• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the current state of quantitative literature evidence for the prescription of 56 herbal medicines covered by health insurance that have been studied in Korea for the past 30 years, to evaluate the reliability of the evidence, and to find out the research direction of herbal medicine prescription in the future. Methods: 56 kinds of herbal medicine prescriptions were searched in domestic literature search databases OASIS, DBpia, and overseas PubMed, classified into chemistry, toxicity, cells, animals, clinical cases, and clinical trial studies, and built into an EBM pyramid structure. Results: When classified according to research contents, there were 61 cases (7.5%) of physicochemical analysis to identify constituent substances, 80 cases (9.8%) of toxicity evaluation, and 672 cases (82.7%) of efficacy evaluation. The efficacy evidence was classified according to the evidence-based medical pyramid structure: 196 cell trials (29.1%), 372 animal trials (55.4%), 89 case and case reporting series (13.3%), 7 comparative case studies (1.1%), and 8 randomized control clinical trials (1.2%). In the pyramid composition, the basis for the validity of 56 kinds of herbal medicines prescribed was 568 cases (84.5%) in cell and animal units, which could not be said to be highly reliable. There was no relationship between the ranking of quantitative literature evidence for herbal medicine prescriptions and the ranking of salary administration. Conclusions: In an era that continues to require scientific evidence for herbal medicine, traditional herbal medicine should secure the basis for safety validity even for the 10th most frequent prescription among 56 herbal medicine prescriptions for consumers. In particular, traditional herbal medicine should increase the quantitative and qualitative level of case reports on related herbal medicine prescriptions, focusing on each clinical society, and move toward comparative case studies and randomized clinical trial so that traditional herbal medicine is positioned as Evidence-based medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2013

Objectives : To investigate the incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) by combined-prescription of Korean herbal medicine (KHM; prescribed herbal medicine by doctors of traditional Korean medicine) and Western medicine on liver function. Methods : Sixty-nine in-patients who took KHM and Western medicine for various conditions were enrolled for prospective observational study. All subjects were given liver and renal function tests at the start of hospitalization to establish a baseline. After taking KHM and Western medicine, tests were done at approximately 4-week intervals afterwards. Results : Fifty-three subjects showed normal liver function test (LFT) at baseline, 50 subjects (72.5%) remained within the normal range at the second test, while 3 subjects (4.3%) tests revealed slight increase of LFT. However not a single patient had a high enough raised LFT to indicate liver injury. Sixteen of 69 subjects had abnormal baseline, 11 subjects recovered to normal levels and 5 subjects remained at abnormal level. Among all subjects, there was no statistically significant increase in LFT level between the first and second tests. Conclusions : This study shows that the combined-prescription of KHM and Western medicine did not cause any DILI. In some cases, combined treatment increased LFT levels but those increases were not high enough to have statistical significance. Additional large scale and systematical studies are required for more conclusive proof and results.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to facilitate mutual comprehension between Western and Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) by analyzing recognition of medical school students on traditional medical prescription and treatment such as herbal medicines and acupuncture. Methods : We conducted a survey targeting medical school students of four medical schools from April through May 2009, and analyzed 208 cases responded. Results : Survey results revealed that medical school students took knowledge of traditional medicine from TV programs and on the Web in general. They thought they had considerable traditional medical knowledge but did not almost understand for professional contents. Regardless of some positive recognition for traditional herbal medicine, negative perspectives were more common and its safety and efficacy on the drug reference were considered as a major reason. On the other hand, recognition on acupuncture was comparatively positive. Scientific data for both herbal medicine and acupuncture are lacking in reality but the attitude only for acupuncture was different. Of the survey respondents, 57.8% had negative attitude against diagnostic methods of TKM and 59.1% opposed to the usage of modern medical equipments by TKM doctors. With regard to the future position of TKM, they tacitly approved that TKM would be absorbed into the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and importance of TKM objectification, followed by Government's support. Conclusions : Medical school students neither affirm nor deny TKM as a whole but the state of awareness for each item was similar to the physician. In terms of TKM its internal and external innovation would be required to continuously establish objectification of TKM prescription and scientific research on treatment technology.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2010

Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica have been used as oriental medicine for removal of fever, alleviation of pain, an anti-phlogistic effect and removal of extravasated blood. However, it has been never shown the effects of these herbal medicines on anti-inflammatory processes. This experiment was performed to show how these herbs could act as anti-inflammatory medicines at cellular level. Anti-inflammation effects of water extracts from Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica as well as their mixture have been investigated, and the results were follows; 1) each extract slightly suppressed the expression and production of inflammatory mediators and enzymes such as NO, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-$\alpha$ in lipopolysaccharid(LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mouse primary peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. These suppressive effects, however, were synergistically increased by their mixture. 2) Each extract of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica insignificantly suppressed the activation and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, which controls the expression of inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-$\alpha$. However, extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica suppressed effectively the activation and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$. 3) Each of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica induced translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ to the nucleus from the cytosol and DNA-binding activity of nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. The extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica showed more significant suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ translocation and its DNA-binding activity, as compared to those of the each extract. These results suggest that the extract mixture of Paeonia Suffruticosa and Prunus Persica may affect different control mechanisms for NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the expression and production of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory mediators, indicating that this extract mixture may be useful for treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.38-48
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• 2006

1. Objects This paper was written in order to understand the formative process of Soyangin pharmacology. 2. Methods We analysis Soyangin pharmacology through pathology and new prescription in ${\ulcorner}$Gabobon(甲午本)${\lrcorner}$ and ${\ulcorner}$Sinchukbon(辛丑本)${\lrcorner}$ of ${\ulcorner}$Dongyi Suse Bowon${\lrcorner}$. 3. Results and Conclusions New prescription of Soyangin in ${\ulcorner}$Gabobon${\lrcorner}$ is same or similar to that in ${\ulcorner}$Chobonkwon${\lrcorner}$. So we can recognize that almost Soyangin pharmacology of ${\ulcorner}$Gabobon${\lrcorner}$ is made when Dongmu write ${\ulcorner}$Chobonkwon${\lrcorner}$. And the maintenance of Yin-Qi is key point of Soyangin's pharmacology New prescription of Soyangin is made by regular rules in ${\ulcorner}$Sinchukbon${\lrcorner}$. Dongmu say that Hyungkae(荊芥) Bangpung(防風) Kanghwal(羌活) Dokhwal(獨活) is herbs for descending-Yin, and Sukjihwang(熟地黃) Sansuyoo(山茱萸) Bokryung Taeksa(澤瀉) or Saengjihwang(生池黃) Sukgo(石膏) Jimo(知母) is herbs for ascending-Yang And all new prescription except Sukjihwangkosam-tang(熟地黃苦蔘湯) is composed of asneding-Yang and descending-Yin's herbs. New prescription of the exterior disease contained all descending-Yin's herbs and that of the interior disease contained all ascending-Yang's herbs completly. Namely when ${\ulcorner}$Gabobon${\lrcorner}$ was written Soyangin pharmacology is the maintenance of Yin-Qi by selecting prescription of cold character. And when ${\ulcorner}$Sinchukbon${\lrcorner}$ was written, base sprit of Soyangin pharmacology was not changed. Pharmacology was added ascending-Yang and descending-Yin at a time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.51-52
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• 2002

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.5-46
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• 2002

This report describes the studies as follows through the research into the data of Cimicifuga heraclefolia Komarov blended prescriptions from Donguibogam. Cimicifuga heracleifola Komarov blended prescriptions are utilized for 39 therapeutic ranges. such as in dentistry, onclology, and 16 therapeutic ranges occupy over 84% totally, from dentistry to nasal disease. Cimicifuga heracleifola Komarov blended prescriptions use in the symptpms resulting from dentistry, intestine, internal disease, and they are used 22 disease also. The main pathologies of Cimicifuga heracleifola Komarov blended prescriptions found weakness in the digestive system, heat of stomach, wind of stomach in the splanchnology, and pathologies of wind-heat, wind-moisture, cold, excluding they are using for energy-blood, weakness, internal disease. The actual amount of Cimicifuga heracleifola Komarov blended has a wide capacity from 2 pun to 5 don, 1 don is broadlly used by 26%. Through the research into the main factors that we know Cimicifuga heracleifola Komarov blended prescriptions are listed in Yangmyungkyung, as they are regularly used as disease treatment and increasing the level of the general energy of the body, relaxing a skin, increasing stamina, detoxication, eliminating tumor, widely.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.64-78
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• 2009

Objectives: To research Korean oriental medical doctors' use of uninsured herbal extracts and how to bring about the insurance coverage of such herbal extracts. Methods: We surveyed Korean oriental doctors about the following issues from October 17th to November 15th, 2008: (1) Korean oriental medical doctors' knowledge about herbal extract insurance and the circumstances of oriental medicine in Korea, (2) their opinion on the coverage of currently uninsured herbal extracts and the dispensing of herbal extracts from pharmacies rather than from their clinics, (3) their use of herbal extracts, and (4) how to bring about insurance coverage of uninsured herbal extracts. Results: Over 70% of the respondents said that herbal medicine prescriptions have been reduced recently and that the existence of herbal medicine is in danger. In addition, 63.64% respondents agreed with expanding insurance coverage to include currently uninsured herbal extracts in spite of the fact that patients might have to obtain herbal extracts from pharmacies rather than from Korean oriental medical clinics. The average patient number per month of uninsured herbal extracts was 13.64 people, the average dosage was 5.64g, the average cost per day was 3,859 won, and the average prescription period was 2.65 days. Korean oriental medical doctors asked an average of 12,486 won for the medical examination-prescription fee and 3,292 won in fees for prescriptions obtained outside the hospital. If insurance coverage expands to include these herbal extracts, their usage is expected to increase 2.31 times. Conclusions: This study shows Korean oriental medical doctors' use of herbal extracts and their opinions about execution of herbal extracts' insurance. A periodic study such as this one will hopefully aid in establishing polices for uninsured herbal extracts' insurance.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2003

Objectives : Wolguk-whan has been used as a prescription of natural drug for the treatment of stress digestive system disease. Recently, we reported that Wolguk-whan methnol extract (WGWM) exerted a significant protective effect against oxidative damage to the liver of ICR mice. This study was purposed to investigate the effects of Wolguk-whan water extract (WGWW) on liver injury induced by oxidative stress. Methods : In order to investigate the effects of WGWW on acute liver injury, ICR mice were pretreated with WGWW for 6days, starved for 24hrs, and administerated acetamirtophen(500mg/kg, i.p.). In the liver homogenates, lipid peroxide and glutathione(GSH) levels were measured. In addition, activities of hepatic enzyme, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase(GST) were measured in the hepatic mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions. Results : In vivo administeration of WGWW showed effective inhibition of acetaminophen induced lipid peroxidation, and showed elevations of GSH level, catalase, GSH-Px, GST activities. Conclusions : These results suggested that WGWW might suppress the formation of oxidative metabolites, and prevent acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

Background : To understand Korean medicine it is crucial to first understand medical aspect of 'DongUiBoGam'. It is also meaningful that it became one of the influential book even to posterity. Also based on the apprehension, we can take a view of development of Korean medicine led by 'DongUiBoGam'. Objectives : This study aims to review the status, study field, specialist of DongUiBoGam. In the process, this review will grasp trends in this field of studies and will direct further researches into the right direction. Method : The computerized Korean databases were searched from their respective inceptions up to December 2008. The search terms used were 'DongUiBoGam' and random or Korean language terms related to DongUiBoGam. Several specialized journals were also manually searched for relevant articles. Result : Since the 2000s, DongUiBoGam papers in the Korean Literature is increased. Published 58 papers on The Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription were more than the other journals. 58 papers published in The Korean Journal of Oriental Medical Prescription are the best in many areas related to Korean medicine. Most people have submitted papers related to DongUiBoGam was Woo-yeal Jeong. Conclusions : 'DongUiBoGam' research is conducted and current tendency and outlook for 'DongUiBoGam' is carried out focusing on several associations.