• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2020

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of high frequency therapy applied to the region branching to the external carotid artery for peripheral facial paralysis sequelae. A patient suffering with facial edema due to facial paralysis sequelae had been treated with acupuncture, high frequency therapy on the branch area to the external carotid artery for 7 weeks. The evaluation of clinical outcome was done by degree of swelling by measuring the distance of the face and skin temperature of face through digital infrared thermographic imaging. After treatment, the patient's degree of swelling and the temperature difference between the affected side and normal side was decreased. In addition, the temperature was changed in the entire facial area as well as the treatment point of high frequency therapy. This result shows that acupuncture combined with high frequency therapy at the region branching to the external carotid artery could be an effective way to improve facial blood flow, although further clinical studies will be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of acupuncture treatment on a patient suffering from CRPS Type 1. Methods : A 30-year-old female patient suffering from CRPS Type 1 with symptoms of intense burning pain, joint stiffness, restricted mobility, rapid hair and nail growth, allodynia, hyperalgesia and coldness of the right leg was treated with acupuncture on six acupuncture points on the leg from 13 July to 18 July of 2011. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated by Numerical Rating Scale(NRS), Digital Infrared Thermographic Image(DITI). Results : After 6 days of treatment, NRS score decreased significantly and the DITI results showed moderate improvement in temperature. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture may be an effective in reducing the symptoms of CRPS. Further study is needed to evaluate the significancy of this report.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.92-116
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study were to researched a Korean medicine doctors' recognition about coldness of hands and feet, and developing of korean medicine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for coldness of hands and feet. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 399 Korean medicine doctors belonging to the Association of Korean Medicine by e-mail and analyzed the answers. Results: 1. 86.86% of the respondents agreed about the necessity of CPG for coldness of hands and feet. 2. 84.2% of respondents wanted coding of Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) on coldness of hands and feet. 3. To diagnosis a coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a Subjective symptoms (98.5%), Infrared thermographic imaging device (DITI) (26.32%) Heart rate variablity test (HRV) (17.04%), Thermometer (9.77%), Cold stress test (2.76%) 4. Causing of coldness of hands and feet, the respondents considered a constitution or heredity (84.71%), stress (73.66%), lack of exercise (64.91%), irregular eating habits (51.63%), Cold meals (32.83%), depression (31.33%), etc. 5. Treating coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a herbal medicine (66.85%), acupuncture (70.7%) Pharmacopuncture (23.85%) and moxibustion (60.08%) for $10.91{\pm}8.03week$. Conclusions: We researched a Korean Medicine doctors' recognition of CPG, clinical diagnosis, treatment on a coldness of hands and feet, and policy they required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.99-113
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• 2019

Objectives: This study is designed to identify the responses of autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function which are induced by acupuncture at abdominal anterior cutaneous nerve. Methods: This study is one group before and after pilot study. Subjects were treated once, after having been fasting six hours. They had before tests, labeling points for acupuncture, acupuncture, and after tests in order. The points of acupuncture were motor points of rectus abdominis where the abdominal anterior cutaneous nerve came to the skin from abdominal wall. Before and after tests were consisted of three things: Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.), Heart Rate Variability(HRV), and Recording of bowel sounds. Results: There were significant differences on the skin temperature of upper body and the frequency of bowel sounds(p<0.001, p<0.001). The HRV parameters and volume of bowel sounds had no significant differences(p>0.05, p>0.05). Conclusion: Even though no significant differences in HRV parameters, the significant differences of skin temperature of upper body and frequency of bowel sounds could mean acupuncture at abdominal anterior cutaneous nerve could affect the autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function. However, this study had no group to compare with. Future randomized project should address this issue.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.931-938
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• 2021

Objective: This study addressed a case of central post-stroke pain described as right arm painful with coldness and left lateral medullary infarction. Methods: A patient, 71 years old female with medullary infarction, was treated with a Korean herbal medication (BackJun-pill). The improvement of symptoms was evaluated using the Numeral Rating Scale and reports of coldness and pain in the affected areas. We also measured the body temperature difference between the left and right arms using digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI). Results: After six weeks of treatment with Korean medicine, the patient's pain and sensation of coldness decreased. Conclusions: This clinical case study suggests that BackJun-pill may be effective for alleviating pain and coldness due to central post-stroke pain.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.223-235
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate thermal effect and medication compliance of red ginseng extract. Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical study was performed. Twenty four healthy, married women aged 30-45 years with FSFI score below 25 were randomly divided into two groups; red ginseng group(N=12) and placebo group(N=12). During the first 6-week period (Study1), each group was dosed with red ginseng or placebo twice a day. Before starting the second 6-week period(Study2), a crossover design was chosen with a 2-week break(Washout period). Interchanging two groups after Washout period, red ginseng and placebo were dosed to each group. The efficacy of thermal effect was measured with subjective warm sensation scale and lower abdomen temperature by Digital Infrared Thermographic imaging(DITI) before and after each 6-week period. A medication compliance was assessed after each 6-week period and the correlation medication compliance between Sasang Constitution and subjective warm sensation was analyzed. Results: Overall 23 participants completed the study. In subjective warm sensation scale, after taking placebo, all participants exhibited an improving trend, but there was no significant difference. In lower abdomen temperature by DITI, statistically significant objective thermal effect of red ginseng was also not shown. A medication compliance was higher in Yin constitution(Taeumin, Soeumin), and showed an upward trend with decreasing subjective warm sensation. But no statistically significant difference was exhibited. Conclusion: Statistically significant thermal effect of red ginseng was not shown in this study. We anticipate if a long-term clinical trial is practiced, significant thermal effect of red ginseng will be shown.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2013

This study focused on analysis condition and application method of the passive infrared thermography according to the direction and time to nondestructively detect the blistering zone of stone cultural heritage. As a result, the passive thermographic images showed different temperature characteristics by time because it sensitively reacts to air temperature, insolation and sunshine direction. In particular, the insolation and sunshine direction, which are periodically changed from 6:00 to 17:00, irregularly made surface temperature. In addition, surface temperature differences were brought on fresh zones and blistering zones except specific time since blistering causes erratic thermal transfer. As a result of examining the detection characteristics of blistering by time, the blistering was well detected between 9:00 and 10:00 when there was rapid increase in air temperature and insolation in all direction except the north. However, this study isn't considered effects of four seasons because it is carried out in autumn, and the passive thermography has difficulty to analyze the quantitative area of blistering zone. Therefore, an additional study for synthetic consideration of the passive thermography analysis about four seasons and quantitative modeling of blistering zone using the active thermography are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.77-91
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• 2001

Backgrounds and purpose : The acupuncture of oriental medicine is very important in treatments. Until now it was been researched according to the meridian and qi xue(氣血) phenomenon of oriental medicine's theory. Acupuncture will show more objective index to observe the meridian. And then, I studied the effects on the thermal change of the Taeyon($L_9$) and Chungbu($L_1$) following acupuncture stimulation. Objective and Methods : This study was performed from December 1999 to February 2000 on 60 healthy students. The objective was divided into two groups, those are the control group A(N=30) that no acupuncture stimulation, the group B(N=30) of acupuncture stimulation on Taeyon($L_9$). First, in the control group A, I took a picture Taeyon($L_9$) Chungbu($L_1$) Taenung($P_7$) Chondol($CV_{22}$) area for 30 men without any stimulation with the Digital Infrared Thermograph Imaging(D.I.T.l.) and did same area, 10min after. Second, in the acupuncture stimulation group B, we took a picture Taeyon($L_9$) Chungbu($L_1$) Taenung($P_7$) Chondol($CV_{22}$) area for 30 men without any stimulation with the Digital Infrared Th - ermograph Imaging(D.I.T.I.), and then stimulate acupuncture on Taeyon($L_9$) and took a picture same area, 10min after. Results : 1. In healthy men, average skin temperture on Taeyon($L_9$) area was lower than Chungbu($L_1$) area about $3.0^{\circ}C$, in the Lt. Taeyon($L_9$) and Chungbu($L_1$) area was lower than Rt. Taeyon($L_9$) and Chungbu($L_1$) area. 2. In the acupuncture stimulation group B, the skin temperature of both side Taeyon($L_9$) area showed the increase or decrease significantly. But both Taenung($P_7$) area did not showed significantly. 3. In the acupuncture stimulation group B, the skin temperature of both side Chungbu($L_1$) area showed the increase or decrease significantly. But both Chondol($CV_{22}$) area did not showed significantly. 4. The thermal changes of the area which is a meridian point in the Lung Meridian of the acupuncture stimulation group on Taeyon($L_9$) different from other Meridian with significantly change. Conclusion : The acupuncture stimulation on Taeyon($L_9$) affected the thermal change of the area which is a meridian point, in the Lung Meridian. And then I could relate these results with the existence of the meridian and meridian point. Thus, continuous thermographic study will be needed for the existence of the meridian and meridian point.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.22-31
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• 2001

Objective : This study is designed to evaluate the correlation between the data of DITI (Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging) and the clinical symptoms in the patients with low back pain. Methods : Among the outpatients with back pain who visited to Department of Acupunture & Moxibustion, Tae gu Oriental Hopital of Kyung San University from January 2000 to August, we selected 115 cases that examined DITI. We evaluated the correlation between the data of DITI examination and the clinical symptoms (Distribution of Sex and Age, Duration of Disease, Main Sign, Grade of Clinical Symptoms, Diagnosis according to Symptoms(辨證),) in the patients with low back pain. Results & Conclusion : 1. The thermal changes in terms of the duration of disease : The acutest period has the highest thermal change. Also, the longer the duration of disease was, the higher the termal change was. It increased in the order of the acutest period, the less acute period, and the the chronical period. 2. Thermal changes due to the main symptom : The degree of thermal change was as follows (from the highest to the lowest): first, back and knee pain, second, back and leg pain, third, back and buttock pain, fourth, numbness of leg, and fifth, back and dorsum pain. 3. Thermal changes in terms of the grade of clinical symptoms : The more servious the symptoms were, the higher the thermal change was. It was increased in the order of Gr 1, Gr 2, Gr 3, and Gr 4. 4. Thermal changes depdning on symptoms diagnosis : Chwaseom(挫閃) has the highest temperature, $0.87{\pm}0.49^{\circ}C$. 5. Thermal changes before and after treatment : Before treatment, the average thermal change was $0.83^{\circ}C$ but after treatment, it was decreased to $0.38^{\circ}C$. For the above symptoms, if DITI is used, the diagnosis is easier based on the medical history of the patient who has back pain, and the degree of pain. However, if thermal change is soly used for diagnosis, it will be hard to determine the nature of sickness. Therefore, it should be folllowed by other supplementary examination.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2008

Purpose: During Postpartum period many women complain multiple pain, cold hypersensitivity, hot flush, sweating and so on. We call the postpartum disease as San Hu Pung. We studied characters of DITI Characters of women suffering from Postpartum disease. Methods: We studied 55 patients visiting OOhospital from February 2006 to November 2007. The subjects were categorized in two groups, symptom group(37) and no symptom group(18). We measured the temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4), upper and lower limb(PC8, LU4, LR3, ST32) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53). We studied the difference of DITI between two groups by Student T-test using SPSS for windows (version 12.0). Results: The general characteristics such as age, days of postpartum, primiparity, cesarean section, partum season, breast-feeding of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53) of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of Lt. PC8 and both LR3 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. The difference between Lt. PC8 and LU4, both LR3 and ST32 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. Conclusion: The results suggest that women suffering from Postpartum disease shows high temperature on hand and foot. It seems that postpartum disease patients tend to have blood deficiency. DITI can be useful to diagnose San Hu Pung. The more studies to diagnose San Hu Pung would be needed.