• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.126-136
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• 2007

Objectives : Bell's palsy in an acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis that usually affects only one side of the face. The seventh cranial nerve carries predominantly motor fibers, but also supplies some autonomic innervation, sensation to park of the ear, and taste to the anterior two thirds of the tongue. The aim of this study is to provide evidence of differences between facial skin temperature of the paralyzed side and normal side in Bell's palsy patients. Methods : the author studied 68 patients with Bell's palsy whose facial nerve function had been documented by the House-Brackmann grading system. We measured skin temperature of the forehead, zygoma, lower lip, temple and lower jaw area of the paralyzed side and those of the normal side. Results : there were significant facial skin temperature differences between the forehead area of paralyzed side and that of normal side of GrII(P<0.05) and III(P<0.05). The result also showed that the facial skin temperature difference according to the aflection period vanished when air temperature was calibrated (F=1.700, P=0.178). Conclusions : Thermography is a useful diagnostic tool in Bell's palsy if the air temperature is low enough to cool the facial skin temperature and the forehead area is evaluated as the sampling zone.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2022

Background: This retrospective study aimed to determine whether there were correlations between the number and type of accompanying symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy, and surface electromyography (SEMG) and clinical assessment scales to help diagnosis. Methods: There were 30, cases of peripheral facial nerve palsy at Visit 1 to the Korean Medicine Hospital, Dong-eui University, 22 cases at Visit 2 and 10 cases at Visit 3. The study period was from July 19, 2021 to November 31, 2021. Symptoms were evaluated three times (with two-week intervals which began 7 days from onset) using SEMG, clinical assessment scales and accompanying symptoms. In this study, the House-Brackmann grading system (HBGS), and the Yanagihara's unweighted grading system (Y-score) clinical assessment scales were used. The Pearson or Spearman correlation was used for statistical analysis. Results: On Visit 1, the number of accompanying symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy had no significant correlation with other measures. On Visits 1-3, the HBGS score had a significant negative correlation with the Y-score. On Visit 2, most of the mean values measured had significant correlations with each other although not between SEMG-Z and SEMG-O that Z means a zygomaticus muscle and O means a orbicularis oris muscle. On Visit 3, the number of accompanying symptoms significantly correlated with the clinical assessment scales. The HBGS score, Y-score, and SEMG measurements (except SEMG-Z) had significant correlations with each other. A significant positive correlation between SEMG-Z and SEMG-T was noted. Conclusion: We predict accompanying symptoms can be used to diagnose the peripheral facial nerve palsy including both clinical assessment scales and SEMG measurements at 2-5 weeks after onset.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2008

Purpose: Bell's palsy is a peripheral facial palsy of unknown etiology. During pregnancy, there is an increased incidence of Bell's palsy. Due to the nature of pregnancy, it is unlikely to treat Bell's palsy during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to report on 3 patients with Bell's palsy during pregnancy, who improved by oriental medical treatment. Methods: The patients who had Bell's palsy during pregnancy were treated with oriental medical treatment such as herbal medication and acupuncture therapy. House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system was used to estimate the efficacy of these treatments. Results: After the oriental medical treatment, the clinical symptoms of Bell's palsy during pregnancy were improved. Conclusion: This case study shows that the oriental medical therapy is effective in treating Bell's palsy during pregnancy. Further systematic studies and specific guidelines of Bell's palsy during pregnancy would be of much value.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of traditional Korean medicine therapy on Bell’s palsy during early puerperium. Methods : The patient who had Bell’s palsy during early puerperium were treated with traditional Korean medicine such as Gunggwijohyeol-eum, Saenghwa-tang, Gunggwijohyeol-eumhabBulsu-san and Sasang constitution medicine. The progresses of symptoms were evaluated by House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system and Numeric Rating System (NRS). Results : After treatment, the patient’s symptoms of Bell’s palsy and puerperium were improved. Conclusions : This case study shows that the postpartum care in traditional Korean medicine therapy and Sasang constitution medicine is effective for the patient who had Bell’s palsy during early puerperium.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.193-205
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to report the effect of oriental treatment on Bell's palsy during pregnancy with Sasang Constitutional method. Methods: 4 patients who had Bell's palsy during pregnancy were treated with Sasang constitutional prescriptions. After treatments we evaluated the effects by House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system. Results: As a result, the clinical symptoms of Bell's palsy during pregnancy were improved. Conclusions: This case studies show that Sasang constitutional method can be effectively used on Bell's palsy during pregnancy. Especially the diagnostic results by using Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine (DSOM) revealed that some of patients were in a very weak condition. We could apply these results to choose prescription and get good therapeutic effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of two patients diagnosed with eight and a half syndrome after combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Methods : We treated the patients with combination therapy of oriental and western medicine such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication, antithrombotic agents and steroid therapy. Changes of peripheral facial paralysis were evaluated using House-Brackmann facial grading system and the degree of dizziness, tenderness and pain of upper abdomen were assessed using numerous rating scale. Changes in motor grade of upper and lower extremities were evaluated using medical research council scale. Results : We have recently experienced two cases of eight and a half syndrome - a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of one and a half syndrome, a rare ophthalmoparetic syndrome characterized by a conjugate horizontal gaze palsy in one direction and an internuclear ophthalmoplegia in the other, and cranial nerve VII palsy. The one and a half syndrome was caused by acute cerebral infarction. Two patients in this report were improved through combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Conclusions : We report the clinical course and treatment methods of eight and a half syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to assess the effectiveness of oriental medical therapy (OM) on acute Bell's palsy, comparing its outcome with that of oriental-western medical therapy (OWM). Methods : Subjects were enrolled atKyung Hee Medical Center from March 2007 to December 2007. We prescribed Igigeopung-san and acupuncture therapy to both the OM and OWM groups, and prednisolone only to the OWM group. Effectiveness was assessed by the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (HBGS) and Yanagihara's unweighted grading system (YUGS) every week. Results : There were 31 patients in the OM group and 34 in the OWM group. About grading system scores and weekly score gaps, no significant differences were revealed between the two groups, but statistical significant difference was detected at recovery time. After 2 weeks of treatment, the OM group's HBGS score showed significant difference from baseline score, but the OWM group showed it after 1 week. After 3 weeks of medication, pain was reduced in 22% of OM group patients, but 50% in the OWM group (p=0.028). We made the same comparison study for patients treated within 4 days from onset, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. 3 cases of adverse effect of hyperglycemia were found in the OWM group, which could be due to hyperglycemic side-effect of prednisolone. Conclusion : This work could help us to understand the effectiveness of OM compared to OWM on acute Bell's palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.19-28
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of oriental medical treatment and oriental-western medical treatment on Bell's palsy. Methods : From 1st June, 2006 to 31th August, 2007, 30 Bell's palsy patients who visited the Facial palsy center at East-West Neo Medical Center within 7days of onset and treated for more than 4weeks were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with oriental medical therapy(Acupuncture, Herb, Physical therapy) and Group B with both oriental and western medical therapy(Acupuncture, Herb, Physical therapy, Administration of prednisone). We evaluated the treatment effect of each group with the House-Brackmann Gross Grading System before treatment, after 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks and 4weeks of treatment. Results : After 1week of treatment, Group A showed better performance compared with Group B. After 3weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, Group B showed better performance than Group A. Conclusions : These results proved that combination treatment of oriental and western medicine was more effective than just oriental medical treatment in long term treatment of Bell's palsy. But we discovered that there were no significant differences between the two groups.