• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-60
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy on the premenstrual syndrome. Methods : Volunteers of twenty subjects were employed using DRSP questionnaire. Subjects were divided into two groups including active-acupuncture treatment group, placebo acupuncture treatment group. In the control group, subjects were needled at $SI_5$, $ST_{40}$ points and in the acupuncture group, subjects were stimulated at two basic points, $SP_6$ and $CV_6$, and several points were inserted additionally depending the symptoms including $LR_2$, $LR_3$, $SP_10$, $LI_4$, and $ST_3$. A total of 13 acupuncture sessions were performed for each patient depending on the individual menstruation cycle over 8 weeks. Concentration of blood progesterone was examined and Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) was taken before and after acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.159-174
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• 2002

Objective : The meridian theory in oriental medicine explains that each acu-point has a characteristic functional effect. It will be supposed that an acupuncture stimulation on different acu-point evokes different activation on different areas in the central nervous system(CNS) according to the meridian theory. On this supposition, our group tried the semi-quantitative [14C]2-deoxyglucose([14C]2-DG) autoradiography on the acupuncture stimulation to the hindlimb acu-points of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : A venous catheter for the intravenous administration of isotope was equipped in the right external jugular vein on 3 days prior to the [14C]2-DG study. On the day of the study, two acupuncture needles were inserted into the ST36(Zusanli) or LR3(Taichong) on the left hindlimb. Electro-acupuncture stimulation (2 Hz, 5 ms, 1~3 mA, 15 minutes) started just before the i.v. injection of [14C]2-DG ($25{\mu}Ci/rat$). The brain and the spinal cord were removed and processed for the [14C] 2-DG autoradiography. Results : The EA stimulation on ST36 reveals over 120% metaboilc activation in Arcuate nucleus, Anterior pretectal nucleus, Dorsal cochlear nucleus, Interposed cerebellar nucleus, and Nucleus of Darkschewitsch. The EA stimulation on LR3 reveals over 120% metaboilc activation in Lateral habenula nucleus, Medial vestibular nucleus, Ventromedial thalamic nucleus, Anteroventral thalamic nucleus, Anterior cingulate cortex, Dentate gyrus, Antero cortical amygdaloid nucleus, Anterior pretectal nucleus, and Dorsal tegmental nucleus compared with the non EA stimulation control group. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the different acu-points evoke the different activations in brain areas. And with this functional brain mapping study, a new scientific elucidation for the basis of the acupuncture-meridian theory in oriental medicine through differences of activated area in CNS according to the each acupuncture point.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.66-78
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• 2014

Objectives : The specificity of acupuncture point has been a highly controversial subject. Existing researches said that ion-distribution differences are observed on the acupuncture point. This study was conducted under the assumption that multiple ionic changes induced by muscle fatigue would be different between the acupuncture point with non-acupuncture point. Methods : To induce the identical fatigue, twenty subjects performed the knee extension/flexion exercise using the Biodex System 3. ST32 and ST33 as well as adjacent non-acupuncture points were selected. We measured blood lactate and analyzed the median frequency(MF) and peak torque. To obtain the information on the extracellular fluid(ECW), intracellular fluid(ICW) and cell membrane indirectly, we used the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis(MF-BIA) method. Results : MF, peak torque and blood lactate level of all measurement sites were gradually returned to normal. Re resistance of ST32 had a stronger response, but a non-acupuncture point adjacent to ST33 had a larger response up to 20 minutes post exercise. Ri resistances were similar for both acupoints and non-acupoints. The $C_m$ capacitance of ST32 had a stronger response after inducing fatigue, but ST33 had a smaller response than a non-acupuncture point adjacent to it. Conclusions : In comparison with before and after inducing fatigue, the specificity of acupuncture points was not clearly observed. Hence, we concluded that the body composition factors extraction method had the limitation as a method of finding the specificity of acupuncture points by inducing fatigue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2001

Objective : To investigate the relation to the organs, shu points and mu points. The labeled common locations of the spinal cord and brain were observed following injection of pseudorabies virus(PRV) into the the kidney, UB23 and GB25. Methods : After survival times of 96 hours following injection of PRV, The fifteen rats were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. Results : In spinal cord, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the kidney, BL23 and GB25 were founded in cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Dense labeled areas of cervical segments were overlap in lateral cervical n. and lamina III-V area. Thoracic segments were overlap in lateral spinal n., intermediolateral n. and lamina V-X areas. Lumbar segments were overlap in lamina I-V areas. Sacral segments were overlap in lamina IV, V and X areas. In brain, PRV labeled areas projecting to the kidney, UB23 and GB25 were overlap in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular n./rostroventrolaterai n., raphe obscurus n,, raphe pallidus n., raphe magnus n., gigantocellular reticular n., locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus n., A5 cell group and paraventricular hypothalamic n.. Conclusions : This results suggest that PRV labeled overlap areas of projecting to the kidney may be correlated to shu and mu points related to the kidney. These morphological results provide that organs-shu(transport) and mu(alarm) points interrelationship may be related to the central autonomic pathways.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2000

Depression is a psychiatric syndrom consisting of dejected mood, psychomotor retardation, insomnia and weight loss, sometimes associated with irrational guilt feeling. And it is also similiar to Hwa-byung(火病) symptom in oriental medicine. But it is difficult to diagnose with objective method. Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.) is one of diagnotic method that measure the changes of skin temperature in body. Specially we checked the skin temperature on depressed patients by using D.I.T.I. and compared with Bell's palsy patients and normal persons group. The results are as follows; Average body temperature of the depressed patient group is $36.68{\pm}0.43^{\circ}C.$ and that of the control group is $36.73{\pm}0.40^{\circ}C.$. So there is no meaningful difference. The depressed patient group has higher temperature than the control group by ${\triangle}T>1.0^{\circ}C$ at the following acupuncture points in these body parts - upper and lower, left and right, anterior and posterior. When acupuncture points temperature was compared superior and inferior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4(Myung-moon) and also in the control group. When acupuncture points temperature was compared left and right part of the body, depressed patient group have no meaningful difference and also in the control group. When acupuncture points temperature was compared in the anterior and posterior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4(Myung- moon) and also in the control group. From this study, we think that D.I.T.I. could be used to diagnose objectively on the depressed patients and useful to another psychoneurogenic diagnosis in oriental medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the first branch of the bladder meridian (FBBM) as determined by the proportional bone measurement method (PBMM), to the line formed by the erector spinae muscle group, and to establish an academic basis for selection of acupuncture points and needling. Methods: Sixty participants were divided into 3 groups based on body mass index (BMI) and into 2 groups based on waist/height ratios. The distance from the midline of the spine to the first branch of the bladder meridian with PBMM (DFBBM), and the distance from the midline of the spine to the most elevated fleshy region of the erector spinae (DMEFR), at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous processes of L1-L5, were measured. The DFBBM and the 5 DMEFRs were then analyzed according to BMI and the waist/height ratio. Results: DFBBM was statistically different from DMEFR in all back-shu points in the lumbar region. DFBBM was not significantly different from DMEFR in the groups with a high BMI or waist/height ratio. However, there was a statistical difference in the groups with a low or moderate BMI or low waist/height ratio. Conclusion: Since the location of the most elevated fleshy region of the erector spinae does not coincide with the location of the FBBM, the selection of back-shu points in the lumbar region must be performed precisely by PBMM.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartB
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• v.19B no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2012

We carried out study to prove effectiveness as stimulating corresponding points to lung in hand to experiment applied analysis parameters for image and audio signals in this paper. To this end we collected facial image and voice before and after stimulating corresponding points to lung in hand to a male 20s 25 people. In addition, we analyzed change color, voice energy and speaking rate of right cheek area corresponding points to lung to suggest the theory of the Oriental medicine diagnosis based on data collected. As a result, after performing hand acupuncture, L value of right cheek area decreased average 2.33 and a value b value increased 0.76, 0.97 on average. In addition, size of voice energy increased average 0.42, speaking rate decreased average 0.07. In other words, effect of lung function was improved using hand acupuncture corresponding points to lung.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2001

Background and Purpose : There have been many studys about the relationship between the meridians and the acupoints of the twelve meridians, but no study about the extra points. To verify Dong-Shi acupoints, a kind of extra points, we studied the effects on the thermal changes of the ankle region following acupuncture on the Wu-Hu. Object and Methods : This study was researched into clinical statistics for 45 healthy normal students. The object was divided into two groups. One was the control group and the other was the acupuncture group. The acupuncture group was divided into two groups ; ACU-up : The class of ascent thermal change among acupuncture group. ACU-dn : The class of descent thermal change among acupuncture group. First, in the control group, we took a picture at the ankle region(BL60, BL62, GB40, ST41) without any stimulation with the Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging System and did after 10 minutes respectively. Second, in the acupuncture group, we took a picture without any stimulation and then acupuncture on Wu-Hu and took a picture after 10 minutes in the same way respectively. Results : 1. In the control group, average thermal change of BL60, BL62, GB40 and ST41 was decreased(about $0.2^{\circ}C$) after 10 minutes. 2. The skin temperature of all measured parts was significantly lower in the ACU-dn group after 10 minutes. 3. There were no significant differences of thermal change between the control and the acupuncture group, between the control and ACU-up group after 10 minutes. Conclusion : This result indicated that the acupuncture on the Wu-Hu was effective at the ankle region. And so the more study is needed continuously.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.85-101
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to find out correlation of filtration rate of herbal-acupunctures and pain score of herbal acupuncture stimulation. Methods : Filtration rate of Hwangryunhaedoktang herbal acupuncture, Kidney yang deficiency number two herbal acupuncture, Hominis Placenta herbal acupuncture, Cervus Elaphus herbal acupuncture, BUM herbal acupuncture and Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture were measured at the korean institute of herbal acupuncture. And Hwangryunhaedoktang herbal acupuncture, Kidney yang deficiency number two herbal acupuncture, Hominis Placenta herbal acupuncture, Cervus Elaphus herbal acupuncture, BUM herbal acupuncture and Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture were injected at Xie points of the subjects. Results : Ranking of herbal acupunctures filtration rates is the same as ranking of pain score and duration time of herbal acupuncture. Correlation analysis result of herbal acupunctures filtration rates and herbal acupuncture VAS with a simple linear regression analysis is that correlation coefficient of Hwangryunhaedoktang herbal acupuncture, Kidney Yang Deficiency Number Two herbal acupuncture, Hominis Placenta herbal acupuncture, Cervus elaphus herbal acupuncture, BUM herbal acupuncture. Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture is 0.44, 0.53, 0.58, 0.76, 0.47 and 0.54. Correlation analysis result of herbal acupuncture's filtration rates and herbal acupuncture stimulation's duration time is that correlation coefficient of Hwangryunhaedoktang herbal acupuncture, Kidney Yang Deficiency Number Two herbal acupuncture, Hominis Placenta herbal acupuncture, Cervus Elaphus herbal acupuncture, BUM herbal acupuncture, Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture is -0.09, 0.11, -0.07, 0.28, -0.11 and -0.09. Conclusion : We found the correlation of filtration rate of herbal-acupunctures and pain score of herbal-acupuncture stimulation. This study help to control pain amount and pain duration time of herbal acupuncture treatment. And this study improve acupuncture theory of herbal acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.47-57
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• 2016

Objectives : Six command points are individual points that have strong and broad effects on their related part of the body, but there is a controversy about which acupoints are should be included in the six command points. This research was reviewed which acupoints are suitable for the construction of the six command points. Methods : We searched acupoints mentioned six command points in literatures, then investigated the effects of the acupoints to identify that they can be included in the six command points. And we deliberated which acupoints are suitable for the six command points. Results : Acupoints mentioned the six command points are LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40, PC6, TE6, GV26, ouch point, GB34 and SP6. Among the acupoints, LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40 and PC6 was included in the six command points in all of searched literatures. And GV26, ouch point, GB34 and SP6 were excluded because GV26 and ouch point were not fit the definition of the six command points, ST36 can be an alternative to SP6 based on their effects, and GB34 has a similar but little effect compared to TE6. Conclusions : Based on the definition of six command points and the effect of the acupoints, we suggest that the six command points should be composed of LU7, LI4, ST36, BL40, PC6 and TE6.