• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.241-249
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the patients with compressive neuropathy of the radial nerve(Saturday Night Palsy), who was improved by acupuncture and Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) treatment. Methods & Results : The patients were hospitalized or outpatient in Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, traditional korean medical hospital, Sangji University from 1st, Dec. 2008 to 30th June 2009, and treated with acupuncture, SBV, electrical stimulation therapy and herbal medication therapy. To evaluate the wrist drop and numbness of fingers, coding result(Arbitrary values used to evaluate result) and digital infrared thermal image, which was well defined diagnostic tool estimating skin surface temperature difference, were used. As a result, patient symptoms were improved remarkably. Conclusions : Patients were treated during 6 weeks in average. 2 cases were excellent and 1 case was evaluated good result by the acupuncture, Sweet Bee Venom, electrical stimulation therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the recent research trends of evidence based medicine, especially human randomized controlled trials on acupuncture. Methods : The articles were collected by retrieving the database of Pubmed and Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society. The retrieving period was from October 2003 to September 2008, and the search term was 'acupuncture'. The articles were classified according to their publication journals, countries, publication years, targeted diseases, types of acupuncture and types of control. Results : In total, 558 articles in Pubmed and 35 articles in Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society were searched. The number of articles on acupuncture research has increased with higher rate since 2000, but the Qualitative development has not achieved the same amplitude. Studies in Korea were insufficient both in Qualitative and Quantitative aspects. In countries, China had the most papers, and in targeted diseases, pain diseases were most dominant. In the types of acupuncture, classical acupuncture, and in the types of control, conventional western treatment showed the highest frequency. Conclusions: We need to do many-sided and more high Quality researches on acupuncture. For that, well-designed randornized trials are absolutely necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.299-309
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• 2004

Objective : The etiology and treatment of the avascular necrosis of the femoral head continiue to be controversial and the pathogenesis remains obscure. And its clinical study and report about oriental treatment are absolutely insufficient. Therefore, we report a case of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Methods : The patient was treated with Bee-Venom therapy, Electro Acupuncture and Sopungwhalhyul-tang(疎風活血湯). Results : After 26days of Oriental treatments, there was remarkable improvement in condition of the patient. Conclusions : In this case, oriental treatments for avascular necrosis of the femoral head was effective. Futher studies are required to prove effectiveness of oriental treatments for treating avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.22-26
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to estimate the effectiveness of burning acupuncture therapy (Hwachim) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture (S-BV pharmacopuncture) in treating lateral epicondylitis of elbow. Methods: We selected 33 patients at first, but 13 patients were excluded due to unclear medical records. Finally, a total of 20 patients who had received treatment from January 2012 to December 2013 were included in this study; all 20 patients had undergone Hwachim for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of elbow, and 19 of the 20 had been treated with S-BV pharmacopuncture (Korea Pharmacopuncture Institute, KPI) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an ancillary treatment method. The degrees of pain of the 20 patients were evaluated by using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score at their first and final visits. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the VAS scores statistically. Results: The VAS score had decreased significantly from $10.00{\pm}0.00$ to $4.00{\pm}2.47$ (P = 0.000) by the end of the treatment. No significant changes were observed based on the number of treatments (P = 0.246), the age of the patients (P = 0.810), the duration of the illness (P = 0.705), and the location of the lesion (P = 0.076). Conclusion: This study suggests Hwachim and S-BV pharmacopuncture are very effective for treating lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.115-131
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• 2009

Objectives: This survey was done in order to find out how Korean medical doctors derive pattern identification for acupuncture prescriptions in treating low back pain in real clinical practice. Methods : The survey questionnaire was developed by the committee of experts who major in acupuncture & moxibustion or statistics for acupuncture clinical trial protocol development. The questionnaires were distributed via e-mail to 75 members of Korean Acupuncture & moxibustion society from March 26th to April 14th in 2009. 57 members completed answers, and the computerized data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 statistical program. Results : 1.57 Korean medical doctors selected meridian pattern identification based on the course of the meridians(44.6%), visceral pattern identification(32.1%), pattern identification based on cause of disease(14.3%) as the most commonly used pattern identification methods for acupuncture prescription when treating low back pain patients in real clinical practice. 2. In meridian pattern identification based on the course of the meridians, gallbladder meridian of hypochondriac region(13.0%), bladder meridian of lateral low back region(11.2%), governer vessel of central low back region(11.7%) were selected 3. In visceral pattern identification, yang deficiency of kidney(20.2%), deficiency of kidney(19.3%), liver(16.7%), yin deficiency of kidney(14.0%), violence qi of kidney(8.8%), small intestine(7.9%) were selected. Conclusions : In our e-mail survey, Korean medical doctors answered that Meridian Pattern Identification based on the course of the meridians is the most often used diagnosis method. Visceral pattern identification, pattern identification based on cause of disease, meridian pattern identification based on symptom and pattern identification based on qi-blood-yin-yang theory in order of frequency used, were selected for low back pain diagnosis in real clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.103-123
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review RCTs of acupuncture treatment for neck pain and to establish standards of acupuncture treatment for neck pain. Methods : We searched articles in Pubmed using ICD 10. Study quality was assessed using the FEAS and Jadad score. Results and Conclusions : Three review studies and nineteen clinical trials were searched and reviewed. Among the nineteen clinical trials reviewed, positive outcome was reported in thirteen studies. Most frequently used meridians were GB, BL, SI, GV and LI, The most frequently used acupuncture points were $GB_{20}$, $GB_{21}$, $LI_4$, $BL_{10}$, $GV_{14}$ and $SI_3$. More than two needles were inserted in the studies and needle retention time was more than 10 minutes. The most frequently used needle length was 40mm, and diameter was 0.25mm and 0.30mm. The mean number of treatment sessions were more than 10 times. Frequency of treatment was more than once a week, And treatment duration was more! than 5 weeks. The total FEAS scores ranged from 3 to 15.5, and the mean value was 9.39. Jadad score ranged from 2 to 5, and the mean value was 3.42. The number of studies scoring over three points on the Jadad scale was sixteen.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.176-181
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of moxibustion on UPDRS and heart rate variability of patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Subjects were voluntarily recruited through newspapers and internet. All subjects were confirmed as showing idiopathic Parkinson's disease by a neurologist. Moxibustion therapy was performed 5 times a week by the patient's family at home and once a week by an oriental medical doctor in hospital. Moxibustion points were GV20, CV12, ST36, BL18, and BL20. Intensity was up to pain threshold to prevent patients getting burned. The patient's symptoms were assessed before and after 8 weeks of treatment by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS). Heart rate variability was measured for 5 minutes before and after the treatments. Results: Total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 8 weeks compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). There were significant decrease of mean heart rates (p<0.05) and increase of SDNN and TP (p<0.05) after 8 weeks' moxibustion treatments. There were no significant changes in other components of heart rate variability. Conclusions: This study suggests that moxibustion treatments can be applicable to improve not only symptoms but also heart rate variability in the patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.103-116
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of conservative Korean traditional medical treatment on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in 12 adolescents. Methods : Data were collected from adolescent patients diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral herniation by MRI, hospitalized at Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015. A total of 12 patients were included in the study. Patients were treated by acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, chuna manual therapy, physical therapy during hospitalization period. To measure treatment outcomes, a verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), range of motion (ROM), Straight leg raising test (SLR), and EQ-5D were used. Results : The average age of the participants was $16.05{\pm}1.62$. The average of duration of symptom was $19.25{\pm}26.83(weeks)$ and the average length of hospitalization was $23.8{\pm}16.4(days)$. 2 patients (17 %) suffered from only lumbar pain, while 10 patients (83 %) suffered from lumbar and leg pain. No participant suffered from only leg pain. 8 patients (67 %) were diagnosed with disc herniation in one segment, and 4 patients (33 %) were diagnosed with disc herniation in multiple segments. A total of 17 disc segments (28 %) were herniated. The most herniated lumbar level was L4-5. 3 segments were diagnosed with bulging (17 %), 6 with protrusion (35 %), and 8 with extrusion (47 %). Extrusion was the most frequent herniated type. After treatment, the average VNRS of lumbar pain significantly decreased from $5.58{\pm}1.62$ to $2.91{\pm}1.56$ (p<0.001) and the average VNRS of leg pain significantly decreased from $5.16{\pm}2.51$ to $3.08{\pm}1.8$ (p<0.001). ODI significantly decreased from $48.87{\pm}18.72$ to $28.57{\pm}15.05$ (p<0.05), and EQ-5D significantly increased $0.58{\pm}0.31$ to $0.80{\pm}0.12$ (p<0.05). Range of flexion significantly improved from $61.25{\pm}32.62$ to $68.33{\pm}26.22$ (p<0.05). Conclusion : Conservative Korean Traditional Medical Treatment may be effective in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in adolescence. However, more case reports and clinical research are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.41-49
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Soyeom Pharmacopuncture on postauricular pain accompanied acute peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We observed thirty peripheral facial palsy inpatients with postauricular pain at Cheonan oriental hospital of Daejeon university from Jan. 1st, 2009 to July 31th, 2009. These inpatients were divided into two groups; Group A was treated using general treatment and Group B was treated using general treatment and Soyeom Pharmacopuncture on the posterior ear area. Results : 1. Postauricular pain was significantly decreased in Group B. 2. Duration of postauricular pain was significantly reduced in Group B. 3. Improvement of facial paralysis was not significantly different between Group A and Group B. Conclusions : Soyeom Pharmacopuncture has significant effects on a postauricular pain accompanied with peripheral facial paralysis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.55-67
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• 2001

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate result of thoracolumbar compression fracture patient treated with Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue(華佗夾脊穴) acupuncture. Methods : This clinical study was carried out 50 cases with thoracolumbar compression fracture, who had been admitted from January, 2000 to February, 2001, in the department of acupuncture and moxibustion, Hanseo University Oriental Medical Hospital. We divided two groups; A group, without using Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue(華佗夾脊穴) acupuncture and the other group is B group, by using Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue(華佗夾脊穴) acupuncture. Results : 1. The distribution of sex and age, 78% were female, and 84% were most above there sixties. 2. In the duration of symptom, the largest group was over 4 weeks. 3. In the distribution of cause, the largest group was "lifting heavy object"(32%) and the next was "slip down"(26%). 4. In the distribution of injured level was L1 body the most(19.6%) and T12 body was the next. 5. In the distribution of clinical symptoms on the admission, the largest group was lumbosacral pain(18%). 6. The result of treatment due to the duration of admission, 17case(34%) was the most above "Fair" during the 2~3 weeks. 7. The result of treatment, Good and Fair were the same in 24case(48%). 8. The duration of treatment was longer in high grade of clinical symptom. 9. B group discharged above good state 60% higher than A group.