• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2004

Cold hypersensitivity means a condition feeling cold at a temperature when one should not feel so. Cold hypersensitivity has been diagnosed based on the patient's subjective complaints. But these days, cold hypersensitivity can be diagnosed by the help of D.I.T.I.(Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) This study is designed to verify the validity of diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity by D.I.T.I. Thermographic findings of 100 outpatients who visited the Kangnam Korean Hospital, KyungHee University, Seoul, Korea, from June 2000 to November 2000 were analyzed. The experimental group consisted of 50 patients who complained cold hypersensitivity, and for the control group, 50 patients who did not complain cold hypersensitivity. For the diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity of the hands, thermographic measurements were performed on two pairs of areas(palm-upper arm and back of hand-upper arm). And for that of the feet, other two pairs of areas(anterior thigh-top of the feet and posterior thigh-heel). When the criterion for thermal deviation between the palm and the upper arm was appointed as higher than $0.3^{\circ}C$, the sensitivity was 94.0% and the specificity, 90.0%. And when the criterion for that between the anterior thigh and the top of feet was appointed higher than $2.0^{\circ}C$, the sensitivity was 94.0% and the specificity, 76.0%. Through this study, the diagnostic standard for cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet could be presented.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2000

Depression is a psychiatric syndrom consisting of dejected mood, psychomotor retardation, insomnia and weight loss, sometimes associated with irrational guilt feeling. And it is also similiar to Hwa-byung(火病) symptom in oriental medicine. But it is difficult to diagnose with objective method. Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.) is one of diagnotic method that measure the changes of skin temperature in body. Specially we checked the skin temperature on depressed patients by using D.I.T.I. and compared with Bell's palsy patients and normal persons group. The results are as follows; Average body temperature of the depressed patient group is $36.68{\pm}0.43^{\circ}C.$ and that of the control group is $36.73{\pm}0.40^{\circ}C.$. So there is no meaningful difference. The depressed patient group has higher temperature than the control group by ${\triangle}T>1.0^{\circ}C$ at the following acupuncture points in these body parts - upper and lower, left and right, anterior and posterior. When acupuncture points temperature was compared superior and inferior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4(Myung-moon) and also in the control group. When acupuncture points temperature was compared left and right part of the body, depressed patient group have no meaningful difference and also in the control group. When acupuncture points temperature was compared in the anterior and posterior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4(Myung- moon) and also in the control group. From this study, we think that D.I.T.I. could be used to diagnose objectively on the depressed patients and useful to another psychoneurogenic diagnosis in oriental medicine.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2005

Objectives; Hapkok(L14) and Taechung(Liv3) are acupuncture points located on both sides of each foot and hand of the human body. These two points are called sakwan points. Matching these acupuncture points have a significant reason in points of not only regulating the circulation of Yin-Yang as a source point of each meridian, but also playing a basic role of twelve meridian by controling circulation of ki and blood in the whole body. There are already related documents and studies on stimulating sakwan points. Since those papers mostly studied on either hapkok or taechung, we came to have a doubt of stimulating the two point at the same time when an inbalance of Yin-Yang and ki-blood appears. Accordingly, we got to investigate how thermogram of body changes after applying an acupuncture on sakwan points. Our study is as follows ; Methods; Our study was performed on 30 normal cases(M:F=17:13) with no past history to observe the effects of the acupuncture. We measured temperature of abdomen and the back of both hands by D.I.T.I(Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging) before and after acupuncture on sakwan points. Results and Conclusion; The thermographic change on abdomen was $0.51{\pm}0.71^{\circ}C$. Temperature of abdomen after acupuncture was higher than before acupuncture with high validity(p <0.01). And the thermographic changes on the back of both hands were right hand $0.54{\pm}1.17^{\circ}C$, left hand $0.56{\pm}1.28^{\circ}C$. Temperature on the back of both hands after acupuncture was higher than before acupuncture, but the difference between them had little validity(p <0.01) In addition, we found that it doesn't necessarily follow that the thermographic changes on abdomen and back of both hands after acupuncture on sakwan points happen concurrently.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2003

Objective: Hapkok(L14) and Taechung(Liv3) are acupuncture points located on both sides of each foot and hand of the human body. These two points are called sakwan points. Matching these acupuncture points have a significant reason in pints of not only regulating the circulation of Yin-Yang as a source point of each meridian, but also playing a basic role of twelve meridian by controlling circulation of ki and blood in the whole body. There are already related documents and studies on stimulating sakwan points. Since those papers mostly studied on either hapkook or taechung, we came to have a doubt of stimulation the two point at the same time when an unbalance of Yin-Yang and ki-blood appears. Accordingly, we got to investigate how thermogram of body changes after applying an acupuncture on sakwan points. Our study is as follows ; Method : Our study was performed on 30 normal cases(M:F=17:13) with no past history to observe the effects of the acupuncture. We measured temperature of abdomen and the back of both hands by D.I.T.I(Digital infrared Thermographic Imaging) before and after acupuncture on sakwan points. Results and Conclusions: The thermographic change on abdomen was $0.51{\pm}0.71^{\circ}C$. Temperature of abdomen after acupuncture was higher than before acupuncture with high validity(p<0.01). And the thermographic changes on the back of both hands were right hand $0.54{\pm}1.17^{\circ}C$, left hand $0.56{\pm}1.28^{\circ}C$. Temperature on the back of both hands after acupuncture was higher than before acupuncture, but the difference between them had little validity(p<0.01). In addition, we found that it doesn't necessarily follow that the thermographic changes on abdomen and back of both hands after acupuncture on sakwan points happen concurrently.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2001

Purpose : This study is to see the existence of the meridian and the meridian point through their response to the Young-Su-Bo-Sa. Objective and Methods : For this purpose, with acupuncture stimulation with Young-Su-Bo-Sa on the Hapkok of left hand and an the non-meridian point, and using the Digital infrared thermal image(D.I.T.I), We observed and analyzed the thermal changes of Hapkok, Samgan, non-meridian point(NA), Yonghyang, Soryo, Chonchu, Shingwol. Results and Conclusions : To sum up, We could understand Young-Su-Bo-Sa stimulation through the study findings that the acupuncture stimulation on the meridian point caused significant thermal changes of the associated meridian and meridian point, and Young-Su-Bo stimulation given in the direction of the meridian passage caused increases in the thermal changes of the associated meridian point, while Young-Su-Sa stimulation caused decreases in the thermal changes of the associated meridian point.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the patient with peripheral neuropathy, who improved by Oriental medical treatment. Methods : The patient was managed by acupuncture, moxibustion, physical treatment and herbal medicine. We checked digital infrared thermographic imaging(D.I.T.I.), electromyography(E.M.G.), nerve conduction velocity(N.C.V.), deep tendon reflex(D.T.R.), sensory recover area and range of motion(R.O.M.) of knee & ankle. Results : After 6 week treatment, clinical sign(the movement and sense of leg) of improvement was appeared. Also E.M.G., N.C.V., D.T.R. and D.I.T.I. was recovered to nearly normal range. Conclusion : The results suggest that combination of acupunture, moxibustion and herbal medicine is good method for treatment of peripheral neuropathy. But further studies may be required to concretely prove the effectiveness of this methods for treating peripheral neuropathy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-102
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• 2000

Depression is a psychiatric syndrom consisting of dejected mood, psychomotor retardation, insomnia and weight loss. sometimes associated with irrational quilt feeling. And it is also similiar to Hwa-byung(火病) symptom in oriental medicine. But it is difficult to diagnose with objective method. Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.) is one of diagnotic method that measure the changes of skin temperature in body.Specially we checked the skin temperature on depressed patients by using D.I.T.I. and compared with Bell's palsy patients and normal persons group.The results are as follows:Average body temperature of the depressed patient group is 36.62${\cdot}$0.58$^{\circ}C$ , Bell's palsy patients group is 36.59${\cdot}$0.34$^{\circ}C$ and that of the control group is 36.71${\cdot}$0.43$^{\circ}C$ . So there is no meaningful difference. The depressed patient group has higher temperature than the Bell's palsy patients group and control group by $\delta$T〉1.0$^{\circ}C$ at the following acupuncture points in these body parts - upper and lower, left and right, anterior and posterior. When acupuncture points temperature was compared superior and inferior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4 (Myung-moon) and also in the Bell's palsy patients group and control group.When acupuncture points temperature was compared left and right part of the body. ddpressed patient group have no meaningful difference and also in the Bell's palsy patients group and control group.When acupuncture points temperature was compared in the anterior and posterior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the Gv-4(Myung-moon) and also in the bell's palsy patients group and control group.From this study. we think that D.I.T.I. could be used to diagnose objectively on the depressed patients and useful to another psychoneurogenic diagnosis in oriental medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.240-246
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effects of Korean medical treatment with Hominis Placenta Pharmacopunture(HPP) on cold hypersensitivity of hands. Methods : A 46-year-old female patient whose chief complaint was cold hypersensitivity of hands was treated with Placenta Pharmacopunture at LI4 and LI10, ten times for a month. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were added depending on the symptoms. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(D.I.T.I) was taken and Visual Analog Scale(VAS) was examined before and after each treatment. Results : After the treatments, the symptoms were improved. Conclusions : DITI and VAS showed that the patient's cold hypersensitivity of hands was improved after Korean medical treatment with Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 1997

Shoulder hand syndrome is characterized by pain, vasomotor instability, and tenderness, mainly in the distal upper extremity. The pathophysiologic mechanism of this syndrome is not yet proved. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of thermographic imaging on shoulder hand syndrome after stroke for early diagnosis and its clinical pattern analysis including acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy. This study was performed from June to September in 1996 on 46 stroke patients who were admitted at Oriental hospital of Kyung Hee Medical Center. The study group were 23 patients with shoulder hand syndrome. The control group were 23 patients without shoulder hand syndrome. Skin temperatures on the both upper extremities were measured by Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.) before the study and 3 weeks later again. The results were as follows; 1. The shoulder hand syndrome group were significantly more restricted in shoulder passive range of motion than the control group. 2. The shoulder hand syndrome group showed significant temperature difference of both dorsal hands. 3. The electroacupunture therapy group were significantly more improved on the temperature difference of both dorsal hands than acupuncture therapy group in 3 weeks later. 4. Both posterior arms showed the biggest temperature difference from 11 to 30 days in shoulder hand syndrome group. 5. The lesser passive ROM(range of motion) of shoulder group showed significantly increased temperature difference of both hands. The above results show that measurement of shoulder passive range of motion and D.I.T.I. is a useful method for early diagnosis on shoulder hand syndrome and its clinical pattern analysis including evaluation of acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy. Continuous study will be needed for more clinical application and evaluation on shoulder hand syndrome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.134-144
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• 2003

Objective : This study designed to find out the effects of deep acupuncture in cerebrovascular hemiplegia. Methods : This study was performed on 30 patients with cerebrovascular hemiplegia to observe difference in temperature of skin surface between general acupuncture and deep acupuncture at Hapkok using digital infrared thermographic imaging(D.I.T.I.) Results : 1. Temperature of paralytic side is sigficantly higer $0.39{\pm}0.78^{\circ}C$ than that of contralateral side. 2. Thermal difference(${\Delta}T$) of paralytic side-contralateral side decreased $0.08{\pm}0.53^{\circ}C$ after general acupuncture, but there is no significant. $0.20{\pm}0.50^{\circ}C$ after deep acupuncture decreased significantly. So deep acupuncture is more effective than general acupuncture. 3. Thermal difference of paralytic side-paralytic side and contralateral side-contralateral side decreased significantly after acupuncture, and thermal difference of deep acupuncture on paralytic side-paralytic side decreased $0.42{\pm}1.07^{\circ}C$ more than that of general acupuncture. So deep acupuncture is more effective than general acupuncture. Conclusions: This study showed that deep acupuncture is more effective than general acupuncture In cerebrovascular hemiplegia, and further study is needed on clinical trials.