• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.85-99
• /
• 2006

Objectives : Proper acupuncture stimulation is associated with a characteristic set of sensation usually referred to as 'De-Qi'. In order to develop the appropriate sham acupuncture, various sensations to each stimulation should be considered through analysis of the profiles of acupuncture sensation. It was therefore investigated to compare the acupuncture sensation scale (ASS) of two types of sham acupuncture to that of the real acupuncture. Methods : Ninety-four participants (mean age 26.4, range 26-49) were asked to complete five point-Likert scale ASS developed by Vincent et al. after real or two-kinds of sham acupuncture stimulation: blunted tip sham acupuncture (BT) and round tip sham acupuncture (RT). Needling was done at LI4 acupoint on non-dominant hand and stimulated for 30 seconds with real or two-kinds of sham needle. Finger withdrawal latency (FWL) of each group was also measured to evaluate the pain sensitivity to noxious heat stimuli. Results : BT acupuncture significantly less produced penetrating, numb, intense, hurting, pulling, shock, tingling, throbbing sensation than real acupuncture stimulation. RT acupuncture significantly less produced penetrating, burning, electric, numb, intense, hurting, pulling, aching, shasharp, shock, stinging, tingling, throbbing sensation than real acupuncture. Each group did not demonstrate the differences of pain sensitivity to noxious stimuli. Conclusions : These results indicated that types of tip of acupuncture produced different kinds of acupuncture sensation. Our finding provides a general information of sensations to two kinds of sham acupuncture for development of ideal placebo sham needle.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.44-52
• /
• 2023

Background: Previous studies have investigated technology-aided needling training systems for acupuncture on phantom models using various measurement techniques. In this study, we developed and validated a vision-based needling training system (noncontact measurement) and compared its training effectiveness with that of the traditional training method. Methods: Needle displacements during manipulation were analyzed using OpenCV to derive three parameters, i.e., needle insertion speed, needle insertion angle (needle tip direction), and needle insertion length. The system was validated in a laboratory setting and a needling training course. The performances of the novices (students) before and after training were compared with the experts. The technology-aided training method was also compared with the traditional training method. Results: Before the training, a significant difference in needle insertion speed was found between experts and novices. After the training, the novices approached the speed of the experts. Both training methods could improve the insertion speed of the novices after 10 training sessions. However, the technology-aided training group already showed improvement after five training sessions. Students and teachers showed positive attitudes toward the system. Conclusion: The results suggest that the technology-aided method using computer vision has similar training effectiveness to the traditional one and can potentially be used to speed up needling training.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제25권5호
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was aimed at comparing clinical effectiveness among dry needle, Bee Venom Acupuncture, Hwangryunhaedoktang Herbal Acupuncture for treating acute ankle sprain. Methods : The subjects in this study were sixty patients with lateral ankle pain who came to Jaseng Hospital of Oriental medicine from Oct. 28. 2007 to Jul. 14. 2008. Among them, the number of patients after 3 session of each treatment was 17 with dry needle, 18 with Bee Venom Acupuncture, 17 with Hwangryunhaedoktang Herbal Acupuncture, and they were evaluated with Numerical Rating Scale(NRS), and Ankle-Hindfoot Scale(AHS) before and after every session of treatment. Results : 1. Each group had significant decrease in NRS(P<0.05) and increase in AHS score(P>0.05) after 3 session of each treatment. 2. There was no significant difference among 3 groups after 3 session of each treatment. Conclusions : When treating patients with acute ankle pain, Acupuncture, Bee Venom Acupuncture, Hwangryunhaedoktang Herbal Acupuncture each has clinical effect.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.178-184
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The warm needling technique is the method combining the effects of acupuncture needle with those of moxibustion. We need to standardize the characteristics of the warm needling technique, in order to get more systematic and objective results in operation and effects and then get more clinical abilities in these fields. Methods : In this study, using labview system on the warm needling technique, we measured and compared partial temperature changes according to the kind of needle. We studied relations of moxa cones of various sizes with the peak combustion temperature. Results and Conclusions: When we measured the warm needling's partial temperature, temperature measured at 1 and 2 cm below the head, according to the kind of needle, gold needle got the higher result on the peak than SS304 stainless steel needle. In the case of combustion of the moxa cones, cones weighing 0.4 g and 0.8 g, respectively, and the apex ignition method with gold needle showed the higher result than the apex ignition method with stainless steel needle, when we measured the effective stimulus time at 2 cm below the head and the mean temperature during the effective stimulus time. Although more research to standardize the characteristics of the warm needling technique will be needed, we suggest, according to these results, that warm needling of gold needle combined with moxa cone of 0.4 or 0.8 g is effective.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 2018

The purpose of pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the efiicacy and safety of Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy on TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss) and Skin hydration. A total of 24 human who visited Dongshin Oriental Medical Center from December 1st, 2016 to July 31st, 2017 were included in the pilot clinical trial. Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy performed at Gokji(LI11). We observed change of TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss), Skin hydration before and after Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy. In the primary endpoint, index of TEWL showed a statistically insignificant decline ($8.5{\pm}2.12{\rightarrow}7.8{\pm}1.53g/h/m^2$). Index of skin hydration showed a statistically significant result ($38.2{\pm}6.77{\rightarrow}36.8{\pm}6.64$). To evaluate the safety, Adverse events and Vital sign check were conducted and there were no problem. And when the physical response, self-awareness, skin system, musculoskeletal pain, and other abnormal responses were assessed 60 minutes and 24 hours and 7 days after Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy at Gokji(LI11) for stability assessment, Adverse events disappeared during a pilot clinical trial. According to the above pilot clinical trial, it is suggested Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy were effective for Skin moisturizing and safe.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2003

Acupuncture has been used as a clinical treatment in Oriental medicine for various diseases. In the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of acupuncture and electrical stimulation on the change neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) immunoreactive cells in the periaqueductal gray(PAG) area of the male SD rats. Enhanced expression of nNOS was detected in the dorsolateral-PAG(DL-PAG) area of rat with stress by fixed body, and acupuncture and needle electrode electrical stimulation groups at Hapgok like acupoint decreased the stress-induced enhancement in the expression of nNOS. The present results demonstrate that acupuncture and needle electrode electrical stimulation is effective in the modulation of expression of nNOS in the DL-PAG area under stress conditions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Being introduced in the 1980s, laser acupuncture studies have been steadily carried on such as its thermal effects on human body. However, the mechanisms of effect are not yet clearly explained. Generally, laser acupuncture could be favorable for pediatric patients or people under special conditions (hemophilia, needle-phobia, pathogen-carriers, etc.) because of lower risk of infection, bleeding, pain or fainting. But there are still problems for using laser acupuncture equivalently as the traditional metal needle. The goal of this study is to review the fundamentals, history and present trend of laser acupuncture study, and to suggest how to develop laser acupuncture as an oriental medical device. Method : We performed literature search using PubMed(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and Scopus(http://www.scopus.com). Search conditions are laser acupuncture, laser needle, LLLT(as title or abstract) or Litscher G(as author). Main target studies are physical fundamentals, clinical trials, physiological results and device proposals. Results : Many research have shown the similarities of laser acupuncture and traditional metal acupuncture and have reported clinical and physiological effects of laser acupuncture. But, still laser acupuncture is not widely used in Korea due to high-cost of equipments and the lack of clear understanding of laser devices. Additionally, there are still challenges in standardization and device development. Conclusions : Frequencies, laser modes, waveguides, adaptor types, polarization and signal modulations are suggested as future study subjects on laser acupuncture. More various studies and efforts for device development have to be performed to provide oriental medical doctors with evidence based confidence about usage of laser acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제40권3호
• /
• pp.177-187
• /
• 2023

Varicose veins have a substantial burden on individuals' aesthetics and overall quality of life. The current body of research on Korean medical interventions for varicose veins is limited in Korea, and exploration into clinical trends is lacking. This review specifically analyzed fire acupuncture, which is an understudied intervention in Korea that demonstrated efficacy in alleviating pain and paralysis while promoting tissue regeneration. A comprehensive investigation of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database was conducted, utilizing terms such as "varicose vein," "fire needle," "fire acupuncture," "burning acupuncture," "burning needle," "huǒzhēn," "xiàzhī jìngmài," and "jìngmài qūzhāng." This review included 14 studies investigating the role of fire acupuncture in treating varicose veins. We extracted variables, including age, sex, disease duration, intervention method, treatment frequency, treatment period, acupoints, and outcomes. Fire acupuncture appeared as the primary intervention method, followed by general acupuncture. The protruding part of varicose veins is the main treatment area for fire acupuncture, while the acupoints BL57 and ST36 were most frequently utilized for general acupuncture. Treatment results revealed significant improvement in all studies. However, there are limitations, such as scarce studies, limited side effects studies, and potential bias. Consequently, extensive and well-structured future studies are necessary to demonstrate the role of fire acupuncture in varicose veins.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.9-21
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low frequency electro-acupuncture at ST39 on intestinal motility in rats. Methods : Intestinal hypermotility and hypomotility in rats were induced by oral carbachol ingestion and loperamide injection. Rats were divided into seventeen experimental groups including the normal and holder groups. The rats were induced with intestinal hypermotility and hypomotility and divided into pre and post-treatment groups. I also carried out acupuncture (needle retention) and low frequency electro-acupuncture at ST39 or the sham point. I fed charcoal to rats after the treatment and calculated its distance travelled in the gastrointestinal tract, which was compared by groups so as to determine which treatment was more effective in increasing or decreasing intestinal motility. Results : 1. In normal rats, low frequency electro-acupuncture at ST39 showed no significant effect on intestinal motility. 2. Pre-treatment with acupuncture (needle retention) at ST39 on intestinal motility over-activated with carbachol significantly decreased intestinal motility in rats. 3. Pre-treatment with low frequency electro-acupuncture at ST39 on intestinal motility over-activated with carbachol significantly decreased intestinal motility in rats. 4. Pre-treatment with acupuncture (needle retention and low frequency electro-acupuncture) at ST39 showed no significant effect on intestinal hypomotility in rats that was induced by loperamide injection. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture (needle retention) and low frequency electro-acupuncture at ST39 have preventive effects on intestinal hypermotility. Regardless of the stimulation method, ST39 showed an effect on intestinal motility. Further study is required to confirm other effects of ST39.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제24권6호
• /
• pp.195-206
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the safety of Acupuncture needles made from duplex stainless steel. Methods : In order to check the safety concern of the DSS Acupuncture needle, we employed biochemical measures, DSS and SS304 Acupuncture needles were tested for pH level, heavy metals and UV absorbance spectrum along with cytotoxicity and hemolysis. As a guideline, we have referred to the 'standards for acupuncture needles', 'standards for disposable needles' and 'standards and experimental procedures for stents' for the Korean Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). Results & Conclusions : The DSS Acupuncture needle extract satisfied these requirements. There was no significant difference between the DSS and SS304 Acupuncture needle extract. In conclusion, the DSS Acupuncture needle displayed biochemical safety.