], LI4[合谷] were used. 4. "Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Saam[校勘舍岩道人鍼法]" considered visceral pattern identification method fundamental in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. Specifically, Liver, Heart, Stomach, Lung, Kidney identification methods are presented. Combined both corresponding and connecting meridians supplementation and draining methods according to mother-child relation. Also Saam master's own experiential prescriptions are noted. Conclusions : After previous study on stroke, we could also find various efficient methods according to eye diseases, through literature research of korean medical classics. This study will concurrently result in establishing distinctive therapeutic method characteristic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-163
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• 2009

Background : Stroke occurrences are prevalent and require intensive care for its treatment and rehabilitation. Acupuncture has been widely used in Korea throughout the history and provides an efficient method in the treatment of it. Objectives : To establish a distinctive and efficient acupuncture method for the treatment of stroke based in literature research. Method : We reviewed four Korean medical literature, $ll$治腫指南Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment$gg$, $ll$東醫寶鑑Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$, $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$, and $ll$舍岩鍼法Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Sa-am$gg$, and analyzed the therapeutic characteristics in the treatment of stroke. Result : 1. In $ll$治腫指南Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment$gg$, various types of treatment can be found. Besides acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion with moxa tube, and bath therapy using Duchesneae Indicae Herba and Sal was applied. Needling in sublingual and vocal region, and also points like GB20, GB31, LI15, BL60, GV20, GV20, TE4, GB39, LU5, ST36, GB30 were frequently inserted. 2. In $ll$東醫寶鑑Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$, moxibustion treatment were in top priority. Points like GV20, LI15, LI11, GB31, ST36, GB39, LI4, GB20 pertinent to Governor, Conception, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, and Stomach meridian were most frequently needled. Selection of adjacent point was widely applied. 3. $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$ has some similarity compared to $ll$東醫寶鑑 Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$ in considering the moxa in top priority. But selected points far from the disease site. Main points were LI4, ST36, GB39, PC5, GV20, LI11, LR3, BL40, HT7. 4. $ll$校勘 舍岩道人鍼法Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Sa-am$gg$ having the same content orders with $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$, it may had some influence from it. But the differences are also apparent. It emphasized in using mother-supplementing child-draining method, experiential prescriptions and visceral pattern identification. Conclusions : We could find various efficient methods through literature research of medical classics. This will not be limited in stroke alone but also will be applied in other diseases. This study will concurrently result in establishing distinctive therapeutic method characteristic of Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.140-151
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• 2002

This study was carried to identify whether acupuncture at several meridian points can affect the human anesthesia or not through the analysis of serum intermediates, such as, melatonin, serotonin, TSH, cortisol in human serum. We investigated the effect of accupuncture on the change of serum intermediates which have frequently been made a subject of discussion owing to its hyponic and sedative properties in practice. The result obtained were as follow ; 1. Serum melatonin levels was hardly affected at 40 minutes after general acupuncture on Hab-Gog, Nae-Gwan, and the other meridian points as compared with that($5.64{\pm}1.02pg/ml$) of resting control group. But on day 1 after acupuncture, these tend to increase significantly ($7.95{\pm}2.05pg/ml$ to $8.21{\pm}1.57pg/ml$, p <0.05). On the other hand, control group under sleep showed the serum level of $7.39{\pm}1.03pg/ml$. Additional acupuncture at In-Dang induced the increased melatonin level, especially at 40minutes after acupuncture(p <0.05). 2. Serotonin level in resting control serum recorded $51.14{\pm}8.17{\mu}g/ml$. Acupuncture at determined meridian point intend to increase average level of serotonin, but not significant. However observation on day 1 after acupuncture at Hab-Gwan meridian point and under sleeping showed the significantly increased serotonin level, $74.05{\pm}35.83{\mu}g/ml$, $70.44{\pm}13.08{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. 3. TSH level in intact human serum recorded $0.85{\pm}0.24{\mu}IU/ml$. and the serum exposed to acupuncture showed the irregular pattern of TSH level in a mean range of $0.76{\pm}0.44{\mu}IU/ml$ to $1.06{\pm}0.38{\mu}IU/ml$, regardless of meridian point or time after acupuncture. 4. The values of serum cortisol in control group were $11.76{\pm}2.06{\mu}g/dl$ in resting, $7.51{\pm}2.85{\mu}/dl$ under sleep, respectively. The level of serum cortisol in 40minutes after acupuncture was markedly (p <0.05) reduced to the serum levels of $5.65{\pm}2.58{\mu}g/dl$ (Hab-Gog, Nae-Gwan), $7.58{\pm}3.21{\mu}g/dl$ (Gyo-Gam, Sin-Mun besides Hab-Gog, Nae-Gwan), $6.43{\pm}3.54{\mu}g/dl$ (In-Dang besides to Hab-Gog, Nae-Gwan), respectively, as compared with control, intending to increase a little on day 1 after acupuncture. From the above results, the analysis of serum intermediates suggest that acupunctuation at meridian points applied to at this study act upon the phase of light anaesthesia or hypnosis, at the same time affect pituitary-adrenal axis rather than hypothalamus-pituitary axis in the secretary system of hormone and also don't affect dorsal-raphe nucleus according to the observation of change transition in serum intermediates, such as TSH, serotonin, and cortisol.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.790-798
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• 2011

'Mu-acupuncture treatment(繆刺法)' and 'Geo-acupuncture treatment(巨刺法)' are the ways of taking acupuncture points on the sound side of a human body and not on the unsound side of a human body to treat disease, 'Mu-acupuncture treatment(繆刺法)' is applicable to 'Transverse meridian disease(絡脈病)', 'Geo-acupuncture treatment(巨刺法)' is applicable to 'Longitudinal meridian disease(經脈病)'. To diagnose a disease as transverse meridian disease or longitudinal meridian disease depends on 'Feeling pulse at the nine spots of three parts on a body for diagnosis (三部九候診)'. 'Mu-acupuncture treatment(繆刺法)' takes a 'Rak-acupuncture point(絡穴)' under a wrist and a ankle joint. The method of taking it, two ways, are 'Yu(痏)' and 'The treatment getting some blood(出血療法)'. 'Yu(?)' which is similar to 'Quick-getting acupuncture into and out (單刺法)' means the number of times doing acupuncture and is different from 'The treatment getting some blood (出血療法)' which is typically considered as 'Yu(?)'. Meanwhile, judging from the changes of the methods of feeling pulse for diagnosis and the symptoms of a certain disease, though it is a precondition that 'Biased-Gi(邪氣)' stays at 'The Large transverse meridian(大絡)' in 'The theory of Mu-acupuncture treatment(繆刺論)', it is hard to consider the symptoms of 'Transverse meridian disease(絡脈病)' described in 'The theory of Mu-acupuncture treatment(繆刺論)' as the pure symptoms of 'Transverse meridian disease(絡脈病)'.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2012

Objectives: This study evaluated clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods: Eight Korean databases and four international databases were searched for clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension up to June 2011. Study quality was assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool. Results: Twenty-four trials of acupuncture for hypertension were included. There were 14 randomized and 1 non-randomized controlled trials and 9 before-after studies. The most frequently used acupuncture points were zsnli (ST36), qch (LI11), fngch (GB20), snynjio (SP06), snjin (LI03) and hgu (LI04). In more than half of the studies, needle retention time was 20~30 minutes. Compared to baseline, change of blood pressure after treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect on blood pressure between acupuncture and control were not consistent. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hypertension. Further well-designed clinical trials will be required to evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for hypertension.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.149-163
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review RCTs on pharmacopuncture treatment for musculoskeletal diseases and to establish standards of pharmacopuncture treatment model. Methods : We searched articles up to date of March 2009 via computerized databases of Pubmed, The Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Journal of Korean institute of Herbal Acupuncture, Journal of Oriental Rehabilitation and Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine. Only Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) concerning the effects of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases. The pharmacopuncture treatment methods were assessed based on STRICTA and items considering the feature of pharmacopuncture. And the methodological quality of the trials was assessed by FEAS and modified Jadad score. Results : Eighteen trials of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases were analyzed. Except for 4 trials comparing the effect of SBV and BV, positive outcome was reported in ten trials. Among eighteen trials; most of the trials were about Bee Venom acupuncture, and most of the trials used about five acupuncture points, mainly local acupuncture points. But, the amount of injection to each point and total injection were various. And most of trials were lack in the information about method of stimulation. The adjusted FEAS score ranged from 0 to 12, and modified Jadad scoreranged from 1 to 5. Conclusions: To standardize pharmacopuncture treatment, we need more well-designed, high quality clinical trials. And methodological assessment tools designed for pharmacopuncture treatment are also needed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.191-197
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• 2015

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, nonthermal laser irradiation. Possible advantages in using laser acupuncture are the noninvasive, painless and low risks of infection treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of laser acupuncture on the quality and waveform of arterial pulses. Ten acupuncture points were stimulated repeatedly three times in 30 individuals by laser with emission in the near infrared spectral region (808 nm) using an out power and power density of 45 mW and $143W/cm^2$. The analysis of pulse quality and waveform was performed based on the measurement of arterial pressure of the left and right wrist, using a 3-dimensional blood pressure pulse analyzer. Excess-like pulse quality of subjects before laser acupuncture changed significantly to balanced pulse quality after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture; coefficient of deficient or excess, $C_{DE}$, decreased significantly from 0.68 before acupuncture to 0.61, 0.55, and 0.55 after 10, 20, 30 minutes of laser acupuncture ($$p{\leq_-}0.006$$), respectively. Other pulse qualities, floating or sinking, slow or rapid, choppy or slippery did not change significantly by laser acupuncture (p > 0.05). Pulse waveform analysis showed that amplitude of main peak (systolic function or aortic compliance, $h_1$) of left and right artery pulse waves decreased significantly after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture (p < 0.05). Other parameters, duration of one cardiac cycle (T), duration of rapid systolic ejection ($T_1$), duration of the systolic phase ($T_4$), and duration of the diastolic phase ($T_5$) of left and right artery pulses did not change significantly after laser acupuncture (p > 0.05).