• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.244-247
• /
• 2018

Multiple vertebral compression fractures are a rare condition and are a serious consequence of postpartum osteoporosis. This report describes the case of a 35-year-old woman who had given birth to her first child 2 months before the onset of pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression fractures of 7 vertebrae. The patient was treated with both conventional, and Korean medicine methods including acupuncture and herbal prescriptions. The patient's progress was assessed using self-reported symptoms, scale scores and laboratory test results. Her pain was gradually alleviated and biochemical inflammation marker levels improved, but her functional status remained severely impaired. Clinical practitioners who treat women in the postpartum period must be aware of osteoporosis and potential vertebral fractures and need to consider Korean medicine as an alternative therapy to help such patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.540-552
• /
• 2013

This study focuses on discussing several issues that we encounter when we 'modernize' the fundamental theories of Korean Medicine(KM): It is pertinent to set the boundaries of the "fundamental theories" of the KM. The boundaries can be set based on: a) setting the medicine and the philosophy of medicine apart and b) re-evaluating the traditional theories of KM based on the needs of the modern practitioners of KM. The fundamental theories of KM should focus on how effectively they can observe, explain, and predict the clinical cases. The clinical cases and observations should not be distorted in order to satisfy the theory. "The modernization of KM" can be defined as the change in traditional medicine to fit the needs of the contemporary world, while not losing the focus and the nature of the KM. The fundamental theories of KM will play a key role in modernizing the KM, as the focus and the inherent nature of the KM comes from these fundamental theories. The modernization of the fundamental theories of KM will be crucial to both possible models of future healthcare system-the plural healthcare system, or the western medicine-centric integrated healthcare system. The modernization will also help in advancing the future medical studies. The key to modernization of the fundamental theories of the KM is in translating the key terms of KM in modern light. As a solution, this study suggests paying attention to the 'scientific metaphors', and especially to the 'theory-constitute metaphors' among those. More in-depth studies need to be done on these.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.27-37
• /
• 2007

Background Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients on healthcare decisions. They provide recommendations for the average patient, which should take into account individual clinical judgment and the patient's values and expectations. Ephedra has sympathomimetic effect and has been used for weight loss worldwide. However, its safety is controversial especially in autonomic and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, the need of appropriate CPG for ephedra prescription in obesity was advocated in Korean Traditional Medicine. Methods The committee comprised of specialists of obesity, oriental herbology, oriental cardiology, constitutional medicine. The committee collected all relevant references about adverse effect and safety of ephedra in the forms of meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, case-control study and observational study from international and domestic databases and paper journals. 11 English- and 5 Korean-language references were gathered and categorized by PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) method. We could not complete strength of recommendation which should be clarified according to the evidence grade estimation. Result The first version of CPG for ephedra prescription in obesity was issued by Korean Oriental Association for Study of Obesity. It includes topics of introduction, pharmacokinetics, side effects and adverse events, constitutional aspect and recommendations for dose, indication and contraindication. Conclusion There should be periodic upgrade of this CPG from now on. Although there are some drawbacks in this version of CPG, it has significance as the first CPG in Korean Traditional Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2009

The Pulse diagnosis is in the boundary of the Four Examinations, and it is called 切診, or palpation. It has a great impact on people in reminding of the Traditional Medicine that it is probably the first thing that people think of when they hear about Traditional Medicine. Hu-Jun quoted in the Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine "東醫寶鑑" that the doctor finds out the deficiency and the excess of the meridian of the patiant through the pulse, and that it is of the utmost necessity to know the "deficiency and the excess" of the meridian to decide the formula (君臣佐使) of the herbal medicine and the acupuncture/moxibustion treatment. The research on the studies of pulse diagnosis have been concentrated on the origin, history, and the theory of the pulse diagnosis throughout the years; however, the number of research on the image from the classics on pulse diagnosis have been less. With this in mind, this paper was written to study more on the origin and the history of the pulse diagnosis as well as to study on the image of pulse diagnosis shown on the classics on Traditional Medicine in China and Korea. The history of the pulse diagnosis has its root on the attempt to find out what is happening inside the body through the indication of the small changes of the pulse that is shown on the outer boundaries of the body. There were various kinds of pulse diagnosis including "Three positions and nine indicators method" and "Carotid pulsation and wrist pulse method" in the ancient period, and wrist pulse-taking method became the most popular since the completion of studying on palpation by 初보. The image of the palpation helps the rudimentary practitioners of Traditional Medicine. They are divided into two large categories, which are the area of diagnosis and the shape of the pulse itself. The historical classics including the image of the pulse diagnosis can be found since the Song Dynasty of China. There are various kinds of image of pulse diagnosis in the classic such as "The picture of the hand meridian" from "脈訣指掌病式圖說", "The picture of the image of meridian" from "察病指南", "The picture of the Seven exterior and Eight interior" from "校正圖注脈訣", and "The picture of the six parts of meridian" from Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine "東醫寶鑑". The Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine "東醫寶鑑" have analyzed the basic theories and made up the standards of pulse diagnosis by establishing "The picture of the six parts of meridian" based on "The method of placing the viscera and bowels corresponding to cun-guan-qi, or the meridian".

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.961-967
• /
• 2011

This study is about 'Ji-Qi-Shang-Chong(其氣上衝)' in Shang-han-lun("傷寒論")'s 15th text. Shang-han-lun is a basic text about pathology of Traditional Korean Medicine written by Zhang-Zhong-Jing(張仲景). In that text, there are so many cases of people having some symptoms, how to treat them, and which herb medicine to give them, and the side effects of wrong treatments. In those cases, there is symptom said 'Ji-Qi-Shang-Chong(其氣上衝)' in the 15th text. But there is no detailed description about that. So this study is aimed at studying exactly meaning of the 15th text's 'Ji-Qi-Shang-Chong(其氣上衝)' by comparing historical medical practitioners and analyzing with the bibliography, pathology, herb pharmacology, herbal medicine, pharmacology part. In the bibliographical analysis, this sentence has been transmitted from original Shan-han-lun written by Zhang-Zhong-Jing(張仲景). Former part of this sentence "太陽病, 下之後, 其氣上衝者, 可與桂枝湯". is most correspondent part with Zhong-Jing(仲景)'s. And there is correctional possibility about latter part.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.539-551
• /
• 2024

The enormous diversity of molluscs has provided humans with food, colours, medicines and shells, among other resources. Molluscs have long been utilized in traditional medicine in several countries and they are a valuable source of medical supplies for many diverse communities worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify and assess Cipangopaludina lecythis bioactive compounds in order to determine the nature of the primary ingredient that gives its medicinal properties. C. lecythis flesh and shell extracts using polar and lipophilic solvents were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study provides the first chemical assessment of flesh and shell-opercula of C. lecythis. Chemical analysis of flesh and shell-opercula of C. lecythis clearly showed the presence of major compounds such as chitin, allantoin, linoleic acid, dihydrotachysterol, cyclotrisiloxane hexamethyl and 6-gingerol besides other minor compounds with bioactive properties of medicinal significance. Overall, this research provides good evidence that C. lecythis produce secondary metabolites with a variety of intriguing pharmacological characteristics. They have also long been a part of traditional medicine in many human cultural groups. Its usage by traditional practitioners to treat a range of human diseases is justified by the presence of numerous medicinally significant bioactive chemicals. However, more research on the bioactive compounds found in snails is necessary to standardize the extraction techniques for their detection, quantification and formulations, to validate their in vivo efficacy, and confirm their safety.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.35-48
• /
• 2009

Therapeutic garments are an undeveloped area and yet they have the potential to generate considerable profit for the fashion industry. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are spots and pathways on the body through which energy flows and practitioners consider that disease results when this energy flow is hindered. Clothes which stimulate the spots can therefore potentially help to cure disease. In addition, clothes are worn every day and can therefore offer prolonged treatment certainly in comparison with other treatments. Obesity is a big problem nowadays and one which is caused by poor energy circulation (according to TCM). A garment which stimulates the spots can assist energy flow and therefore cause the wearer to lose weight. In the process, it can also alleviate side effects of obesity such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The was to stimulate spots include acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion etc. There are lots of products to press spots which improve energy flow both in the Western and Chinese markets. The basic principle of circulation is in fact the same in both Western and Chinese medicine. However, most of these are products are footwear ones because they can easily provide the necessary stimulation to reduce tiredness and improve circulation. For garments, to press the spots effectively it is best to use tight clothes such as corsets and leggings. The important point is to tighten the body and to make energy flow and yet feel comfortable at the same time. Choice of fabric is therefore an important issue. Although the idea has been introduced, it will be necessary to develop a technique which will allow the necessary amount of pressure to be applied. It could be concluded that this area has a lot of possibility for the future but further research will need to be done before the idea becomes workable.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2013

There are three kinds of books written by different authors in different regions in the 19th century. These books include "BonChoYuHam (本草類函)" (1833), "BonChoBuBangPyeonRam (本草附方便覽)" (1855) and "BonChoBang (本草方)" (1860?). However, these books are very similar in terms of content and format. They were written in the format of large medical books and they contained prescriptions made up with 1-2 kinds of herbals depending on diseases. These three books which could not affect each other appear to have these commons. The reason is that these books were newly edited based on Bubang (附方) in "BenChaoGangMu" depending on diseases and "BenChaoWanFangZhenXien" (1712) written by Cai, lie Xian (蔡烈先) was used as the reference. Woodblock printed book of "BenChaoGangMu" viewed by medical practitioners in Joseon Dynasty in the 19th century mostly had "BonChoManBangChimSun" which could be called '"BenChaoGangMu" Bubang index' as the appendix. All authors of three books tried to make 'reorganization of "BenChaoGangMu"' by using "BonChoManBangChimSun" as the important reference. Work of 'reorganization of "BenChaoGangMu"' focusing on symptoms being made in the 19th century was made a few times in the 20th century. "YangMuSinPyeon" and "SuSeBiGyeol" published in 1928 were outcomes of these works in the 20th century. 'Reorganization of "BenChaoGangMu"' being made in 19th-20th centuries showed great interest for "BenChaoGangMu" in the medical community in the late Joseon Dynasty. In addition, the practical scholarship of Joseon Dynasty gave "BenChaoGangMu" the value as the collection of prescriptions rather than the concept of book for herbal medicine. Prescriptions of reorganized "BenChaoGangMu" have been spread out to many books in the late Joseon Dynasty. Thus, the impact of "BenChaoGangMu" on society in the late Joseon Dynasty seems to be much larger than what has been known so far.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.201-203
• /
• 2006

There are people. however, who do not understand what science means, especially among those practicing Oriental Medicine. They associate science with machines and consider that science is something not applicable to Oriental Medicine because Medicine is for humans not for machines. Science is a system of knowledge of universal facts and laws obtained based on objectivity, which under the same conditions gives the same results no matter when, where and how it is done and no matter who does it. To achieve development of that level, knowledge and technology from all areas should be considered and, if found useful, should be accepted. The immediate hurdle is to make Bang-Jae Science understood. So far Bang-Jae Discipline as understood by the practitioners of Oriental Medicine is nothing more than selecting prescriptions inherited from the predecessors that match given symptoms. To make Bang-Jae Discipline a science. i.e. Bang-Jae Science, we should not only study the traditional literature to gather data, experiment and verify with them one after another. make them objective and carry our scientific systemization. It takes fresh and creative trials but it will surely contribute to the future medical science.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.47-55
• /
• 2009

The Sa-am acupuncture is the acupuncture method created during Chosun Dynasty. It is a unique acupuncture method that was created solely in Korea. Its theories are based on the 69th article of "Classic of Difficult Issues", or Nanjing (難經), which says "tonify its mother when deficiency occurs, and purgate its son when excess occurs" (虛則補其母, 實則瀉其子); the concept of "controlling the viscera which restrains the target" "抑其官" was added to this theory to form the principle of Sa-am acupuncture. It is significant that it turns to the basic principles of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels rather than the 體針 or 阿是針 of the existing acupuncure. Sa-am acupuncture was established in the middle of Chosun Dynasty and was popularized to the practitioners of Korean Medicine through transcripts and printed books. The medical books of at the time of Japanese imperialism that introduced Sa-am acupuncture are "經絡學總論", "舍岩鍼灸訣", "經濟要訣", "靑囊訣", "察病要訣", "濟世寶鑑", "經驗寢具編", and "舍岩 靑囊訣". The magazine that mentions the Sa-am acupuncture is "韓方醫藥". The books on Traditional Medicine that is related to Sa-am acupuncture were of great help in reconstruction of Sa-am acupuncture after the liberation of Korea and explaining the principle of Sa-am acupunture in various angles.