• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.375-384
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• 2021

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients who attended a Korean medicine hospital and the treatment effects through retrospective chart reviews. Methods: The medical records of 82 outpatients who had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and visited the Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department of Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital from 8 January 2015 to 8 January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. To assess the treatment outcomes, we used the FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), DLCO (Diffusing capacity of the Lung for CO), 6-minute walk test, and HRCT (High Resolution Computed Tomography). Results: The study group consisted of 28 females and 54 males. The median age of the patients was 67.98±11.44 years. The chief complaints were cough (n=51) and dyspnea (n=49). Other frequent symptoms were general weakness (n=8), weight loss (n=4), and a fever (n=2). A total of 77 (93.90%) patients were prescribed Korean herbal medicine, and 52 (63.41%) patients were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, ICT, or pharmacopuncture. After treatments, FVC, DLCO, the 6-minute walk test, and HRCT were maintained or worsened slightly. Conclusions: This study presented the characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated by Korean medical therapies, and further studies of Korean medical treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients would be valuable.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.396-412
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and Saengmaek-san (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild. Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.961-974
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• 1997

The ZZimzilbang is a room where many women eagerly go due to the special meaning women give to it related to their health. It is a different type of sauna room which maintains low degree of temperature, consisting of an Ondol room(Korean under-floor heating system, hypocaust) built with mineral stone radiating ultrared rays. Even though many women mention that they utilize it for health, there is no precise evidence of the effects on their health. This ethnographic study sought to define the phenomenon from the perspective of the women who experienced the ZZimzilbang. A convenience sample of 27 women was interviewed during a 15 month period from December 1995 to July 1997 in 12 ZZimzilbangs located in Seoul, Korea. The mean ages of the women 57.3 years ; seventeen women were housekeeper and only eight women had job : twenty women were married and three women among them were widows. The main reasons women patronize the place are : for mitigation and healing of physical signs and symptoms : composure ; safe lodging and boarding : control of outward appearance : control of health ; meeting and fellowship with friends : and custom. The outcomes of the utilization of the place were : mitigation of physical signs and symptoms : psychological tranquility : cosmetic and diet ; good use of spare time : and utilization of services provided there. Most women who visited ZZimzilbang for relief of physical signs and symptoms strongly mentioned a correlation to inadequate Sanhujori, the traditional postpartal and postabortal care for woman. Some of specific kinds of services provided in that place were alternative therapy such as acupuncture, negative cupping, finger-pressure, mugwort steam and various kinds of massage including massage of blood vessels that are influenced by Oriental medicine ; health education of breathing such as abdominal breathing or Danjeon(단전호흡) : and selling of many things including health foods, drugs for osteoporosis, and eutrophics. This study suggests that professional caregivers should further study this phenomenon for the development of adequate care of women with a resulting important in their quality of life.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-330
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to report a clinical progress of treatment of sequelae caused by removal of facial schwannoma through Korean medicine. A patient was diagnosed with facial schwannoma by MRI on 4th June 2012 in local university hospital, he had right facial palsy, auditory hypersensitivity, dizziness after removal of facial schwannoma. Between 25th July 2012 and 26th January 2013, he was treated with acupuncture, cupping, electro-acupuncture every week and observed by House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system(H-B scale) and MoReSS every month. He had 29 times treatments. At the first of treatment, his state was Grade IV (H-B scale), 4/8(facial nerve grading), 10 points during action 7 points during rest(MoReSS) and he had severe facial palsy, ill-acrimation, auditory hypersensitivity. At the middle of treatment, October 2012, symptoms improved. State was Grade III (H-B scale), 5/8(facial nerve grading), 7 points during action 3 points during rest(MoReSS). Severe facial palsy improved ; Forehead creasing and union motor function recovered, he was able to close his eyes so ill-acrimation improved. At the end of treatment, January 2012, state was Grade II (H-B scale), 7.5/8(facial nerve grading), 3 points during action 1 point during rest(MoReSS). He had only occasional tinnitus and auditory hypersensitivity. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture are estimated to be good for facial palsy after removal of facial schwannoma. More cases are required to develop treatment of facial palsy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.211-228
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• 2013

Objectives : This report describes the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of Collaborative Practice between Korean Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine for two dementia patients. Furthermore, through these cases, we suggest a model of collaborative practice between Korean traditional medicine and western medicine for the treatment of dementia. Methods : Two patients suffering from several symptoms related to dementia received collaborative practice between Korean traditional medicine and western medicine. Physicians of deparment which paient first visit interviewed patient and patient's guardians, discussed the symptoms and the status of the patient. Since then, the medical team made a differential diagnosis based on the results of brain imaging, hematology, urine test. and apprehended the status of dementia by the neuropsychological test. Korean traditional physicians examined the physical symptoms and identified the pattern of dementia in Korean traditional medicine. Following this, they decided on the method of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and herbal treatment. Western physicians decided on the type of medication after consideration of the patient's other medical conditions. Every intervention was decided by both Korean traditional physicians and western physicians after discussion. The medical team provided education on dementia and counseled the guardians. They also wrote the paper for using the long-term care insurance for the aged. Results : Two patients showed no improvement on the neuropsychologic and activity of daily living tests. However, the patients' subjective physical symptoms were improved. The collaborative practice between Korean traditional medicine and western medicine improved the patients' and guardians' satisfaction. Conclusions : Through these cases, we propose a model of collaborative practice between Korean traditional medicine and western medicine for dementia categorized diagnosis-test, treatment, prevention, management. More specifically, we supplement qigong and psychotherapy which was inadequate in these cases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.12-25
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of urticaria in case studies and to find the general tendency of herbal medicine treatment and to establish the primary treatment direction of urticaria. Methods : In the domestic databases, Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal (KTKP), National Discovery for Science Leader (NDSL), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), we selected among the case study papers published in the last 20 years using search terms related to "urticaria". Reports related to Sasang Constitutional medicine were excluded and total of 15 papers were finally selected. Results : 23 prescriptions were retrieved from 15 papers. The most commonly used prescription was Seungmagalgeun-tang (升麻葛根湯), and Bangpoongtongsung-san (防風通聖散) and Pyeongwi-san (平胃散) were presented twice. Commonly used herbs are Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (甘草), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (生薑), and Scutellariae Radix (黃芩). 18 out of 78 herbs are belonging to heat-clearing medicinal (淸熱藥) and 16 out of 78 herbs are belonging to exterior-releasing medicinal (解表藥). Concurrent therapies such as acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, ice pack applying therapy were performed and several evaluation methods were used, patient's subjective remission rate was the most used. Conclusions : Through this study, we were able to discover the tendency of herbal medicine prescription for the treatment of urticaria.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.49-68
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• 2012

Objectives : Recently, the elderly population and dementia prevalence have been rapidly increasing in Korea. Dementia is a concept of syndrome composed of characteristic symptoms. However, there have been no approved treatments for dementia with proven efficacy. Therefore, we investigated Korean traditional treatment being used in clinic and collaborative practice for dementia in the professional group. Methods : We conducted a survey using questionnaires to professors of oriental neuropsychiatry for a month. Items of the questionnaire consisted of overall Korean traditional medical treatment for dementia, which included herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, psychotherapy and others. Results : 1. It was shown that Yukmijihwangtanggamibang, Jowiseungcheongtang, Seonghyangjeonggisan have been used the most in herbal medicine. 2. Chechim, Saamchimbeop, and scalp acupuncture have been used the most in acupuncture treatment. 3. In Korean traditional psychotherapy, Ijeongbyeongi, Jieongoronyobeop, Gigongyobeop have been used, and effective in anxiety, agitation, improvement of comprehension for caregiver and environment. 4. Most professors answered that collaborative practice between Korean traditional medicine and western medicine has been needed for dementia. They suggested that herbal medicine, followed by acupuncture, and moxibustion can be used with western medicine simultaneously. Conclusions : The survey revealed that professors use herbal medicine and acupuncture as main treatments for dementia. They share perspective regarding the need of long period to treat dementia patients, and there are needs of collaborative practice for dementia.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.76-101
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• 2004

The primary purpose of this study was to provide the basic information for improving collaborating care of Korean traditional medicine and western medicine by surveying utilization and attitude on it among cerebral apoplexy(CA) patients hospitalized at a general hospital with both the western and Korean traditional medical department in Busan metropolitan city, Korea. The survey was conducted on 170 patients, 80 from Korean traditional medical department, and 90 from western medical department. The major results of this study were as below: First, CA patient's medical utilization patterns including selecting medical institution, term of treatment and type of medical institution at first-aid were significantly variated by their socio-demographic characteristics such as religion and job. Second, the perceptions of collaborating care, such as effectiveness and reduction of treatment period, were better at respondents who were hospitalized at oriental medical department and had been experienced with collaborating care. Third, the major contents of collaborating care which utilized by respondents in side of western medicine were physical therapy, x-ray, pathologic diagnosis, and medication, and in side of Korean traditional medicine were acupuncture, herbal medication, moxa cautery, cupping a boil therapy. Fourth, overall satisfaction on collaborating care was good(3.5 of 5.0) and was significantly variated by age and religion. Fifth, respondents perceived that collaborating care was most helpful for rehabilitation and the major problem of current duplicate medical system was increasement of medical expenditures, and the major obstacle of collaborating care was prejudice against each other medicine. The results of this study imply that effective marketing for collaborative care suitable for age and religion of customers and patient satisfaction strategy is needed to activate collaborating care.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.61-74
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• 2019

Objectives This study aimed to review clinical studies about Korean medicine used in peroneal nerve palsy. Methods In 11 online databases (Earticle, Research Information Sharing Service, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, KMbase, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, National Digital Science Library, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Ebscohost, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure), we searched clinical studies about Korean medicine. Among the studies that we've searched, we excluded the studies that are not related to Korean medicine, case reports, randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies. As a result, 16 case studies and 1 randomized controlled trial are included. Results Total number of patients was 123. In these studies, acupuncture (100%), herbal medicine (58.8%), pharmacopuncture (58.8%), Korean physical therapy (58.8%), moxibustion (41.1%), cupping (41.1%) etc. were used. In acupuncture, GB34 and ST36 were most frequently used. Most of the herbal medicines used in these studies were different. Range of movement were most frequently used in outcome measure. Conclusions In this study, we reviewed studies about Korean medicine used in peroneal nerve palsy. It was difficult to clearly determine which intervention has improved the symptom. In the future, Further clinical studies will be needed to retain the evidence for the treatment of peroneal nerve palsy. And also more randomized controlled clinical trials to prove the efficacy of Korean medicine will be needed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.612-628
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this review was to investigate clinical studies on Korean medical treatments for dysmenorrhea. Method: Using the keywords "dysmenorrhea," "Korean medical treatment," "acupuncture," and "herbal medicine," searches were conducted using domestic databases, including the National Discovery for Science Leaders (NDSL), the Research Information Sharing Service(RISS), and the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS). The keywords were combined in various ways, instead of being searched individually. Papers that did not cover clinical studies or were not matched with the subject, absent of the abstract and text, were excluded. Results: Using the above searching method, 20 studies were found. Of these, 15 were in the form of case reports and five were in the form of randomized controlled trials. Acupuncture, herb medicine, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and cupping were used as treatments for dysmenorrhea. All of these studies reported that the Korean medical treatment was effective. Conclusion: According to the results, Korean medical treatments can provide an effective treatment for dysmenorrhea. However, more clinical studies on dysmenorrhea should be conducted for further clinical applications.