• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a clinical study of using acupuncture for chronic pain in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) in the outpatient setting. Methods: A prospective case-series attempting to recruit 20 participants was performed from February 11, 2016, to December 31, 2016. We provided Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided one 1 to three 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. The primary clinical outcome was the average pain intensity as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included back-specific dysfunction (Oswestry disability index), quality of life (quality of life questionnaire-26), patient-reported improvement, use of other healthcare resources, and adverse events at 6 weeks. Use of healthcare resources and adverse events were additionally followed-up at 12 weeks by telephone. Results: Of 33 patients screened, a total of 7 were enrolled in the study. Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided 1 to 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. We observed reduced pain intensity at 6 weeks in all participants. The change in the quality of life and back-specific dysfunction was inconsistent among participants. Mild, temporary adverse events were observed in three patients. Conclusion: In our clinical setting, it was not feasible to recruit sufficient participants and to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for chronic pain after osteoporotic thoracolumbar VCFs under a year. Strategies to improve recruitment and to identify barriers to participation are required for future clinical trials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1 s.37
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• pp.106-112
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture on the jaw opening reflex evoked by tooth pulp stimulation. Rats were anesthetized with thiopental sodium given intraperitoneally in an initial dose of 80mg/kg. Maintenance doses of 5mg/kg thiopental sodium were given through a cannular in the femoral vein as required to maintain light anesthesia. To apply noxious stimuli, a pair of enameled wires were inserted into the tooth pulp of the lower incisor. The effects of conditioning stimuli were estimated as an indicator of the degree of suppression of the digastric muscle electromyogram(dEMG) in the jaw opening reflex. Bee Venom Herb- Acupuncture(0.2% solution 0.1ml/rat) was injected to Hapgok(LI4) loci. In addition, Normal Saline (0.1ml/rat) was injected to Hapgok loci so as to compare the degree of suppression elicited from Bee-Venom. By administration of Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture, the amplitude of dEMG was maximally suppressed to $67.5{\pm}3.38%$ ipsilaterally, 73.33{\pm}8.00%$ contralaterally. Generally, the dEMG activities caused by electrical stimulation were gradually suppressed during the stimulation and maximal suppressive effect showed at 15min after its onset. However the dEMG activities by Be Venom Herb-Acupuncture were immediately suppressed after its onset and the suppressive effect continued for a long time compared to electrical stimulation. In conclusion, Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture may have a different mechanism of analgesia from that of electro-acupuncture and contribute to the modulation of pain analgesia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.234-246
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• 2002

Background: Herpes Zoster Oticus, which can be caused from infection by Varicella-zoster virus, is known to be expected poor prognosis, since it has higher possibility of complete injury of facial nerve. Conservative therapy of the Western medicine is effective on the treatment for the herpes zoster and pain. However, its effectiveness on the facial verve palsy has not been proven. Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the treatment of oriental medicine and an analyze prognosis of the facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus. Methods : This retrospctive study was conducted to observe the clinical manifestation of Herpes Zoster Oticus, and the result of electrical diagnostic study on the patients with the facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus who were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion in Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital. Results : 1. According to the six clinical types of Herpes Zoster Oticus, the patients in this study can be grouped as 7 cases of the type II, 2 cases of the type V, and one case of the type IV and the type VI. 2. The shorter the period from onset to the first visit to a hospital, the prognosis of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus was the better. 3. According to the follow up study, the H-B grades of all cases were improved. 4. According to the follow up study, the result of electrical diagnostic study was improved. Conclusions : We found in our study that the treatment of oriental medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and aroma therapy, helps the recovery of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus. The further clinical study about the more cases of facial nerve palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus and comparative study between the group of oriental medicine and that of western medicine are needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.29-35
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to compare acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(ALTENS) with conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(C-TENS) for crossover effect in healthy subjects. Forty subjects recieved ALTENS(20 persons), C-TENS(20 persons) to one upper extremity. Each technic was applied to the motor point of the wrist extensor muscle group for twenty-minutes. With the subject placed in supine the technics were applied at 80 Hz, 2-10 mA(ALTENS) and 10 Hz, 4-12 mA(C-TENS). Results revealed: (1) a significant difference between the pretreatment and posttreatment in each group(p<.05) (2) no significant difference between ALTENS and C-TENS(p>.05). In conclusion, there was no difference between ALTENS and C-TENS for crossover effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.251-257
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• 2003

Background and Purpose : We were to investigate whether simple and electric acupuncture can affect the colonic transit time in both normal persons and chronic constipation patients. Methods: Twenty one volunteers were divided into two groups; first, normal control group(N=12) who had normal defecation habits, second, chronic constipation group(N=13). Before acupuncture, colonic transit time was checked using radio-opaque markers. Then simple acupuncture was done at four acupoints(both ST36, LI4) and maintained for 15 minutes during 4 days. Electric acupuncture was done using same methods except for applying 2Hz electrical stimulation. Result : In the normal group, after simple acupuncture, each transit time in the total, right, left was not changed statistic significance compared to pre-acupuncture(P>0.05), but which of rectosigmoid colon shortened statistic significance(P<0.05). After Electric acupuncture, transit time of right colon was shortened(P<0.05), and extended(P>0.05) in rectosigmoid colon compared to pre-acupuncture and simple acupuncture. In constipation group, after simple acupuncture, only rectosigmoid colonic transit time shortened statistic significance compared to pre-acupuncture(P<0.05). After electric acupuncture, also the transit time of rectosigmoid colon was shortened statistic significance compared to pre-acupuncture(P<0.05), but not to simple acupuncture(P>0.05). Conclusion : In normal persons without constipation, acupuncture affect the colonic transit time differently to the methods of it. In chronic constipation group, simple and electric acupuncture only reduces the rectosigmoid colonic transit time statistically significant(P<0.05).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.300-311
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• 2021

Background: So far there is no confidence in the basics of acupoint/meridian phenomena, specifically in spatial and temporal electrical manifestations in the skin. Methods: Using the skin electrodynamic introscopy, the skin areas of 32 × 64 mm² were monitored for spectral electrical impedance landscape with spatial resolution of 1 mm, at 2 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies. The detailed baseline and 2D test-induced 2 kHz-impedance phase dynamics and the 4-parameter time plots of dozens of individual points in the St32-34 regions were examined in a healthy participant and a patient with mild gastritis. Non-thermal stimuli were used: (1) (for the sick subject), microwaves and ultraviolet radiation applied alternately from opposite directions of the meridian; and (2) (for the healthy one) microwaves to St17, and cathodic/anodic stimulation of the outermost St45, alternately. Results: In both cases, the following phenomena have been observed: emergence of in-phase and/or antiphase coherent structures, exceeding the acupoint conditional size of 1 cm; collective movement along the meridian; reversible with a reversed stimulus; counter-directional dynamics of both whole structures and adjacent points; local abnormalities in sensitivity and dynamics of the 1 MHz and 2 kHz parameters indicating existence of different waveguide paths. Conclusion: It is assumed that these findings necessitate reconsideration of some basic methodological issues regarding neurogenic/acupuncture points as spatial and temporal phenomena; this requires development of an appropriate approach for identifying the acuzones patterns. These findings may be used for developing new approaches to personalized/controlled therapy/treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.41-48
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to explore the passive multi-channel time series analysis method by measuring bio-potentials of acupuncture point and the peripheral region Methods : Bio-potential was measured at ST36 and the peripherical region of ST36 of 5 healthy volunteers at three times. The diagram of the potential changes over time were smoothed by moving average method and similarities of ST36 and the other points were calculated. Results : In the normal weight group, bio-potential similarity tended to decrease in proportion to the distance from the acupuncture point. In the obesity group, bio-potential similarity appeared in a very wide area. Bio-potential similarity had positive correlation with BMI value. Conclusions : The passive multi-channel time series analysis method showed the possibility be appropriate for the electrical characteristics study of meridians.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2011

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of needle electrode stimulation at various frequencies on change in wound healing in excision wound rats Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley adult male rats were assigned to one of four groups: control (n=6), acupuncture group (n=6), low rate (2 Hz) percutaneous electrical stimulation group, high rate (100 Hz) percutaneous electrical stimulation group (n=6). We analyzed morphological effects by measuring the area of the excision wound, the contraction rate, and chromatic red. A digital camera and an image analysis program were used to measure and analyze the wound area,which was also used for the contraction rate. Chromatic red was obtained by calculating red, green, and blue (RGB) values of the wound area. Results: The electro acupuncture stimulation groupsshowed significant healing effects compared to the control and acupuncture groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that various frequencies of percutaneous electrical stimulation have a therapeutic effect on wound healing.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 2016

Objectives: This study presents two cases of patients with post-stroke global aphasia who were treated with scalp acupuncture with electrical stimulation.Method: The two patients were treated by scalp acupuncture with electrical stimulation six times a week. The degree of aphasia was measured via the Korean version of the western aphasia battery (K-WAB).Results: After treatment, aphasia was improved in both cases (autism-spectrum quotient [AQ] scores increased from 13.7 to 37.1 and from 4.1 to 18.4 in the two patients).Conclusion: Based on the results of these two cases, scalp acupuncture could be effective in treating post-stroke global aphasia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2023

Very few studies have been reported on upper extremity replantation following traumatic amputation. This case study aimed to report the progress of a patient treated with complex Korean medicine for 1 year after elbow replantation. The patient mainly complained of forearm sensory loss, muscle weakness, and hand pain after undergoing upper limb amputation and emergency replantation. He was hospitalized for approximately 50 days and then received outpatient treatment for approximately 10 months, followed by electroacupuncture, moxibustion, Chuna, herbal medicine, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The muscle strength of the wrist joint improved to good (flexion) and fair (extension), and the forearm sensation was partially recovered approximately 10 months after the onset. To our knowledge, this is the first case report on replantation rehabilitation in Korean medicine, and it suggests that complex Korean medicine treatment might be beneficial for patients undergoing replantation after upper extremity amputation.