• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.284-293
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• 2017

Thread embedding therapy is used increasingly for various disease including neck pain. However, the evidence of thread embedding therapy on neck pain and the assessment of their methodology are still limited. This study aimed to investigate the clinical research methodology using thread embedding therapy on neck pain. Thread embedding therapy is used increasingly for various disease including neck pain. However, the evidence of thread embedding therapy on neck pain and the assessment of their methodology are still limited. This study aimed to investigate the clinical research methodology using thread embedding therapy on neck pain. Total 31 studies were included in analysis. Thread embedding therapy usually was used once a week(32.3%), once per 10days(29.0%), once per two weeks (25.8%). The most common concurrent treatment used with thread embedding therapy was Chinese medicine. Among acupuncture points, EX-B2 (61.3%) was most commonly used, followed by GV14(45.2%), GB20(29.0%), GB21(22.6%). For control group, acupuncture were most commonly used(58.1%). All studies reported that the effect of thread embedding therapy was more effective compared to control group. and 11 studies reported side effects. Only 13 studies(41.9%) reported the appropriate randomization method, and the mean Jadad score of included studies was 1.52. Previous clinical trials included in this study showed the effect of thread embedding therapy for neck pain. However, the quality of the studies was not high. Further rigorous clinical trials are need to assess the effect of thread embedding therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2021

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative spinal condition that can have unpredictable improvement and worsening of symptoms which include low back pain, radiating pain, claudication, and degenerative lumbar scoliosis affecting quality of life. In this study, thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was used as a conservative treatment for LSS in combination with complex Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicines, and physical therapy). The treatment was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, walking distance and duration, and inclination of radiological lumbar scoliosis according to antalgic posture. TEA was performed 27 times between June 8, 2020, and March 16, 2021. The patient showed improvement in numerical rating scale score from 7 to 2, pain-free walking distance from 10 m to 900 m, and scoliosis inclination following treatment. The findings of this study suggest that TEA may be helpful in the treatment of LSS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Objectives : Polyarteritis nodosa is a progressive disease of connective tissue that is characterized by nodules along arteries; nodules may block the artery and result in inadequate circulation to the particular area. This report is intended to estimate the efficacy using oriental complex treatment on a patient with Polyarteritis nodosa. Materials and Methods : From 19th March, 2012 to 12th May, 2012, One male inpatient diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa was treated with general oriental medicine therapy : needle-embedding therapy ; acupuncture ; pharmacopuncture ; acupotomy therapy and herbal medication. VAS(visual analogue scale) was used for evaluation of both leg pain. Other subjective symptoms including night sweat, tinnitus, upper heat were evaluated by percentage comparing the symtoms before and after treatment. Results : The patient showed a certain degree of improvement in both leg pain and other subjective symtoms. Conclusions : Oriental treatments such as needle-Embedding therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, pharmacopuncture therapy, acupotomy therapy and herbal medication can be effective for controlling pain and other accompanied symtoms due to polyarteritis nodosa.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of Embedding therapy on frozen shoulder. Methods: 57 patients with frozen shoulder were treated with Embedding therapy. It was performed once a day, once per a week. 15~20 Embedding thread were used in one time Embedding therapy. The total number of Embedding therapy was 10. Trapezius muscle including the Gyeonjeong ($GB_{21}$), Deltoid muscle including the Nosu ($SI_{10}$), Supraspinatus muscle including the Byeongpung ($SI_{12}$), Infraspinatus muscle including the Cheonjong ($SI_{11}$) and gokwon($SI_{13}$), Lavator scapular muscle including the Gyeonjunsu ($SI_{15}$), Rhomboides major muscle including the Pungmun ($BL_{12}$), Rhomboides minor muscle including the Daejeo ($BL_{11}$) and Teres major muscle including the Gyeonjeong ($SI_{19}$). VAS scale, SPADI scale and ROM were compared between before and after treatment to evaluate the effect of Embedding therapy. Results: VAS scale decreased significantly (p=0.003). SPADI Scale decreased significantly (pain (p=0.006), disability(p=0.005)). ROM angle range increased significantly(flexion (p=0.005), extension(p=0.005), abduction(p=0.003), adduction(p=0.003), external rotation (p=0.005), internalrotation(p=0.005)). 29.8% patients were very much satisfied, 62.0% patients were satisfied and 8.0% patients were answered so so about Embedding therapy. Conclusion: The Embedding therapy could be effective to improve symptoms of frozen shoulder.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.202-211
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• 2019

Objectives : This study is to report 4 cases of the facial palsy sequelae synkinesis treated with Thread-Embedding Acupuncture(TEA) and Jung-An acupuncture(JAA). Methods : 4 patients received Korean medical treatment consists of TEA and JAA. Results : After treatment, relief of facial synkinesis and enhancement of facial symmetry were observed in all patients. Conclusions : This study suggests that TEA and JAA may be effective on facial palsy sequelae synkinesis. Therefore it seems that additional reporting about relevant studies is likely to be required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2021

Background: Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a frequently presented condition/disease in Korean medical institutions. In this study, the economics of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial comparing TEA with sham TEA (STEA). Methods: This economic evaluation was analyzed from a limited social perspective, and the per-protocol set was from a basic analysis perspective. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on the change in visual analog scale score, and the cost-utility analysis was based on the quality-adjusted life years. The final results were expressed as the average cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and furthermore sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the robustness of the results observed. Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the decrease in 100 mm visual analog scale score was 8.5 mm greater in the TEA group compared with the STEA group (p > 0.05). The cost-utility analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the quality-adjusted life years of TEA was 0.0026 years higher than STEA (p > 0.05). These results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In treating LHIVD, TEA appeared to have cost-effectiveness and cost-utility compared with STEA. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cost, effectiveness, and utility indicators. Therefore, results must be interpreted prudently; this study was the 1^st to conduct an economic evaluation of TEA for LHIVD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2022

In this study, the evidence of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) in treating cervical radiculopathy in randomized controlled trials was investigated. We searched 16 databases up to August 22, 2022. Of the 2,644 studies retrieved, 22 randomized controlled trials (2,483 participants) were selected. Quality assessments were performed using Cochrane's risk-of-bias tool and RevMan 5.4 software. Outcome measures in the included studies typically showed TEA had a significant therapeutic effect compared with simple acupuncture and other remedies, and TEA was better than sham TEA. Catgut and polydioxanone had no difference in effectiveness, however, catgut was considered to be less safe. TEA was shown to be more therapeutic when inserted deeper into the skin. Ultrasound guided TEA was more effective and safer than conventional TEA, and using a flat blade needle was better than conventional needles for TEA. No serious adverse events were reported from using TEA, and only a few mild side effects were observed. However, the limited number and heterogeneity of the included studies, together with the unclear methodological quality, indicate that higher-quality studies need to be conducted to determine the effectiveness and safety of TEA for cervical radiculopathy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.99-116
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Needle-Embedding Therapy on dementia patients. Methods : We recruited 3 dementia patients who have been experiencing memory disorder and orientation disorder. The patients had been evaluated with Mini-Mental State Examination-K (MMSE-K), Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The patients were treated with herbal medication (Sunghyangjunggi-san) and acupuncture. After 15 days, the patients were added to Needle-Embedding Therapy. We measured MMSE-K, GDS and CDR for every 15 days. The effects of additional Needle-Embedding Therapy were compared with the effects of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Results : After Needle-Embedding Therapy was added, Patients' memory and orientation have been improved and the score of MMSE-K ascended. The grade of GDS and CDR were maintained or decreased. Conclusions : This study suggests that Needle-Embedding Therapy is significantly effective on Dementia patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this report was to review the clinical trials of the catgut embedding for obesity treatment. Methods: We searched the clinical trial papers with key words of obesity and catgut embedding via searching Pubmed, Scopus and KISS etc. Results: We reviewed 8 searched articles, 7 articles were conducted in China and only 1 article was published in Korea. Most of Chinese articles used acupuncture as a control group and revealed the equality or superiority of catgut embedding in body weight loss. The only Korean article, which was uncontrolled, implanted catgut in localized fat area, it had changes partially in fat thick, body size. Conclusions: The acupoint catgut embedding has the efficacy of body weight loss, but to confirm the efficacy of localized fat loss, more randomized controlled trials are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the status of adverse events (AEs) in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions/diseases using thread embedding acupuncture (TEA). Five electronic databases were searched to retrieve data on clinical studies published in the last 5 years (2016 to 2021). Of the 151 studies retrieved, 22 studies analyzed AEs and were selected for this review. There were no AEs reported in 6 studies (27.3%); of the remaining 16 studies, 4 studies (18.2%) reported AEs that were not related to TEA. The most common AEs reported in the Chinese studies were redness of skin with/without swelling and tingling sensation, and in the Korean studies they were stiffness, a foreign body sensation, and bruising. The percentage of patients with AE experience was 5.1% in the Chinese studies and 19.9% in the Korean studies. The discrepancies between the findings in the Chinese and Korean studies may be attribute to differences in the diameter of needles, thread materials, TEA treatment procedure, and evaluation methods for AEs. Most of the reported AEs were of a mild status and did not last for a long time. However, further research on the clinical course after TEA treatment is needed.