• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.3 s.18
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• pp.49-58
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• 2006

Although the usage of acupuncture for pain has increased in recent years, the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (AA) remain unclear. The lack of suitable experimental animal models for persistent pain, which show clear AA, has been the major stumbling block in the investigation of the physiological mechanisms of AA. In the present study, we test AA in two knee arthritis models induced by injection of CFA or carrageenan as persistent pain models. After induction of arthritis, the rat subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied to an acupuncture point each on the contralateral forelimb for 30 minutes under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next several hours. EA produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the foot lasting for at least 2 hours when applied to LR2 in CFA model, and applied to ST36 in carrageenan model, but both points did not produce any significant effects in each other model. Further experiments showed that intraperitoneal pretreatment of naltrexone, a non-selective opioid antagonist, did not reduced the EA-induced improvement of stepping force in both of two models. These data suggest that EA produce analgesic effect in knee arthritic pain and the analgesic effect is specific to the acupuncture point depending on painful conditions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.105-115
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• 2010

목적 : 침은 다양한 질환의 치료에 보편적으로 쓰이고 있으며 고혈압, 당뇨, 정신질환 등을 포함한 스트레스성 질환에도 활용되고 있다. 결박 스트레스는 스트레스 호르몬(코르티코스테론, 멜라토닌)의 혈장 농도를 크게 증가시키는 간단하고 효과적인 스트레스 요인이다. 본 연구는 결박 스트레스를 시행한 백서의 스트레스 호르몬의 혈중 농도에 대한 전기침의 효과를 조사하였다. 방법 : 결박 그룹은 2시간의 결박 스트레스를 받았으며 결박 스트레스 및 고주파수 전침그룹과 결박 스트레스 및 저주파수 전침그룹은 결박 스트레스와 고주파수 전침, 또는 결박 스트레스와 저주파수 전침을 동시에 각각 시행하였다. 급성 스트레스 유발 시에는 결박 스트레스를 1차례, 만성 스트레스 유발 시에는 7차례 시행하였다. 전기침 자극에는 우측 족삼리($ST_{36}$)를 사용하였다. 결박 스트레스 및 전기침으로 유도된 코르티코스테론과 멜라토닌의 농도를 측정하기 위해서 결박 스트레스 및 전기침 자극이 시작된 30분, 60분, 90분, 120분 후에 백서를 단두하여 혈액 샘플을 채취하였다. 결과 : 급성 스트레스 유발 시에는 고주파수 전침그룹의 코르티코스테론 혈장 농도가 증가하였고 멜라토닌 농도의 시간적 패턴을 변화시켰으나 저주파수 전침그룹에서는 유의한 변화가 없었다. 만성 스트레스 유발 시에는 고주파수 전침그룹의 혈장 코르티코스테론과 멜라토닌 농도가 유의하게 감소되었으나 저주파수 전침그룹에서는 변화가 없었다. 결론 : 이러한 결과는 전침이 결박 스트레스로 유도된 스트레스 호르몬의 혈장 농도 및 시간적 분비패턴을 변화시키는 효과가 있으나 스트레스 호르몬 반응을 변화시키는 데 있어서 주파수에 따른 유의한 차이가 있다는 것을 의미한다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.56-69
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the current research trend on the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis. Methods : Through nine search engines, articles were collected, which had involved the use of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis. Data were extracted from the selected articles regarding the year, country, type of pancreatitis, study design, evaluation variable, intervention, point for acupuncture and moxibustion, and effectiveness of treatment. Results : Total 56 articles were reviewed. The number of studies increased gradually every ten years. Fifty-one studies(91%) were conducted in China. Most of clinical studies and animal experimentations reported on acute pancreatitis. Thirty-nine studies were randomized controlled trials(RCTs), but most of them were assessed as uncertain in the risk of bias evaluation. The degree of overall improvement(79%) was used mainly as evaluation variable of clinical studies. In animal experimentations, the examination of pancreatitis tissue(77%) and blood test(77%) were used the most. Most of studies were conducted with the acupuncture, one with moxibustion. Among them, electroacupuncture was the most common intervention of treatment group. ST36 was the most frequently used acupuncture point in the included studies. Effective rate increased and serum amylase, clinical symptoms, recovery time of gastrointestinal function decreased statistically significantly in the treatment group of clinical studies. Conclusions : The result of this study could be used for the future practice and research about the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for pancreatitis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study is to present evidence by analyzing the research trends in acupuncture treatment in the last 10 years for thromboangiitis obliterans. Methods Randomized controlled trials about acupuncture on thromboangiitis obliterans were searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), ScienceON, Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) from January 1, 2011 to November 13, 2021. Only randomized controlled trials were selected and we assessed the risk of bias (RoB) according to the revised Cochrane RoB2 criteria. Results A total of 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected in this review and all were conducted in China. A total of 326 participants were in 5 RCTs. SP10, ST36, GB34 was the most commonly used treatment point. There were four types of acupuncture used: manual acupuncture, embedding acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture. The most commonly used indicator for evaluation was the total efficacy rate, and all five studies were significantly higher. Conclusions All selected studies showed the group treated with acupuncture treatments on thromboangiitis obliterans were statistically more effective than the control group. However, the number of studies is too small and the interpretation of the results is limited due to the inclusion of subjective evaluation. So more objective and systematic studies should be conducted continuously.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.567-581
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to summarize current clinical study trends and results regarding acupuncture treatments for hiccups. Methods: Studies published from 2012 to 2022 were searched on PubMed and domestic databases (OASIS, scienceON, RISS, KISS, KCI) using the keywords "hiccup^*", "singultus", "singultation", "hiccupping", "intractable hiccup^*", "acupuncture", "auricular acupuncture", "scalp acupuncture", "acupuncture point", "acupoint", "needle", "dry needle", "딸꾹질", and "침." The studies were analyzed according to the year, language, study design, characteristics of patients, and acupuncture intervention. Results: In total, 12 studies were selected: 8 case series, 2 case-control studies, and 2 case reports. Manual acupuncture was administered with more than 15 minutes of retention time, most frequently using ST36 and CV12. The acupuncture treatment was effective for hiccup symptoms in all studies, as assessed by clinical symptoms, such as duration time, number of episodes, and recurrence. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment can be an effective and safe method for treating hiccups and can be used in clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-201
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• 2022

This review aimed to analyze Korean medicine treatment (KMT) methods used for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in studies from January 1, 2010, to December 21, 2021. Five online databases (KISS, SCIENCEON, DBpia, RISS, KMbase) were searched for GBS-related studies. A total of 14 case reports were selected. Various treatment methods for GBS such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, and cupping have been reported, and some included Western medication. Herbal medicine and acupuncture were the most frequently used treatment methods. The most common prescription for GBS was Shipjeondaebotang Gami, the most common herb used was Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizome, and the most common acupoints were ST36, LI11, TE5, and LI4. In moxibustion treatment for GBS, CV4 was commonly used, and in cupping treatment the low back and back-shu points and were mostly used. Further studies on Korean medicine treatment of GBS are necessary for standardization of treatment.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to help clinical studies for treating Functional Dyspepsia with acupuncture. We inspected tendency of studies of acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia and analyzed the assessing instrument for it by scrutinizing Pubmed recent publications. Materials and Methods: We inspected 8 theses and scrutinized their objectives, periods, participants, materials and methods, the instrument of assessment for the studies, and criteria and symptom score for questionaire, results and JADAD score. Results: 1. Most studies were published by oriental doctors except one which was published by an American doctor. More and more studies are being published in America and written in English recently. So it is considered that western doctors think that the acupuncture treatment is useful as unorthodox medicine for functional dyspepsia. 2. Among the 4 clinical studies, 2 studies were RCT and 1 study was not RCT and 1 study with vagueness. All 4 clinical studies were not double-blinded because they were about comparison between acupuncture treatment and medicine. 3. ST36, PC6, CV12, BL21 were chiefly used, and auricular point, ST40, SP6 were also used. Manual acupuncture were used in 2 studies, and low frequency pulse and electroacupuncture were used in other studies respectively. 4. 4 clinical studies used 0~3 points symptom score as the instrument of assessment. Additional assessments were on gastric emptying time, EGG and plasma level of motilin. All thesis were not verified of validity and reliability. 5. Among the 4 reviewed thesis, 2 theses were about acupuncture as one of the various treatment of functional dyspepsia, and the other 2 theses were about efficacy of acupuncture treatment. And the result generally showed effectivity of acupuncture treatment. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia is considered useful as in unorthodox medicine by western doctors, and it is necessary to provide objective instrument for assessing acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-156
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• 2009

Objectives : To research the trend of studies related to rheumatoid arthritis and to indicate the hereafter direction for its study in oriental medicine and its treatment. Methods : I reviewed 75 domestic oriental medical journals, and 50 medical journals about rheumatoid arthritis published after 2004, and comparative analysis was made. And these theses were classified by college, year, field of study, subject. Results : The following are the results of this study. 1. Classified by oriental medical college, Dae-jeon college published the most theses, followed by Dong-guk, Kyung-hee, Se-myung and Dong-shin college. Han-yang college published the most theses among college of medicine. 2. Classified by type of thesis, experimental theses(70 pieces, 94%) showed higher rate than that of clinical theses(4 pieces, 5%) in oriental medical studies. However, in medical studies, clinical theses(34 pieces, 68%) showed higher rate than that of experimental theses(15 pieces, 30%). 3. Analyzed by subject, the most dealt subject in oriental medicine was herb medication, followed by herbal acupuncture, single herb, electroacupuncture, sasang & gene, acupuncture & moxibustion, complex accordingly. The most dealt subject in medical clinical journals was standards of diagnosis & prognosis, followed by medication, gene analysis, pathogenesis, clinical pattern, operative treatment and complication accordingly. 4. In theses related to herb medication, most of the subject was to evaluate anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of herb medication with geopungseup, jibitong, hwalhyeolgeoer function. The tendency of experimental methods was focusing on understanding anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory mechanisms through molecular biologic methods by analyzing cytokine and gene. 5. Most of theses related to herbal acupuncture were experimental studies verifying ant-inflammatory and immnoregulatory effects through methods observing change of cytokine and immunoregulatory factors. Regarding remedies for herbal acupuncture, Ulmus davidiana Planch was most preferred, followed by bee venom. 6. In theses related to single herb, Boik-yak was most prefered, followed by Geopungseup-yak and Hwalhyeolgeoer-yak. Regarding methods of research, there were tendency of shifting from methods verifying travail, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects through a test of behavior, morphometry, serology and temperature measurement of the rectum and the skin into verifying anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects through observing inflammatory cytokine in the joint and cells of spleen. 7. In theses related to electroacupuncture, ST36 and adjuvant were most preferred as acupoints and induced factor. The tendency of experimental methods was turning from verifying mechanism of travail effect to analyzing inflammation and pain inducing factors. 8. Diverse medical clinical studies were published. Subjects such as diagnosis and prognosis, medication, gene analysis, clinical pattern, operational treatment, complication and pathogenesis were published. Especially, studies about standards of early diagnosis, and research on possible parallel medications with methotrexate were actively inquired. 9. Most of theses related to medical experimental studies was about mediators and receptors related to inflammatory induction and osteoclasia mechanism. Also, it was presented blockage of them can be effective on rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusions : The oriental medicine studies have merit in its diversity of treatment, but it clinical studies is lacking compared to experimental studies. Also, more diversity of subjects is necessary. Therefore, complementary measures are needed. Hereafter, oriental medicine research about rheumatoid arthritis needs more clinical research verifying the effectiveness and safety in clinical field. Also, we require oriental medical standard of diagnosis and researches on pathological generation which would make early checkup and prognosis possible.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study to investigate the effect of TENS and electroacupuncture (EA) on injured muscle recovery and to compare the difference between TENS and EA. Methods: 18 S-D rats were produced surgically for crush injury on Extensor digitorum. TENS and EA stimulation were applied on acu-point that Zusanli (ST36) and Taijun (Liv3) of each hindlimb as approximitely 2Hz for 15 minutes. The rats were sacrificed on 1, 3, 7 post operation day, and the spinal level was immunohistochmical stainied. Results: The expression of NT-3 on the spinal level related with injured muscle between Ex-1 group and Ex-2, there is no significant difference. But between Con and Ex-1/Ex-2, there was little difference. In the same indivudual, we confirmed more NT-3 expression on the same side of injured muscle than on another side of gray matter in posterior horn. Conclusion: There is no difference, which is more effective to recover of injured muscle, between EA and TENS on injured muscle.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2012

Objectives : Since acupuncture was accepted as an useful therapy for the drug addiction, a lot of studies about acupuncture have been carried out. This study was performed to review the articles about morphine addiction which used acupuncture as a treatment and to interpret the use of acupoints from the viewpoint of Six-meridian (Yuk Gyeong, three yin and three yang) theory. Methods : The authors searched 255 articles in PubMed with the key word of "morphine, acupuncture" and 629 articles in KISS (Koreanstudies Information Service System) with the key word of "morphine". The articles written in English only were included. The articles related with morphine (abuse, dependence, sensitization, addiction, intake, withdrawal sign, withdrawal syndrome, reinstatement, craving) only were included. The articles which used manual- or electro-acupuncture only were included and auricular acupuncture was excluded. Both of clinical and experimental study were reivewed. Results : The most frequently used acupoint was ST36-SP6 (electroacupuncture), and the second was HT7. LI4 was the third, and BL23 and PC6 were also used. Conclusions : The acupoints used in the morphine study seem to influence the brain through diverse mechanisms and it is thought that control of the reaction against stress appears to be related with these mechanisms.