• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.35-57
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze literature on oriental medicine to investigate the pathology, acupuncture, and moxibustion therapy applicable to alopecia Methods : We searched for the causes of alopecia in the bibliographic data from 41 sources of literature and the acupunctural treatments for alopecia in the bibliographic data from 49 sources of Chinese and Korean literature and from the journals of the acupunctural treatments for alopecia which have been published since 2000. Results : 1. The main causes of alopecia are blood deficiency, blood heat, static blood, depletion of kidney's water, wind excess, seven emotional damage, dietary damage, etc. 2. The acupuncture points frequently used are $GV_{20}$, $GB_{20}$, $ST_{36}$, $SP_6$, $SP_{10}$, $BL_{17}$, $BL_{18}$, $BL_{23}$, $GV_{23}$, $GV_{14}$, $CV_6$, $ST_8$, $KI_3$, $LR_3$, $HT_7$, $LI_{11}$, EX-$HN_1$, and ouch point. 3. New acupuncture therapies, including herbal acupuncture therapy, ear acupuncture therapy, dermal needle therapy, needle-embedding therapy and scalp acupuncture therapy are frequently used to treat alopecia. Conclusions : The acupuncture points frequently used for treating alopecia have characteristics such as tonifying blood, tonifying the liver and kidney, extinguishing wind, activating blood, clearing heat and draining dampness, so they are highly associated with the causes and the mechanisms of alopecia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Objective: There are currently no disease-modifying medications or definite long-term sustainable interventions for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), indicating an unmet treatment need. Our goal was to create a long-term sustainable intervention for PD patients that can be used in Korean medicine clinics. Methods: The Meridian Activation Remedy System (MARS) was created to stimulate a patient's 12 meridians and sinew channels using a combination of acupoint stimulation and exercise. The acupoints and motions used in MARS were selected through literature studies and expert advice. The methodologies were refined using observational and case studies. With slow and fast movements, the MARS intervention was intended to activate both slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. Intradermal acupuncture and motion that shift the center of gravity were employed to enhance the patient's balance and proprioception. In addition, the intervention included alternating movement exercises to address the complex cognitive decline commonly occurring in PD patients. Results: The following acupoints were chosen for the MARS intervention: bilateral Hegu (LI4), Houxi (SI3), Waiguan (TE5), Neiguan (PC6), Zhongchong (PC9), Yuji (LU10), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Taichong (LR3), Kunlun (BL60), and Taixi (KI3). We also developed actions that can stimulate the body's 12 meridians. Conclusion: We developed the MARS intervention, which combines acupuncture and exercise, to address the unmet therapeutic needs of PD patients. We hope that with additional research, the MARS intervention can be set as an effective therapeutic program for PD patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.125-134
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• 2010

Objectives : There has been a need for developing and establishing operational curriculum for the education of acupuncture, but defining the level and step of the acupuncture education in clinical perspectives was not thoroughly recognized so far. Methods : We analysed the usage of acupuncture points in the official textbook to recognize the most frequently used acupoints in clinical medicine. It was found that $ST_{36}$ $LI_4$ $SP_6$ $HT_7$ $LR_3$ $CV_{12}$ $BL_{23}$ $CV_6$ $BL_{20}$ $CV_4$ $LI_{11}$ $PC_6$ $KI_3$ $GB_{20}$ $GV_{20}$ $GB_{34}$ $BL_{18}$ $GV_{14}$ $BL_{17}$ $BL_{40}$ are the most frequently used 20 acupuncture points and GB(足少陽擔經), CV(任脈), ST(足陽明胃經) are the most frequently used meridians. Results : The $ST_{36}$, $GB_{34}$, $LI_{11}$ and GB(足太陽膀胱經) meridian are most frequently used for muskuloskeletal disease, $ST_{36}$, $LI_4$, $LI_{11}$ and GB(足太陽膀胱經) meridian are most frequently used for neuromuskular disease, and $ST_{36}$, $CV_{12}$, $BL_{20}$ and CV(任脈) meridian are most frequently used for the digestive system disorders. Conclusions : This study was the first systematic approach to get essential acupuncture points for the education of clinical perspectives of TKM especially for the acupuncture and moxibustion. We found that the $ST_{36}$, $GB_{34}$, $LI_{11}$ and GB(足太陽膀胱經) are the most frequently used acupuncture point and meridian. This study will be used for the development of TKM clinical curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-163
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• 2009

Background : Stroke occurrences are prevalent and require intensive care for its treatment and rehabilitation. Acupuncture has been widely used in Korea throughout the history and provides an efficient method in the treatment of it. Objectives : To establish a distinctive and efficient acupuncture method for the treatment of stroke based in literature research. Method : We reviewed four Korean medical literature, $ll$治腫指南Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment$gg$, $ll$東醫寶鑑Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$, $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$, and $ll$舍岩鍼法Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Sa-am$gg$, and analyzed the therapeutic characteristics in the treatment of stroke. Result : 1. In $ll$治腫指南Guide to Swollen Sore Treatment$gg$, various types of treatment can be found. Besides acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion with moxa tube, and bath therapy using Duchesneae Indicae Herba and Sal was applied. Needling in sublingual and vocal region, and also points like GB20, GB31, LI15, BL60, GV20, GV20, TE4, GB39, LU5, ST36, GB30 were frequently inserted. 2. In $ll$東醫寶鑑Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$, moxibustion treatment were in top priority. Points like GV20, LI15, LI11, GB31, ST36, GB39, LI4, GB20 pertinent to Governor, Conception, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, and Stomach meridian were most frequently needled. Selection of adjacent point was widely applied. 3. $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$ has some similarity compared to $ll$東醫寶鑑 Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine$gg$ in considering the moxa in top priority. But selected points far from the disease site. Main points were LI4, ST36, GB39, PC5, GV20, LI11, LR3, BL40, HT7. 4. $ll$校勘 舍岩道人鍼法Essential Rhymes on Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Master Sa-am$gg$ having the same content orders with $ll$鍼灸經驗方Experiential Prescriptions of Acupuncture and Moxibustion$gg$, it may had some influence from it. But the differences are also apparent. It emphasized in using mother-supplementing child-draining method, experiential prescriptions and visceral pattern identification. Conclusions : We could find various efficient methods through literature research of medical classics. This will not be limited in stroke alone but also will be applied in other diseases. This study will concurrently result in establishing distinctive therapeutic method characteristic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of clinical practice for gout in Korean Medicine (KM). Methods : On-line survey was adopted for this study, targeted at KM Doctors who were registered in the Association of Korean Medicine. The questionnaire included the general status of treatment, pattern identification and treatment method according to three stages given: acute, chronic and asymptomatic hyperuricemia stage. Results : Data from a total of 384 respondents was analyzed. Participants who responded most were in their 40s, working in KM clinics located in Seoul. Acupuncture and herbal medicines were the top priority treatments in preparing recommendations in clinical practice guidelines for gout, and where clinical trials were considered essential. As of the past year, the average number of first visits per month was 86.7%, and the average treatment duration was less than 1 month, accounting for 72.9%. As for the diagnostic method used for gout patients, the "diagnosed by clinical pattern" response was the highest, and the "blood and urine test" response was the highest as the diagnostic equipment used. As for the evaluation scale being used, the "VAS/NRS" response was the highest. Regardless of the gout stage, acupuncture was the most commonly used treatment method for gout patients, and bee venom pharmacopuncture was the highest for the pharmacopuncture used. In the case of herbal medicine, it was found that a wider variety of herbal medication uninsured in health insurance and herbal prescription were used for the staged treatment of gout than herbal medication in national health insurance coverage. In clinical practice, "acupuncture treatment three times a week" was the most common, and the "acupoints in the limb" were the most frequently used; LR3 and SP3 were the most frequently used acupoints. Conclusions : It is suggested that this survey should be helpful to develop clinical practice guideline for gout that reflects actual clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2004

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of Scolopendrid Water-Alcohol Extract (SWAE) applied to acupuncture point BL23 (Shinsu) on the neuropathic pain was examined. A common source of persistent pain in humans is the neuropathic pain. Anti-convulsant drugs are used to treat the neuropathic pain. In the oriental medicine, Scolopendrid was used for long time to treat convulsant syndrome and back pain, etc. Methods : On the bases of the Scolopendrid clinical application, the effect of SWAE applied to the acupuncture point was tested in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. When rats developed pain behaviors, One hundred microliter of SWAE was applied into the ipsilateral BL23 point at a dose of 10 mg/ml under enflurane anesthesia. The foot withdraw latency of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : SWAE injection increased the mechanical threshold of the foot in the rat model of neuropathic pain significantly for the duration of 4h, suggesting a partial alleviation of pain. SWAE applied to BL23 point produced a significant improvement of mechanical sensitivity of the foot lasting for at least 4h. However, neither contralateral BL23 point, ST25 (Chonchu) point, nor LR3 (Taechung) point produce as much increase of mechanical sensitivity as ipsilateral BL23 point. And, this increase of mechanical sensitivity was dose-dependent. The improvement of mechanical threshold was interpreted as an analgesic effect. In addition, the analgesic effect of Scolopendrid 4 mg/kg injection is equivalent to that of gabapentin 50 mg/kg injection. The relations between SWAE-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) were also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which are increased by nerve injury were suppressed by SWAE injection applied to BL23 point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that SWAE produces a potent analgesic effect on the neuropathic pain model in the rat and 2) that SWAE-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.