• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2016

Purposes : The Purpose of this study was to review a current status on acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in Canada focusing on the rules of regulatory bodies of 5 states including legislation history, development in professional self-regulation, education and evaluation system. Methods : Based on literature review, we studied on 5 legislated states cases, educational accreditation status and licensure system. We also interviewed on a person who is a chair of CTCMA & CARB-TCMPA and more TCM practitioners in British Columbia within educational topics. Results & Conclusions : Acupuncture legislations have been approved by the governments in Canada between 1988 and 2014 within the acceptance of self-regulation. Since then, regulatory bodies in each states have tried to strengthen their duties and rights as a healthcare professionals. Based on firm laws and regulations, occupational competency-based education in acupuncture and TCM has been gradually improved and established quite well in parallel with a development of higher educational system in Canada.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1022-1029
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• 2016

Objectives: This study surveyed doctors of Korean medicine on how they treat hypertension in their Korean clinical practices. Methods: An invitation to take an Internet-based questionnaire was sent to doctors who were registered in the Association of Korean Medicine in September 2016. Participants were first asked general profile questions, which included age, gender, work experience as a practitioner, and specialties. Second, they were asked whether they had experience with hypertension treatment and additional questions related to hypertension. Results: A total of 991 replies were received to the questionnaire. Most of the Korean medical doctors (95%) had blood pressure units and had monitored blood pressure. A majority of the Korean medicine doctors (55%) had provided hypertension treatment. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were commonly used for the treatment of hypertensive patients. In addition, bloodletting, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, cupping, Chuna, Qigong exercise, meditation, and Tai Chi were used. Many doctors also recommended lifestyle modification. The respondents said that Korean medicine improves general health conditions (42.6%) and has low adverse effects (29.9%). One of the most common opinions about the revitalization measures of Korean medicine was expanding health insurance benefits (20.8%). Conclusions: Through this survey, we found out information about the present situation of hypertension treatment in Korean medicine. In the future, it is possible that hypertension treatment using Korean medicine will be demanded and used by practitioners if it is covered by public health insurance.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2023

Objective : The role of female medical personnel in traditional East Asian societies was limited. It might be said that there are no known female medical practitioners in the history of East Asian medicine. However, in the case of Joseon, there was a system for female medical personnel, Euinyeo(醫女). After the late 19th century, women's social activities in Joseon were expanded by Christian missionaries who entered Joseon In somehow, and efforts to train female medical personnel were also growing. The authors are trying to get the actual operation aspect of Gyeongseong Women's Medical College, established in 1938 after ten years of effort from establishing the Gyeongseong Women's medical school in 1928. Methods : Through the 『Gyeongseong Women's Medical College Catalog(京城女子醫學專門學校一覽)』 in 1941, owned by the Handok Museum, the authors researched the operation aspects of Gyeongseong Women's Medical College from the application for establishment in 1937 and the opening of the school in 1938 to 1941 when the College Catalog was published. Results & Conclusion : In the early 20th century, when various medical institutions were appearing in Joseon, it could be said that the role of Gyeongseong Women's Medical College is noteworthy with the fact that a specialized medical college for women has been established and operated to train female medical personnel separately.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.89-94
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• 2015

Objectives : It had been reported that herbal medicines containing polyphenol and flavonoid have been shown to be associated with decreased the cause of aging and variety of disease such as reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species in several recent studies. Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix, origined fromSalvia miltiorrhizaBGE., is one of popular traditional herbal medicines that is commonly used by traditional medicine practitioners. To this date, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix has more than 2000-year history of mature application. This study was conducted to investigate whether the Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract has an inhibitory effect association with oxidation or inflammation.Methods : Cytotoxic activity of Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract on RAW264.7 cells was evaluated by using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide solution. Nitric oxide production was measured using griess reagent system. Western blot analysis and measurement for changes of protein expression, nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, also performed.Results : The medicinal plant, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix, does not impair the cell viability in tested concentration (25-100 μg/ml). SMR showed anti-oxiative effectsin vitroby decreasing electron donating ability, and also showed anti-inflammatory effects suppressing NO and COX-2 expressin in LPS induced RAW264.7 activation. SMR inhibited the generation of intracellular ROS production as dose dependant manner.Conclusions : These results indicate that Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract has an anti-inflammatory activities via anti-oxidative effects, and the anti-inflammatory effect was presentedd as dose dependant manner.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.13-24
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• 2023

Objective : This study was aimed to reassess the scope of practice for medical personnel based on laws. Method : The law specifying the scope of practice for medical personnel has been selected searching Korean Law Information Center(https://www.law.gov.kr). The result was categorized as 'examination, diagnosis, treatment, procedure, prescription, and others'. Results : The laws related to medical procedures were divided into three categories: diagnosis, treatments, and public health and others. In the field of diagnosis, traditional Korean medicine practitioners are generally allowed to play a role. However, some laws specify that only medical doctors can be the primary authorities for diagnosing infectious diseases. In the area of treatments, particularly in emergency medical situations, only medical doctors or nurses are typically mentioned. There are debates in the field of public health and other areas concerning issues such as vaccination, disability diagnosis, and the qualifications for health center directors. A reevaluation is also needed for the Occupational Safety and Health Act, where only medical doctors are set as the personnel standard for workers' health examinations. Conclusion : To safeguard and promote the health of the citizens, there is a need for a clear definition of the licensure and scope of practice for healthcare professionals. Consistent interpretation of conflicting provisions among various laws and clear criteria for the term 'physician' in legal contexts are essential.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2014

This study examined the knowledge and understanding of integrative medicine in Korea, specifically conflicts between western and oriental medicine within Parallel (Dual) health care systems. Qualitative methodology using grounded theory guided semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Western Medical Doctors (W.M.D., n = 6), Oriental Medical Doctors (O.M.D., n = 5) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (T.C.M.P., n = 4). Thematic analysis was used to determine broad themes from the interviews. 15 professionals (W.M.D. (40%), O.M.D. (33%), T.C.M.P. (27%), 10 males (67%) and 5 females (33%), mean age 45) were interviewed, recorded, and transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: systematic conflicts, integration and future directions. Subthemes of systematic conflicts included: credibility of Oriental Medicine, commercial imperatives, maintaining social standing of O.M.D., professional qualifications and lack structures supporting collaborative practice. Integration subthemes included lack of academic linkage and clarity for appropriate triage, opposing medical paradigms and limited social imperative. Future directions should include: social justification, guarantee of oriental medicine legitimacy, role of government and understanding of scientific evidence. To successfully integrate dual medical systems there is a need to address differences in social-environmental factors and perceptions of scientific understanding, as well as developing strong academic links in clinical practice.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.237-248
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine and explain the extent of income-related inequity in health care utilization and expenditures to compare the extent in 2005 and 2010 in Korea. Methods: We employed the concentration indices and the horizontal inequity index proposed by Wagstaff and van Doorslaer based on one- and two-part models. This study was conducted using data from the 2005 and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined health care utilization and expenditures for different types of health care providers, including health centers, physician clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, dental care, and licensed traditional medical practitioners. Results: The results show the equitable distribution of overall health care utilization with pro-poor tendencies and modest pro-rich inequity in the amount of medical expenditures in 2010. For the decomposition analysis, non-need variables such as income, education, private insurance, and occupational status have contributed considerably to pro-rich inequality in health care over the period between 2005 and 2010. Conclusions: We found that health care utilization in Korea in 2010 was fairly equitable, but the poor still have some barriers to accessing primary care and continuing to receive medical care.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1119-1124
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• 2008

The theory of Hwa Acupuncture Therapy (HAT), called Hwa Chim Therapy, is a part of the Five Elements Theory unique to Korea. H99AT, created and developed by Jaehoon Song, integrates the victor-vanquished as well as the son-mother relationship of the Five Elements of breakdown and restoration of balance between yin and yang. And also, it provides resources and data on The seventy fifth Difficulty Nan(75難), The sixty ninth Difficulty Nan(69難) of Classic on Difficulty - Nan Jin 75, 69. HAT establishes objectiveness and accuracy of diagnosis based upon the traditional method and procedure of pulse taking. In HAT, a person's state of illness is diagnosed by applying the comparative examination of the palpitation of the pulse. It is the fact that the pulse varies according to the state, and that HAT treatment has proven the positive results by using the victor-vanquished relationship of Classic on The Nan Jin 75. On the basis of this, it is necessary to add the sixty ninth Difficulty(69難), to research the theory of the generation of the Five Element. Despite a the concise and simple theory, Hwa Chim is very effective in treating the wide range of illness, and thus it has gained an increasing attention of many scholars and practitioners in the field of traditional Korean oriental medicine. However, it is the first theoretical attempt to the clinical research and scientific methodology of Ohaeng(Five) Hwa Chim, and more active Hwa Acupuncture R&D is being conducted nationwide.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

All this while, 'Chimgugyeongheombang' has been rated as the level of Im Heo's personal writing. However, Huh, m, in his introduction of 'Chimgugyeongheombang' made it clear that his purpose of publishing this book was to criticize the doctors of the day who were tied down by one or two curative methods, and at the same time, ultimately to improve the quality of national medical service by enlightening them. It seems that such incompetent doctors' engagement in medical service at that time was attributable to insufficient medical education system unlike today as against much social demand for acupuncture & moxibustion therapy. Im Heo, in an effort to enlighten the medical practitioners of the day, put emphasis on an eclectic method, and contained the theories on internal organs and meridian on a systematic basis. In addition, he made his updated medical skills known to medical circles by integrating and wrapping up the Acupuncture & Moxibustion techniques at that time. Lastly, he tried to provide the optimized information for clinical trials in his own language by using a preposterous writing style and form. In such a context, 'Chimgugyeongheombang' is not a special medical book gripped with a sentence, or a simple medical formula with an emphasis on empiricism, but rather it might be proper to say that his 'Chimgugyeongheombang' was a serious attempt to embrace all the merits of both parties.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2015

Objectives Recently the fuzzy logic is widely used in the decision making, identification, pattern recognition, optimization in various fields. In this study, we propose the fuzzy logic as the objective method of distinguishing hot and cold, the basis of diagnosis in Korean medicine. Methods We developed fuzzy inference system to distinguish whether the subjects had hot or cold. The cold and hot questionnaire of Korean traditional university textbook, the pulse rate and the DITI value of face used in the system. These three kinds of information were defined as 'fuzzy sets,' and 54 fuzzy rules were established on the basis of clinical practitioners' knowledge. The fuzzy inference was performed by using the Mamdani's method. To evaluate the usefulness of the fuzzy inference system, 200 cases of data measured in the Woosuk university hospital of oriental medicine were used to compare the determining hot, normal, cold results obtained from the experts and from the proposed system. Results As a result, 100 cases of "cold", 54 cases of "normal", and 34 cases of "hot" were matched between the experts and the proposed system. This fuzzy system showed the conformity degree of 94%(${\kappa}=0.853$). Conclusions In this study, we could express the process of distinguishing hot-cold using the fuzzy logic for objectification and quantification of hot-cold identification. This is the first study that introduce a fuzzy logic for distinguish pattern identification. The degree of the heat characteristic of the patients inferred by this system could provide a more objective basis for diagnosing the hot-cold of patients.