• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.251-263
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical research trends in the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Korean medicine (KM). Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Google Scholar and five Korean databases through May 2019, for studies on KM to treat PTSD. Clinical research that conducted KM treatment of PTSD patients were included. Two researchers independently conducted study selection and data extraction process. Results: Totally, eight studies were included in this review. Types of traumatic events that patients experienced included physical violence/threatening, traffic accidents, sexual violence and personal tragic events. KM interventions performed included acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, physical therapy, and KM-based psychotherapy. Treatment duration varied from two days to more than five months. Follow-up began at least one week to three months after the end of treatments. It was reported that the major psychological and/or somatic symptoms of PTSD, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and musculoskeletal pain, subjectively improved, as well as other objective outcomes: Impact Event Scale-Revised Korean version (IES-R-K), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hwabyung Symptoms/characters, Electroencephalography (EEG) change, etc. Statistical studies were conducted in three studies only. Outcomes such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), BDI, and IES-R-K showed statistically significant improvement after KM treatments. There was no study reporting adverse events during or after the interventions. Conclusions: According to this review, diverse types of KM treatments have been used among PTSD patients in eight studies. The KM treatments effectively improved psychological and somatic symptoms of PTSD patients. However, the lack of high quality research as well as the lack of standardization of KM treatments for PTSD are limitations. Further methodologically robust clinical trials should be performed, and the standardization of KM treatments for PTSD should be sought.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.253-257
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• 2005

In our previous study, Soamsan, a traditional Oriental medicine, was shown to enhance the induction of antigen-specific immune responses, and it was speculated that the enhancing activity might be closely associated with glycoproteins contained within the medicine. To elucidate this speculation, protein samples from each component, used in the preparation of Soamsan, were obtained and their immune stimulating activities were tested with mouse splenocytes. All the samples markedly enhanced the lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion by the mouse splenocytes. In particular, the enhancement was significantly higher with the protein sample treatments than with those of the original crude sample. Furthermore, the pronase E- and $NaIO_4$-mediated inhibition of splenocyte-stimulation activity of the protein samples clearly supported that glycoproteins are the main class of active ingredients responsible for the lymphocyte stimulating activity of the samples. Consequently, our findings suggest that glycoproteins might have a pivotal role in Soamsan-mediated immune modulation, although the in vivo effect of the glycoproteins should be further elucidated.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2014

A 30 year old female patient suffering from metabolic syndrome, who was diagnosed with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and diabetes 2 years ago, was treated with Traditional Korean Medicine including acupuncture, herbal medicine and tuina for one month. After the treatments, her fasting blood sugar level was remarkably decreased (from $304mg/d{\ell}$ to $74mg/d{\ell}$). And the levels of blood lipids were decreased as well ; the level of TG was decreased from $330mg/d{\ell}$ to $90mg/d{\ell}$, the level of total cholesterol was decreased from $217mg/d{\ell}$ to $111mg/d{\ell}$, the level of LDL was decreased from $119mg/d{\ell}$ to $53mg/d{\ell}$). The waist circumference was also decreased from 96 cm to 90.5 cm. Korean Medical therapies may bring a new clue for the treatment of metabolic syndrome with diabetes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1576-1580
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• 2007

Aralia cordata Thunb. (Araliaceae, ACT) is an remarkable herbal plant that has been widely used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular disorders. In this study, we have established a vascular aging model in rats by orally administrating excessive vitamin $D_2$ (500,000 IU/kg/day) for 4 days followed by feeding high cholesterol diet for 16 weeks and then rats were randomly divided into control group, high cholesterol diet (HCD) group, HCD+ACT (30 mg/kg) and HCD+ACT (60 mg/kg) group. ACT (30, 60) significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) content compared with HCD, but no significant differences in the serum lipids. Secondly, we measured the serum levels of Oxidized Low-dencity Lipoprotein (OxLDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in order to further investigate the anti-vascular aging mechanism of ACT. The results, ACT (30, 60) treatments decreased OxLDL, MDA　content　and increased Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity compared with HCD treatments. The results suggested that ACT inhibited OxLDL production rather than serum lipids lowering and that ACT could be used as potential anti-atherosclerotic agent in aged cells.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2018

Background: Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) is widely used to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea; however, studies investigating factors that influence the use of TKM are scarce. Thus, we investigated the clinical factors that might influence the use of TKM. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional, multicenter survey was performed from August 2014 to May 2016. The history of TKM use, type and severity of CP, current treatment characteristics, presence of accompanying disabilities or other health problems not directly related to CP, and monthly cost for the treatment of CP were surveyed. Results: In total, 182 children were recruited, and 78 children (42.9%) had used TKM. Among these 78 children, 50 (64.1% of the TKM-use group) had used both acupuncture and herbal medication, 15 (19.2%) had used acupuncture only, and 13 (16.7%) had used herbal medication only. Children with non-typical CP, accompanying disabilities and general health problems tended to use TKM. The monthly cost of treatment for CP was significantly higher in the TKM-use group than that in the no-TKM-use group, suggesting that economically disadvantaged children may have difficulty in accessing TKM. Dietary supplements, conventional pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation therapies did not affect TKM use. Conclusion: Children with non-typical symptoms or those with poor overall health status are likely to use TKM. Additionally, TKM use leads to increased treatment costs. Studies investigating the motivation for starting or ceasing TKM therapy, socioeconomic factors and the attitude of parents towards complementary and alternative medicine should be performed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the research trend of Korean traditional medicine for musculoskeletal disorders related to wrist and hand under Korean healthcare facilities. Methods We collected data from search engines for research including foreign and domestic online database using the keywords ligament tendon, wrist sprain, tendinitis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel, ganglion cyst, de Quervain's and Raynaud. Results A total of 45 articles were about ligament tendon, wrist sprain, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cyst, de Quervain's tenosynovitis and Raynaud disease. Out of 45 articles, 20 articles were about carpal tunnel syndrome and the most commonly used measurement was visual analog scale. Conclusions This study shows the research trend of musculoskeletal disorders related with the wrist and hand. Through the collected data, the treatment methods and specific information of treatments were organized. This study can be used in clinical environments and will contribute for further study in musculoskeletal disorders related with the wrist and hand.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.396-402
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• 2018

Hataedock (HTD) treatment is a traditional preventive therapy for the fetal toxicosis- the acute allergic disease after childbirth, mainly manifested by a variety of skin allergies such as scab, phlegm. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HTD treatments for the alleviation of inflammation in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced obese NC/Nga mice. 20 mg/kg of Coptidis Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix (CRGR) extracts as a remedy of HTD treatments were orally administered to NC/Nga mice. We induced obesity in the mice by high-fat diet. To induce skin allergies, the extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae were topically applied on the NC/Nga mice at 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks. Structural and molecular changes in the skin tissues were measured by immunohistochemical staining. HTD treatment decreased the atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms including hemorrhage, erythema, erosion, edema, and dryness. HTD treatment suppressed the mast cell activation confirmed by reduction of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, substance P, and serotonin. The expression of several inflammatory mediators including nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) was also decreased by HTD treatment. HTD treatment suppressed the allergic, inflammatory responses in the skin tissues of the NC/Nga mice by reducing mast cells and down-regulating several inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

In South Korea, traffic accident patients can be treated under automobile insurance coverage. This study investigated the status of Korean medicine (KM) Automobile insurance system and usage status of main pharmacopuncture in KM clinic which reported that the largest number of automobile insurance fee claims among medical institutions. We surveyed 258 traffic accident patients who were treated at Namsangcheon KM clinic from 2014 to 2018 according to medical chart. The majority of the patients were male and thirties. In traffic accident situation, the highest distribution was car to car crash with 85.66% and 66.67% of the patients visited in the most acute phase. The most frequent treatment period was within 4 weeks and the number of treatments was 10 or less with 72.87%. In total results of treatment, the distribution was exellent with 10.08%, good with 46.90%, fair with 27.13% and poor with 15.89%, and the effective rate was 84.11%. The most frequent treatment period was within 4 weeks with 64.73% and the number of treatments was 10 or less with 72.87%. Of the 242 patients who received pharmacopunture, 91.5% were treated with HO, which was named after Honghwaja and TA, which was named after traffic accidents, and there were significant differences in the number of treatments and symptom improvement between the two groups. In this study, we confirmed the status of automobile insurance treatment and usage of main pharmacopuncture of single KM clinic with symptom improvement. This study can be regarded as one of the basis of KM treatment for the rapidly growing automobile insurance market.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2002

Objective : There are little report on treatment of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis(DISH) in Traditional Korean Medicine. We suggest to treat DISH with a Korean Bee-Vonom Therapy and would like to suggest treatment plan for the further treatments. Methods : Under the assumption that Korean Bee-Venom Therapy may be affective for treatment DISH, the following points were administreted :Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue Results : After 14 weeks of treatment-especailly Korean Bee-Venom Therapy, a remarkable improvement was made for DISH. Conclusion : Significant improvement in DISH was obtained with through Korean Bee-venom Therapy, Four needle technique, Common Acupucture Treatment and Herbal medication. Although this case yielded favorable result, more study should be made to prove the effectiveness of Korean Bee-Venom Therapy for treating DISH.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.119-126
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Traditional Korean medical treatments on syringoma. Methods : We used herbal medication, acupuncture and cupping therapy for treatment. To evaluate the results of the treatment, we observed the patient's photoscopic findings. Results : The patient's objective symptoms showed noticeable improvement after treatment for 24days. We also found to be in good condition 21days after the treatment. Conclusions : Korean medical treatment was effective to improve the syringoma symptoms. It is necessary to have more cases and long term observation.