• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-148
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• 2007

Yoshimasu Todo(吉益東洞) said in his book Yakucho, that Ramulus Cinamoni(桂枝) cures ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆). Here, the meaning of ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆) is not obvious. The objective of this thesis was to discover the exact meaning of ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆), through the analysis of Todo's books, and specifically the publication Yakucho(藥徵). Todo hadn't used the term ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆) from the beginning. He had used the term together with ascending adversely of poison(上逆) and ascending adversely of qi(上氣) in the early stage and had united the term into ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆) in the middle stage. From this study, it was determined that ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆) is the combined terms of ascending impulsively of poison(上衝) and ascending adversely of poison(上逆). Considering his view of illness, Todo had explained that every disease is caused by poison in the body. It was appropriate for him to use the term ascending impulsively & adversely of poison(衝逆) when he described the state of attacking and resisting in the body.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.213-215
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• 2009

The thoracic diaphragm is a muscle tissue separating the thorax and abdomen of a man. In "Somun(素問)", Gyeok(鬲) means diaphragm. Its meaning comes from Gyeok(鬲), a tripod boiler with three separated parts for cooking. In "Yeongchu", Gyeok(膈) is a pictophonetic character which takes the place of Gyeok(鬲). The different uses of the two words probably does not come from the original writing, but result from longtime transformation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 2011

1. Objectives : This study aimed to provide practical insights on the development of traditional Korean medical tourism and maximize the satisfaction of foreign patients. The main objectives of this study were also to evaluate Sasang Constitutional Medicine(S.C.M.) diagnosis cost from foreigners' perspectives. 2. Methods : For this study, the data were collected from tourists to Korea between January 3, 2010 to February 20, 2010. The sample used in this study was mainly composed of Japanese, Chines and US/Canada, because they are the major national visitor origin group to Korea. The primary data were collected by questionnaire survey using a standardized instrument with a convenience sampling procedure, and efforts of the interviews involved an on-site, self-administrated questionnaire to those sitting or visiting tourist attractions. The total size of the sample was 276 of which 275 showed no missing value against the factors needed for final analysis and were for analysis as an effective sample. SPSS 13.0 for window was used to analyze the collected data on which descriptive statistics and the Limited Dependent(LIMDEP) 8.0 program was used in estimating the willingness-to-pay(WTP) for traditional Korean medical tourism through the Contingent Valuation Method(CVM). A dichotomous choice question form of a CVM was applied to estimating the value. 3. Results and Conclusion: 1. There was significant statistical relationship between attributes when considering medical tourism destination and socio-demographic profiles such as age group, nationality, educational level and occupation. 2. In the level of recognition on Korean medicine, north Americans showed low level of recognition compared to other nationalities. In addition, in terms of age group, 20's and 30's showed low level of recognition on Korean medicine, 3. In relation to the level of interest on Korean medicine, Japanese respondents had higher interesting level on Korean medicine. Also singles had higher level of interest. 4. Regarding preferred Korean medical treatment program, there found significant statistical relationship between Korean medical treatment program and socio-demographic characteristics. 5. The estimating result of the logit model showed that the variables affecting the WTP for Sasang Constitutional medicine diagnosis were offered price and potential ability of medical tourism destination. 6. In relation to WTP for Sasang Constitutional medicine diagnosis, Japanese respondents showed a WTP of USD 62.69 and Chinese respondents showed USD 57.09. On the other hands, respondents from north America and other countries showed a WTP of USD 65.50. In conclusion, from this study, the results found that the opportunities in tradition Korean medical tourism are immense and the possible rewards are numerous. It is time to continue to promote 'Sasang Constitutional medicine' and make the Korean medical tourism programs considering on nationalities, age group, gender and WTP.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.372-388
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• 2018

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Using the keywords "benign prostatic hyperplasia", "benign prostatic hypertrophy", "benign prostatic enlargement", "prostatic hyperplasia", and "moxibustion", we searched papers in numerous databases, including National Discovery for Science Leaders (NDSL), Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal (KTKP), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL. The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Papers not matched with inclusion criteria were excluded. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Where appropriate, meta-analyses were performed. Results: Initially, 77 studies were found. Of these, 11 duplicate studies were removed and 27 were excluded following title and abstract screening. After the remaining 39 papers were scanned, 13 RCTs were selected and analyzed. Among these 13 RCTs, five compared moxibustion therapy and oral medication, seven compared moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy and oral medication, and one compared moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy and sham-moxibustion. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of moxibustion therapy in terms of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality Of Life (QOL), Maximum Flow Rate (Qmax), Prostate Volume (PV), and the efficacy rate. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of moxibustion plus acupuncture therapy in terms of IPSS, QOL, and the efficacy rate. Conclusions: This meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that moxibustion is effective intreating BPH patients. The results of this study could be applied to clinical treatment of BPH. However, additional large-scale clinical researches should be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for nocturnal crying. Methods We conducted search across the 3 electronic databases (Pubmed, CAJ and Oasis) to find all of randomized controlled clinical trials(RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy as a treatment for nocturnal crying. The methodological quality of each RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and nRCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study tool. Results Two RCTs and three nRCTs met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of Chuna manual therapy in terms of the efficacy rate when compared to medication treatments alone. Positive results were also obtained, in terms of the efficacy rate, when comparing Chuna manual therapy combined with acupoint application therapy to Chuna manual therapy alone, but was not statistically significant. Conclusions Our systematic review found encouraging but limited evidence of Chuna manual therapy for nocturnal crying. We recommend clinical trials which compare the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy with usual care to obtain stronger evidence without the demerits of trial design.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

Objectives : To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy for functional dyspepsia. Methods : We conducted search across the 3 electronic databases (Pubmed, CAJ and Oasis) to find all of randomized controlled clinical trials(RCTs) that used Chuna manual therapy as a treatment for functional dyspepsia. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : Thirteen RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of Chuna manual therapy combined with medication treatments in terms of the efficacy rate when compared to medication treatments alone. Positive results were also obtained, in terms of the efficacy rate, when comparing Chuna manual therapy combined with medication plus specific electromagnetic therapy to medication treatments alone. Conclusions : Our systematic review found encouraging but limited evidence of Chuna manual therapy for functional dyspepsia. However, to obtain stronger evidence without the drawbacks of trial design and the quality of studies, we recommend sham-controlled RCTs or comparative effectiveness research to test the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.5
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• 2013

Hypertension induces many of the social costs related by cardiovascular diseases. Sodium is known as a crucial factor in inducing type I hypertension. In traditional Korean medicine, bamboo salt (BS) has been used in the attenuation of salts toxic coldness and nowadays it has shown various therapeutic effects. It contains mostly sodium chloride (about 91.7% of BS); however, the effect of BS on hypertension is still not completely understood. Thus, we investigated the effect of BS on blood pressure for the first time. Two group of BS, sun-dried salt (SDS), NaCl, or distilled water (DW, vehicle control) was administrated orally for 8 weeks. Although BS had no effect on body weight and food intake, it increased water intake (p < 0.05). The BS groups, in terms of blood pressure, was similar to the DW group; whereas the SDS and NaCl groups showed significantly increased blood pressure levels (p < 0.05). BS also decreased sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC) mRNA expression, unlike SDS or NaCl. These observations indicate that BS may be a promising strategy for the prevention of various diseases including salt-related diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.26-49
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze the equity of health care utilization by income groups in terms of both quantity and quality of care, which is measured by expenditure, type of care, and type of health care institutions. Equity in health care utilization is measured by HIwv index, based on the survey of 1,480 Gwangju-Jeonnam residents. Health care utilization in terms of the probability and quantity of outpatient and inpatient care show equitable or pro-poor inequitable distribution, whereas the distribution of health care expenditure, which can account for the quality of care, is pro-rich inequitable, implying that the better off tend to use more expensive medical care. In terms of the types of care, simple visits for basic care show equitable distribution, whereas the distribution of the utilization of traditional tonic medicine, comprehensive health examination, CT, MRI, and ultrasound is pro-rich inequitable. Utilization of general hospitals and traditional health institutions show pro-rich inequitable distribution, hospitals and dental care institutions equitable, and physician clinics and public health centers pro-poor inequitable.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.46-55
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• 2013

Objectives: Classifying the pattern of jaundice during diagnosis will significantly improve the outcome of common KM interventions. This study aimed at determining an objective index for accurately diagnosing heat and dampness KM patterns in patients with jaundice. Methods: We systematically reviewed laboratory findings from case reports published in the scientific literature of Korean medicine. Cases were classified as following either the heat or dampness pattern. Biochemical indices were compared using a Bayesian factor (BF) analysis and standard t-tests. Results: The laboratory findings of 32 patients were evaluated. The heat pattern was observed in 17 patients and the dampness pattern in 15. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of white blood cell count (BF=1.659); hemoglobin concentration (BF=2.627); platelet count (BF=1.019); or levels of direct bilirubin (BF=1.453), aspartate aminotransferase (BF=1.226), alanine aminotransferase (BF=1.340), alkaline phosphatase (BF=2.344), or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (BF=2.782). However, total bilirubin levels were significantly higher in the dampness pattern group (BF=0.854, P-value=0.070). Conclusions: Patients with high total bilirubin levels may predominantly follow the dampness pattern, while those with low levels may predominantly follow the heat pattern. These results are expected to be useful for the development of timely and efficient KM treatments as well as new integrative therapeutic approaches for jaundice. However, further studies are essential to fully validate the utility of total bilirubin as a biomarker for differentiating between heat and dampness patterns.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.153-173
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to ascertain what should be considered in the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Lung Cancer" by analyzing the existing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: The committee searched guidelines and clinical trials about herbal medicine for lung cancer. The searched trials were analyzed in terms of inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparator, outcomes and trial design. Then, we compared the results of our analysis with the guidelines to identify the issues we will have to consider when making the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Lung Cancer". Several guidelines for anti-tumor agents and clinical trials with herbal medicine were searched on the national institution homepage. The search terms were as follows: 'lung neoplasm', 'herbal medicine', 'Medicine, Korean traditional', 'Medicine, Chinese Traditional' etc. Results: There was no guideline for clinical trial with herbal medicine for lung cancer. In addition, 7 articles were searched through database searching. All the participants had non-small cell lung cancer. The type of intervention was decoction. Comparators included conventional treatments such as chemotherapy. The outcome measurements used in the studies were quality of life, tumor response, and survival duration, etc. Safety was evaluated by recording adverse events and blood test. Conclusions: Findings were made by reviewing existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials for lung cancer and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized in the development of "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Lung Cancer".