• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2021

Objectives : Source acupoint is one of the representative acupoints to treat various diseases in each meridian. We aimed to identify the patterns of selection of Source acupoints and their associations with diseases using clinical trials data. Methods : We extracted the frequency of Source acupoints across 30 diseases from clinical trials database. Acupuncture treatment regimens were retrieved from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The frequency of Source acupoint use was calculated as the number of studies using a certain acupoint divided by the total number of included studies. Using hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling, the characteristics of Source acupoints were analyzed based on the similarity of the relationships between the Source acupoints and the diseases. Results : A total of 421 clinical trials were included for this analysis. LR3, HT7, KI3, and LI4 acupoints were most frequently used for the treatment of 30 diseases. Cluster analysis showed that LR3 and LI4 acupoints were grouped together and HT7 and KI3 acupoints were grouped together. Multidimensional scaling revealed that LR3, LI4, HT7, and KI3 acupoints have intrinsic properties in the two-dimensional space. Conclusions : The present study identified the selection patterns of the Source acupoints using clinical trials data. Our finding will provide the understanding of the characteristics of Source acupoints.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of drinking alcohol on bio-electrical potential at twelve source points. Methods: Twenty healthy adults were assigned to alcohol and water groups by a random cross-over design. Bio-electrical potential at twelve source points were measured before and after drinking alcohol or water and the change of bio-electrical potential was analyzed and compared between the alcohol and the water groups. Results: Bio-electrical potential at LI4, ST42, KI3, PC7, TE4, GB40, LR3 in the alcohol group was significantly increased compared to those in the water group. Conclusions: Drinking alcohol increased bio-electrical potential at source points of LI, ST, KI, PC, TE, GB and LR in healthy human subjects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2014

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of smoking on the skin bioelectrical capacitance at specific acupoints of lung meridian. Methods : Bioelectrical capacitance was measured on bilateral six source points(bilateral LU10, LU9, LU7, LU6, LU5, LU1), and the changes with time and between left and right side were analyzed. Results : The skin bioelectrical capacitance at specific acupoints of lung meridian was significantly increased after smoking. And it recovered as time passed. The change of the skin bioelectrical capacitances at specific acupoints of lung meridian with time were similar between left and right. Conclusion : Smoking increases the bioelectrical capacitance at specific acupoints of lung meridian. There is no difference between the effects of smoking on the bioelectrical capacitance at left and right specific acupoints of lung meridian.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.179-187
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• 2014

Objectives : Saam acupuncture initiated by Saamdoin is traditional and originative method, which is characterized by applying the five phases theory and mother-child reinforcement-reduction principle to the selection of acupoints and needling manipulation. Our study was aimed to summarize and assess the use of acupoint SP3(Taebaek) in Saam acupuncture treatment and to further understand Saam acupuncture in an aspect of the combination of acupoints. Methods : We searched the data based on "(Do Hae Kyo Kam) Sa-Ahm's acupuncture method" for SP3 used and acupoint combination including SP3. We performed frequency analysis, network analysis, and cluster analysis for quantitative aspect. To understand clinical implication of SP3 with another acupoint, qualitative and descriptive methods were also carried out. Results and Conclusions : In our study, SP3 was frequently used for tonification of lung, spleen, heart, and kidney meridian and sedation of kidney, heart, and lung meridian. For this, many acupoints such as LU8, LU9, KI3, HT8, KI7, LU10 and LR1 were used with SP3. The combination of SP3 and other acupoints were used to treat stroke, common cold, and pain conditions including headache, low back pain, respiratory disease as well as gastroenteric troubles including stomachache, indigestion, vomiting, and constipation. To further understand Saam acupuncture, an understanding of the five transport points based on five elements characters, pathological changes (deficiency and excess) of viscera and bowels, and concept of source point should be preceded.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate current status researches and to provide source in setting development strategy on Liver-tonification acupuncture(LTA) and Liver-sedation acupuncture(LSA). Methods : We searched databases of Pubmed, KISS, OASIS, Google scholar and CNKI up to February 2017. We included articles that using LTA or LSA as main treatment, using the partial acupoints combination of LTA or LSA, or using each acupoint of LTA or LSA. We analyzed disease, details of acupuncture and control treatment and clinical outcomes from included studies. Results and Conclusions : Among the included clinical studies, case report was the most used methodology. LTA used to treat obesity, myopia, bartholinitis, tinnitus, hiccup and sleep disorder, prostate cancer and tremor. LSA used to treat panic disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowl syndrome, herpes zoster and neuralgia. Obesity and tremor were the most studied diseases using LTA or LSA. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was the only disease which LTA or LSA have no therapeutic effect. Each acupoints was not used as a meaning of Saam acupuncture but as affiliated meridian acupoint. Since animal researches were not fully conducted, mechanism of LTA and LSA was hard to be proved. Thus, more clinical studies and basic animal research are needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Objectives : The object of this study is to investigate the balance/imbalance of skin capacitances between left and right meridians, and to analyze the change patterns of electric energy on meridians with the lapse of time. Method : Electric potential was measured on five source points (LU9, PC7, HT7, LI4, SI4) bilaterally for 4 hours. The energy balance/imbalance between left and right was investigated, and the change patterns with time were analyzed. Results and Conclusions : The amplitude of meridian energy on five source points and the energy balance/imbalance between left and right were varied in each individual. When a source point showed a balanced meridian energy bilaterally, the change patterns of meridian energy with time were similar between left and right. While, when it showed an imbalanced energy between left and right, the change patterns of meridian energy were also different between left and right. Through this study, we proposed a new diagnostic method of meridian energy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 2005

Objective : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to several acupoints and non-acupoint in CFA-induced knee arthritis was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is arthritis. Arthritis was induced by injection of CFA $125\;{\mu}l$ into knee joint cavity under enflurane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee. EA was applied to either of $LR_2,\;LI_4$, or non-acupoint on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 4 h. Results : EA applied to $LR_2$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the affected foot lasting for at least 2 h. However, neigher $LI_4$ point nor non-point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on CFA-induced knee arthritic pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a point, $LI_4$ or non-acupoint. In addition, both NO production and iNOS protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA applied to $LR_2$ point. Conclusion : These data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect in the rat model of CFA-induced knee arthritis. This analgesic effect is produced by applying EA to an acupoint at opposite side from the painful area in a stimulus point-specific way.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.153-164
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Methods: We searched articles from Academic Journals(CAJ) online databases, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Searching key words were '前列腺增生', '熱敏灸' and '열민구', '전립선비대'. The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Among the articles published to 2020, 10 articles were found. After review the title, abstract and original, 3 articles were selected finally to rule out treatment combined with completely different treatments. Result: The Heat-sensitive moxibustion at acupoints in the treatment of Benign prostatic hyperplasia were significantly superior to control group after treatment in the symptoms of patients, IPSS, QOL, PVR and Qmax(P<0.05). The Heat-sensitive moxibustion can significantly reduce the incidence of temporary urinary incontinence after Transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) and improve life quality and satisfaction of patients(P<0.05). The individualized desensitization saturated time and amount of Heat-sensitive moxibustion is superior effective to general amount and time of traditional moxibustion in the total effective rate, IPSS, Ru and Qmax(P<0.01) for Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conclusion: Heat sensitive moxibustion directly transfer heat to the source of a disease. So it can be considered as a good treatment for Benign prostate hypertrophy. It was also shown a better effect on BPH compared to traditional moxibustion, According to the thermo principles of tumor, if the tumor cell's death temperature of 43℃ is reached, that can cause tumor degeneration. Therefore I think Heat sensitive moxibustion can be applied to various tumor disease. The results of this study could be applied to clinical treatment of BPH. However, additional large-scale clinical researches should be conducted.