• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 2003

Experimental studies were done to research the dinical effects of Juglandis Semen aqua-acupuncture and acupuncture(BL 13) on the anti-allergic response. anaphylaxis provoked by the compound 48/80, delayed type hypersensitivity response to picryl chloride and SASC and inflammation response to egg albumin. The following results have been obtained: Juglandis Semen aqua-acupuncture and acupuncture(BL13) group were increased the survival rate in compound48/80 induced systemic anaphylactic reaction. Picryl chloride induced contact dermatitis and delayed type hypersensitivity in SRBC challenged mouse were significantly decreased in Juglandis Semen aqua-acupuncture and acupuncture (BL13) group. Inflammation response - WBC, CRP and Nitric Oxide in egg albumin induced allergic rat were significantly decreased in Juglandis Semen aqua-acupuncture and acupuncture(BL13) group. According to the above results, Semen aqua-acupuncture and acupuncture(BL13) both depress the allergy reaction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze acupuncture treatment methods and acupoints used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or obstructive sleep apnea-hypoapnea syndrome (OSAHS). The data were retrieved from January 2010 to May 2022 from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database. The search terms included "adult," "obstructive sleep apnea," "obstructive sleep apnea hypoapnea syndrome," "acupuncture," and "electro-acupuncture." Clinical trials for acupuncture treatment of OSA or OSAHS were included in this review (4 non-randomized controlled studies, 1 was a case report, and 10 randomized controlled studies). For OSA and OSAHS treatment, the acupoints that were most frequently used included REN23, LU7, ST40, EX9, LI11, and DU20. Compared with the control or Western treatment group, the treatment outcome measures of participants in the acupuncture treatment group significantly improved. In some studies, participants in the acupuncture group did not have side effects and the treatment was cost-effective. The data analyzed in this review suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for OSA or OSAHS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2024

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease causing significant pain and dysfunction. This case report presents the use of electromagnetic acupuncture utilizing a Whata 153 device generating a magnetic field to enhance acupuncture stimulation for the treatment of KOA. A 69-year-old female diagnosed with KOA experienced a reduction in pain (numerical rating scale score from 7 to 4), improved gait, and decreased stiffness and swelling after daily electromagnetic acupuncture treatments during hospitalization. In addition, the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scoreimproved from 20 to 14, and the patient rated her overall improvement as "significantly improved" on the patient's global impression of change scale. Although these findings suggest potential benefits of electromagnetic acupuncture for KOA, the case report design limits its generalizability. More controlled trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of electromagnetic acupuncture as a treatment of KOA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2014

Objectives : Acupuncture manipulation, a kind of sophisticated hand movements, has been considered a fundamental skill for acupuncture practice. In this study, we aimed to develop acupuncture manipulation education system(AMES) using visual feedback of acupuncture manipulation. We also investigated whether or not acupuncture practice-$na{\ddot{i}}ve$ students could enhance their acupuncture manipulation skills after AMES training. Methods : Using AMES and motion sensor, we visualized a time-series motion template(intended motion) and participant's own motion(actual motion) manipulating an acupuncture needle. Ten students were trained with complex lifting/thrusting techniques for 8 training trials. We compared the motion pattern error of the students between the first and the last trials. Results : In our pilot experiment, half of the participants showed significantly improved manipulation skills in complex lifting/thrusting techniques after training with AMES which is developed in this study, while the other half of the participants did not show significant improvements. Conclusions : The AMES could be useful in acupuncture-manipulation training for students. Our findings suggest that novice can improve sophisticated hand movement for acupuncture manipulation with sensorimotor learning using visual feedback.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.169-185
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find the effects of Sa-am liver tonifying and sedating acupuncture on radial pulse. Methods : Sixty healthy people were divided into a liver tonifying acupuncture(LTA) group, liver sedating acupuncture(LSA) group, and control group. The LTA group and LSA group received acupuncture for 20 minutes with a supine position. The Control group took a rest without receiving acupuncture. Radial pulse was measured by three dimensional pulse imaging system(DMP-3000) at four different time points (before, right after, 30 minutes after, and 60 minutes after acupuncture). We compared the three groups and figure out determined the parameters which significantly changed after acupuncture treatment. Results : 1. Pulse period, T1/T, T4/T, (T-T4)/T, T4/(T-T4), T5/T significantly changed after acupuncture. 2. H4, pulse area, systolic pulse area, diastolic pulse area, radial augmentation index(RAI), and pulse power volume / min significantly changed after acupuncture. 3. Frequency of Fourier components, ratio of frequencies of Fourier components, magnitude of Fourier components, and ratio of magnitudes of Fourier components significantly changed after acupuncture. Conclusions : LTA and LSA have an effect on the radial pulse parameters. Further studies on radial pulse change using Sa-Am acupuncture are needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2006

Objectives: Although Korean Acupuncture (KA) in Korean Medicine (KM) shares its origins with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it has made its own contribution to the field of acupuncture and general medicine. This study reviews characteristics of KA. Methods: Representative theories of KA were reviewed in light of a constitutionally individualized and practically integrated approach. Individualized approach in KA is based on constitutional energy traits recognized in Saam, Taegeuk, and Eight Constitution acupuncture theories. New practically integrated therapeutic modalities, such as herbal, and bee venom acupunctures, have also been developed in KA. Results: As a form of natural medicine, KA along with KM put emphasis on the vitality and self-correcting mechanism of an individual, which led to the refinement of constitutional approach. KA along with KM theories features a summarized understanding and practical application of integrated therapeutics, which produced creative development of new modalities. Conclusions: KA is expected to make significant contributions to the individualized and practical medicine, based on basic research and clinical trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2019

A patient with central post-stroke pain was treated for 4 weeks with scalp acupuncture and traditional Korean medicine (following a cerebral infarction in 2013). The patient presented at Chungju hospital in January 2019 with left side weakness and tingling, numbness in the left hemisphere, chronic pain and dysarthria. Initially, herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacupunture, indirect moxibustion, and physiotherapy were administered together with Western medicine, with no improvement in the patient's condition. On Day 5, scalp electroacupuncture (MS1, MS5, MS10, MS11) was introduced. The numbness feeling in the patient's head resolved, and the pain in his upper body decreased. Grip force difference between the left and right hand improved from 3 kg to 0-0.5 kg. Sleep disturbance was resolved after 4 weeks treatment, and his average numeric rating scale score for pain improved from an admission score of 10, to a discharge score of 5. The patient could walk unaided after treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the medical dispute cases in Acupuncture and Moxibustion treatment, and present the guidelines of treatment to prevent medical disputes. Methods: Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society medical dispute cases from January 2013 to September 2018 were collected and analyzed. Results: There were 80 cases, which included acupuncture treatment (54 cases), cupping treatment (7 cases), local infection / inflammation (17 cases), and neurological symptoms (13 cases). Analysis of the correlation between types of medical accidents and the treatment methods, showed that local infection and inflammation (12 cases) were the most reported in acupuncture treatment. Conclusion: This study was performed to analyze the current status of medical disputes in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, and provide basic data for guidelines to prevent them. Further study preparing for clinical guidelines to prevent medical disputes in specific departments are warranted in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2005

Background : Over the last thirty years, majority of researches on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture have been explanatory (or experimental) randomized controlled trial. The benefits of acupuncture in clinical trials are still controversial and most studies concluded that further control studies were required. Standardized combinations of acupuncture points for all the experimental subjects in various past studies have been criticized because such treatments do not reflect current routine clinical treatment. Objective : This paper aims to review pragmatic clinical trials on the effect of acupuncture treatment and to develop the ideal clinical research methodology of acupuncture study. Method : Clinical studies of acupuncture relevant with pragmatic or individualized trials were searched mainly in Pubmed and Science direct databases. All articles were fully reviewed by researchers, and data were evaluated by usage of a standardized form. Results & Suggestion : Pragmatic acupuncture researches were tried for various symptoms (eg. low back pain, hypertension, depression during pregnancy, sleep quality in HIV disease, chronic poststroke leg spasticity, headache, etc). Individualized acupuncture treatments based on oriental disease pattern diagnosis reflexes practical treatments which is more effective than unified and fixed acupuncture treatments without any theoretical basis of oriental medical philosophy. Conclusion : To overcome the controversies and limitations of past explanatory acupuncture trials, more individualized and tailored acupuncture trials with the theoretical basis of oriental medical diagnosis is highly recommended. Also clear definition and categorization of pattern identification should be established for further active clinical researches and applications of acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the recent research trends of evidence based medicine, especially human randomized controlled trials on acupuncture. Methods : The articles were collected by retrieving the database of Pubmed and Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society. The retrieving period was from October 2003 to September 2008, and the search term was 'acupuncture'. The articles were classified according to their publication journals, countries, publication years, targeted diseases, types of acupuncture and types of control. Results : In total, 558 articles in Pubmed and 35 articles in Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society were searched. The number of articles on acupuncture research has increased with higher rate since 2000, but the Qualitative development has not achieved the same amplitude. Studies in Korea were insufficient both in Qualitative and Quantitative aspects. In countries, China had the most papers, and in targeted diseases, pain diseases were most dominant. In the types of acupuncture, classical acupuncture, and in the types of control, conventional western treatment showed the highest frequency. Conclusions: We need to do many-sided and more high Quality researches on acupuncture. For that, well-designed randornized trials are absolutely necessary.