• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.948-956
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to report a case of cervical dystonia and the effects of a series of traditional Korean medicine treatments applied to the patient. The patient was treated with conventional treatment and traditional Korean medicine consisting of acupuncture, moxa, chuna therapy, and herbal medicine (Hoesu-san-gami) for 48 days. Progress was measured by Tsui's score, the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale, and the Neck Disability Index. We observed some improvements in the patient's symptoms: Tsui's score of 15 to 11, TWSTRS of 63.3 to 47.8, and NDI of 24 to 17. These findings indicate that the application of traditional Korean medicine to cervical dystonia can yield decent clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2023

Objectives: Major depressive disorder is a severe disease that is associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. In this case, Korean medicine psychotherapy and Korean medicine treatment were used to treat an adolescent patient with major depressive disorder. Methods: The Beck Depression Inventory, Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and Crisis Triage Rating Scale were used as psychological evaluation scales. Korean medicine psychotherapy focuses on Giungoroen-therapy and IiGyeungByunQi-therapy and Korean medicine treatment combined with acupuncture, moxa, and herbal medicine. Results: Comparison before and after treatment showed improvement in clinical symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory, Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and Crisis Triage Rating Scale. Conclusions: As a result of applying Korean medicine, psychotherapy and Korean medicine treatment reduces to an adolescent patient with major depressive disorder, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.975-981
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of moxibustion at matched acupoints of ST36, ST37 and ST39 in rats with sex and age. This study measured small intestinal motility in rats. First, cauterize with moxa was applied to the ST36, ST37 and ST39 in rats classified by sex and age under enflurane anesthesia. And then same treatment is done to matched acupoints of ST36, ST37 and ST39. In each groups of ST36, ST37 and ST39, the small intestinal motility was increased in 5, 6, 8 weeks male and 5 weeks female rats at ST36, 6, 7 weeks male and 5, 6, 8 weeks female rats at ST37, 5, 6 weeks male and 5 weeks female rats at ST39. In matched acupoints, the small intestinal motility was increased in 5, 8 weeks male and 5, 6, 7, 8 weeks female rat at ST36+ST37, 5 weeks male and 6, 7, 8 weeks female rats at ST36+ST39, 5, 7 weeks male and 5, 8 weeks female rats at ST37+ST39. The effects of moxibustion at each acupoints decreased by advancing age and when these acupoints were combined, the effective results were shown in female rats of all age group. These results suggest that when each acupoints and matched acupoints was chosen in moxibustion treatment, the sex and age of individual is worth consideration.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2002

Background: To investigate the role of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in moxibustion-induced immunomodulation, the effects of chemical sympathectomy on moxibustion-induced changes in splenic NK cell cytotoxicity, T and B cell proliferation were studied in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Methods: Chemical sympathectomy was achieved with intraperitoneal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine 50 mg/kg/day for 3 successive days. Direct moxibustion (6-minute interval, 9 moxa ball, each of which weighing 0.007 g and burning for 40 seconds) was applied on unilateral anterior tibial muscle region where Zusanli (ST36) acupoint is located, once a day for 7 successive days. NK cell cytotoxicity was measured by $4hr-^{51}Cr$ release assay. Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was analyzed by [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation assay. Results: NK cell cytotoxicity was suppressed by moxibustion, more in sympathectomized rats than in vehicle-treated rats. T cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A was not affected by moxibustion. B cell proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide showed no significant change in vehicle-treated rats, but an increase in sympathectomized rats by moxibustion. Sympathectomy alone induced augmentation of NK cell cytotoxicity and suppression of T cell proliferation. Conclusion: These results suggest that SNS has no direct relation with moxibution-induced immunomodulation but has an important role in the mechanism to keep the homeostasis of immune system by tonically inhibiting excessive changes of various immune components.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of oriental treatments to hyperemesis gravidarum in disturbed liver function. Methods : Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe and intractable form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and may result in weight loss; nutritional deficiencies; and abnormalities in fluids, electrolyte levels, and acid-base balance. The peak incidence is at 4, 8-16 weeks of pregnancy. Interestingly, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is generally associated with a lower rate of miscarriage. However disturbed diver dunction with Hyperemesis gravidarium is rare very and dangerous. Traditionally, oriental medical therapy has been used to patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and showed effective result. We treated 1 patient who had hyperemesis gravidarum in disturbed diver dunction at Se-Myung university Oriental Hospital in affiliation by Herbal medication, acupuncture and moxa therapy and got good result from them. Results : As a result, symptoms are remarkably alleviated and liver function test are improved. Conclusion : Therefore we would like to report that it is effective to cure the hyperemesis gravidarum in disturbed liver function through the herb-medication and acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2011

Objectives : To understand the strength and weakness of traditional warm needle acupuncture based on existing research outcomes in Korea mostly and to suggest how to build the desirable warm needle acupuncture apparatus by overcoming demerits of traditional and currently existing ones. Methods : We searched warm needle relating papers in Korean with the key words of '온침, 화침, 열자극' by using DBpia, Journal of Korean Oriental Medical Society, Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society and Journal of Society for Meridian and Acupoint. Degree dissertations in Korean were also searched with the same words through the search engine of Library of Kyung Hee University. We also searched with words of 'warm, thermal, heat, needle, acupuncture, temperature' via Pubmed and found a small number of English written papers and large number of Chinese written ones. To find english translated version of those papers, we googled with the same words with no success. Results : About 20 papers on warm needle acupuncture written in Korean were found and analyzed with respect to experimental factors that affected the thermal properties or the amount of heat stimulus of the acupuncture. More rigorous descriptions seemed to be required on the insertion depth, duration and manipulation of warm needle treatment. A basic heat transfer model was presented for the clarification of heat loss through the needle of warm needle acupuncture. Environmental factors such as air flow on the properties seems to be considered for the warm needle acupuncture. Conclusions : Papers on warm needle acupuncture were reviewed and analyzed based on their thermal properties and tools such as needles and moxa cones. Several suggestions were made on the descriptions relating the properties. Necessary specifications were introduced to aim modernized warm needle systems.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.111-119
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• 2014

Objectives This study aims to analyze a thermal distribution in biological living tissue during warm needling therapy by using a finite element method. The analysis provides an understanding of warm needling's efficacy and safety. Methods A model which consisted of four-layered tissue and stainless steel needle was adopted to analyze the thermal distribution in living tissue with a bioheat transfer analysis. The governing equation for the analysis was a Pennes' bioheat equation. A heat source characteristic of warm needling therapy was obtained by previous experimental measurements. The first analysis of the time-dependent temperature distribution was conducted through points on a boundary between the needle and the tissue. The second analysis was conducted to visualize the horizontal temperature distribution. Results When heat source's peak temperatures was above $500^{\circ}C$ and temperature rising rates were relatively slow, the peak temperature at skin surface exceeded a threshold of pain and tissue damage ($45^{\circ}C$), whereas when the peak temperature was around $400^{\circ}C$, the peak temperature at the skin surface was within a safe limit. In addition, the conduction of combustion energy from the moxa was limited to the skin layer around the needle. Conclusions The results suggest that the skin layer around the needle can be heated effectively by warm needling therapy, but it appears to have little effect at the deeper tissue. These findings enhance our understanding of the efficacy and the safety of the warm needling therapy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1933-1937
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• 2004

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) refers to the varied clinical manifestations of reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus and is preferable to the 'reflux esophagitis'. Clinical symptoms of reflux esophagitis are heartburn, dysphagia, blood loss, abdominal pain, nocturnal wheezing, coughing, hoarseness. We applied oriental medicines to patient who had reflux esophagitis. we treated them with herb-medication, acupuncture, moxa therapy and aroma therapy for about 2 months. During this period, we observed that symptoms had been improved.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim is to comprehend the difference of moxibustion used according to applied body parts (knee pain, neck pain, back pain) to oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul. Methods : A sampling of 288 oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul was done and the doctors were asked to fill out 20 questions by interviewing directly from Nov. 23. 2009 to Jan. 9. 2010. Results : The result shows that moxibustion was used for knee pain and back pain more than neck pain. The type of moxibustion mostly used was sticker moxibustion for all three symptoms. Burn marks were left mostly in knee and back pain. Most large volume of moxa was used to back pain. More than half of the oriental doctors used 1-3 acupoints for one procedure and on average 2-3 sessions was done. Patients with knee pain and back pain had more than 4 sessions compared to neck pain. Treatments were mostly done 3 times a week, and as for total treatment period, it took less than 1 week for acute symptom, and it took more than 1 week and less than 5 weeks for chronic symptom. Conclusions : This research shows that the method of moxibustion used differs according to the area of treatment(knee pain, neck pain, back pain) by survey of oriental doctors through direct interviews.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to develop programmable and rechargeable electronic moxibustion device as an interdisciplinary research focusing on traditional Korean medicine. Methods : This device deployed several advances on safety and conveniences with the advantage of programmable heat stimulation, heating material and recharging method. The gradient of heat stimulation was programmed with the reference of previous studies and own measurements. The heat curve reached its efficacious stimulus temperature after three minutes, and maintained until 13 minutes with $42^{\circ}C$. We also incorporated feedback from field hospital experiences with the help of hospital staffs. Results : This device can prevent damages from skin burn and fire accidents, and control the smoke, smell and residue of moxa itself. Conclusions : This study will contribute for the development and improvement of efficacious and safe treatment methods for the traditional Korean medicine.