• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2008

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Clematidis Radix (CR)-distillates were investigated in three different pain animal models. Highly purified distillate of CR was injected to Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, called CR herb-acupuncture in the Korean traditional medicine. In tail flick latency test, the CR herb-acupuncture treatment did not show a significant effect of relieving acute phasic pain. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of CR herb-acupuncture, inflammatory pain was induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin to the plantar tissue or intra-articular injection of carrageenan to the tibio-tarsal joint in the rats. And the medicinal effect of CR herb-acupuncture was evaluated by analyzing pain behavior such as licking or biting behavior, or by measuring weight distribution ratio between two foot and ankle circumference. In the rat formalin test, the analgesic effect of CR herb-acupuncture was more pronounced in the late phase (for 20 min after the early phase) than in the early phase (for the first 10 min post formalin injection). It also significantly alleviated the carrageenan-induced monoarthritis, in terms of weight distribution ratio and ankle edema. These results revealed that CR herb-acupuncture was effective to treat the inflammatory pain and could be used as an analgesic treatment with an antiinflammatory effect.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.204-212
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of moxibustion on the pain behavior and expression of TRPM8 in the dorsal root ganglion(DRG) in the rat model of ambient cold(AC) exposed osteoarthritis(OA). Methods : OA was induced by the injection of $50{\mu}l$ of 2% monosodium iodoacetate(MIA) into the knee joint cavity. To examine the level of pain, weight bearing forces(WBFs) of affected limb was measured. For the AC exposure, the animals were housed in 6 h/day at $4^{\circ}C$ for 14 days after MIA injection. Moxibustion treatment was performed at EX-LE4 and EX-LE5 with 5 cons(1, 7 or 10 mg) per day for 13 days from 5 days after MIA injection. The expressions of TRPM8 in DRG were measured by western blotting analysis. Results : The WBFs of MIA-AC group were decreased significantly compared to MIA group at 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 days after arthritis induction. After the first 6 h-AC exposure, expressions of TRPM8 in MIA-AC group were increased significantly compared to those of naive group. After moxibustion treatment, only the WBFs of 7 mg treated group were restored significantly. Moreover, the over-expressions of TRPM8 were attenuated by the moxibustion treatment in AC exposed rats. Conclusions : The data suggest that AC can increase arthritic knee pain via up-regulated TRPM8 and moxibustion treatment improve the arthritic pain via modulation of TRPM8 expression in DRG in the rat model of AC exposed MIA induced arthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.37-50
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• 2004

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effects of Hwangryunhaedoktang Herbal-acupuncture(HHT) at a acupoint, $G_{21}$(Kyonjong) on the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adults, as well as we tried to observe how HHT affects on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : The subject were comprised of 20 healthy adults, who didn't take any drugs which affected on the autonomic nervous system and had normal sinus rhythm in electrocardiogram. The control group was comprised of 9 subjects, who were injected normal saline at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong). The experiment group consisted of 10 subjects, who were injected HHT at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong). We measured HRV by CANS 3000 on three times : before, immediately after, and 20 minutes after injection. The SPSS 10.0 for windows was used to analyze the date and the Wilcoxon signed rank test (in group) and Mann-Whitney U-test(between two groups) were used to verify the results. Results : The following results were obtained ; 1. In each group, Mean-HRV and Mean-RR showed a significant change during 20 minutes after injection. But there were no significant difference between two groups(p>0.05). 2. In experiment group, 20 minutes after injection, norm LF and LHR showed a significant decrease and norm HF showed a significant increase. There were significant difference between two groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : The findings suggest that HHT at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong) in adults relatively activate parasympathetic nervous system and inactivate sympathetic nervous system.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Objective : To investigate effects of herbal preparations formulated(Gihyeolgwanjeolbang-A, CWS-A) on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. Method : Arthritis was induced by injecting CFA subcutaneously into the left knee joint and paw, and the herbal preparations formulated(CWS-A I, 82.3 mg/kg ; CWS-A II, 164.6 mg/kg) was administered orally (i.g.) for 10 consecutive days beginning on day 10 after the injection. External shape, paw edema, inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), and histological observation were assessed. Result : In swelling of the paw, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group in 15 days and 20 days were significantly reduced compared to controls. In serum ALT, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group were significantly reduced compared to controls. In TNF-${\alpha}$, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group were a tendency reduced compared to controls. In HGB, HCT, MCHC of erythrocytes, CWS-A II group was increased compared to controls. In histological observations, CWS-A II group was observed synoviocytes more than control group and was observed proteoglycans in the deep layers. Conclusion : The data suggest that CWS-A significant anti-arthritic effects that may be mediated by suppressing inflammatory parameters.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

Objectives : Delayed neuronal death(DND) of pyramidal neuronsin the CA1 regions of the hippocampus has been extensively studied following global brain ischemia, whereas little is known about DND in this highly vulnerable brain region after focal brain ischemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Gastrodiae Elata(GA) pharmacopuncture on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in rats with focal brain ischemic injury. Materials and methods : The neuroprotective effects of water extracts of GA were investigated in middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAo) of Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Seventy-five healthy SD ratswere randomly divided into five groups following MCAo : control group with focal ischemia, saline injection group, pharmacopuncture group GA-1($0.0007mg/m{\ell}/g$), pharmacopuncture group GA-2($0.00035mg/m{\ell}/g$), pharmacopuncture group GA-3($0.00014mg/m{\ell}/g$). Results : The intensity of mGluR5 increased in the GA-1 group. The intensity of Bax and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased in the GA-1 group. The intensity of Bcl-2 increased in all the GA groups. The density of neurons stained by Cresyl violet and ChAT increased in the GA-1 group. Conclusions : Our study suggests that GA pharmacopuncture at $GB_{20}$ showed anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects on cholinergic neuronsin focal cerebral ischemia caused by stroke in SD rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.8-36
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• 2017

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the methodology of clinical trials conducted with the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment on functional dyspepsia. Methods : We searched four international databases and three Korean databases including English, Korean and Chinese, through March 2016 for randomized controlled trials(RCT) and non-randomized case-control trials(CCT) that evaluated the effects of the acupuncture and moxibustion on functional dyspepsia. We abstracted the designs of the trials and the method of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment according to the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture. Results : A total 117 papers were reviewed. The 106 studies were conducted in China. There were 111 RCTs(95%), and 6 CCTs(5%). Sixty eight studies(59%) were conducted with the manual acupuncture, 29 studies of electro-acupuncture(25%), 11 studies of moxibustion(9%), 5 studies of acupoints embedding therapy(4%), 4 studies of acupoint injection therapy(3%) were conducted. ST36, CV12, ST25 were most frequently used for acupoints to treat functional dyspepsia. In 59 studies(50%), western medication was used in the control group, and the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion were evaluated with the symptoms in most studies. Conclusions : These results suggest that it is necessary to develop more detailed reporting standards about acupuncture and moxibustion treatment method as the method of acupuncture and moxibustion is getting more diverse, and more objective tools are needed in evaluating functional dyspepsia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2022

Objectives : Saam acupuncture is one of the indigenous therapeutic modalities in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, the neuroprotective effect of Saam acupuncture of kidney tonification was investigated using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. Methods : Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally administered with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 days and acupuncture stimulation at LU8, KI7, SP3 and KI3 was performed once a day for 12 days from the first MPTP injection. The pole test and the rotarod test were performed to evaluate motor function, and dopaminergic neuronal survival in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum was evaluated using tyrosine-hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. Results : MPTP administration caused behavioral impairment and dopaminergic neuronal death in the nigrostriatal pathway. Whereas the Saam acupuncture treatment alleviated the MPTP-induced motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal death in the SN and striatum. Conclusions : Saam acupuncture of kidney tonification can alleviate the MPTP-induced motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal death in the nigrostriatal pathway, suggesting a possible role for acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study is to set out case series study protocol to complete clinical pathway (CP) of hip and finger degenerative arthritis by applying CP, based on Korean medicine clinical practice guideline developed by clinical experts, to clinical field. Methods : The treatments included Manual acupuncture, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, chuna, and physiotherapy. They were conducted in the 2nd week of admission and 4th week of out patient department (OPD) days. We carried out 10-point Likert scale questionnaires on the clinical usefulness and the satisfaction of patients and staff after applying CP. Appropriateness and improvement on patients were conducted using a 10-point Likert scale. An open-ended questionnaire was also conducted to ask if there was any requirement to be added. Results : In past research studies, there were no related studies about Korean medicine CP on hip and finger degenerative arthritis. Final version of CP is going to be completed based on the questionnaire. Conclusions : This evidence-based case series study protocol is expected to contribute development of hip and finger degenerative arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2004

Objectives : It has been reported that Cordyceps militaris Mycelia(CMM) has an effect on deficiency allergic asthma(虛喘) clinically. The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate oriental treatment and the doses of CMM to treat asthma. Methods : In order to study the effect of herbal acupuncture solution of the CMM on allergic asthma, the mouse were pretreated by CMM herbal acupuncture at BL13, LU4 before antigen sensitization. 2 days later Mice were actively sensitized with a subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin(OA) and 13 days later they were provoked with OA aerosols. IL-4, lymphocyte, macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), IgE in serum, WBC, RBC, HGB in blood, and in vitro isometric contractile responses of the isolated tracheal smooth muscle(TSM) to acetylcholine$(ACh,\;0.1-1000\;{\mu}M)$, KCl were measured. Results : Contractile responses of TSM to ACh were significantly increased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1 group $(Ach\;1000\;{\mu}M)$, CMM herbal acupuncture 2 group $(ACh\;1,\;10\;{\mu}M)$, CMM herbal acupuncture 3 group $(Ach\;0.3,\;1,\;30,\;300\;{\mu}M)$. The sensitivity of TSM to ACh was significantly decreased in CMM herbal acupuncture 3 group. The maximal contractile response of TSM to ACh was significantly decreased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1, 3 group. The maximal contractile response of TSM to KCl was significantly decreased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1, 2, 3 group. The counts of lymphocytes in BALF was significantly increased in CMM herbal acupuncture 3 group. The counts of macrophages in BALF was significantly decreased in CMM herbal acupuncture 3 group. Interleukin-4 level in BALF was significantly increased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1,3 group. and it was increased in CMM herbal acupuncture 2 group, but there was no significance. Serum IgE level was significantly decreased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1, 2, 3 group. The counts of WBC in blood was significantly increased in CMM herbal acupuncture 1, 3 group Conclusion : Based on the above results it is assumed that CMM herbal acupuncture at BL13, LU4 can help the treatment of deficiency allergic Asthm.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2004

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of Scolopendrid Water-Alcohol Extract (SWAE) applied to acupuncture point BL23 (Shinsu) on the neuropathic pain was examined. A common source of persistent pain in humans is the neuropathic pain. Anti-convulsant drugs are used to treat the neuropathic pain. In the oriental medicine, Scolopendrid was used for long time to treat convulsant syndrome and back pain, etc. Methods : On the bases of the Scolopendrid clinical application, the effect of SWAE applied to the acupuncture point was tested in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. When rats developed pain behaviors, One hundred microliter of SWAE was applied into the ipsilateral BL23 point at a dose of 10 mg/ml under enflurane anesthesia. The foot withdraw latency of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : SWAE injection increased the mechanical threshold of the foot in the rat model of neuropathic pain significantly for the duration of 4h, suggesting a partial alleviation of pain. SWAE applied to BL23 point produced a significant improvement of mechanical sensitivity of the foot lasting for at least 4h. However, neither contralateral BL23 point, ST25 (Chonchu) point, nor LR3 (Taechung) point produce as much increase of mechanical sensitivity as ipsilateral BL23 point. And, this increase of mechanical sensitivity was dose-dependent. The improvement of mechanical threshold was interpreted as an analgesic effect. In addition, the analgesic effect of Scolopendrid 4 mg/kg injection is equivalent to that of gabapentin 50 mg/kg injection. The relations between SWAE-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)/neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) were also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which are increased by nerve injury were suppressed by SWAE injection applied to BL23 point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that SWAE produces a potent analgesic effect on the neuropathic pain model in the rat and 2) that SWAE-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.