• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.113-122
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• 2004

Objective : This study is designed in order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of venesection on acute low back pain. Methods : From Nov. 1st 2003 to Apr. 30th 2004, 40 cases of low back pain patients at acute stage were divided into 2 groups; one group(control group) took only acupuncture therapy, and the other group(test group) took acupuncture and venesection therapy. Pain rating score(PRS) was used to assess the pain for its intensity, frequency, duration, and aggravating factors. And visual analog scale(VAS) was used, too. PRS and VAS was checked twice, before the treatment and after the treatment. Treatment was done twice a day. Results : Both acupuncture therapy and acupuncture with venesection therapy showed good effect on low back pain of acute stage. And the latter group showed better effect on decreasing pain than former. It was proved by the difference between PRS and VAS checked before treatment and what checked after treatment. But it was not proved statistically. Conclusion : Only acupuncture and acupuncture with venesection can be recommended as a useful therapy to treat low back pain of acute stage.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.9-18
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Chuna Treatment and Ouhyul herbal acupuncture on the patients with cervical pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods : This study was carried out on the 60 out-patients with cervical pain caused by whiplash injury. These patients were divided into two groups, group A and group B, of 30 patients each. Group A was treated with acupuncture and Chuna treatment and group B was treated with acupuncture and Ouhyul herbal acupuncture. All the patients from both groups were treated four times, twice a week for two weeks. The results of treatment were evaluated by VAS and NDI score. Results : Statistically, both group A and B demonstrated significant improvement in VAS and NDI. But there were no significant differences in the VAS and NDI between two groups. Conclusion : According to the results of this study, it was suggested that Chuna treatment and Ouhyul herbal acupuncture are effective in reducing cervical pain caused by traffic accidents. However, there were no significant differences in the VAS and NDI between two groups.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2021

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative spinal condition that can have unpredictable improvement and worsening of symptoms which include low back pain, radiating pain, claudication, and degenerative lumbar scoliosis affecting quality of life. In this study, thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was used as a conservative treatment for LSS in combination with complex Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicines, and physical therapy). The treatment was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, walking distance and duration, and inclination of radiological lumbar scoliosis according to antalgic posture. TEA was performed 27 times between June 8, 2020, and March 16, 2021. The patient showed improvement in numerical rating scale score from 7 to 2, pain-free walking distance from 10 m to 900 m, and scoliosis inclination following treatment. The findings of this study suggest that TEA may be helpful in the treatment of LSS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the effect of Bee venom-Acupuncture on knee joint with osteoarthritis. Methods : We investigated 30 cases of patients with osteoarthritis of knee joint. We flip a coin and divide into two groups. Bee venom-acupuncture was performed at one group, and the other group didn't do it. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group by using the WOMAC score. Results : 1. As a result of evaluation by using the WOMAC, the score after treatment was marked higher than that before treatment within each group. 2. After treatment, Bee venom-Acupuncture group showed significant difference on WOMAC score compared with acupuncture group. Conclusion : These results suggested that Bee venom-Acupuncture treatment should be more effective in the patient with osteoarthritis of knee joint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.147-158
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to obtain some knowledge about the acupuncture treatments on Parkinson's disease for the future practice and the research from the clinical studies in China. Methods : The literatures were searched using the data base-China Academic Journals (CAJ) (1994-2011). Clinical studies of acupuncture for Parkinson's disease such as randomized controlled trial (RCT), non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT), case series, case report were included. Results : Of 145 articles, 52 Clinical studies met our inclusion criteria: 20 RCTs, 7 NRCTs, 22 case series and 3 case reports. Various kinds of acupuncture treatments such as scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture, acupoint injection, eye acupuncture and thick needle acupuncture (粗鍼) were used in the clinical studies. The treatment and control groups take Madopa Tablet (Levodopa + Benserazide HCl) in the same time in many studies, and Madopa treatment was used as a comparative treatment in the most of studies. Acupuncture treatment was done daily or 2~3 times a week for 2~20 weeks. All of studies reported high effective rate in the treatment group compared to control group. Conclusions : The results of this study could be used for the future study about the acupuncture therapy for Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2022

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a skin-sensitive condition/disease that causes severe pain in the facial area predominantly innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. A 51-year-old man diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia who was hospitalized with severe pain that limited his daily life activities. From November 18, 2021, to March 4, 2022, he received inpatient (10 days) and outpatient treatment (35 times) using acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. His symptoms were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, Neuropathic Pain Scale, and the Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptom and Signs. The pain reduced after 4 days of initiating Korean medicine treatment and was completely resolved within 4 months of treatment (Numerical Rating Scale score 4 to 0; Neuropathic Pain Scale score 49 to 8; Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs score 18 to 0). Korean medicine treatment could be an option for treating patients with neuropathy who rely on analgesics.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.308-318
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• 2023

To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating restless legs syndrome (RLS), we conducted a literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that utilized acupuncture as an intervention for patients diagnosed with RLS. Relevant clinical studies (n = 158) from seven databases (the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, KISS, RISS, and OASIS) were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and analyzed. Moreover, 6 RCTs were selected for review. In all six studies, it was indicated people who underwent acupuncture treatment showed significant improvements in their overall health. An increase in the treatment efficacy rate, sleep quality, and quality of life indicators after the acupuncture treatment was confirmed. The severity of pain as assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) scores and International RLS Study Group Rating Scale (IRLSRS) scores and the severity of RLS symptoms were significantly reduced. Any significant side effects were not reported. Acupuncture is suggested as an effective and safe treatment method for RLS. However, further large-scale RCT studies are needed to confirm our findings.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.84-92
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• 2001

Objectives : We defined that the ruptured disc is extruded trans ligamentous through the posterior longitudinal ligament or sequestrated. The authors have experienced 12 cases of ruptured disc that underwent the conservative treatment. We studied the effect and possibility of the conservative treatment for the ruptured disc. Methods : The patients with ruptured disc have underwent the conservative treatment. After the treatment, we compare pre-treatment with post treatment in the view of state of patients' ambulation and physical conditions. Results : In this study, 12 cases of ruptured disc have underwent the conservative oriental treatment. After the treatment, 75% of the cases were improved above good state Conclusion : The ruptured disc has been operated universally. Except the emergency state, the conservative treatment is helpful to improve the symptoms of the patients with ruptured disc.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.56-69
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the current research trend on the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis. Methods : Through nine search engines, articles were collected, which had involved the use of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis. Data were extracted from the selected articles regarding the year, country, type of pancreatitis, study design, evaluation variable, intervention, point for acupuncture and moxibustion, and effectiveness of treatment. Results : Total 56 articles were reviewed. The number of studies increased gradually every ten years. Fifty-one studies(91%) were conducted in China. Most of clinical studies and animal experimentations reported on acute pancreatitis. Thirty-nine studies were randomized controlled trials(RCTs), but most of them were assessed as uncertain in the risk of bias evaluation. The degree of overall improvement(79%) was used mainly as evaluation variable of clinical studies. In animal experimentations, the examination of pancreatitis tissue(77%) and blood test(77%) were used the most. Most of studies were conducted with the acupuncture, one with moxibustion. Among them, electroacupuncture was the most common intervention of treatment group. ST36 was the most frequently used acupuncture point in the included studies. Effective rate increased and serum amylase, clinical symptoms, recovery time of gastrointestinal function decreased statistically significantly in the treatment group of clinical studies. Conclusions : The result of this study could be used for the future practice and research about the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.219-228
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• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment on Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) in frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 17 voluntary patients received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The patients were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 1 week of treatment, after 2 weeks, 3 weeks and after 4 weeks of treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). DITI was measured before treatment and after 4weeks of treatment. The obtained data was analyzed. Results : CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension showed significant(p<0.05) improvement. Abduction and flexion both improved after 4 weeks of treatment, but the improvement was statistically insignificant(p>0.05). DITI showed improvement but the improvement was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment significantly improved CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension in frozen shoulder patients(p<0.05). The improvement of abduction and flexion after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment was insignificant(p>0.05). DITI results improved after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment. But the change of thermal difference was insignificant(p>0.05).