• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.929-940
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reports on the efficacy of Korean medicine treatments for peripheral facial nerve palsy and sleep disorders that occur after microvascular decompression. Methods: A 57-year-old female patient with right facial palsy was treated with herbal medicines and acupuncture for 36 days. The treatment effect was evaluated using the House Brackmann Grading System (HBGS), Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System (Yanagihara's score), and the Korean Modified Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (KMLSEQ). Results: Following treatment, the patient showed a decrease in HBGS and an improvement in Yanagihara's score and KMLSEQ score. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments appeared to be effective in reducing facial nerve palsy. Further clinical research on patients with facial nerve palsy is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.74-86
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine search trends and their meanings for major uninsuired Korean medicine (KM) treatments through analysis of an online portal search results. Methods: Keywords searches were performed using Naver Datalab on 4 July 2023. From January 2016 to June 2023, monthly relative search volume (RSV) for keywords 'pharmacopuncture', 'Chuna', and 'needle-embedding therapy', and 'herbal decoction' were extracted with a score between 0 and 100. For the obtained RSVs, longitudinal changes over time, characteristics according to sex and age group, and correlations between them were investigated. Results: The ranking of RSV for each keyword has changed from 'Chuna', 'herbal decoction', 'needle-embedding therapy', and 'pharmacopuncture' to 'Chuna', 'herbal decoction', 'pharmacopuncture', and 'needle-embedding therapy' after 2019. Overall, the RSV of needle-embedding therapy continuously decreased, while that of pharmacopuncture continuously increased. In 2019, a rapid increase in the RSV of Chuna was observed, and in 2020, a rapid increase in the RSV of herbal decoction was observed. There was a difference in the longitudinal change pattern of RSV for the keywords by age group. Importantly, in the elderly, changes in RSV were observed in a favorable pattern to KM treatment. Conclusion: Our findings enable estimation of the public's interest and its changes for the four uninsuired KM treatment, and can be used as basic data to strengthen health insurance coverage in Korea. Specifically, changes in interest in KM treatments according to sex and age can be referred to.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-52
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• 2024

The aim of this review is to consolidate findings from clinical investigations spanning the past decade regarding the impact of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture as a therapeutic approach to PD, with the intention of informing future clinical practices and advancing the foundation for subsequent research endeavors in this area. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify clinical trials exploring the effects of acupuncture on PD between January 2014 and August 2023. Databases search included PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, OASIS, KISS, KMBASE, RISS, and ScienceON. Quantitative evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was systematically reviewed, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4.1 software. The systematic review encompassed a total of 38 RCTs involving 2,786 participants. Meta-analysis of 12 studies revealed that individuals treated with a combination of acupuncture and Western medicine exhibited notable improvements compared to those receiving Western medicine alone or sham acupuncture alongside Western medicine. However, the overall quality of the RCTs was deemed low, and no serious adverse events were reported. Across clinical investigations conducted in the past decade, acupuncture appears to hold promise as a complementary treatment for PD patients when administered alongside Western medicine. Nevertheless, this study identifies certain limitations that warrant consideration in future research endeavors. Enhanced emphasis on conducting high-quality RCTs is imperative to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in managing PD.

• Sim-seong Yeon-gu
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.101-126
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• 2014

'Transference phenomenon' is considered as a essential feature in psychotherapy as well as psychoanalysis. But there is much difference in conceptual and methodological issues for 'transference phenomenon' among various psychoanalytical schools. In general, the depth psychological studies for 'transference phenomenon' are mainly from the psychoanalytical view of point but relatively sparse from the analytical psychological view of point which has more holistic and deeper understanding for human psyche. So this article was intended for a comprehensive review of 'transference phenomenon' from the perspective of analytical psychology and tried to make an understanding for its meaning. To begin with, the concept of 'transference phenomenon' was investigated from the view before Jung and after Jung, with Jung's view in the center. Then it was made clear that 'transference phenomenon' from the perspective of analytical psychology could be understood by several characteristic aspects. It was suggested that a careful study on the symbolic meaning of the woodcuts' pictures in Rosarium Philosophorum including a proper interpretation of its posterior part to which Jung didn't refer in "The Psychology of The Transference" be devoted to the genuine understanding of 'transference phenomenon' from the perspective of analytical psychology afterwards.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.110-122
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• 2024

Objectives: This study analyzed the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 to investigate factors related to the use of non-insured Korean medicine (KM) treatment in individuals with chronic diseases. The non-insured KM treatments of interest were herbal decoction (HD) and pharmacopuncture (PA). Methods: Among adults aged 19 or older, 6,159 individuals with chronic diseases who received outpatient KM treatment at least once in 2019 were included. They were divided into three groups according to the KM treatment used: (1) basic insured KM non-pharmacological treatment (BT) group (n = 629); (2) HD group (n = 256); (3) PA group (n = 184). Logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with favoring HD or PA use over BT. Potentially relevant candidate factors were classified using the Andersen Behavior Model. Results: Compared to BT, the 1st to 3rd quartiles of income compared to the 4th quartile (odds ratio: 1.50 to 2.06 for HD; 2.03 to 2.83 for PA), health insurance subscribers compared to medical aid (odds ratio: 2.51; 13.43), and presence of musculoskeletal diseases (odds ratio: 1.66; 1.91) were significantly positively associated with HD and PA use. Moreover, the presence of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio: 1.46) and neuropsychiatric disease (odds ratio: 1.97) were also significantly positively associated with HD use. Conclusion: The presence of some chronic diseases, especially musculoskeletal diseases, was significantly positively associated with HD and PA use, while low economic status was significantly negatively associated with HD and PA use, indicating the potential existence of unmet medical needs in this population. Since chronic diseases impose a considerable health burden, the results of this study can be used for reference for future health insurance coverage policies in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.498-507
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• 2024

In the field of mental health care, long-term healing programs have gained widespread recognition for their effectiveness in promoting well-being. However, the efficacy of shorter-term interventions, such as 1-night 2-day programs, remains relatively understudied. The primary objective of this initiative is twofold: firstly, to enhance the overall well-being and resilience of participants, and secondly, to investigate the program's potential to ameliorate specific mental health indicators. These indicators include physical stress levels, autonomic nervous system health, brain activity, brain stress, and concentration. A 1-night 2-day mental health healing program was implemented for 560 civil servants from Jeollanam-do (mean age 47.87 yrs). The focus was on measuring changes through baseline assessments before participation and post-program assessments upon completion. Measurements included physical stress index, autonomic nervous system health, brain activity level, brain stress, and brain concentration. There was a significant decrease in physical stress, as well as a significant decrease in autonomic nervous system health (p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference in brain activity level, there was a tendency for brain activity level to stabilize in the high-frequency range. Additionally, a significant decrease in stress levels and an improvement in concentration were observed. Incorporating 1-night 2-day relaxation programs into our daily lives offers a holistic approach to caring for both our physical and mental health, providing essential moments of rejuvenation and self-care that contribute to overall well-being and fulfillment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2024

Objectives: We used the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 to analyze factors related to visits to both Korean medicine and Western medicine (WM) outpatient clinics among patients with overweight and obesity. Methods: The inclusion criteria for this study are as follows: 1) adults over 18 years of age, 2) overweight or obese with a body mass index of 25.0 or more, 3) visited WM outpatient clinics at least once during 2019. Total 2,963 individuals were included in WM group or integrative medicine (IM) group. Using the Andersen healthcare utilization model, factors related to healthcare utilization of the participants were classified. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyze factors associated with IM use. Results: Among the participants, 80.49% (n=2,385) were assigned to WM group and 19.51% (n=578) to IM group. As a result of the regression analysis, factors significantly related to the use of IM included the elderly over 65 years of age, sex (men), college or higher education level, residential area (Gwangju/Jeolla/Jeju), presence of cancer, and presence of musculoskeletal disease. The main diagnosis associated with both WM and IM use was most frequently musculoskeletal conditions. Also, IM group received WM treatment for musculoskeletal conditions more frequently compared to WM group. Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze healthcare utilization patterns among overweight or obese patients in Korea. The current findings suggest that the presence of musculoskeletal conditions, especially in this population, may be strongly associated with concurrent use of IM services.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

The aim of this case report was to present the effects of intensive integrative Korean medicine treatment in a patient with lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain induced by adrenoleukodytrophy. A 49-year-old male patient was treated with Cheongpajeon-H, acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture (Shinbaro2), chuna therapy for total 50 days of hospitalization. Lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain were assessed with a Oswestry disability index (ODI), Vernon-Mior neck disability index (NDI), numeric rating scale (NRS) and EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D). With 50 days of treatment, the pain was relieved from NRS 6 to 2. EQ-5D score increased from 0.75 to 0.779, ODI decreased from 34 to 15.56, NDI decreased from 30 to 15.56. These results show that lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain can be relieved with intensive integrative Korean medicine treatment. However, further well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.49-62
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• 2024

Objects: This study was conducted to examine the effect of acupuncture on hot flashes symptoms that occurred after adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. Methods: A total of 7 electronic databases, including Pubmed, Cochrane Central, Embase, and CNKI, were used to search for randomized controlled trials studies on acupuncture treatment for hot flashes that occurred after adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients. Studies published from January 2014 to March 2024 were targeted, and Breast Cancer, Hot Flashes, Acupuncture, and Electroacupuncture were used as search keywords. The intervention method, treatment period and follow-up period, results, side effects, and acupuncture points were analyzed. Results: According to the inclusion criteria, 7 studies were finally selected. Acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupuncture and enhanced self-care were combined as intervention methods of the treatment group, and the most common control group was the use of sham acupuncture. The selected study was evaluated by the symptoms of hot flashes, quality of life, depression, and quality of sleep. In terms of hot flashes, quality of life, and depression, a significant number of treatment groups showed improvement results than control group. The most commonly used acupuncture points in the study were 百會 (GV20), 關元 (CV4), 氣海 (CV6) each of which was used twice. Conclusions: According to this study, the improvement of symptoms was confirmed when acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment were used for hot flashes that occurred during breast cancer adjuvant endocrine therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.29-48
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate recent trends in herbal medicine treatment for xerostomia. Methods : We searched for Randomized Controlled Trial(RCT) studies on xerostomia published after 2015 in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Studies were analyzed based on the year of publication, characteristics of patient groups, herbal medicine treatments and assessment scales. Results : A total of 16 RCT studies were selected. The most frequently used herbal prescription was Zengye Decoction(增液湯). Liriope Tuber(麥門冬), Rehmanniae Radix(生地黃), Glycyrrhizae Radix(甘草), Schisandrae Fructus(五味子), Scrophulariae Radix(玄蔘), Dendrobii Herba(石斛) and Gypsum Fibrosum(石膏) were commonly used herbs. Herbal medicine treatment demonstrated effectiveness in treating xerostomia across all the studies, and this effect was statistically significant. Conclusions : Herbal medicine treatment is effective in treating xerostomia. We anticipate that more high quality studies will be conducted in the future.