• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2000

We treated a 53 year-old male patient. He had alcoholic liver cirrhosis and diabetes. The main symptoms were fatigue, ascites, edema, anorexia, indigestion, constipation, and abdominal pain. We diagnosed him as 'the retention of pathogenic damp-heat in the liver and gall bladder’ and adminstered Saenggangeonbi-tang three times a day. We observed clinical symptoms, liver function test(AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GT$, ALP, total bilirubin), nutritional state(total protein, albumin) and capillary blood glucose. After treatment, all the main symptoms disappeared and the patient's nutritional state has improved. Child's grade using the improvement index in liver cirrhosis has changed from B to A. Although the very mechanism of Saenggangeonbi-tang was not proven, we could suggest that Saenggangeonbi-tang is not toxic to the liver and has a good effect on alcoholic liver cirrhosis with diabetes mellitus.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.207-211
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• 2004

Recently a case of liver injury from ingestion of Taeyeumjowi-tang containing Ma-huang(Ephedra sinica stapf) arose. The patient, a 30 year-old woman, was diagnosed with asthenia and anorexia after 6 weeks of ingesting Taeyeumjowi-tang containing Ma-huang(Ephedra sinica stapf) as a treatment for her obesity. Tests showed elevated levels of serum transaminase(ALT 903 IU/L, AST 716 IU/L), alkaline phosphatase (229 IU/L), total bilirubin (1.4 mg/dl). Other possible causes of liver injury were excluded by laboratory test and medical history, so the liver injury was taken to be drug-induced. Saenggangeonbi-tang was administered. After 2 weeks of treatment with this medication, the clinical symptoms and liver function improved. This case is reported with a call for further accumulation of objective data on drug-induced liver injury, and to bring more attention to the relative levels of safety and toxicity of herbal medicines.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.17-21
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• 2014

Objectives : Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause a number of symptoms, such as tiredness, poor ability to tolerate cold, and weight gain. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of herbal medicine on hypothyroidism. Methods : We employed oriental medical treatments; herbal-medication (Saenggangeonbi - tang gamibang), acupuncture and moxibustion. At the same time, the patient started to exercise. We treated the patient two or three times a week with oriental therapy method. She took medicine three times a day after a meal. During taking medicine, we let the patient avoid fatty food, flour based food, and alcohol. The symptoms and normalization of the thyroxine and TSH levels are important points of evaluating the patient's condition. So the patient measured the body weight and took a blood test a time per two months and compared the results with previous results. Results : After taking treatment - acupuncture and moxibustion during 6 months - and taking herbal-medicine, the level of TSH, fT4, T4 and T3 became normalized. The body weight was decreased about 18 pounds. In advance, the symptom of tiredness, edema was much improved. Conclusion : Herbal medicine (Saenggangeonbi-tang gamibang) was effective in the treatment of hypothyroidism and it helped to normalize the level of TSH, fT4, T4 AND T3.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2011

Recently, acute toxic liver injury has been reported to be the most common cause of acute hepatitis. We witnessed one case of hepatic injury which suggested drug-induced hepatitis by herbal medication (Gamiyukgunja-tang). This patient, diagnosed cerebral infarction, was treated with herbal medication and physical therapy for improvement of right hemiparesis. In the course of treatment, this patient showed elevation of serum transaminase (ALT 129 IU/L, AST 150 IU/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALP 261 IU/L), and total bilirubin (2.0 IU/L), so we supposed toxic hepatitis by herbal medication. Saenggangeonbi-tang was administered for 8 days, ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin decreased within normal limits.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.777-783
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• 2021

Objective: This case report describes a patient who suffered a drug-induced liver injury and was treated with Saengganggeonbi-tang. Methods: A patient was treated with Korean herbal medicine, and the treatment effect was evaluated using liver function tests (LFT) to determine total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Results: The patient's LFT levels were normal on 27 July 2021 but became abnormal by 12 August 2021 after taking Western drugs. After 15 days of treatment with Saengganggeonbi-tang, the LFT levels had improved. Conclusion: This study shows that Saenggangeonbi-tang may be an effective treatment for drug-induced liver injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.726-732
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• 2016

Objective: To report the clinical effect of Korean medicine treatment in an adolescent patient diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with obesity. Methods: The patient was treated from July 9th, 2014 to August 7th, 2014. He was taking Saenggangeonbi-tang (生肝建脾湯) during the treatment period. He also undertook regular exercise and regulated his diet to reduce body weight. Results: The patient’s AST, ALT, and GGT levels were significantly decreased. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels were also decreased, and HDL level was increased. His body weight and body mass index (BMI) were decreased. Conclusions: The results suggest that Saenggangeonbi-tang with exercise and regulated diet could be an effective treatment for adolescent NAFLD with obesity in clinics.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2017

Objective: A general prejudice exists that all herbal medicines are not good for liver. We report that herbal medicine can have positive effects on the liver, based on the improved liver function test levels observed in one patient. We also suggest the effectiveness of co-administration of herbal and western medicines. Methods: We checked the liver function test levels of one patient measured on 12 July at another hospital. We identified worse levels on 7 August, when he was first admitted to Semyung University Hospital. We measured liver function test levels of the same patient after treatment with Korean herbal medicine on 14 and 21 August during hospitalization at Semyung Hospital. We compared the figures and evaluated the effectiveness of 'Saenggangeonbi-tang' herbal medicine in the liver. Results: The patient's liver function test levels were normal on 12 July, but had become abnormal by 7 August, when he was admitted to Semyung Hospital. The cause of liver dysfunction was suggested as Atorvastatin, one of the western drugs he had started to take. Continuous treatment with Korean herbal medicine resulted in a definite improvement in liver function. Conclusion: Korean herbal medicine can provide positive improvements in liver function test levels.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Objective : In modern society, liver diseases such as liver fibrosis are on the rise as inflammation and wound healing processes of the liver are repeated due to factors such as drinking, smoking, and stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Saenggangeonbi-tang (SGGBT) on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. Methods : The mice were divided into 4 groups for examination (n=6): Normal group (Nor), distilled water-treated liver fibrosis mice (Con), silymarin 50 mg/kg-treated liver fibrosis mice (Sily), SGGBT 200 mg/kg-treated liver fibrosis mice (S200). Liver fibrosis was established in the mice via TAA for 8 weeks (1 week 100 mg/kg, 2,3 weeks 200 mg/kg, 4-8 weeks 400 mg/kg, three times a week, intraperitoneal injection) and they were administered silymarin and SGGBT (every day, oral administration) with the TAA. Results : SGGBT significantly decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferanse, ammonia, and myeloperoxidase in serum increased by liver fibrosis. As a result of confirming H&E and MT staining, it was confirmed that SGGBT reduced damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and alleviated changes in collagen fiber deposition and histological fibrosis. Also, it was confirmed through PAS staining that it reduced glycogen deposition in liver tissue. In addition, SGGBT significantly decreased the NADPH oxidases as well as significantly modulated the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. Conclusions : These results suggest that SGGBT regulates the expression of MMP/TIMP protein through inhibition of oxidative stress and alleviates liver fibrosis by reducing collagen and glycogen deposition in liver tissue.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.459-466
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• 2005

Ascites is the retention of body fluids in abdominal cavity, which is induced by salt increase, and disorders in such things as water retention and albumin synthesis. Ascites are especially common in cases of progressed liver cirrhosis and metastatic cancer. One patient was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and Metastatic cancer at Rt. liver from Lt. ovarian tumor by abdominal CT. To measure the response to treatment of ascites, these clinical symptoms were observed: weight, abdominal circumference, and lab findings. Clinical symptoms and ascites were improved after oriental medical treatment. Abdominal circumference decreased. Results suggest oriental medical treatment was effective for this patient for this disease, but more extensive research is needed.