• Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.375-379
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• 2018

Background and aim: Heavy metals have been recognized as toxins for centuries. Cupping therapy has been shown to aid in the excretion of accumulated fluids and toxins from the interstitial fluid. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wet cupping therapy on blood levels of heavy metals. Methods: Thirteen healthy male individuals [mean age ${\pm}$ standard deviation, $28.47{\pm}6.18$] participated in this study. Venous blood samples were collected 5 min before and 30 days after the wet cupping therapy. Five points of the posterior neck and bilateral perispinal areas of the neck and thoracic spine were selected for cupping therapy. The levels of aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The levels of heavy metals (Al, Zn, and Cd) after cupping therapy were significantly lower than the levels before therapy. Conclusions: These results suggest that wet cupping therapy has an excretory effect on the kidney. Wet cupping therapy may clear blood from excess heavy metals.

• Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.361-366
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• 2018

Anxiety is a common preoperative problem in cesarean section candidates. Nonpharmacologic anxiety control has been demonstrated to be more suitable in pregnant women. The current study was a randomized, single-blind clinical trial which evaluated the effect of acupressure on preoperative C-section anxiety. In this study, 60 patients facing surgery were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Those patients in the intervention group received simultaneous acupressure at the Yintang and HE-7 acupoints for 5 minutes before surgery, and patients in the control group received intervention at a sham acupoint. The anxiety level of patients was preoperatively assessed twice using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The mean anxiety scores of the two groups were shown to be insignificantly different before the intervention (p = 0.859), whereas a significant difference between the mean anxiety scores of the two groups was observed after the intervention (p = 0.001), suggesting that acupressure reduced the anxiety of patients before surgery.

• Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.343-354
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• 2018

Auriculotherapy has been extensively used for chronic spontaneous urticaria in China. However, the evidence of its effectiveness and safety for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria is insufficient. Hence, we conducted this study to compare auriculotherapy or auriculotherapy joint treatment with Western medicine for the cure of chronic spontaneous urticaria. This meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials showed that auriculotherapy or auriculotherapy joint treatment was significantly superior to Western medicine in curing clinical signs and symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria [odds ration (OR), 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54-4.43; p = 0.0004) and also better in total effect rate (OR, 3.81; 95% CI, 2.07-7.01; p<0.0001). But, auriculotherapy or auriculotherapy joint treatment was similar to Western medicine in improving clinical signs and symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.35-1.56; p = 0.42). Auriculotherapy or auriculotherapy joint treatment was safer than Western medicine for curing chronic spontaneous urticaria (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.80; p = 0.02). Auriculotherapy alone or auriculotherapy joint treatment appears to be more effective and safer than Western medicine that contains antihistamines in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the unclear risk bias of methodological quality, and further studies with large-scale, better, and more rigorously designed protocol are necessary to prove these findings.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2021

A burst fracture refers to the fracture of the anterior and middle vertebral columns which are moving into the spinal canal causing neurological impairments, generally requiring surgical treatment. We herein report a rare case of burst fracture with kissing spine in a 90-year-old man who had severe lower back pain that worsened during back extension. Considering the surgical treatment risk, he was hospitalized at a Korean medicine hospital for 85 days and underwent combined Korean medicine treatments including pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, chuna, deep-fascia meridian therapy, walking practice, and abdominal breathing. Based on patient-reported scales, his pain was alleviated, and his physical function improved. Furthermore, his range of motion and walking time increased. This case report suggests that combined Korean medicine treatments could be an effective alternative for patients with burst fracture who have surgery risks.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1180-1190
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• 2020

The purpose of this case report is to describe the effect of Korean medicine therapy on patient with migraine. We treated migraine for 2 months using a Korean medical treatment and six-meridian pattern identification, including herbal medicine (Soshiho-tang), acupuncture, cupping, chuna, and pharmacopuncture. The measurements included a numerical rating scale (NRS), migraine disability assessment (MIDAS), headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), and migraine specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQoL) to confirm the effectiveness of the herbal medicine treatment. After treatment, the patient's complaints decreased, as shown by the results of the NRS, MIDAS, HIT-6, and MSQoL. For migraines, Korean medical treatment and six-meridian pattern identification, such as herbal medicine (Soshiho-tang), has beneficial effects for the control of migraine and improvement in the quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment on interstitial cystitis. Methods: The patient diagnosed with Interstitial cystitis/Bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) was treated with Korean medicine treatment during 22 days of hospitalization. The patient received Korean medicine treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, cupping and extracorporeal magnetic stimulation therapy. The effect of treatment on IC/BPS was evaluated through the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), voiding diary, and Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index/Problem Index (ICSI/ICPI). Results: After the treatment, the clinical symptoms of IC/BPS such as pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, frequent urination and urinary urgency were improved. Also, the patient had better scores in ICSI/ICPI. Conclusions: This case report proved that the Korean medicine treatment may be effective for improving clinical symptoms of IC/BPS. However, a large-scale clinical study is needed in the future to prove the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for IC/BPS.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was designed to report the clinical improvement of the patient with glossodynia. Methods: During the treatment period (from Jul. 7^th, 2021 to Aug. 3^rd), a patient was treated using acupuncture, Korean Medicine, pharmacopuncture and FCST (Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy). Symptoms were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Results: After the treatments for 28 days, the OHIP-14 score decreased from 53 to 7. Also, the patient's VAS score decreased from 6 to 0. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment with FCST may be valuable for glossodynia patients. Nevertheless further studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2022

A 50-year-old Korean male tour guide without any medical or family history complained of left knee pain. After receiving umbilical cord blood injection treatment, the pain gradually worsened. After being diagnosed with septic arthritis in the left knee, arthroscopic lavage, debridement, antibiotic treatment, and routine rehabilitation therapy were performed, but the symptoms persisted. In the hospital, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, acupotomy, Chuna manual therapy, and cupping therapy were performed in addition to the usual treatment for 59 days. To evaluate the patient's improvement, the numeric rating scale, EuroQol 5-dimension, pain disability index, and Lysholm knee scoring system were used. After treatment, the symptoms improved in all assessment tools, swelling, and range of motion of the joint. Through this study, it was found that complex Korean medical therapies may be effective for postoperative ankylosis in septic arthritis of the knee, and further studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic effect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2022

Objective: This study addresses a case of fibromyalgia with insomnia and dry mouth. Methods: A patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia was treated with Korean medicine including herbal therapy with Guibiondam-tang-gagam, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and chuna for 16 days. To evaluate the therapeutic effects, sleeping hours, time taken to fall asleep, and surprise on waking were assessed, and a numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to monitor dry mouth. Results: After treatment, the patient's sleeping hours increased, time taken to fall asleep decreased, and the patient woke up surprised less often. The NRS score for dry mouth also decreased. Conclusion: These results suggest that Korean medicine therapies with Guibiondam-tang-gagam have a beneficial effect on insomnia and dry mouth as additional symptoms of fibromyalgia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2022

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for patient with oculomotor nerve palsy. Methods : We treated a patient who had suffered from right. ptosis, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia and diagnosed with oculomotor nerve palsy with acupuncture(including pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture), moxibustion, cupping therapy. Photographs of eye movement were used to evaluate the changes in limitation of eye movement. We also evaluated symptoms such as diploma, ptosis. Results : After treatment, patient's symptoms such as limitation of eye movement, diplopia, ptosis were improved. There are no adverse effects and no relapse after treatments. Conclusions : This case report suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can be effective for patient with limitation of eye movement, diplopia, ptosis in oculomotor nerve palsy.