• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2023

■Objective The aim of this study is to report the effects of Korean medicine treatment on patients complaining of sensory disorder of Lateral medullary syndrome caused by lateral medullary infarction. ■Method The patient received Sogyeonghwalhyeoltang, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, TENS and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture treatment for 18 days. Abnormal sensation was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and sensory ataxia was evaluated using quantitative sensory evaluation for light touch, pain, and temperature, and then the sensation was evaluated using % compared with sensation felt when normal was 100%. Symptoms were evaluated over a total of 3 weeks on 2/7, 2/14, and 2/21. ■Results After treatment, NRS scores decreased both when the abnormal sensation was stable and when stimulated. The recovery score for sensory ataxia increased, with more pronounced recovery in the trunk area and slower recovery in the peripheral area. ■Conclusion This case shows that combined Oriental medicine treatment helps recover from sensory disorder in Lateral medullary syndrome.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1083-1091
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report a case of a woman with intractable hiccups after a traffic accident through Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A combination of treatments, including herbal medicine (Soshiho-tang), pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, Chuna, cupping, and moxibustion, was administered to the patient for 21 days. The frequency and duration of hiccups, the degree of body shaking, and total sleep time were measured daily. The accompanying symptoms were measured daily using the Visual Analogue Scale. Results: After Korean medicine treatment, Hiccup symptoms disappeared. Further, the degree of clinical symptoms and QOL improved significantly after Korean medicine treatment. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment can be an effective treatment for intractable hiccups after traffic accidents.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.830-836
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• 2023

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of using Korean medicine treatments on a patient with peripheral palsy with fatigue symptoms. Methods: A 58-year-old female patient with peripheral palsy and fatigue symptoms was treated with herbal medicine (Yikgeebohyul-tang), acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, Chuna manual therapy, and cupping therapy for 21 days. The treatment effects on peripheral palsy were evaluated using the Yanagihara and House-Brackmann grading systems. Results: Following treatment, the patient showed decreases in the House-Brackmann grading system and fatigue symptoms, as well as an improved Yanagihara grading system score. Conclusions: These results show that Korean medicine treatment improved the condition of a patient with peripheral palsy with fatigue symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.235-242
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to report the effects of Korean medicine treatment in baastrup's disease. We treated the patient for 34 days using Korean medicine treatment such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna manual therapy and help motion style acupuncture treatment. Numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol five dimension (EQ-5D) index, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and lumbar range of motion (ROM) were used as evaluation tools for the state. NRS decrease from 5 to 3, and EQ-5D index, ODI, L-spine ROM were improved by the treatment. In conclusion, this case study shows that Korean medicine treatment can be effective for baastrup's disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.126-139
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of insomnia treatment applied with Giungoroen-therapy in relieving adhesive capsulitis. Methods: There is a patient who has had insomnia symptoms for 2 years ago and complained of shoulder pain from 5 months ago. Korean medicine treatment like acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and Giungoroen -therapy was applied to this patient. As evaluation tools, the numeral rating scale(NRS), a tool for pain evaluation and the Insomnia Severity Index(ISI), a sleep quality evaluation tool, were used. After 12 days of treatment, the range of motion of the shoulder joint increased and the NRS score improved from 8 to 5 and the ISI score improved from 22 to 16. Conclusion: For the treatment of adhesive capsulitis, it can be effective to relieve insomnia by applying Korean medicine treatments, including Giungoroen-therapy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.112-124
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• 2023

Objectives: Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that negatively affects quality of life and health. It is associated with various disease and its prevalence is on the rise. Although various treatments for obesity are used, they have several adverse effects. Pharmacoacupuncture is a widely used method for treating various diseases and has the advantage of having fewer adverse effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the efficacy of pharmacoacupuncture in treating obesity. Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to August 2023. Only randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Intervention groups included pharmacoacupuncture. Control groups had no limitation. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI), and the secondary outcomes were body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), and adverse effects. Continuous outcome data were presented as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 139 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Results revealed that BMI ((MD)=-0.98, 95% CI -1.84 to -0.11, Z=2.22, P=0.03, I²=0%), WC (MD=-4.29, 95% CI -7.51 to -1.08, Z=2.62, P=0.009, I²=38%) were significantly improved in the intervention groups compared to control groups. Adverse effects were reported in two studies. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that pharmacoacupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for simple obesity. Further detailed studies should be conducted on effects of pharmacoacupuncture for obesity to increase reliability.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2024

This case report highlights the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine in treating chronic levator ani syndrome. A 47-year-old male suffered from chronic anorectal pain for 14 years. Over the last 5 months, the severity and frequency of the pain increased, and he was unresponsive to Western medicine and acupuncture outside Korea. The patient reported moderate anorectal pain from early morning until midday, affecting daily efficiency and concentration. The pain was triggered by defecation and alleviated by lying down. He was diagnosed with levator ani syndrome related to "cold symptoms of the liver and kidney - Yin", for which modified Nangan-jeon was prescribed. Indirect moxibustion (CV4, Ki1), Aconitum ciliare Decaisne pharmacopuncture (GV1, BL33), and acupuncture (HT7, ST36, SP6, LR3, LI4) were also administered weekly. After 8 weeks, the anorectal pain decreased by 2 points on a numeric rating scale, leading to patient satisfaction and return to his home country.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.71-83
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• 2024

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends in domestic and international clinical research on the Korean medicine for triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries and to contribute to future domestic research. Methods In this study, clinical studies on TFCC injuries treated with Korean medicine were searched through databases such as Research Information Sharing Service, ScienceON, DBpia, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Medline, and Embase. Fifteen clinical studies were selected, of which publication years, intervention methods, assessment tools, and various other factors were analyzed, including potential side effects. Results Among the selected 15 studies, total of 13 intervention methods were used. Electroacupuncture was the most frequently used method (40%), followed by herbal medicine (33%), acupuncture (26.7%), chuna manual therapy (26.7%), pharmacopuncture (20%), acupotomy (13%), herbal ointment (13%), hot medicinal compress therapy (13%) and etc. Most studies showed that Korean medicine treatments effectively alleviated TFCC injuries, with visual analogue scale being the most commonly used assessment tool. Conclusions Korean medicine treatments for TFCC injuries appears to be effective; however, further research is needed to enhance understanding. Large-scale clinical trials comparing the efficacy of Korean medicine treatments, along with investigations into side effects and recurrence rates are necessary. By doing so, the safety and efficacy of Korean medicine treatments for TFCC injuries can be further established.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1279-1293
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• 2023

A 67-year-old female patient diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis visited our hospital in February 2023. Consultation papers indicated that she was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis and that she complained of quadriparesis and numbness in both hands and feet. However, her spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not clearly indicate that she suffered from acute transverse myelitis. She was then sent to a high-level hospital and diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome through electromyography, cerebrospinal fluid test, and spine MRI. On March 2023, she visited our hospital again, still complaining about weakness in both hands and inability to walk. She was treated with Korean medicine, including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine such as Yanggyeoksanhwatang and Sipimijihwang-tanggami. After three months, she was discharged on cane walking. The manual muscle test (MMT) grade of her upper limbs increased from 3-/3-/3-/3- (shoulder/elbow/wrist/fingers) to 4/4/4/3+, and the MMT grade of her lower limbs increased from 2/2/2/2 (pelvis/knee/ankle/feet) to 4/4/4-/4-. Her numbness in both feet disappeared, and her numbness in both hands decreased from a numeric rating scale of 7 to 2. No adverse events were reported during treatment. This case implies the therapeutic potential of Korean medicine for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, especially for those who had delayed diagnosis and missed the opportunity to get plasma exchange.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aimed to predict the effectiveness and potential of Schizonepeta tenuifolia as an anticancer treatment for non-small cell lung cancer through network-based pharmacology and cellular experiment. Methods : To identify the major bioactive compounds in Schizonepeta tenuifolia, we used the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems. The target genes for the cancer treatment were selected using the UniProt database and the networked using Cytoscape. We performed functional enrichment analysis based on the Gene Ontology Biological Process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathways to predict the mechanisms. To investigate the effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia on lung cancer cell growth, we treated A549 cells, a lung cancer cell line, with different concentrations of the drug and used the MTT assay for cell viability. Results : Research has shown that the most effective mechanism of active compounds from Schizonepeta tenuifolia is through the pathway of cancer. The results of the network pharmacology analysis indicate that Schizonepeta tenuifolia has potential medicinal value as an adjuvant in anticancer treatment. The concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability was observed on A549 cells. Furthermore, synergistic anticancer activity with Doxorubicin was also observed. Conclusions : Through a network pharmacological approach, Schizonepeta tenuifolia was predicted to have potential as an anticancer agent, and its efficacy was experimentally demonstrated using A549 cells. These findings suggest that Schizonepeta tenuifolia is a promising candidate for future research.