• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2009

Objectives: Ryodoraku diagnosis has been used frequently since Nakatani invented it in 1950. There are many papers about how to use Ryodoraku diagnosis in many diseases, but there are no studies about the repeatability and reproducibility of the Ryodoraku score. The aim of this study was to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of the Ryodoraku score. Materials and Methods: There were four examiners who trained for more than a month, and the number of subjects was twenty. Each of the examiners made Ryodoraku diagnosis for ten subjects three times. We analyzed data by SPSS, used Friedman test, Wilcoxon signer rank test and Spearman correlation test. Results: 1. There was no significant difference between first, second, and third Ryodoraku score by Friedman test in examiners A, B, C, and D, so there was repeatability. 2. There was very high correlation on first, second, third Ryodoraku score by Spearman correlation test in examiners A, B, C, and 0, so there was repeatability. 3. There was high ICC among Ryodoraku score by examiners B, C, and D, so there was reproducibility. 4. After observing four examiners' Ryodoraku diagnoses, we could see the discord of measure points, the amount of hydration before examination, the amount of pressure, examination time, or positions of subjects diagnosed with Ryodoraku incorrectly. Conclusion: There is repeatability and reproducibility of Ryodoraku diagnosis. However, it is still important that one examiner carry out the diagnosis if possible. When there are two or more examiners, they should train extensively and follow manuals.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.837-845
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• 2010

It has been shown that bilateral decrease of point H4,5,6 in Ryodoraku test is related with gastric dysmotility. This suggested that the system of Kyung-Rak related with anatomical gastric disease may not be the Stomach Meridian, in the view that the system of Kyung-Rak is similar to that of Ryodoraku, and which was not consistent with classical contents of Kyung-Rak principle. Therefore, this paper was done to investigate whether bilateral decrease of point H4,5,6 is a general sign of common gastric disease in Ryodoraku test and to study its relation between Kyung-Rak principle and autonomic nervous system as a mediator explaining Ryodoraku response. As shown in the results of this study, different electrical response of Ryodoraku between patients with dyspepsia of gastric dysmotility and gastric ulcer revealed discrepancy of location indicating anatomical stomach between Kyung-Rak principle and Ryodoraku and instability of explanation of autonomic nerve theory to Ryodoraku. Thus, it presented the possibility that artificial application of Kyung-Rak principle against Ryodoraku may destroy its originality in the clinical field. To correctly use Ryodoraku in the diagnosis or evaluation of disease, Ryodoraku test should be used according to Nakatani's suggestion and clinical indication of which is limited to the diseases complicated with dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Objectives: To interpret the meanings of Ryodoraku data and to use it as diagnosis tool, study on relationship between Ryodoraku and autonomic nervous reaction (ANR) has to be preceded prior to disease studies. This study aims to observe the change of Ryodoraku characteristics with ANR caused by treadmill exercise via a feasibility study. Methods: The electric current at 24 Ryodoraku points(H1~H6 at left/right wrists and F1~F6 at left/right feet) and vital signs were measured at rest, immediately after the treadmill exercise test, and at later recovery times(10min, 20min, 30min, 60min, 120min after the exercise test). The calculated Ryodoraku scores (RSs) were analyzed using repeated ANOVA test. Results: The RSs in the wrist Ryodoraku points were significantly increased immediately after the exercise (p<.05) and at 10min recovery time (p<.01), and no significant differences were found during the rest of the experimental sets. To the contrary, the RSs in the feet Ryodoraku points showed less difference throughout all the measurement time. Conclusions: The Ryodoraku characteristics change more sensitively in the wrists than in the feet in accordance with the previously reported sweat gland responses of the treadmill exercise. This is the first feasibility study to observe the change of Ryodoraku characteristics caused by treadmill exercise, and it shows the Ryodoraku characteristics are in accordance with known ANS responses.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of the Ryodoraku acupuncture device. For such device to be accepted as a good apparatus for clinical diagnosis, the score it provides should be stable no matter who measure it or when it is measured, assuming all other conditions equal. Materials and Methods : Three oriental medical doctors who were well trained and fully aware of the usage of the Ryodoraku acupuncture device examined ten randomly selected patients three times. Each doctor measured the Ryodoraku scores three times from each of the 10 selected patients. Three doctors were involved in this experiment to investigate the reproducibility and each of them measured the Ryodoraku scores three times from each patient to investigate the repeatability. Data was analyzed with Friedman test, Spearman correlation test, and intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC) in SPSS ver. 18. Results : 1. The Friedman test showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ryodoraku scores measured by the same examiner. It indicates that the Ryodoraku acupuncture device provides the repeatability. 2. Spearman correlation test confirmed the results obtained by the Fiedman test by showing that there exists a strong positive correlation between the three Ryodoraku scores measured by the same examiner. 3. A very high ICC among the three examiner assured that the Ryodoraku acupuncture device achieves the reproducibility. Conclusions : The Ryodoraku acupuncture device achieves the repeatability and reproducibility. However, we still recommend that a doctor trained to a certain level use the Device to carry out the diagnosis. Also, to improve the device in terms of Reproducibility even more, it should be considered to provide a manual for the exact usage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between Ryodoraku and carbon monoxide concentration during expiration of smokers. This study was designed as an exploratory observational study. This study was based on the hypothesis that increased levels of carbon monoxide in the smoker's breath may affect indicators that reflect the respiratory and circulatory systems in the Ryodoraku test. Methods: The participants were 49 people who smoked for over a year. They were examined at least one hour after their last smoking. They were tested in a stable state. When examining carbon monoxide during expiration, they breathed deeply, kept breathing for 20 seconds, and slowly exhaled. The Ryodoraku test was performed on its representative points of twelve meridians. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to investigate correlation between the concentration of carbon monoxide in the breath and the current in the measurement points. Results: The higher the carbon monoxide concentration in the exhalation, the significantly greater the current value of Lt H1·both H2·Lt H3·Rt H5, deviation of Lt H1·Lt H2·Lt H3 current value and the laterality between right and left current of H3. Conclusion: The more cigarette smoked, the more changes in heart, lung, pericardium and triple energizer meridians were observed in the Ryodoraku test. I found that increased carbon monoxide in smokers could affect the results of the Ryodoraku test.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.74-84
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the measurement results of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in Patient Using Sensitiv $Imago^{TM}$ (SI) and Ryodoraku. Methods We conducted SI test and Ryodoraku test to a 7-year-old DMD patient who visited to Oriental pediatrics, Kyung Hee Medical Center. Results We obtained SI and Ryodoraku test results from a DMD patient. Conclusions Further study with more samples is necessary to establish accuracy of SI in clinical use.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.535-542
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• 2008

Objectives : Ryodoraku, which is a physiological function test using electric current, is closely related to skin sympathetic tone. Pulse analysis is known to reflect cardiovascular reactivity. Refer to the previous researches Ryodoraku and pulse analysis have value as tools for diagnosing respiratory diseases. In this study we examined the diagnostic values of Ryodoraku and pulse analysis for respiratory disease patients. Methods : For this study. we conducted Ryodoraku and pulse analysis on 114 people, including 83 respiratory disease outpatients and 31 volunteers who did not have any respiratory symptoms or disease history. The respiratory patients were divided into three subgroups according to their symptoms: rhinorrhea group, cough-sputum group and wheezing-dyspnea group. Then we compared the disease groups with the control group. Results : When all experimental groups were compared with the control group, mean Ryodoraku was significantly lower. Mean H2, mean H3 and mean H6 were significantly lower in the rhinorrhea group (P<0.05), all the test results of Ryodoraku were evidently lower in the cough-sputum group (P<0.01), and most results of Ryodoraku were evidently lower in the wheezing-dyspnea group except H1 (P<0.01). Compared with the control group on pulse analysis, mean YP+/YP- was significantly lower in the wheezing-dyspnea group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Ryodoraku and pulse analysis were found to have a high value as quantitative diagnosis tools reflecting individuals' weakness and firmness. Nevertheless, more research is needed to find the further values.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.259-277
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate two subjects: the diagnostic value of bilateral lowering of electrical activity at point H4,5,6 of Ryodoraku and the mechanism for Ryodoraku phenomena. Methods : Electrical activities of Ryodoraku test and electrogastrography recorded simultaneously and monitored continuously from 16 cases of functional dyspeptic patients were collected and their variations were grouped by the topics of discussion which were peculiarity, stability, lagging, alterability, and anomaly. Ryodoraku recordings obtained from 6 patients with different gastrointestinal diseases and 1 normal healthy person were used as control. The results are discussed with Nakatani's suggestion, theory of sympathetic nerve and Meridian Principle, respectively. Finely, coincidence of stomach arrangement between anatomy and meridian system in Ryodoraku was also evaluated. Results : Time-course variation showed a regular relationship between the typical pattern of Ryodoraku at point H4,5,6 and gastric myoelectrical activity. However, an irregular relationship and atypical pattern of Ryodoraku occasionally appeared. A literature search suggested that electrical response at the Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 may be dependent on an afferent sympathetic spinal reflex transmitted from the stomach. However, there was no evidence for making clear whether bilateral lowering of electrical activity at this point was induced by hypofunction of local sympathetic nerve in the skin itself or of signals transmitted from the gastric sympathetic nerve or not. The coincidence of 19% could not provide a visceral arrangement of the stomach between anatomy and meridian systems. Conclusions : Bilateral lowering of electrical activity at Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 has value as a diagnostic index for gastric dysmotility of functional dyspepsia. This phenomenon is associated with spinal reflex transmitted from the afferent sympathetic nerve in the stomach but not that of meridian function.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2014

Objectives: Ryodoraku is a physiological function test using electric current. Since it can evaluate the patient's overall condition as well as a function of individual organs, Ryodoraku can be assumed as an effective way to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the values of Ryodoraku for diagnosing COPD. Methods: We designated a COPD group, who were over 40 and satisfying COPD criteria, $FEV_1$/FVC<0.7. The Control group also consisted of members over 40 years old but without COPD and any other lung disease. We conducted a comparative study by checking the Ryodoraku score (RS), the average of Rt.&Lt. H1 (mean H1), the mean difference value between both H1s (${\mid}H1^R-H1^L{\mid}$) and the ratio of patients whose RS was under 40. Then we investigated the correlation between the mean H1 and the results of pulmonary function test (PFT). Results & Conclusions: In the COPD group, RS, mean H1 and ${\mid}H1^R-H1^L{\mid}$ were significantly lower and the ratio of 'RS<40' patients was meaningfully higher than in the Control group. On the other hand, PFT seems not to be replaced by Ryodoraku since there was no correlation between mean H1 and the results of PFT. Though more experiments and researches are needed to be further confirmed, Ryodoraku is expected to be an adequate way for prediagnosing and following up the COPD patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.624-643
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between Ryodoraku and two pattern-identification questionnaires in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Methods: The study participants were 30 patients with BMS who visited the Oral Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee Oriental Medicine Hospital from June to November, 2019. The Ryodoraku test and two pattern-identification questionnaires were administered to all patients. Measurements included the average Ryodoraku score, which is called the Total Average (TA), and each score on the Ryodoraku point scale. The degree of Yin-deficiency, Qi-stagnation, and pain were assessed with the Yin-deficiency Questionnaire (YDQ), Qi-stagnation Questionnaire (QSQ), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively. Results: The average TA score was 29.90. The LF5 (p=0.013) and RF5 (p=0.016) scores were lower than the TA scores, and the RH5 (p=0.020) and RH6 (p=0.006) scores were higher than the TA scores. A negative correlation was detected between the YDQ scores and the LH1 (r=-0.366, p=0.046), LH2 (r=-0.507, p=0.004), LH3 (r=-0.374, p=0.042), RH1 (r=-0.361, p=0.050), RH2 (r=-0.403, p=0.027) points. The LF5 (p=0.050) and RF2 (p=0.048) scores were lower in the patients with Qi-stagnation patients than without Qi-stagnation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that low TA and Ryodoraku scores on LF5 and RF5 and high Ryodoraku scores on RH5 and RH6 could be quantitative indicators for the diagnosis of BMS. The LH1, LH2, LH3, RH1, RH2, LF5, and RF2 scores could also be an indicators for diagnosis of Yin-deficiency and Qi-stagnation in patients with BMS.