• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.129-144
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• 2010

Objective : Traumatic lumbar burst fracture causes significant spinal cord injury. This report is intended to estimate the efficacy using oriental treatment on a patient with lumbar burst fracture and spinal cord injury. Methods : From 21th December, 2009 to 5th February, 2010, 1 female inpatient diagnosed with lumbar burst fracture and spinal cord injury was treated with general oriental medicine therapy : mae-sun therapy ; acupuncture ; moxibustion ; pharmacopuncture ; physical therapy and herbal medication. TUG, SCIMII and VAS were used for evaluation of gait disturbance and pain in both feet. Measurement of self voiding amount and remaining amount through CIC was used for evaluation of neurogenic vesical dysfunction. Results : The patient showed a certain degree of improvement in gait disturbance, pain in both feet and neurogenic vesical dysfunction through above evaluation methods. Conclusion : Oriental treatments such as mae-sun therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, pharmacopuncture therapy and herbal medication can be effective for spinal cord injury due to traumatic lumbar burst fracture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.189-199
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• 2005

Objectives : This interview survey was carried out to identify how Korean medical doctors make acupuncture prescriptions for knee osteoarthritis in clinics. Methods : Survey questions were developed based on a consensus of acupuncture professors at Kyung Hee University, Dongguk University, Daegu Haany University. The interviews were conducted to 72 members of the Korea Oriental Medical Association who answered to prefer remote acupuncture prescription at previous telephone survey. Results : Korean medical doctors prefer to use five shu acupuncture points, especially 'hyung' or , 'shu' points, on the contralateral side of lesion and that the first target organ is liver. Five element points theory was mainly based on 'Nanjing' and 'Hwangdi Neijing'. The De-qi sensation of both doctor and patients was emphasized. Diagnosis and evaluation generally depend on subjective evaluation rather than objective scale. Conclusion : This study showed that Koran medical doctors prefer to follow the Korean traditional acupuncture methods respecting the old classic principles. And these results can guide us to develop advanced clinical trial protocols more close to our acupuncture practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of near acupuncture point needling and remote acupuncture point needling on treating ankle sprain of acute stage. Methods : From March 1st, 2007 to May 30th, 2007, the 50 patients who had visited Iksan oriental medical hospital, Wonkwang university with acute ankle sprain were divided into 2 groups ; one group took near acupunture point needling, and the other group took remote acupunture point needling. Both group had been treated with the same additional rest, ice, compression and elevation(RICE) therapy. To evaluating the efficiency of each treatment, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Ankle-Hindfoot Scale(AHS) were applied before 1st treatment and after 3rd treatment. Results : As a result of evaluation by using AHS, the score change comparison between the two groups had no significance after the treatment. As a result of evaluation by using VAS, treatment score of remote acupucture point needling was marked lower than score of near acupucture point needling. Conclusion : Remote acupucture point needling is more effective than near acupucture point needling in controlling the pain of acute ankle sprain.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2006

Objective : This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bee Venom acupuncture therapy on external epicondylitis. Methods : We divided chronic arthritis of ankle patient into 2 groups; one group combined bee venom acupuncture therapy and acupuncture therapy, another group was only acupuncture therapy. To estimate the effectiveness of treatment that applied for two groups, we used visual analog scale(VAS). We compared the VAS score of two groups statistically. Results : 1. As a result of evaluation by using visual analog scale(VAS), treatment score at final was marked more higher than score before treatment on each groups. 2. treatment at final, acupuncture and bee venom acupuncture therapy group had significant result on visual analog scale(VAS) compared with acupuncture therapy group. Conclusion : Bee Venom acupuncture therapy can be used with acupuncture therapy for highly effective treatment for external epicondylitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.165-177
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• 2006

Objectives : 1. Clinical trial for the efficacy evaluation of Korean acupuncture techniques in treating frozen shoulder. 2. Development of the standard clinical guidelines of the acupuncture treatment for the frozen shoulder. 3. Development of the new clinical protocol for the acupuncture treatments. 4. Verification of the hypothesis that treating at both the remote and the nearby acupoints according to the meridian theory is more effective than treating at only the nearby acupoints. Methods : 1. Research designed as Single blind, Randomized, Sham acupuncture controlled clinical Trial. 2. Assignment of 86 patients to one of three groups treated at nearby acupoints(group A), remote & nearby acupoints(group B), and sham points(group C) respectively. 3. Trial conducted at KIOM CRC of Dunsan oriental medical hospital, Daejeon Univ. 4. Estimation of the recovery rate of the frozen shoulder in subjects aged over 40. 5. Efficacy evaluation using VAS, SPADI, ROM and Improvement rate. Results : 1. There was no significant difference in VAS among the three groups. 2. Pain related scores in SPADI of the group B were significantly lower than those of the group A. 3. There was no significant difference in disability related scores of SPADI among the three groups. 4. External rotation of upper arm in the group B was significantly improved in comparison with that in the group C. 5. Abduction of upper arm in group A was improved with weak statistical significance in comparison with that in the group C. Conclusion : Acupuncture at both the remote and the nearby acupoints according to the meridian theory is effective to improve external rotation of frozen shoulder, and acupuncture at the nearby acupoints is effective to improve adduction of frozen shoulder. However it is not clear that acupuncture treatment at both the remote and the nearby acupoints according to the meridian theory is more effective than treating at only the nearby acupoints in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Since our study was a short term trial, a long term trial for a more precise evaluation of acupuncture treatment for frozen shoulder will be needed in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 2000

Object : This study is designed to evaluate the correlation between the data of DITI(Digital Inrared Thermographic Imaging) examination and the changes of clinical symptoms after the therapy of acupuncture in the patients with spondylolisthesis. Contents : The conservative therapy with acupuncture was performed during 3-4weeks. The acupuncture points of BL23, BL24, BL25, BL40, BL57, BL60, BL62, GB30, GB31, ST36, TE3 was used. In the pre- and post therapy, DITI examinations were performed in patients who had spondylolisthes in L-spine X-ray and were treated by acupuncttare simultaneously, and then tried to correlate the results of clinical symptoms with the difference of thermographic findings at pre-and post acupuncture. Setting : The standard routine thermographic exanninations were performed with thermography (DITI) in the 22 patients with spondylolisthesis at pre- and post acupuncture. Patients : Thermographic imaging of 22 cases was analyzed. They had diagnosed spondylolisthes in L-spine X-ray. They were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in Wonkwang Oriental Hospital from May, 1998 to May, 2000. Results : 1) The causes were congenital (4.5%), overwork (31.85%), trauma (13.65%), degenerative factor(50%) 2) The DITI results showed 45.4% below $0.3^{\circ}C$, 36.4% between 0.3 and $0.5^{\circ}C$, 4.5% between 0.5 and $0.7^{\circ}C$, 9.1% between 0.7 and $0.9^{\circ}C$, and 4.5% over $0.9^{\circ}C$. 3) The results of treatment using pain scale showes that 27.3% of patientsachieved excellent recovery and 54.6% achieved good recovery. After compairing the DITI results before and after treatment, we found 45.4% of patients achieved excellent recovery and 36.4% achieved good recovery. Conclusion : Acupuncture showed good results over 81.9% in clinical evaluation and 81.8% in DITI. Thermographic examination was valuable in the evaluation of therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment.

• 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.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2021

The purpose of this review was to investigate acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy. By reviewing recent clinical trends, this may contribute to standardizing acupotomy treatment methods. There were 7 randomized controlled trials and 6 case series using acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy published between January 01, 2014 and April 05, 2021, which were retrieved from 9 online databases. The number and characteristics of participants, main treatment sites, combination treatments, size of acupotomy needle, frequency and total period of treatment, evaluation indices, efficacy, and adverse events were analyzed. "Tender point or induration," "infraorbical foramen," and "buccal mucosa" were the most used treatment sites. The sizes of acupotomy needles varied from 20 mm to 80 mm in length, and 0.35 mm to 1.0 mm in diameter. One treatment cycle was performed every 3 to 5-7 days, and the number of treatments per treatment session ranged from 3 to 5-9 cycles. The results were evaluated using 1 to 4 evaluation indices and 9 different evaluation indices were used overall. The efficacy rate was the most used index, followed by the House-Brackmann grade, and electrocardiography. The "Risk of Bias 2," categorized most studies as having "some concerns." There were few adverse events reported.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

Objective : This study was performed to confirm the effects of acupuncture on myofascial pain syndrome(MPS) through the change of visual analogue scale(VAS) and pain pressure threshold(PPT) and the usefulness of pressure algometer on the evaluation of pain. Methods : We perfomed this study with 20 outpatients complaining of upper back pain. Before acupuncture therapy(AT), immediately after AT and 2-3 days after AT, we respectively checked visual analogue scale(VAS) and pain pressure threshold(PPT) through pressure algometer, with patients seated and relaxed. The PPT was checked at major trigger point of upper trapezius, levator scapulae, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, rhomboideus minor. and the patients were needled at the same points and maintained for 15 minutes. Results : VAS of immediately after AT was mild higher than that of before AT, but not significantly different. and VAS of 2-3 days after AT was significantly lower than before AT and immediately after AT. PPT of immediately after AT was lower than before PT, but not significantly different. PPT of 2-3 days after AT was significantly higher than that of before AT and immediately after AT. Also PPT was significantly correlated with VAS. Conclusion : PPT of omen was signicantly lower than that of men. and there was no significant difference by age. PPT was increased according to pain duration. Effectiveness of acupuncture on myofascial pain syndrome through PPT and VAS is showed at 2-3 days after AT rather than immediatly after AT. and pressure algometer is useful for the evaluation of Acupuncture therapy on myofascial pain syndrome.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 2019

Background : Germany is the first country in the world to introduce modern systems of public health insurance, and the country which most widely uses complementary alternative medicine(CAM) in Europe. In early 21^st century, a large evaluation studies were conducted to include acupuncture in health insurance payments, which were eventually decided. Objectives : This study is to investigate and analyze the process of public policy determination on insurance coverage for acupuncture in German health insurance system. Methods : We collected the data and information through the literature search and from the websites of German government departments and health insurance organizations. To obtain contextual information, German experts of health insurance and acupuncture clinical study were interviewed. Results : As use of acupuncture had been growing, German public health insurers wanted to evaluate the validity of acupuncture coverage and sponsored three evaluation projects for clinical effectiveness of acupuncture using randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and pragmatic trials from 2001 to 2005. For some pain condition, acupuncture was founded not to be effective than sham acupuncture, but more effective than standard care. The federal joint committee of health insurance decided to cover acupuncture for chronic pain of lumbar spine and chronic pain in at least one knee joint due to gonarthrosis. Conclusions : Considering the controversial subject matter in the process of acupuncture's health insurance coverage in Germany, expanding the benefits of Korean medicine in Korea needs to come up with ways to overcome the difficulties of placebo effect, standardization and lack of literature evidence.