• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a 4 weeks Meridian Tai Ji exercise treatment on blood pressure reducing in hypertensive patients. Methods : We measured the blood pressure of 3 patients who were visited in the Gwacheon Health center from 21th November 2007 to 17th December 2007. Eligible participants had systolic blood pressure ${\geq}$ 120 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ${\geq}$ 80 mmHg with antihypertensive drug. Blood pressure measurements were after the patient had been in rest for at least 10 minute. Twelve sessions of Meridian Tai Ji exercise treatment over 4 weeks were performed in the patients. Blood pressure were measured twice before and after each session. Results : After 4 weeks, blood pressure reduction was observed in the treatment patients, with an average decline of systolic blood pressure up to 5.67 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure up to 0.17 mmHg. But, it was not statistically significant. Blood pressure increased between measurements taken before and after an Meridian Tai Ji exercise treatment session, although individual responses were quite variable. No significant difference was found in the immediate effect. Conclusion : Twelve sessions of Meridian Tai Ji exercise treatment do not seem to control hypertension. Further research is required to determine whether Meridian Tai Ji exercise treatment can enhance clinical management of hypertension if it is used in combination with more enrolled participants, over longer periods, or randomized controlled trial.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2010

Clinical research on acupuncture in cancer care is a new and challenging field in oncology. The results of clinical research will continue to provide clinically relevant answers for patients and oncologists. The evidence currently available has suggested that acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy to manage cancer and treatment related symptoms, while giving patients the ability to actively participate in their own care plan. The article explains the potential benefits of acupuncture and describes the difficulties in studying its effectiveness.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.4125-4129
• /
• 2016

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) places a significant burden on the patient. Herbal agents are the most commonly complementary therapies used among the public. This study was done to determine the effect of ginger and chamomile capsules on nausea and vomiting in cases undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: In a randomized, double-blind and clinical trial study, 65 women with BC undergoing chemotherapy were referred to Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, Iran, between May 2013 to June 2014. Regimen for ginger group for 5 days before and 5 days after chemotherapy was: 2 times a day and 500 mg capsules of powdered ginger root in addition to a routine antiemetic regimen consisting of dexamethasone, metoclopramide and aprepitant (DMA) capsules. Chamomile group similarly was: 2 times a day and 500 mg capsules of Matricaria chamomilla extract in addition to a routine antiemetic regimen consisting of DMA capsules. Control group, routine antiemetic regimen consisting of DMA capsules. Results: There were no significant differences between the ginger, chamomile and control groups regarding age. Drugs used for chemotherapy were identical and duration of disease was also matched (1-4 months). Ginger and chamomile were both significantly effective for reducing the frequency of vomiting, there being no significant difference between the ginger and chamomile groups. Moreover, unlike the chamomile, ginger significantly influenced the frequency of nausea. Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, it should be declared that taking ginger capsules (1 g/day) might relieve CINV safely. Nurses dealing directly with cancer patients should be responsible for providing educational programs for patients and their families about how to deal with their drug regimens and associated side effects.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic interventions for chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) in adults aged 18-64 years. Methods: We searched for potentially relevant randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials through five Korean electronic databases (i.e., Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Assembly Library) published from January 2010 to May 2019. Two investigators independently selected the studies based on the criteria and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We estimated the effect size of interventions using Comprehensive Meta Analysis 3.3. Results: Of 10,151 studies, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise reduced low back pain (Hedges's g=-1.53, 95% CI: -2.22 to -0.85) and pain-related disabilities (Hedges's g=-0.92, 95% CI: -1.40 to -0.45). We found that taping was effective in decreasing low back pain (Hedges's g=-1.12, 95% CI: -1.51 to -0.73) and pain-related disabilities (Hedges's g=-0.50, 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.07). Manual therapy yielded a marginally significant reduction in low back pain (Hedges's g=-2.32, 95% CI: -4.64 to 0.00), the therapy was not effective in decreasing pain-related disabilities. Conclusion: Although there was little evidence for the effectiveness of manual therapy in adults with CLBP, exercise and taping were effective to relieve pain and pain-related disabilities. Based on these findings, we suggest the development of non-pharmacologic interventions or a nursing intervention protocol for the CLBP management. Also, nurses should consider implementation of effective non-pharmacologic interventions for CLBP.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2010

Objectives: We investigated whether oriental medical therapy influences the results of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Methods: 19 women with infertility were treated by oriental treatment from August 1999 to June 2000 in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of an oriental medical center. The women were planning in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer after oriental medicine treatment. The data from the women was analyzed, we obtained the following results. Results: The average age of infertile women was $35.42{\pm}4.86$; infertility caused by male factor or tubal factor were the most frequent. The average number of previous failed IVF treatments was $2.21{\pm}1.81$. The number of aspirated oocytes was $9.00{\pm}6.09$ in IVF cycle before oriental therapy, increasing to $9.80{\pm}5.41$ after therapy, but it was not statistically significant. In IVF before oriental therapy, the average number of embryos transfer was $3.20{\pm}1.90$, and it significantly increased to $4.40{\pm}1.45$ after treatment. The quality points of embryos were $10.00{\pm}6.02$ before treatment, but statistically significantly improved to $14.07{\pm}4.98$ after. The characteristics of women being pregnant and non-successful women were compared with age, period of taking herbal medicine and the number of failed IVF treatments, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: Oriental treatment before IVF could be expected to have good results in treatment of infertility.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.159-168
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of auricular acupressure on menstrual pain, difficulties in daily life, negative feelings and autonomic nervous responses among college students. Methods: A Randomized Controlled Trial design was used. The treatment group A (n=12) receivedauricular acupressure therapy on the first or second day of their menstrual period. Treatment group B (n=18) regularly received an auricular acupressure therapy once a week for a month. The control group (n=19) received no auricular acupressure therapy. An independent t-test was used to examine pre-post test differences in the group. The ANOVA and Scheffe test were used to examine pre-post test differences among the group. Results: Subjects in treatment group A showed significantly less menstrual pain, difficulties in daily life, and negative feelings than the control group did. The participants in treatment group B also showed significantly less difficulties in daily life and negative feelings than the control group. Conclusion: The findings support that auricular acupressure therapy on menstrual periods is effective in controlling menstrual pain, difficulties in daily life, and negative feelings. As the method is simple, it would be useful for female students to learn to use this method to alleviate the symptoms related to menstruation through self care.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.113-123
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was done to provide support material to traditional nursing interventions through investigation of the effect of Auricular acupressure therapy for female staff in the hospital who have dysmenorrhea but cannot be absent from work even with severe symptoms affecting their work and therefore cannot get proper pain management. Method: The participants in this study were 62 women were working in the G-university hospital in Jin-ju, assigned to experimental (30) and 32 control groups (32). The study method was a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The experimental group received acupressure treatment (a pin was attached to tape) on the special stimulation points in the inside of the ear, 5 times for 5 seconds, morning, afternoon, and night. Tape without the pressure pin was applied to the same points for women in the control group to evaluate placebo effect. Data were collected from May to November 2007 and were analyzed using SPSS PC+ 12 version. Descriptive statistics, t-test, $x^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, were used to analyze the data. Results: The experimental group showed a significant decrease in dysmenorrhea compared to the control group (t=-2.743, p<.01). In the sub-part, the experimental group showed menstruation related pain (t=-3.726, p<.01), menstruation related to behavioral change (t=-2.421, p<.05) and symptoms however, there was no significant difference related to attention deficit, water retention, and negative image. Conclusion: Application of auricular acupressure therapy was approved for this study and although auricular acupressure therapy was not effective for all of the symptoms, it was effective for dysmenorrhea.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.39-54
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze both treatment and adverse events of Korean medicine treatment for whiplash associated disorder patients during pregnancy. Methods: We investigated the medical records of 44 pregnant patients who had got into car accidents from April 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. Results: 100 percent of the inpatients and 88 precent of the outpatients were treated by acupuncture. 79 percent of the inpatients and 72 precent of the outpatients were treated by chuna, and 86 percent of the inpatients and 64 precent of the outpatients were treated by pharmacopuncture. Out of 32 patients with low back pain, 94 percent were treated by acupuncture, 47 percent by phramacopuncture and 38 precent by chuna. 90 percent of 31 patients with cervical pain were treated by acupuncture, 71 percent were treated by pharmacopuncture and 77 percent were treated by chuna. There were adverse events like cough, rhinorrhea, dilatation of cervix and worsen low back pain during or after the treatment. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment including chuna and pharmacopuncture can be applied to pregnant women injured by traffic accident.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.424-455
• /
• 2002

Diabetes mellitus is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. The insufficiency of medication to cope with this burden has coincided with a dramatic rise in the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative therapies, especially herbal treatments. This surge in demand presents a challenge to prove the safety and efficacy of these treatments in diabetes. Korean red ginseng (steam treated Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a strong candidate to succeed. It has been shown to possess a multitude of hypoglycemic effects and improve metabolic disturbances related to diabetes in in vitro and animal models. Data in humans is also emerging to support these benefits. Whether these results can be replicated in a rigorous clinical testing program is unclear. We therefore investigated the antidiabetic effects of Korean red ginseng in a series of 2 acute and 1 longterm randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials. This paper provides the rationale for this program of study, expanding on the problem of diabetes, its management, and the possible role for Korean red ginseng. It then describes the design and expected findings.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2019

Thought-action fusion (TAF) is a tendency to blindly assume causal relations between their thoughts and external reality. On the other hand, cognitive fusion (CF) is a tendency to take internal experiences, such as thoughts and feeling, literally rather than view them as random events. However, these two terms are often confusedly used and, in fact, have conceptual overlaps. Therefore, this study aimed to identify their distinctive features through a comprehensive review of the definition, origin, measurements and clinical implications especially on the understanding of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The cognitive-behavioral concept of TAF is confined to erroneous and maladaptive beliefs about the connection between thoughts and behaviors. The CF is a broader construct that entails taking thoughts and feelings as facts and engaging or struggling with them such that the quality of life is lowered. They also have different theoretical backgrounds, developing processes and therapeutic approaches. From the perspective of the obsessive-compulsive disorder, both concepts have been studied as mid-structures for this illness. Recently, the effectiveness of psychological therapies related to these concepts such as defusion therapy has been tested. However, it is yet still in its infancy. In the future, complementary advances between the two concepts with studies on biological substrates is needed.