• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.131-144
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• 2007

Objectives : Although the cause of neuronal death of Parkinson's disease remains unclear, increasing evidence points to the role of inflammatory processes. And the hallmark of brain inflammation is the activation of microglia. This study was performed to prove the effect of acupuncture on inhibiting microglial activation. Methods : The rat models which were injected with 6-hydroxydopamine were treated with acupuncture once a day on LR3 (太衝) and GB34 (陽陵泉). To prove the effect of inhibiting microglial activation, we examined the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive neurons and CD11b immunohistochemistry in the substantia nigra. Results : There were 18% (third day), 32% (seventh day) loss of TH-positive cell bodies in the control group and 23% (third day), 26% (seventh day) in the acupuncture group, whereas 3% (third day), 10% (seventh day) in vehicle group. The difference of optical density in substantia nigra was evaluated by subtracting log inverse gray value of contralateral side from that of ipsilateral side. With regards to the result of CD11b immunohistochemistry, acupuncture group showed significantly inhibited microglial activation compared with control group (p<0.01) on the seventh day. Conclusions : Acupuncture showed the effect of inhibition of microglial activation in seventh day. However, the effect of protection of TH positive cell bodies was not shown. So we need longer investigation of the effect of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.117-141
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• 2001

From documentary comparative study on the chief virtues of the Back-Su(兪) points and the Front-Mo(募) points, the following results are obtained : 1. Contrast the Back-Su(兪) points with the Front-Mo(募) points, the needle-steadying depth of the Front-Mo(募) points is deeper than that of the Back-Su(兪) points. and Moxibustion dosage of the Front-Mo(募) points is more than that of the Back-Su(兪) points. 2. In the case of Kimun(LR14) and Kansu(BL18), Kergwol(CV12) and Shimsu(BL15), Chungwan(CV12) and Wisu(BL21), Kyungmun(GB25) and Shinsu(BL23), the Back-Su(兪) points can be chiefly used for the treatment of acute disease, external disease, exess disease and Jang(臟)-disease. contrary the Front-Mo(募) points can be chiefly used for the treatment of chronic disease, internal disease, deficiency disease and Bu(腑)-disease. 3. In the case of Kwangwon(CV4) and Sojangsu(BL27), Serkmoon(CV5) and Samchosu(BL22), Changmun(LR13) and Bisu(BL20), Chungbu(LV1) and Pesu(BL20), Chungguk(CV3) and Banggwangsu(BL28), the Front-Mo(募) points can be used for the treatment of unbalanced visceral funtion. contrary the Back-Su(兪) points can be used for not only the treatment of unbalanced visceral funtion but also the treatment of attached organs. 4. The Back-Su(兪) points can be used for the treatment of acute disease, external disease, exess disease, Jang(臟)-disease and attached organs-disease. contrary the Front-Mo(募) points can be chiefly used for the treatment of chronic disease, internal disease, deficiency disease, and Bu(腑)-disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.300-314
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• 2012

Objectives : This study is to observe the changes in the expression of neurotransmitters, such as NO, nNOS, and NE, upon the needle insertion to the sea points, which is one of the five transport points. Methods : Needles were inserted into rats, on both left and right sides of all sea points, including the LU5, PC3, HT3, LI11, TE10, SI8, SP9, LR8, KI10, ST36, GB34, and BL40, which are the sea points of five transport points for 12 meridian vessels. After insertion, needles were retained for five minutes. After the retention, blood was drawn via cardiac puncture, and tissues of each point near meridian vessels were extracted to examine the changes in the expression of NO, nNOS and NE. Results : In terms of the effect in NO production, there was a significant decrease only in the LU5 point, whereas there was a significant increase in the TE10 point alone. In terms of the expression of nNOS within tissues, none of the experimental groups showed significant changes based on the results of immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Regarding the formation of norepinephrine within tissues, the HT3, SP9, and KI10 point showed a significant decrease, while the PC3 and LR8 point showed a significant increase. Production of plasma norepinephrine was significantly increased at the TE10, SP9, LR8, GB34, and BL40 point. Conclusions : The effect of needles applied at the sea points of five transport points of 12 meridian vessels on the functions of NO, nNOS, and NE could be observed, and it is considered that the effect of needle stimulation on nervous system disorders could be studied through additional researches based on this one.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2007

목 적 : 전침 자극은 최근에 임상연구와 더불어 기초연구에서 자주 사용하는 방법으로 경락이론에 의거하여 신체에 분포되어 있는 경락상의 각종경혈부위에 인위적인 전기 자극을 통하여 질병을 치료, 예방 혹은 완화하는 방법이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 정상적인 쥐의 상태에서 일정한 전침 자극을 주었을 때, 심박변이도의 변화를 측정 하였다. 방 법 : 쥐의 정상적인 마취상태에서 태충혈에 4 Hz와 80 Hz의 5 V 크기로 10 mA 강도의 사각파 파형으로 자극을 주었으며 대조조로 비경혈 부위에 4 Hz의 동일한 파형으로 자극을 주어 심박 변이도의 변화정도를 측정하였다. 결 과 : 본 실험에서 RR Interval의 경우 태충혈 4 Hz 보다 80 Hz일때 RR Interval의 파형이 더 크게 나타났으며, PSD의 분석에서도 자극 전후를 비교하였을 때 $1{\sim}3$ Hz 사이에 높은 피크가 보였으며 4 Hz의 비경혈 부위에서는 큰 변화를 보이지 않았다. 결 론 : 이번 실험연구를 통하여 정상적인 쥐의 상태에서 일정한 전침 자극을 주었을 때, 심박 변이도 변화를 도출할 수 있었으며, 이번 실험을 통해 비수술적인 방법으로 치료효과와 심박 변이도를 측정할 수 있었고, 이를 통해 전침자극의 기전 연구에 있어 과학적 근거를 제시할 수 있다고 사료된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2005

The effects of acupuncture are complex and how it works is not entirely clear. Research suggests that the needling process, and other modalities used in acupuncture, may produce their complex effects on a wide variety of ways in the brain and the body. For example, it is theorized that stimulated nerve fibers transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain, thus activating parts of what is called the central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain then release certain hormones responsible for making us feel better overall and, more specifically, feel less pain. In fact, a study using images of the brain confirmed that acupuncture increases our pain threshold, which may explain its ability to produce long-term pain relief. Also, acupuncture may increase blood circulation and body temperature. It may also affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.49-63
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• 2021

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the trend in treating fracture with acupuncture and to evaluate the quality of case reports. Methods All case reports of fractures treated with acupuncture were extracted from four Korean web databases. We classified these studies by five fracture sites and investigated frequently used meridian and acupoint, outcome measurements, treatment period. And we assessed the quality of the case reports by the STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines. Results A total of 33 case reports were included. The outcome measurements were divided into six categories, and the outcome measurements used in more than three studies showed improvement in patient symptoms. The mainly used meridians for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (GB, LR, CV), back (BL, GB), upper limb (LI, TE), lower Limb (GB, ST, BL, SP). The most commonly used acupoints for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (Ashi points, GB24, GB25, GB26, LR13, LR14, CV16, CV17, CV18, CV19), back (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL51, BL52, BL60, GB34), upper limb (LI4, LI10, LI11, TE3), lower limb (GB34, GB40). According to the STRICTA guidelines, more than 54.54% of the reports were found to be 'not reported' or 'not sufficient' in the following categories: 'response sought', 'description of participating acupuncturist', and 'number of needle insertions per subject per session'. Conclusions The meridians and acupuncture points frequently used for acupuncture treatment of fractures were near the fracture site. Future clinical studies involving acupuncture must be reported in accordance with the STRICTA guidelines to improve transparency and uniformity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.36-44
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• 1999

Objectives: It has been well known that electroacupuncture(EA) has an analgesic effect and there is a pain control system in the central nervous system(CNS). The pain control system is composed of three major nuclei, which are periaqueductal gray(PAG), raphe nuclei, and the pain inhibitory complex located in the spinal cord. It has been suggested that the analgesic effect of EA might be the result of activation of the pain control system in the CNS. However, there may be a possibility that other nuclei are also involved in this pain modulation. Thus, we investigated whether the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei (PTIN) are involved in the pain modulation. Methods: To measure the level of pain, the jaw opening reflex (JOR) was used as a pain index. The magnitude of JOR is estimated by averaging the area of 10 successive responses. JOR was evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation with bipolar electrode carrying stimulus with the following parameters: intensity ranging from 420uA to 680ulA, 0.3ms duration of square pulse, and 0.5 Hz. Hapkog($LI_4$) and Taechung ($LR_3$) were the chosen acupoints. The Hapkog point was stimulated ipsilaterally at 5V, 3 Hz, for 15min in total, and the Taechung was stimulated at 2-3 V, 3 Hz, and for a total of 15 or 30 minutes. Different intensities of stimulation were given the PITN; one was given at $300{\mu}A$ and the other was at 500uA. The position stimulated in these nuclei by Paxinos Atlas was AP; from bregma $-4.0{\sim}-4.3mm,\;L; 0.5{\sim}1.8mm,\;D;\;4.8{\sim}6.3mm$. Results: The Hapkog point had a significant analgesic effect (P<0.05). However, the Taechung point had no effect. Both types of stimulation in the PITN did not reveal any analgesic effects. Conclusions: From these results, it was suggested that the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei are not involved in the modulation of pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.223-234
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study was to research depression with acupuncture & moxibustion treatment. Methods : We searched Chinese Medical Literature(published from 1985~2002) related to depression and acupuncture. Results : 1) PC6(內關), HT7(神門), ST36(足三里), GV20(百會), LR3(太衝), SP6(三陰交) are much used for the treatment depression. 2. LR3(太衝), CV17(전중), GB34(陽陵泉), ST40(豊隆), PC6(內關) are much used for the excess type of depression and PC6(內關), SP6(三陰交), HT7(神門), BL15(心兪) are much used for deficiency type of depression. 3. ST36(足三里), SP6(三稜交), HT7(神門), PC6(內關), HT5(通里), KI1(通泉) are used for the treatment depression in electroacupuncture therapy. BL15(心兪), BL20(脾兪),ST36(足三里) are used for the treatment depression in acupoint injection therapy. 4. In dermal needle therapy, it is used to tap slightly until the skin becomes congested in the region of Bladder meridian and nape, back of Governor Vessel. 5. It seems that psychotherapy, music therapy and light therapy will be applied for the treatment of depression. Conclusion : We expect that acupuncture treatment of depression will be applied practically in clinical medicine due to further study on depression with acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate various application methods of focused ultrasound and apply them to clinical use in Korean medicine. Methods : Search was performed using the search engines of electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii), from inception to July 2023 without language limitation. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and animal experimental studies related with focused ultrasound treatments for acupoints or meridian sinews. Results : Total 17 papers, 7 for RCT, 6 for in vivo animal studies, and other experimental studies, were finally selected. Indications used in studies were shoulder pain, back pain, chronic back pain, and degenerative knee arthritis. In experimental studies, studies on animal models of hypoxic ischemic brain damage and hyperlipidemia were also conducted. As for the acupoints, LR3, LI4, and ST36 were used in clinical studies and, in animal experimental studies, GV20, KI1, and ST36 were used. As for the dose, 4 studies below 3 W/cm² and 3 studies in the range of 0.625 to 5 W/cm² in clinical studies, and all studies did not exceed 5 W/cm². In animal experimental studies, 0.5 W/cm², 2 W/cm², 7.5 WW/cm², 15 W/cm², 10~20 W/cm² were used. In all three studies describing the penetration depth during irradiation, it was less than 1 cm. Conclusions : We suggest that focused ultrasound is an appropriate treatment tool for stimulating the acupoints to transfer heat energy. Future studies with rigorous and well-designed RCTs for various diseases will be required to ascertain the focused ultrasound stimulate acupoints or meridian sinews.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Objective : To investigate the therapeutic effect of manual acupuncture at Siguan (four gates, bilateral LI4 and LR3) on suppression of gastrointestinal motility. Methods : A single blind, randomized, sham-acupuncture controlled, crossover study was conducted. Twenty healthy male subjects were admitted at hospital, and gastrointestinal motility suppression was induced by loperamide administration. Just after intake of 20 radio-markers, four gates or sham acupoint treatments were administered every 12 hours, 4 times over 48 hours. Gastrointestinal motility was evaluated by radiographic distribution of the radiomarkers at stomach or ileum, ascending, transverse, descending colon, sigmoid/rectum, and outside body at serial time points (0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Results : Four gates acupuncture activated gastrointestinal movement as evidenced by significantly changed distributionof radio-makers at 6, 12, and 48 hours (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.03, respectively) in Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics. No serious adverse events occurred in either group. Conclusions : This study showed a scientific clinical relevance of four gates acupuncture to gastrointestinal disorders.