• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.140-149
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the effect of herbal medicine and acupuncture on a breastfeeding woman's postpartum urticaria which was unresponsive to a 1st generation antihistamine and a topical steroid. Methods : Wheals and pruritus occurred to a 36-year-old breastfeeding woman 2 days after the parturition. Symptoms were unresponsive to about a week of systemic antihistamine and topical steroid treatments. GamiSamul-tang herbal decoction was administered three times a day for the first 21 days and twice a day for the next 10 days of the treatment. Acupuncture treatment was applied to 12 acupoints (both sides of LI04, LR03, ST36, LI11, SP10, SP6) for 15 minutes once a week, 5 times in total. The patient's symptom was evaluated with Weekly Urticaria Activity Scale (UAS7) and Visual Analogue Scale for Worst Pruritus within 24 hours ($VAS_{Pruritus}$) each time the patient visited out-patient department. Results : The scores of UAS7 and $VAS_{Pruritus}$ at the baseline were 38 and 8.2 respectively. 10 days after the herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment began, both decreased to 0 and wheal, pruritus, erythema didn't appeared again for the rest of the follow up periods. Conclusions : This study shows the possibility of using GamiSamul-tang and acupuncture to treat postpartum urticaria.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to analyze the single dose toxicity of Mecasin (Gami-Jakyak Gamcho buja Decoction) herbal acupuncture administered in the vein of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : All experiments were performed at the Medvill, an institution licensed to conduct nonclinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen in this pilot study. In the experiment, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group. Doses of Mecasin herbal acupuncture, at 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg, were given to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, at 2 ml/kg, was administered to the control group. Mecasin herb acupuncture and normal saline were injected into the vein at once, and we observed mortality, clinical signs, weights, and gross findings for 14 days after injection. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results : There is no death or abnormality in any of the four groups. All groups put on weights favorably. There are no significant gross findings in necropsy examinations. Conclusions : The above results showed that intravenous injection of 500-2,000 mg/kg of Mecasin herb acupuncture did not cause any changes in weight or, in the results of necropsy examinations, in mortalities. Therefore, the toxicity of Mecasin herb acupuncture was not confirmed, and the presumptive lethal dose of Mecasin herb acupuncture was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. The outcomes suggest that treatment with Mecasin herbal acupuncture is relatively safe. Further evaluations on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2018

Background: Length of hospitalization for patients with lower back pain sustained in road traffic accidents was assessed clinically. Methods: In total, 170 patients with lower back pain injury sustained in road traffic accidents, were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: Group A with a shorter hospitalization period (1-7 days) and Group B with a longer hospitalization period (8-14 days). Each group was treated daily with traditional Korean medicine including: acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, herbal decoction medicine, and chuna treatment. To compare the treatment effects between the 2 groups, health-related quality of life, Oswestry disability index, and numeric rating scale were used. Statistical analysis between the 2 groups was assessed using Chi-square test, independent t test, and paired t test. Results: After hospitalization, Group A and Group B both showed a significant increase in their health-related quality of life scores and significant decreases in Oswestry disability index and numeric rating scale scores. In addition, Group B, with a longer hospitalization period than Group A, showed a significant improvement over Group A in its health-related quality of life and numeric rating scale scores. Conclusion: This study suggests that control of pain caused by lower back injury sustained in a road traffic accident, may be more effectively achieved in patients receiving 8-14 days of hospitalization and traditional Korean medicine treatment, compared to those receiving < 7 days of hospitalization treatment. In the future, more systematic and large-scale studies are needed to ascertain the effects of other variables.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.90-108
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to learn what should be considered in the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) by analyzing the existing guidelines and clinical trials.Methods: The development committee searched the existing guidelines for herbal medicinal products or GERD. Then, clinical trials related to GERD using herbal medicine were selected. The chosen trials were analyzed in terms of their inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparators, outcome, and trial design. Then, we compared the results of the analysis according to the regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to suggest the issues that we will have to consider when developing the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).Results: As a result, few guidelines for GERD and clinical trials with herbal medicinal products were located in the national institution homepage. In addition, 8 articles were found using the following combination of search terms: “Gastroesophageal reflux disease”, “GERD”, “herbal medicine”, “herbal therapy”, “Korean Medicine”, “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, and “TCM”. Even though all trials had their own unique research questions, all studies were performed using a randomization method. Most trials included participants with reflux esophagitis, but two trials targeted proton pump inhibitor-refractory GERD. The type of intervention varied, such as decoction, granules, and capsules. Additionally, individualized herbal medicines were used in two studies. Comparators were diverse, such as placebo, Western medicine, and electro-acupuncture. The most frequently used outcome for efficacy was the effectiveness rate. In addition, the outcome for evaluating quality of life, esophageal mucosa and pressure, esophageal acid reflux, and recurrence rates were used. Safety was investigated by recording adverse events and carrying out laboratory tests.Conclusions: We identified some issues by reviewing the existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials for GERD and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized for developing the Guidelines of Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.102-116
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the research trends of randomized controlled trials on herbal medicine treatment for atopic dermatitis in China for the last 5 years. We searched for randomized controlled trials with the intervention of herbal medicine for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from January 2014 to December 2018. For the screening of the paper, we used '特应性皮炎' and '异位性皮炎' which mean atopic dermatitis and search was limited to three areas within Medicine & Public Health: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine. Among the 136 searched studies, we selected a total of 34 studies and analyzed a year of publication, subject characteristics, study design and intervention, prescribed herbal medicine and herbs, pattern identification, evaluation criteria, and outcomes. Longmu decoction (龍牡湯) and Polia Sclerotium (茯笭) was the most frequently prescribed medicine and herb. The most commonly used pattern identification was Blood deficiency and Wind-dryness (血虛風燥), and among them, the most frequently prescribed herb is Rehmanniae Radix (生地黃). In most studies using the total effectiveness and SCORAD index as an outcome measure, the herbal medicine treatment group showed statistically better results than the control group. As a result of the safety assessment, the herbal medicine treatment group was reported having significantly fewer side effects compared to the control group. Hence, it was confirmed that the intervention including herbal medicine had a significant effect on atopic dermatitis. This study would be able to provide the basis of clinical research on atopic dermatitis and applied to the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.90-110
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the parental recognition and utilizing patterns of oriental medical care in children who live in Seong-Dong district. Methods 802 day-care center children's parents participated in the survey on recognition and utilizing patterns of oriental medical care, and 702 of the surveys were analyzed. Results: 1. 38.33% has received previous oriental medical treatments and most were received at the children's age under 12-24 months. Majority of the treatments took place in the clinical settings. By recommendation, some also received their treatment at the medical centers. One of the reasons why they receive oriental medical treatments was that they prefer to balance their treatment with the orental medical treatments along with the western's. 2. 53.85% of those who received oriental medical treatments were satisfied with their treatments. The effective treatment results were the major reason for the satisfaction. 3. 49.56% of those who had oriental medical treatments chose specific oriental medical facilities for the children's ailment. Most specific oriental medical facilities were local oriental medical clinics. Reputation fame were the main reason in choosing the clinics. 4. In 2009, 55.26% had received care in the specific oriental medical clinics for the diseases, such as respiratory symptoms, systemic symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin problems, neurological and psychiatric disease for infants, and respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, systemic symptoms, skin problems, neurological and psychiatric symptoms, urinary symptoms and musculoskeletal symptoms for toddlers. 5. The average duration of herbal treatment were 7-14 days, preferably 4-6 days, and preferred number of medical visits were once a week on Saturdays and preferred day for night cares were on Friday nights. Average treatment fee per treatment was less than 10,000 won which coincided with the preferred treatment fee per visit. 6. The very first medical institutions chosen by parents once their children are ill are the following; Western medical institutions, western medical clinics, pharmacies, oriental medical clinics, health centers, and lastly, oriental medical institutions. The major concerns in receiving oriental medical cares include pesticides in herbs and hazardous substances in heavy metals. Preferred form of oriental medicine was decoction, the negative feedback of oriental medicine was mostly due to the bitter taste of the oriental herbal decoctions. Preferred frequency of intake was twice a day with less than 10cc~20cc per single intake. Conclusions: Taken all together, we conclude that the growing recognition of Oriental Pediatric medicine is needed among parents.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2002

Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be an inflamatory disease characterized by airborne hyper-responsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia. Objective : We aimed to identify the effects of Sochongryongtang on blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T lympocyte subpopulation in asthmatic patients. Material and Methods : The subjects consisted of fifteen patients with asthma who had been treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks from February 2001 through June 2001. Sochongryongtang is herbal decoction which has been used for the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. Results : The blood eosinophil and serum IgE in a normal controlled group. However, the T lympocyte subpopulation in asthmatic patients was not significantly different from the T lympocyte subpopulation in a normal group. The patients were treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks. No significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T Iympocyte in the sub population. After treatment with Sochongryongtang for two weeks, FEV 1 increased significantly over 0.5 points out of total scores. Conclusion : This study shows that Sochongryongtang has effects on improvement of pulmonary function and quality of life in asthmatic patients. However, the patients who were treated with Sochongryongtang for two weeks showed no significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE and T lympocyte subpopulation. Further long-term studies must be made on a large number of asthmatic patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Background : In recent years, the glucocorticoid hormone has become a fundamental medication for asthma. However, a long period of hormone administration will result. in general. side effects on many body parts as well as hormone dependence, which has become a serious problem for western physicians. Objectives : We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Cheongsanghoha-tang and the steroid sparing effects of Cheongsanghoha-tang on. Materials and Methods : A subject group consists of 36 asthmatics who had been treated with Cheongsanghoha-tang for four weeks. Cheongsanghoha-tang is a herbal decoction, which has been used of the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. PFT, QLQAKA, blood eosinophil, serum IgE, Serum IL-4. IL-5, IFN-${\gamma}$ were checked before and 4weeks after the treatment. Results : The only FVC% in ICSG among asthmatic patients was increased significantly compared to NICSG. Treatment of Cheongsanghoha-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in QLQAKA. The NICSG treated with Cheongsangboha-tang for four weeks were no significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-5. The PFT and QLQAKA in NICSG were increased significantly after 4 weeks treatment. But the serum IFN-${\gamma}$ in NICSG was decreased significantly after 4 weeks treatment. Discontinuation of treatment with inhaled corticosteroid in ICSG resulted in insignificant changes in PFT, the blood eosinophil, the serum IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-${\gamma}$ and significant increase in QLQAKA. As a result. 8 of 13 cases were cured with hormones completely and the rest of ICSG reduced the dose of ICS. Conclusions : This study shows that Cheongsanghoha-tang has the effects on the improvement of pulmonary function and cures asthmatic patients. These findings demonstrate that Cheongsanghoha-tang has the steroid sparing effect. Some satisfactory therapeutic results have been obtained in treating hormone-dependent asthma by Cheongsanghoha-tang. However. the concept and mechanism of hormone-dependent asthma have not been fully defined yet, and the standard for judging therapeutic effects have not been established. Obviously further researches concerning all these are still necessary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.973-983
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• 2018

Objectives: We report a case of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment for skin side effects after taking afatinib (Giotrif$^{(R)}$). Methods: A 62-year-old female who was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer stage 4 (T4N2M1b) and was on treatment with afatinib (29.56 mg/day for 4 months) complained of skin toxicity as a side effect. For 16 admission days, the patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (oral decoction and external ointment). Results: Improvement of skin toxicity was measured by a numeric rating scale. In addition, Quality of life (QOL) was measured using EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire, 13-item lung cancer-specific module (EORTC QLQ-LC13) Developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Tumor size and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were also examined during follow up. Conclusions: After a combined TKM treatment, skin toxicity symptoms and quality of life scales were significantly improved with no side effects. The tumor size was not changed on computed tomography during follow-up period. CEA levels were decreased.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.25-51
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• 2010

This report describes 214 prescriptions including Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma in Dongeuibogam. Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma have been used separately or concurrently in Oriental Medicine for a long time as a treatment for various diseases. The following conclusions are reached through investigations on the applications of prescriptions including Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma in Dongeuibogam. 1. 34 times(15.9%) prescriptions are recorded in women chapter, 24 times(11.2%) in wind chapter, 13 times(6.1%) in children chapter and 12 times(5.6%) in intumescence chapter, which are arranged in order of frequency. 2. Treating blood, stroke and fetal movement are ranked top, regulating blood, headache, cataract, carbunculosis, pregnancy, abortion, underdevelopment, etc, among 137 symptoms in prescriptions including Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma. 3. The dosages of Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma are ranged from 2.5 pun~6 nyang. 1 jeon is recorded 54 times(25.2%), 7 pun is 29 times(13.6%), 5 pun is 24 times(11.2%), 1 nyang is 21 times(9.8%), same amount is 11 times(5.1%), 5 pun is 10 times(4.7%), 8 pun is 9 times(4.2%) used among 187 prescriptions including Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma. 4. The dosages of Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma are ranged from 2.5 pun~6 nyang. 2.5 pun~1.5 jeon, 2 jeon~6 nyang, same amount which are recorded by percent(decoction groups: the other groups) are 69.0%(98.0:2.0%), 25.5%(18.5:81.5%), 5.1%(18.2:81.8%) respectively. The less using dosage of Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma has a more percentage of decoctions groups, The more using dosage of Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma has a more percentage of the other groups except decoctions. The less using prescriptions have an effects of controling menstrual pain, enhancing blood and chi, etc, as a whole. The more using prescriptions as a form of compound powder have an effects in epilepsy, chronic diseases, etc. 5. The 214 prescriptions including Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Cnidii Rhizoma in Dongeuibogam are mainly composed of Goongguitang, Samooltang, Sagoonjatang and Gobangpoongtang, etc.