• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

Objectives : Weights and measures (度量衡) in Korean traditional medicine have been changed in many dynasties and countries. Thus, measurements of chon (寸) and cheok (尺) have been considered as symbolical meaning in recent studies on meridians and acupoints. The present study was made to settle up standard measurement by surveying length of each parts of upper limb as follows. Methods : To calculate length of 1 chon (寸), the length of each part was divided into the numbers of chon (寸) as shwon in ${\ll}$Goldo Hwangjenaegyeong-yeongchu (靈樞 骨度篇)${\gg}$; the chon (寸) length in ${\ll}$Goldo Hwangjenaegyeong-yeongchu (靈樞 骨度篇)${\gg}$ was compared with the chon (寸) length which is calculated by dividing human average hight into 75 chon. Results : Increment of length of 1 chon (寸) did not change as increment of height in subjects. Length of 1 chon (寸) in height is representative of length of 1 chon (寸) in each parts of upper limb. Conclusions : We suggest that most suitable length of 1 chon (寸)for the standard measurement of acupoint location is 2.20 ${\pm}$ 0.17 cm based on length of elbow joint to wrist joint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.200-209
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• 2019

Objectives : The liver is rich in mitochondria and it plays a key role in whole-body energy homeostasis. Mitochondria is double membrane-bound organelle that supplies energy for intracellular metabolism including Krebs cycle and beta-oxidation. Acupuncture is known to stimulate and regulate the flow of energy. To explore the effect of acupuncture on the mitochondrial respiratory chain activity in the rats' livers, the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I to IV was observed. Methods : The rats were divided into 4 groups; Normal 1 (no acupuncture treatment and anesthesia for 5 min), Normal 2 (no acupuncture treatment and anesthesia for 10 min), MA1 (acupuncture treatment at bilateral LR3 under anesthesia for 5 min), and MA2 (acupuncture treatment at bilateral LR3 under anesthesia for 10 min). All rats were sacrificed and the livers were examined for respiratory chain change. Results : There was no difference in ubiquinon oxidoreductase, succinate dehydrogenase, and ubiquinol cytochrome C oxidoreductase after acupuncture at LR3. Acupuncture at LR3 for 10 min increased the activity of cytochrome C oxidase compared with no acupuncture groups. Conclusions : Acupuncture at LR3 mediated mitochondrial respiratory chain activity via the cytochrome C oxidase signaling pathway in the livers of rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.97-108
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• 2010

Background : The location of acupoints on rat, which may differ from that of human body due to anatomical structure, is defined variously among researchers, which may cause the problem of low repeatability and objectivity. Design : The measurement of hind limb consist of measuring the distance between knee joint and tibia tubercle in order to set the knee joint as common criteria. Based on it, the three mostly referred location of ST36 were represented with the knee joint as a datum point and compared. The electroacupuncture stimulation was administrated after the abdominal pain was induced by acetic acid. And the analgesic activity of each ST36 acupoint was evaluated by measuring the number of writhing reflex, in order to observe the differences of treatment effect in accordance with the location of ST36 acupoints. Results : The result of measurement confirmed the differences in the acupoint location of ST36 among researchers. The writhing reflex test using the acetic acid-induced abdominal pain stimulated with electroacupuncture of 100Hz showed that there were statistically significant differences in the analgesic effect between control group and three ST36 groups (P<0.05). However there were no differences observed among three mostly referred location of ST36 acupoints (P>0.05). Conclusions : We recommend "the point located 6.5 mm below the knee joint at the anterior tibial muscle" as a standard ST36 acupoint location qualified by the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in 2008.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.71-81
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this paper was to suggest new diagnostic method that was to supersede the estimation of electrical properties at acupoints. Thus, we developed the multi- frequencies bioelectrical impedance measurement system so as to analyze the state of bio-ions in body fluid as body compositions, not skin impedance at acupoint. Methods : At low frequency, the current does not penetrate the cell membrane and at high frequency, the current passes through both intracellular and extracellular fluid because of the decreas of cell membrane impedance. To confirm the reflection of composition in extracellular fluid or intracellular fluid of segment such as acupoint, the system was developed to detect the acupoint potential between adjacent two points in the area of LU3, LU4 and LU9 using 5,50 and 200KHz. Results : The detected acupoint potential has been decreased according to elevation of frequency. As a result of correlation of left/right identical acupoint, we observed a high correlation of three types of acupoint potential at multi-frequencies. Moreover, we observed the low correlation at 5KHz, and that was a significant factor to be considered as unbalanced relationship of identical acupoints. Conclusions : On the basis of meridian theoretical point of view, we may infer the acupoint's physiological composition using the multi-frequencies bioelectrical impedance measurement system.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to understand electro-physiological peculiarity in meridian and acupoints, and understand acupuncture therapy mechanism as an electro-physiological viewpoints. Methods : I reviewed the articles on the electro-physiological peculiarity of the meridian and acupoints Results and Conclusions : It has been reported that meridian and acupoints have high-electrical conductivity and row-electrical resistance. On this scientific basis, to understand the mechanism of acupuncture therapy, I made some hypotheses. At first, there is electro-property in meridian and acupoint. The second, energy flowing in meridian is related with electro-property. The third, there is electronic interaction between practitioner of acupuncture therapy and patient receiving acupuncture therapy. The forth, acupuncture effects which may be expressed by the electro-charge capacity is transfered between practitioner and patient via acupuncture. Electro-charge induced via acupuncture in practitioner may be an important factor that initiate the electro-charge changes in meridian and acupoint of patient.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.270-274
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• 2020

This study aimed to show the effects of Korean medicine treatment (particularly bee-venom pharmacopunture) on a patient with brachial plexus palsy. A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with brachial plexus palsy on the right upper extremity and was treated with Korean and Western medicine from September 30^th to November 6^th, 2019. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated using the Manual Muscle Test, Range of Motion and visual analogue scale. After treatment, the patient's Manual Muscle Test grade and Range of Motion were improved, and the Visual Analogue Scale score indicated the intensity of her right hand numbness had decreased. These results suggested that improper use of crutches can result in brachial plexus palsy and a Korean-Western medicine treatment regimen primarily focused on bee-venom pharmacopunture, may be effective in reducing the symptoms of brachial plexus palsy.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.91-106
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• 2003

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) at the PC6(Naegwan) and the TE5 (Oegwan) on nounal humans using power spectral analysis. Methods : EEG power spectrum exhibit site-specific and state-related differences in specific frequency bands. In this study, power spectrum was used as a measure of complexity. 30 channel EEG study was carried out in 30 subjects(30 males ; age=23.7 years). Results : In ${\alpha}$(alpha) band, the power values at F7 channels(p<0.05) during the PC6-acupoint treatment were significantly were decreased. In ${\beta}$(beta) band, the power values at Fp1, Fz, TT1, T5, P3, P4, Po1, P02, O1, Oz, O2 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment and at Fp1, F4, F8 channels(p<0.05) during the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly were increased. In ${\theta}$(theta) band, the power values at Fp1 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment and at Oz channels(p<0.05) the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly were increased. but, the power values at F7 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment were significantly were decreased. In ${\delta}$(delta) band, the power values at TCP1, TCP2, CP1, T5 channels(p<0.05) during PC6-acupoint treatment were increased and the power values at F7, TT2 channels(p<0.05) during non-acupoint treatment were increased. but, the power values at the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly was decreased than the before-acupuncture treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.195-207
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of laser acupuncture according to the wavelength(532 nm, 650 nm, 830 nm, 904 nm, and 1064 nm) at the acupoint of GB34 GB39 on neuropathic pain rat induced by tibial and sural nerve transection(TST). Methods : Neuropathic pain in rats was induced by tibial nerve and sural nerve transection. The rats were divided into the intact group, the TST control group, and the laser acupuncture therapy group. The laser acupuncture therapy groups were then divided into subgroups with 532 nm(L532), 650 nm(L650), 830 nm(L830), 904 nm(L904), and 1064 nm(L1064) laser acupuncture therapy. The acupoint of GB34 GB39 was selected, and laser acupuncture therapy was provided on both sides alternatively twice a week in a total of 6 sessions. Results : All the laser acupuncture groups showed a significant decrease in reaction time and force intensity. L532, L904, and L1064 groups showed a significant decrease in Bax, the L532 group showed a significant increase in Bcl-2, L532 and L1064 groups showed a significant decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and L532 and L650 groups showed a significant increase in mGluR5, as compared with the TST control group, among nerve tissue reaction. Conclusions : These results showed that laser acupuncture therapy at each of the wavelengths had some significance on neuropathic pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.95-108
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• 2005

Objective : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to several acupoints and non-acupoint in CFA-induced knee arthritis was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is arthritis. Arthritis was induced by injection of CFA $125\;{\mu}l$ into knee joint cavity under enflurane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee. EA was applied to either of $LR_2,\;LI_4$, or non-acupoint on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 4 h. Results : EA applied to $LR_2$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the affected foot lasting for at least 2 h. However, neigher $LI_4$ point nor non-point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on CFA-induced knee arthritic pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a point, $LI_4$ or non-acupoint. In addition, both NO production and iNOS protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA applied to $LR_2$ point. Conclusion : These data suggest that EA produces a potent analgesic effect in the rat model of CFA-induced knee arthritis. This analgesic effect is produced by applying EA to an acupoint at opposite side from the painful area in a stimulus point-specific way.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.128-133
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• 2023

Objectives : There are many variations in the ST36 acupoint location. The purpose of this article is to suggest a method of locating the ST36 acupoint. Methods : Based on the available research and the neuroanatomical characteristics of the underlying acupoint, we summarized the proper procedure for finding the ST36 acupoint. Results : ST36 is 3 B-cun inferior to ST35 and is vertically situated on the line that connects ST35 and ST41. The ST36 acupoint corresponds to the deep peroneal nerve, which is situated in the tibialis anterior muscle's back. The neurovascular bundles that are located on the interosseous membrane between the interosseous crests of the tibia and fibula include the deep peroneal nerve, anterior tibial artery, and anterior tibial vein. According to both classical and modern literature, this acupoint can be found horizontally between the two muscles, tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus. Conclusions : Based on a review of the literature and neuroanatomical features, we suggest that ST36 can be positioned horizontally between tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus. Additional imaging studies and clinical proof are required to determine ST36 acupoint.