• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.124-152
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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 Colorectal Cancer" by analyzing the existing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: The development committee searched guidelines for herbal medicinal products for colorectal cancer that have already been developed. Then, clinical trials for colorectal cancer using herbal medicine were searched. 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 regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in order to identify the issues we will have to consider when making the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Colorectal Cancer". Several guidelines for anti-tumor agents and clinical trials with herbal medicinal products were searched on the national institution homepage. In addition, 12 articles were searched using a combination of the following search terms: 'colorectal neoplasms', 'herbal medicine', 'Medicine, Korean traditional', 'Medicine, Chinese Traditional', 'medicine, East Asian medicine', 'medicine, Kampo', etc. Results: The characteristics of participants were various, such as people with medical histories of surgeries or recurrent cancers or who complained of chemotherapy-induced side effects. The types of interventions were also various and included decoctions, powders, intravenous fluids, intraperitoneal injections and gargles. Comparators used included placebos and conventional treatments. The outcome measurements used in the studies were quality of life, symptom score, tumor response, and survival duration, etc. Safety was evaluated by recording adverse events. Conclusions: Findings were made by reviewing existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials for colorectal cancer and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized in the development of the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Colorectal Cancer".

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48-63
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to review the recent clinical research trends of the effects of herbal medicine treatment on chronic pancreatitis in China. Methods: We searched for clinical studies about chronic pancreatitis from the China Academic Journal (CAJ) of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from January 1, 2005, to August 1, 2016. Results: Thirty-seven papers were selected from 126 studies. The most commonly used herbal prescriptions included Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), Paeoniae Radix Alba (白芍藥), Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草), Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Aucklandiae Radix (木香), and Rhei Rhizoma (大黃). Qingyi-tang (淸胰湯) was the most frequently used herbal prescription. Clinical symptoms, physicochemical examination, radiological examination, and relapse were used to evaluate the treatments. The effective treatment rate was 77.5-100%, and effectiveness in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group in 15 papers (p<0.05). Conclusions: Herbal medicine treatment has been shown as an effective treatment for chronic pancreatitis. In the future, more scientifically designed clinical studies should be performed to prove the effectiveness of herbal medicine treatment on chronic pancreatitis. These research results can be utilized in other clinical studies and in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2013

Objective : This study was done to define the treatment protocol of Traditional Korean Medicine for persistent allergic rhinitis, which might be necessary for conducting PRCT study. Methods : Data were collected by questionnaire from Korean Medicine doctors participated in the Conference of The Korean Oriental Medical Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology Society in October 2012. We investigated their treatment procedures for persistent allergic rhinitis in ordinary clinical settings. Their treatment patterns including annual treatment period, frequencies and treatment times were also investigated. Finally, we combined the national insurance covered or out-of-pocket treatments as treatment packages according to the response rates of each contents, and displayed them as treatment protocols for PRCT study. Results : 50 Korean medicine doctors described the informed consent and questionnaire. Response rates of each treatment procedure were listed in Table 2 to Table 5. Treatment periods, frequencies and treatment time of each visit were listed in Table 6. Finally, treatment packages which would be defined for PRCT were listed in Table 7 as treatment package 1(response rates were over 50%), package 2(response rates were over 25%), package 3(response rates were over10%). Conclusion : These results provide the rational background and preliminary sources of defining treatment packages for developing PRCT protocols.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report on the effectiveness of Korean medicine to improve symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Some patients are treated with medication, but medications may have no effect in some patients. Korean medicine treatments have been used in such patients, but few reports exist. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old female patient with CIPN reported symptoms of bilateral limb pain and tingling sensations as well as cold sensations in bilateral lower legs and hands, fatigue, and bilateral limb weakness. To reduce the patient's symptoms, we provided Korean medical treatment, including herbal medicine (Uchashinki-hwan), acupuncture, and moxibation. To evaluate the results of this treatment, we used a numeric rating scale (NRS), the manual muscle test (MMT), the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire about CIPN (EORTC-QLQ-CIPN20). After 49 days of treatment, the NRS scores decreased for bilateral limb pain and tingling, for bilateral lower leg and hand cold sensation, and for fatigue. The MMT results for the upper and lower extremities were improved. CTCAE Grade and EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score were also decreased. Conclusion: According to these results, Korean medicine treatment may be considered an effective treatment for CIPN. Prospective studies are needed in the future to confirm and expand these findings.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of Korean medicine (KM) treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: There were 61 patients who were diagnosed with SIS in the Jaseng hospital network of KM (7 hospitals located in Korea: Gangnam, Daejeon, Bucheon, Haeundae, Bundang, Ulsan, and Gwangju) between January 1^st, 2015 and December 31^st, 2020 who were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped according to complications, intake of analgesics, duration of illness preadmission, and treatment. Treatments consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping, Chuna, pharmacopuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, medicinal steaming, Daoyin exercises, and physical therapy. By comparing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire scores, the effectiveness of integrated KM treatment was evaluated. Results: There were 14 males and 47 females. For inpatients diagnosed with SIS, the mean NRS score decreased from 5.78 ± 1.33 to 3.40 ± 1.43 (p < 0.001). The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index score decreased from 53.87 ± 14.76 to 38.56 ± 18.87 (p < 0.001), and the mean European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions questionnaire increased from 0.67 ± 0.13 to 0.76 ± 0.09 (p < 0.001) after KM treatment. Medicinal steaming (0.398; p < 0.001), acupuncture (0.290), cupping (0.288), bee venom pharmacopuncture (0.282), and Daoyin exercises (0.262; p < 0.05) had a positive correlation with improved changes in the NRS score. Conclusion: Conclusion: Treatment with integrated KM treatment improved the pain, range of motion, shoulder function, and quality of life of patients with SIS.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Objective: Constraint induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) is a more intensive form of language treatment for aphasia as compared to traditional treatments. This study examined whether there are differences in cortisol stress levels between the two methods of aphasia treatment as well as effects on language skills. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 20 participants with expressive aphasia were randomly placed into one of the two treatment groups. The CIAT group received 10 days of intensive treatment over two weeks. The traditional therapy group received 6 days of treatment over 2 weeks. All participants in each group provided salivary cortisol samples before treatment, at the mid-point of treatment, and at the conclusion of treatment. Language skills were assessed before treatment and at the conclusion of treatment. Results: A significantly higher proportion of individuals in the CIAT treatment group had increased salivary cortisol stress levels when compared to the traditional treatment group at the mid-point of the program (80% versus 30% respectively, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of individuals with increased cortisol stress by the end of the treatment. Language scores for word repetition and overall aphasia quotient significantly improved for the CIAT group when compared to the traditional group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The CIAT treatment appears to initially create increased psychophysiological stress as compared to the traditional treatment. In spite of the initial increases in psychophysiological stress, participants appear to become conditioned to the challenge and ultimately have enhanced benefit from CIAT treatment.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.129-140
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to report the results of applying philosophical counseling to Hwabyung. Methods: At the time of the medical examination, 15 minutes or more of philosophical counselling method based on self-identity was conducted if possible. Additionally, We applied Hwabyung treatment guidelines (acupuncture, herbal medicine, etc.) to the patient If diagnosed as necessary. We evaluated visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Hwabyung scale, and Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL 90-R) at baseline, and reassessed VAS and Hwabyung scale after about two weeks of treatments. Results: After about two weeks of treatment and philosophical counselling, VAS was between 10 to 1-2 and Hwabyung scale from 59 to 48. Also, the problem of fragmentation in the patient's life process was insighted, and the viewpoint was changed. Conclusions: It is useful to combine Korean traditional medical treatment with philosophical counselling method based on self identity for patients suffering from the Hwabyung. To Hwabyung patient, the view of philosophical counselling of feminism which understands women in political and cultural contexts is helpful.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review clinical studies about the efficacy of fire needling for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods and Results : In this review, Oasis, NDSL, CNKI, PubMed, Cochrane, J STAGE and CINII were used as the main databases for searching for medical journals, using the keywords "acne and fire needling"," acne and fire needle"," acne and fire acupuncture", and" acne and red hot needle". The initial search range included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and papers not matching inclusion criteria were excluded. Initially a total of 108 studies were found, with ten being excluded during title and abstract screening. After scanning 98 papers, a total of 31 RCTs were selected and analyzed. In the 31 RCTs, patients with acne were randomized into groups for treatment and control. Specifically, the treatment group received fire needling, while the control group were concurrently given other treatments. The results of the completed studies have shown that the treatment group receiving fire needling demonstrated significant improvement compared to the control group. Conclusion : During our study, it was verified that the efficacy of fire needling for the treatment of acne vulgaris was both significant and meaningful. Therefore, fire needling can be a safe and effective alternative treatment for acne. However, to confirm this result, further investigation in a traditional clinic is required, accompanied by high quality studies including randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trials.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.637-643
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• 2013

Daesiho-tang (DST), Yijin-tang (YJT), Gyeoneumjisil-hwan (GJH), Ukdam-hwan (UDH), and Sojojung-tang (SJT) have been used to treat hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate whether five formulas were effective for improving obesity in high fat diet (HFD) induced obese mice. The mice were divided into seven groups: (1) a normal diet (ND), (2) a high fat diet (HFD) (3) a HFD plus DST (HFD + DST), (4) a HFD plus YJT (HFD + YJT), (5) a HFD plus GJH (HFD + GJH), (6) a HFD plus UDH (HFD + UDH), or (7) HFD plus SJT (HFD + SJT) at 150 mg/kg/day for 7 weeks. All five formulas treatments significantly lowered blood pressure, final liver weights, and serum total triglyceride levels. The four formulas (HFD+DST, HFD+YJT, HFD+UDH, and HFD+SJT) decreased body weights. Also, HFD+DST, HFD+YJT, and HFD+UDH groups reduced abdominal and epididymal fat weights. The serum LDL-cholesterol levels were decreased in HFD+YJT, HFD+UDH, and HFD+SJT groups compared to the HFD group. These results demonstrate that five formulas ameliorated obesity.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2021

Objective: Insomnia is a very common symptom of cancer and has a substantial effect on the patients' quality of life. This study aimed to identify the effects of foot reflexology on insomnia in cancer patients. Methods: The study employed a before-after test design on a single group of 13 cancer patients with insomnia, selected by convenience sampling in Daegu. The foot reflexology treatment comprised 30-min sessions twice a week over four weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were measured at the baseline, at 2 and 4 weeks, and after 4 weeks post treatment completion. Brief Fatigue Inventory-Korean (BFI-K), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 4 weeks after completing treatments. Results: Thirteen patients (mean age 44.77 ± 6.70 years), with thyroid, breast or cervical cancer, were included in the study. Post-treatment, PSQI (from 12.33 ± 3.17 to 8.54 ± 3.43, p<0.001), ISI (from 20.33 ± 3.88 to 13.38 ± 4.23, p<0.001), FACT-G (from 49.6 ± 13.27 to 61.35 ± 14.45, p<0.001), and BFI (from 6.46 ± 0.91 to 5.00 ± 2.02, p<0.001) scores improved significantly over those at the baseline. Conclusion: Foot reflexology can be a good alternative treatment to improve insomnia, fatigue, and quality of life in cancer patients