• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2010

Objectives : Quality control of the needle tips and prevention of pollutions are important factor for safe and effective acupuncture treatment. Ear acupuncture needle is made by 3 companies in Korea, and used to treat for obesity or smoking in clinic frequently, but the Korean industrial Standard is proposed most recently. In spite of the importance, there has been little study about that. Moreover, there was no study about ear acupuncture needle. Methods : We investigated the current condition of needle shape and pollution about the tips and body of the ear acupuncture needle under the stereoscopic microscope. Samples are selected 100 pieces from 300 pieces randomly in each company. Results : The substandard needles are classified into four groups and counted 1. Normal condition (55.3%), 2. Scratch on the surface (14.0%), 3. Malformation of tips (19.3%), 4. Pollution of body (4.3%), 5. Multiple Substandard (7.0%). In the case of including type 2 as a standard needle, normal rate of A company was 81% when B was 76%, and C was 51%. Conclusion : The substandard ear acupuncture needles can induce local side effects such as needling pain or itching. Furthermore, it can disturb the proper effect of acupuncture treatment. We hope that this study can help to improvequality of ear acupuncture and reduce substandard rate for safe and effective ear acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.97-102
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• 2011

Meridian Research Center, Division of Standard Research, Keora Institute of Oriental Medicine Objectives : Ear acupuncture needle is used to treat smoking, drug abusing, alcoholism frequently over time stability of ear acupuncture needle is important factor for safe acupuncture treatment. In spite of the importance, there has been few study about the quality of disposable acupuncture needle tip - using scanning electron microscope (SEM) in 2002, 2003. Moreover, there was no study about ear acupuncture needle. Methods : The three ear acupuncture needle, made in China, Japan, Korea was chosen. We used Hank's solution at the 38$^{\circ}C$ as a phantom tissue liquid. Except for the control group, five groups of needles are soused one to five days. Surface corrosion was observed using the SEM compared with control group. Results : There was no particular corrosion in all groups of ear acupuncture needles compared with the control group. Conclusions : All of the ear acupunctures used in this study are stable in body fluids at least 5 days.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2016

This short review article presents a current overview of existing publications and scientific results regarding liquid (ear) acupuncture. The injection of liquids into defined acupuncture points of the ear is not a method commonly used in the Western world. The term liquid acupuncture has different definitions, which makes understanding each definition and differentiating one from the other difficult. General terms like pharmacopuncture, homeosiniatry, and liquid acupuncture, which all describe the method of injecting different kinds of drugs into a defined body acupuncture point, are used. This article presents the history of liquid acupuncture, as well as the current scientific state of the art, from the point of view of two European researchers. Some articles are discussed and a few practical examples are presented.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine clinical studies on the treatment of dysmenorrhea treatments and analyze the results to provide sufficient evidence to provide adequate evidence of the efficacy of the ear-acupuncture treatment on dysmenorrhea patients. Methods: The search for foreign papers used 'Pubmed', a research engine in the America National Library of Medicine. Used searching terms were 'dysmenorrhea' and 'menstrual pain' in all cases. And among these studies, we searched by using key word 'auricular acupuncture' or 'ear acupuncture' or 'auricular acupressure' or 'ear acupressure'. Results: Overall 53 studies, 7 studies were finally selected to this study. There was 1 controlled study, 3 clinical trials, and 3 randomized-control studies. About acupoints in study, the endocrine was used in all 7 papers. Internal genitals, shenmen, sympathesis, kidney, liver were used in 4 papers, central rim, hypo-cortex, uterus were used in 2 papers, central of cymba auriculae was used in 2 paper. In 4 papers, the effect of ear acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving menstrual pain. Moreover, we can see that ear acupuncture therapy was effective in reducing menstrual pain than in oriental herb medicine. Conclusions: As a result of the 7 papers, we found that patients with menstrual pain decreased after ear acupuncture therapy. However, there was little research and it was limited to achieving the results of the analysis. A vigorous clinical study should be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of ear acupuncture therapy and standardize treatment methods.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to find out whether placebo auricular acupuncture is able to be constituted as an appropriate control group for needle insertion to Korean. Methods : We performed a randomized controlled, single-blind study(n=48) comparing subjective evaluations of needles insertion and avoidance of needles insertion. Both ears were needled concurrently, one real acupuncture(needle insertion) and the other placebo acupuncture(avoidance of needle insertion with blunt tip). Subjects then completed a questionnaire rating the intensity of five sensations in each ear, and also attempted to identity which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. Results : As for the effects of real and placebo acupuncture on each item(Warmth, Fullness, Pain, Activity, Radiating), real acupuncture was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. In particular, the real acupuncture only in experienced acupuncture recipients was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. About the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture, 54.2 percent correctly identified which ear received real acupuncture and which ear received placebo acupuncture. However, the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture for naive and experienced acupuncture recipients was not significantly different. Conclusions : Most of the subjects(Korean) identified which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. We found that this placebo auricular acupuncture is not able to be applied to Korean, in particular for experienced acupuncture recipients. Further study is needed for new placebo auricular acupuncture or racial difference between American.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.67-77
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• 2011

Objectives : The survey was conducted to find out ear acupuncture usage of clinical traditional Korean medicine doctor and lay a foundation for the standards for its clinical application. Methods : An e-mail was sent to Korean medicine doctors whose email addresses are registered at the Association of Korea Oriental Medicine twice over two weeks. 280 completed questionnaires were used for the analysis. Results : 66.07% of respondents answered in use, whereas the answer that "less than 10 per 100 patient applied" was more than majority of 54.29%. The major field of treatment is addictive disorders such as smoking and the 80.11% patients got less than 3 days of treatment. Ear region was the most commonly treated area with 66.67%. Since the self removal frequency was high as 65.05% in compared to the case of visiting clinic. The rate of side effects was less than 10% (96.70%), and these side effects showed light symptoms such as "pain" (46.95%), itchiness (29.27%), flare (19.51%). The Acquired complements for improving ear acupuncture treatment was "the development of effective treatment manual" (28.57%) and "increasing insurance costs" (27.86%). Conclusions : Based on the survey, the vast majority of the TKM doctor used ear acupuncture but the frequency of use was low. We hope this study can be the basis for development of treatment manuals for various indications and safe treatment guidelines.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.27-41
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two other groups(Group A and B) which were treated with two other auricular acupuncture therapy to quit smoking. Methods : Seventy three high-school students were devided in two groups. Group A was treated with auricular acupuncture therapy by burying a needle in one side ear. Group B was not only treated with auricular acupuncture therapy by burying a needle in one side ear, but also treated with venesection on the other side ear. The effects of auricular acupuncture therapy to quit smoking were evaluated at two weeks and six months after the therapy. Results : Group A's score to quit smoking after the auricular acupuncture therapy was higher than Group B's score. Conclusions : Treating with auricular acupuncture therapy by burying a needle in one side ear and venesection on the other side, was effective neither on decreasing the amount of smoking nor on decreasing the desire to smoke compared with the only needle burying treatment.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2012

Objectives : The present study is to verify whether the deformation of ear acupuncture needle tips that are currently on the market is caused during the process of initial packaging. Methods : Ear acupuncture needles distributed from three different companies were collected to measure the size of the groove on the transparent plate which is used in for the intial packaging. Then the tolerance range for off-centered tips, which represent the range of the groove size that is safe from damaging the needle tip, was determined based on the vertical length measured from tip to handle. 200 ear acupuncture needles were dipped in alcohol and scanned to confirm the position of the needles. Stereo-microscope was used to observe the needle tips that were located outside the tolerance range. Results : The increased number of ear acupuncture needle tips placed outside the tolerance range were seen from in the order of C company, A company and B company. The increased deformation of the needle tips caused by initial packaging was observed in the order of A company, C company and B company. Conclusion : Only the ear acupuncture needles from B company showed the strong correlation between needle tip deformation and initial packaging. It has been observed that the deformation of the ear acupuncture needles is mainly due to manufacturing process, not the packaging process.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.125-134
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• 2004

Objective : The study was designed to evaluate the effects of treatment of Bell's palsy patients with posterior ear pain by the Sa-Am acupuncture. Methods : From December 5th 2003 to May 22th 2004, the clinical comparison studies were carried out 30 cases of Bell's palsy patients with posterior ear pain treated by Sa-am acupuncture Sojangjeonggyeok(Group 1) & General acupuncture(Group 2), who had been treated in Dept. of acupuncture and moxibustion, Oriental Medical Hospital, Dae-Jeon University. Results : The result obtained as follows; 1. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the degree of improvement by H-B grade(p>0.05). 2. Group 1 is more effective than Group 2 in the VAS score after 5, 10 days of each treatment about mastoid pain($p{\leq}0.05$). Conclusion : In this study, although Sa-am acupuncture Sojangjeonggyeok was effective treatment of the posterior ear pain, there was no significant difference between the Group 1 and Group 2 in the degree of improvement of facial palsy. So further research is needed continuously.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.187-193
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• 2007

Objectives : The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between electrical detection of ear acupuncture points and musculoskeletal pain. Methods : 18 adults who have musculoskeletal pain without trauma factorsparticipated in this study. They answered the questionnaire and their ear acupuncture points were examined with electrical detectors. We analyzed the relationship between electrical detection of ear acupuncture points and musculoskeletal pain with concordance rate and validity. Results : Total concordance rates of the head region was 68.00%(questionnaire) 32.08%(investigation), that of vertebral region was 67.86%, 59.38%, that of both upper limbs was 86.67%, 39.69%, and that of both lower limbs was 50.00%, 23.46%. The true positive rate was 0.704, the true negative rate was 0.492, the false positive rate was 0.508, and the false negative rate was 0.296 in the validity test. In the head, two concordance rates of the temporal and occipital regions were relatively higher than those of the parietal and frontal regions. In the vertebral region, two concordance rates of the cervical and lumbar regions were relatively higher than those of the thoracic and sacrum regions. In the upper limb, two concordance rates of the shoulder and shoulder joints were relatively higher than those of the others. In the lower limb, concordance rates of investigation were relatively low at all areas. The right lower limb was relatively higher than the left in concordance rates of the questionnaire. Conclusions : The results suggest that electrical detection of ear acupuncture points can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain.