• Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.355-360
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• 2018

Introductions: Pneumothorax is the most frequent severe acupuncture-related adverse event occurring at the GB 21 acupoint. This study used ultrasonography (US) to measure the depth of the GB 21 acupoint in adults and assessed its applicability for ensuring safe acupuncture practices. Materials and methods: A US probe was used to measure the vertical depth from the skin to the pleural line of the apex of the lungs at the right and left GB 21 acupoints. The sex, age, body weight, height, and body mass index of each person were recorded. Student t test and generalized estimating equations were used for statistical analysis. Results: Sixty women and 41 men with a median age of 29 years were included in this study. The depth of GB 21 increased with body weight, height, and body mass index (p < 0.001). The mean depth of GB 21 in men (17.4 mm) was greater than that in women (14.6 mm; p < 0.001). The depth difference between the right and left shoulders was significant in men (p < 0.001) but not in women. Conclusions: US can be used to measure GB 21 acupoint depth. Further control studies on its use to ensure safe clinical practices, including preventing acupuncture-related pneumothorax, are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.563-572
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to suggest a new method to estimate the resistance by acupoint compositions by using the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis(MF-BIA) of 5 kHz, 50 kHz and 200 kHz within 2 cm of acupoints as a local segment. Moreover, we try to confirm the relation to between measured resistance at skin surface and measured resistance by various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth. Methods : Ten male subjects participated in this study. We measured the resistance at left/right ST36 at skin surface and various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth(skin, 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm). Results : It was also observed that the all measured resistances were the highest at 5 kHz and the lowest at 200 kHz. There were significant differences at 5 kHz, 50 kHz and 200 kHz between measured resistance at skin surface and measured resistance by various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the left and right identical acupoints under the identical condition(p>0.05). Conclusions : We conclude that the measured resistance at skin surface has limitation as to reflect the information of tissue. However, the measured resistance at each frequency was changed as similar pattern by different insertion depth. Hence, we confirmed the possibility of assumption on information of tissue which was expected to locate an acupoint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

Objectives : To review the needling depth, therapeutic and adverse effects of intraperitoneal acupuncture and related acupoints. Methods : Studies and reports from the literature, Korean medical health insurance data and databases were searched and selected. Results : The depth of needle insertion for acupoints related to intraperitoneal acupuncture has been documented to range from 0.9 to 10.5 cm depending on the acupoints and literature. In studies of safe needling depth, the justice of safe needling depth varied from study to study, but was generally based on the peritoneum, and the depth varies by patient age, sex, body type, and weight. Clinical studies in China have shown good efficacy and no side effects of abdominal long needle acupuncture, but there have been case reports of adverse events following abdominal acupuncture. Conclusions : To ensure both therapeutic effectiveness and safety of intraperitoneal acupuncture, It is necessary to utilize the ultrasound in clinical practice and conduct related research.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.151-163
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to enlarge the range of treating which understanding taech'u acupoint(GVl4) can be applied to by inspecting and analyzing documentary records about taech'u acupoint(GVl4). Method : Various contents about taech'u acupoint(GVl4) can be inquired into through investing and analyzing 41 kinds of documentary records ranging from old books to contemporary materials. Results : 1. The spot of taech'u acupoint(GVl4) is under the process of the 7th cervical vertebral. 2. Taech'u acupoint(GVl4) can be found in two positions which can be posturized by a patient. One is a position in which a patient lies on his/her face. The other is a position in which a patient sits up straight with his/her head bent. 3. The depth of acupuncturing can be varied from 3 puns to 2 chons. 4. The amount of moxa can be varied from 3 jangs to 60 jangs. 5. To treat throush taech'u acupoint(GVl4) can lower fever, relieve a state of oversensitiveness, and let vitality flown. Conclusions : The range of treating through taech'u acupoint(GVl4) can be chronic wasting diseases, neuropsychotic diseases, feverish diseases, respiratory diseases, and diseases which can be around taech'u acupoint(GVl4).

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 2017

Objectives : The research was conducted for the use of HT1 in the shoulder disease through correct acupuncture. Methods : (1) The contents were compared through reviewing literature. (2) The literature was studied in conjunction with the shoulder pathology and anatomical structures. Results : (1) The location of HT1 is described as 'in the axilla, over the axillary artery' in many literature, and the depth of HT1 is as shallow as 1 cm. The WHO standard also follows this. (2) There were many references to 'in the axilla, between the big muscles' in later generations, but there were mixed opinions about the exact muscle names. Based on the acupunctural review and the musculoskeletal study, the big muscles are considered to be 'Pectoralis major' and 'Latissimus dorsi'. (3) Among the muscles constituting the rotator cuff, applying acupuncture on HT1 is essential for 'Subscapularis m.'. Therefore, it is effective to stimulate 'Subscapularis m.' to a depth of 1.5 to 4 cm. Conclusions : The accurate acupoint of HT1 enables various uses of flank, armpit, shoulder and arm diseases as well as cardiopathy. Especially, it helps to treat the muscles through safe and effective acupuncture in shoulder rotator cuff disorder.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Objectives This study is a preliminary study for safe and accurate cervical Hyeopcheok acupuncture by comparing the depth of cervical Hyeopcheok acupoint with cervical spine rotation. Methods Researchers took ultrasonographic images of cervical Hyeopcheok acupoint during full rotation of cervical spine, 45 degree rotation and neutral condition in a prone position. 4 healthy volunteers were recruited. Results No significant difference in needling depth of cervical Hyeopcheok acupoint was observed. However, there were a differences in anatomical structures' shape such as muscles. Conclusions There are no significant difference in needling depth, but anatomical structures' shape were changed. This result mean that if patient rotate cervical spine during acupuncture treatment, it can occur complications. Thus, when acupuncture treatment on cervical Hyeopcheok acupoint, practioner should make subject's cervical spine alignment corrected and be careful not to change posture during the procedure.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2014

Objectives: Yamen is the fifteenth acupoint of the Governor Vessel Meridian (GV15). It is anatomically close to the medulla oblongata, so finding the safety depth of the acupoint is very important. However, few studies on the safety depth of GV15 have been done. Methods: This study tried to measure the safety depth of GV15 by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and to analyze the factors affecting the safety depth through multiple regression analyses. This study was carried out for patients who had a brain MRI scan while visiting Jeonju Wonkwang Hospital, Korea. The shortest distance between the glabella and the occipital protuberance (DGO), the horizontal distance between the glabella and the back of the head (DGB) and the dangerous depth (DD) were measured from the sagittal views of the MRI images. The DD is the horizontal distance from the skin's surface at GV15 to the spinal dura mater. Results: The model suggested that the safety depth (SD) was significantly associated with gender (${\beta}$ = 0.474, P < 0.0001), DGO (${\beta}$ = 0.272, P = 0.027), and BMI (${\beta}$ = 0.249, P = 0.005) and the combination of three variables can explain the SD, with $R^2$ = 0.571 (Table 3). A longer SD was associated with males and with greater BMI and DGO. Conclusion: This study suggests that gender, BMI and DGO may be important factors when the SD of GV15 is considered clinically through a multiple regression analysis of GV15.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.59-78
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• 2020

The Summary Handbook of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (鍼灸要覽) (SHAM) was written by an unknown folk healer who learned acupuncture about 100 years ago in Korea. The book discusses 79 acupoints and includes a table of contents, a text, and a pair of acupoint charts. The acupoints in the book are classed under two headings, 49 acupoints of 14 meridians and 33 acupoints. A number of the acupoints such as Gichoong (氣忠), Eumheobong (陰虛峰), Goowa (口卧), Cheonryang (天良) did not fit the then existing meridian system and were newly uncovered by the authors. The book also discusses needle insertion depth in a way that is quite different from how insertion depth is understood by clinicians today. Books such as SHAM that record new acupoints and treatments are rare among Korea's existing medical and clinical books and can be said to be very important in terms of medical history.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2016

Objectives : A previous study demonstrated that the connecting points of three yang meridians attenuated changes of nNOS, and Norepinephrine(NE) in rats. The current study investigated the changes in nNOS, NO and NE upon the needle insertion at varying depths at the connecting point of three yin meridians of the hand. Methods : Needles were inserted into rats, on both left and right sides of the connecting point, including the LU7, HT5 and PC6 acupoints which are three yin meridians of the hand. After insertion, needles were retained for five minutes. Each acupuncture groups were treated acupuncture at each acupoint and at the depths of superficial, middle and deep layer. After the retention, blood was drawn via cardiac puncture, and tissues of each point near meridian vessel was extracted to examine the changes in the expression of nNOS, NO and NE. Results : Compared with the superficial layer group, nNOS production significantly decreased in the middle and deep layer at LU7 acupoint group and in the deep layer at HT5, PC6 acupoint group. The tissue NE decreased in the deep layer on PC6 acupoint and the plasma NE increased at the middle layer at LU7 acupoint group but decreased at the deep layer on at LU7 acupoint group. Conclusions : Acupuncture at connecting points of three yin meridians of the hand can regulate the activities of nNOS, and NE.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the needling depth of five-phase acupoints and discuss the association with the depth of meridian qi. Methods : DongUiBoGam was used to determine the depth of five-phase acupoints. The depth of needling at 60 five-phase acupoints was compared between well, spring, stream, river, and sea acupoints. Results : The proximal part of the extremities had deeper needling depth than the distal part of the extremities. The targeted deqi sensation can be related to the needling depth. Conclusions : The depth of the meridian qi is related to the distinct patterns of needling depth of five-phase acupoints.