• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2006

Objectives : To research the recent trends of study related to pain modulation of acupuncture. Methods : We searched the resent study related to pain modulation of acupuncture. Results & Conclusion : 1) Early studies demonstrated that the analgesic effects of acupuncture are mediated by opioid peptides in the periaqueductal gray. Recent evidences show that nitric oxide plays an important role in mediating the cardiovascular responses to acupuncture stimulation through gracile nucleus-thalamic pathway. 2) Recent evidences show that acupuncture stimulate gene expression related to pain. 3) By using functional magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography, recent study suggest that acupuncture has regionally specific, quantifiable effects on pain-relevant brain structures.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 2008

Objective : Acupuncture, one of the Oriental medical treatment techniques in East Asia, is growing in popularity all over the world. Based on bibliographical and clinical data, the depth of needling, i.e. superficial or deep needling, has been considered to be a variable as potential modifiers of needling effects, such as localization, manipulation of the needle, or elicitation of DeQi. The purpose of this review is to summarize clinical trials using minimal acupuncture and to evaluate its appropriateness as a control. Methods : A survey of computerized literature searches for randomized controlled trials using minimal acupuncture revealed that a total of 10 studies were published until April 2008. Results : Results obtained from clinical trials showed that acupuncture were more effective than minimal acupuncture in 3 out of 10 trials, while others were no more effective than control. However, minimal acupuncture might neither be a inert placebo nor be indiscriminable. Conclusion : Minimal acupuncture as 'placebo' controls seems misleading and scientifically unacceptable.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2005

Objectives : This survey was accomplished to find out how Korean medical doctors take acupuncture prescriptions for knee osteoarthritis in real clinical practice. Methods : The survey questions were developed by the consensus from 4 professors and 10 residents who major in acupuncture & moxibustion for developing clinical trial protocol on individualized acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The questionnaires were distributed via e-mail to 3,306 members of Korea Oriental Medical Association from March 15th to March 23rd in 2005.84 members completed answers, and the computerized data were analyzed by ISP statistical program. Results : 1. 68 out of 84 Korean medical doctors used pattern diagnosis. 2. 61 out of 84 Korean medical doctors used both local and remote points, 20 doctors remote points only, and 3 doctors local acupuncture points only. 3. In case of doctors who use remote acupuncture points only, the acupuncture prescription principle was Saam or five element acupuncture (66%), along the meridian pathway (14%), Eight constitutional acupuncture (11%), Taegeuk acupuncture (2%), and miscellaneous (18%). Conclusion : In our e-mail survey, Korean medical doctors who experienced more than 10 year practice answered that they use five element acupuncture or Saam acupuncture according to meridian pathway theory as the most common principle of their acupuncture treatment prescription.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.145-160
• /
• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to find out whether placebo auricular acupuncture is able to be constituted as an appropriate control group for needle insertion to Korean. Methods : We performed a randomized controlled, single-blind study(n=48) comparing subjective evaluations of needles insertion and avoidance of needles insertion. Both ears were needled concurrently, one real acupuncture(needle insertion) and the other placebo acupuncture(avoidance of needle insertion with blunt tip). Subjects then completed a questionnaire rating the intensity of five sensations in each ear, and also attempted to identity which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. Results : As for the effects of real and placebo acupuncture on each item(Warmth, Fullness, Pain, Activity, Radiating), real acupuncture was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. In particular, the real acupuncture only in experienced acupuncture recipients was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. About the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture, 54.2 percent correctly identified which ear received real acupuncture and which ear received placebo acupuncture. However, the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture for naive and experienced acupuncture recipients was not significantly different. Conclusions : Most of the subjects(Korean) identified which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. We found that this placebo auricular acupuncture is not able to be applied to Korean, in particular for experienced acupuncture recipients. Further study is needed for new placebo auricular acupuncture or racial difference between American.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.153-161
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to find out whether normal saline(NS) acupuncture is able to be constituted as an appropriate control group for Cervi Cornu Parvum herbal acupuncture(CC). Methods : NS and CC were injected into Quchi($LI_{11}$) of the subjects. The subjects completed a questionnaire rating the intensity of 21 kinds of acupuncture sensation(hurting, penetrating, sharp, aching, intense, spreading, radiating, tingling, pricking, stinging, pulling, heavy, dull, numb, electric, shocking, hot, burning, cool, pulsing, and throbbing) and side effects. We compared subjective evaluations of acupuncture sensation and side effects between two groups. Results : As for CC most of the acupuncture sensation items were not significantly different from NS especially in less acupuncture-experienced subjects(average 2, below 10 time experiences) rather than more acupuncture-experienced subjects(above 10 time experiences). Conclusions : We found that NS might be an appropriate placebo herbal acupuncture for CC in small amount of acupuncture-experienced subjects. Further study is needed for new placebo herbal acupuncture for CC in more acupuncture-experienced subjects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this report is to inform readers of the important aspects of about acupuncture and the process of Hwangjenaegyeong Yongchu. Methods : We researched the word 'acupuncture' through Hwangjenaegyeong Youngchu. We formed three categories according to the meanings of the key aspects of acupuncture in each sentence. Results : In Hwangjenaegyeong Youngchu, the meanings of the key aspects of acupuncture (刺鍼之要) are follows : 1. The key aspect of acupuncture(刺鍼之要) is to control Gi & Sin(調氣治神). 2. Before administering acupuncture, a doctor must know Meridian, acu-points, contraindication of nature, Bo-sa acupuncture(補瀉), Deug Gi(得氣), the role of the acupuncture needle(官鍼), the number of the needle, Gi & condition of patients, and pulse diagnosis. 3. For acupuncture, there are several things to be aware of : contraindication of acupuncture, deleteriousness of acupuncture, acu-points, and Bo-sa acupuncture(補瀉).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treating low back pain patients with Foot acupuncture. Methods : Clinical study was conducted to 40 patients who were treated in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusion, Woosuk University Hospital from March 1 to December 31, 2010. Subject were randomly divided into two groups. In one group(test group), patients were treated with both acupuncture and Foot acupuncture. And in the other group(control group), patients were treated with acupuncture. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were checked. 12 patients were excluded and we investigated 14 patients of control group and 14 patients of test group entirely. Results : 1. In both two groups, VAS and ODI of patients were decreased significantly. 2. ODI of patients in test group were decreased more significantly than ODI of patients in control group. Conclusions : We suggest that cotreatment of acupuncture and foot acupuncture on low back pain patients can be recommended as a useful therapy.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.65-77
• /
• 2007

Objective: To review and summarize the existing evidence on acupuncture&moxibustion treatment for cancer and cancer related symptoms. Methods : We searched Pubmed and jurnal of Korean acupuncture &moxibustion. Results: We selected 17 articles. effectivness of cancer acupuncture &moxibustion treatment. 14 articles reported acupuncture &moxibustion to be effective in subjective symptoms and quality of life. Other three articles reported that acupuncture&moxibustion treatment was moderately effective but insignificant compared to sham acupuncture&moxibustion treatment. Conclusion: For the study on acupuncture&moxibustion treatments in cancer it is necessary that we conduct research on the various natures of acupuncture&moxibustion. More clinical data would be needed to prove the effects of acupuncture&moxibustion treatment in cancer.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.71-90
• /
• 2017

Objectives : This study was performed to review articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis. Methods : On-line databases including Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS were searched to identify articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis (DQST). Several duplicated articles and those not relevant to this topic were excluded, as were review articles and commentaries. Results : Fifty-one studies were identified, which included 28 clinical case studies with 1,227 patients and 23 randomized controlled trials with 2,040 patients. In these studies, acupuncture, acupotomy, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and laser acupuncture were used as DQST interventions. Although DQST is a common disease seen in clinical practice, only four of the 51 studies we identified in our search were published in Korean academic journals, all of which used pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Although the results of the studies to date provide evidence that acupuncture and moxibustion are effective treatments for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis, the absence of a standard, objective evaluation tool, and a lack of reporting on the negative side-effects associated with treatment remain important factors that should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2018

Background: This was a retrospective review of published articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of peroneal nerve palsy. Methods: On-line database searches were carried out using; Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS to find articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for peroneal nerve palsy. Duplicate articles and studies that were not relevant to the topic were excluded, along with review articles and commentaries. Results: 20 studies were selected, 18 clinical case studies (47 patients) and 2 randomized controlled trials (154 patients). Intervention treatments included acupuncture, moxibustion, bee-venom (BV), pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture and acupotomy. Surprisingly, although peroneal nerve palsy is not a very rare disease, only 2 studies out of 20 carried out a randomized controlled trial. Conclusion: Although studies to date report the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in peroneal nerve palsy patients, the absence of objective evaluation and the absence in the reporting of side-effects remains an issue.