• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.35-39
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the Effect of Acupuncture Stimulation of Sohae(H3) and Sobu(H8) Acupoint on Skin Temperature of Sochung Acupint(H9, the end acupoint of Heart Meridian). Sohae and Sobu acupoint has a property of water and fire in the Five agents on Heart Meridian. Methods : Subjects were four healthy oriental medical students volunteers(male, mean age-28). One group(two subjects) received acupuncture on Sohae acupoint(H3) and the other group(two subjects) on Sobu acupoint(H8) while resting. Skin temperature was measured on Sochung acupoint(H9) before, during, and after acupunture stimulation. Each test took 15minutes. The initial 5minutes were definded as BAS(Before Acupuncture Stimulation) period, the following 5minutes as DAS(During Acupuncture Stimulation) period, the last 5minutes as AAS(After Acupuncture Stimulation) period. This test was performed twice in order to increase the statistical authenticity. Results : Our result indicates that acupuncrue stimulation of Sohae acupoint(H3) decreased and Sobu acupoint(H8) increased skin temperature on Sochung acupoint(H9) in the DAS period. The changes remained throughout the AAS period. Our conculusion are that stimulaton of the Water and Fire property-acupoint(H3, H8) on Heart changes the skin temperature on Sochung acupoint on the same Heart Meridian. However this study has no authenticity because it had no regard for many factors effecting on the result and the result of the study was the very reverse of our expectation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.76-84
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• 2004

1. Objectives This paper is intended to find out Sasang Constitutional difference on Autonomous Function after Acupuncture stimulation in healthy subjects. 2. Methods of Research Nineteen healthy volunteers(Soyangin 6, Taeumin 7, Soeumin 6) had acupunctured perpendicularly into the Hapkok point(LI4) and the Taechung point(Liv3). Heart Rate Variability, Mean Heart Rate and Blood Pressure were checked 4 times(before and after Acupuncture stimulation) to evaluate Autonomous Function. 3. Results & Conclusions The conclusions were as follows 1. There was no statistically significant Sasang Constitutional difference on sympathetic activity and parasympathetic activity before Acupuncture stimulation. 2. Acupuncture stimulation caused a statistically significant increase in the parasympathetic activity in the whole subject. 3. After Acupuncture stimulation, there was a statistically significant increase in the parasympathetic activity in Soeumin and a tendency of increase in the parasympathetic activity in Soyangin. But there was a tendency of increase in the Sympathetic activity in Taeumin.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.194-208
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• 2003

Objective : Recently, many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of acupuncture treatment through scientific methods. We performed electro-acupuncture on Taixi(K3) and observed the change of brain activity using fMRI. Methods : To see the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Taixi(K3), the experiment was carried out on twelve healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body fMRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on K3, 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. Result & Conclusions : Unilateral electro-acupuncture stimulation on K3 increased the brain activity in Brodman Area 8, 6, 9, 13, 21, 22, 38, 40, 43, 2, 5, 10, 20, 24, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41, 42. and decreased the brain activity in Brodman Area 9, 13, 38, 22, 31, 3, 6, 10, 21, 25, 29, 30. Group Averaged Brain activity induced by Unilateral Electro-acupuncture Stimulation on K3 was increased in Brodman Area 10, 22, 42, 43, 44 and was decreased inn Brodman Area 6 and pyrogen test of Bee venom. Bilateral electro-acupuncture stimulation on k3 increased the brain activity in Brodman Area 22, 3, 19, 4, 13, 17, 21, 41, 42, 2, 5, 6, 7, 18, 23, 29, 30, 31, 40 and decreased the brain activity in Brodman Area 18, 6, 39, 4, 13, 2, 10, 19, 36, 40, 45, 46, 47. Group Averaged Brain activity induced by Bilateral Electro-acupuncture Stimulation on K3 was increased in Brodman Area 22, 13, 4, 3, 29, 38, 43 and was decreased in Brodman Area 18, 3, 19, 22, 39. Motor Stimulation activated Brodmann Area 6, 43, 18.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.133-150
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• 2003

Objective: Recently. many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the Electro-acupuncture treatment through scientific. Methods : One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on Zusanli(St36) and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Zusanli(St36) is located on the lateral side of the lower leg. 3 cun(寸) inferior to the Patella of the lower border. Theoretically and clinically. this point has been considered very important for gynecological disorders. spleen and stomach disorders. and psychological disorders. To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36). the experiment was carried out on twelve healthy volunteers. using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body fMRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Zusanli(St36). 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds. repeated five times. with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction. talairach transformation, and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results ad conclusion : The electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) activates Brodmann Area 6, 13, 2, 19, 21, 22, 39, 40, 38, 3which indicates the pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) and the possibility of the relationship of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) with autonomic nervous system, internal organic system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.66-88
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• 1998

This study was performed from March to September 1997 on 95 healthy students to observe the effects of acupuncture at Hap-kok (LI4) according to the meridian and qi-xue(氣血) phenomenon of oriental medicine's theory. Skin temperature on the Hap-kok (LI4) and Chun-Choo (ST25) were measured by D. 1. T. I. (Digital Infrared Thermograph Imaging) before acupuncture stimulation and 1min, 10 min after acupuncture stimulation. 1. In healthy students, the left and right mean temperature of LI4 and ST25 was $29.04\;^{\circ}C,\;29.12\;^{\cir}C\;and\;30.29\;^{\circ}C,\;30.22\;^{\circ}C$ respectively. 2. In control group, the time dependent changes for 10 min of LI4 and ST25 were $-0.32\;^{\circ}C,\;-0.36\;^{\circ}C\;and\;-0.5\;^{\circ}C,\;-0.46\;^{\circ}C$ respectively, however, the thermal differences of both sides LI4 and ST25 were not changed for 10 min. 3. In acupuncture stimulation of both sides LI4, the time dependent changes of ST25 were $-0.13\;^{\circ}C,\;-0.06\;^{\circ}C$, and the thermal differences of both sides ST25 were reduced, but not changed significantly. In acupuncture stimulation of right side LI4, the time dependent changes of LI4 were $-0.1\;^{\circ}C,\;-0.32\;^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the thermal differences of both sides LI4 were increased more than control, but not significantly. Also, that of ST25 were changed by $-0.69\;^{\circ}C,\;-0.63\;^{\circ}C$ respectively, but not significantly. 4. In acupuncture stimulation group, it was classified following the thermal differences of both sides LI4 and ST25, and the effects of acupuncture were observed by changes of classification. The acupuncture of both sides LI4 results in temperature of the left side ST25 to be high after acupuncture. The acupuncture of right side LI4 results in increased ratio of the left side higher than right LI4. The above results indicates that D. I. T. I. was a useful method to observe follow-up the effects and changes by acupuncture stimulation on objective evaluation of phenomenon for the meridian system. Thus, acupuncture on LI4 affects to thermal changes of ST25 and LI4, but exact examination of thermal changes on ST25 will have to be.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.167-182
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• 2002

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic pains and factors that affected EA effects. The responses of wide dynamic range (WDR) cells to electrical stimulation of $A{\delta}$ & C afferent fibers were used as an index of pain in rats with chronic pains induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant or peripheral nerve injury. In rats with chronic pains, low (2Hz) and high (100Hz) frequency EA stimulation applied to zusanli caused the inhibition of WDR cell responses in about 60% of rats and the inhibitory actions were dependent on the stimulus strength. EA stimulation also induced an excitation of WDR cell responses in 23.9% of rats and no effect in 15.8% of rats. However, it seemed that in normal rats compared to the rat with chronic pains, the incidence of which EA stimulation caused the excitation or no effect was high. Reversible spinalization almost completely blocked EA-induced inhibitory or excitatory effects. EA stimulation more frequently induced the excitation of WDR cell responses in lightly anesthetized (0.6%) rats and the enhanced responses of WDR cells were inhibited by EA stimulation in the rat anesthetized with 1.5% enflurane. These experimental findings suggest that in rats with chronic pain, EA stimulation inhibited WDR cell responses to slow $A{\delta}$ and C fiber stimulation and EA-induced inhibitory action was under the control of descending inhibitory system and degree of anesthesia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 1983

It is well known that the acupuncture has been used effectively for the relief of certain types of pain. Although the precise mechanism of action of acupuncture analgesia is unknown, it is generally accepted that their analgesic properties are related to the activation of endogenous opiate system in central nervous system. And it is suggested that pain-relieving properties of acupunture may be related to a stimulation of peripheral nerve underlying the acupuncture point on the skin. However, the efficacy of acupuncture has no relationship between the site of pain and the acupuncture point. Consequently, the present study was undertaken to investigate electroacupuncture analgesia in relation to the site of peripheral nerve stimulation. Cats were decerebrated ischemically and the flexion reflex as an index of pain was elicited by stimulating the sural nerve (20V, 0.5 msec duration) and recored as a compound action potential from the nerve innervated to the posterior biceps femoris muscle in the ipsilateral hindlimb. Bilateral common peroneal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve were selected as the site of peripheral nerve stimulation. For the stimulation of peripheral nerve, a stimulus of 20 V intensity, 2 msec-duration and 2 Hz-frequency was applied for 60 min respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) Both stimulation of contralateral common peronal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve did not change the flexion reflex and there were no significant differences between them. 2) Stimulation of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve markedly depress the flexion reflex, the effect being reversed by naloxone application. These results suggest that stimulation of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve has the analgesic effect but both stimulation of contralteral common peroneal nerve and contralateral superficial radial nerve to the pain site where flexion reflex was elicited have no analgesic effect.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the general effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation of the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) on the brain waves of elderly women as a pilot study to figure out the possibility of candidate non-invasive and non-chemical stimulation method for the enhancing the brain function. Methods : A randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial was performed in 31 healthy women(mean age, 54.5 years) within a treatment duration of 12 sessions. In the experimental group, low-frequency electrical stimulation was applied using the maximum range of the individual insensible strength(mean current, $0.04{\mu}A$). The control group received sham stimulation. The background electroencephalographic activity was measured before and after the12 sessions. Results : After 12 sessions of stimulation, the relative power of the alpha wave increased(32 of 32 channels: significant difference in 11 channels, p<0.05); the theta(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 10 channels, p<0.05), beta(31 of 32 channels), and gamma(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 7 channels, p<0.05) powers were also decreased compared with the sham group. Conclusions : Electrical stimulation on the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) seemed to stabilize the elderly women brain by inducing the alpha power and reducing beta, theta, and gamma powers. These results provide insight into the action mechanism of the stimulation and can assist the future developement of a non-invasive and non-chemical treatment technique for stressor related cognitive problems.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of mental stress stimulation and acupucnture applied at HT7 point on heart rate variability (HRV) in normal subjects. Methods : Thirty seven healthy volunteers participated in this study. The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups. Both groups performed a mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test for 10 minute. Then, acupuncture needles were inserted on HT7 for the study group and on non-acupucnture point for the control group. HRV was recorded three times at test time and before and after acupuncture stimulation. Results : After giving mental stress stimulation to both groups, LF and LF!HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased significantly. After giving acupuncture to study group, LF and LF/HF ratio were decreased and HF was increased, but it was not significant. After giving acupuncture to control group, LF and LF/HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased, but it was not significant. Conclusions : This results show that mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test contribute to activation of the sympathetic nervous system Acupuncture at HT7 could be relatively useful to decrease sympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system for those who are under stress.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.208-226
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• 2003

Objective : Recently many studies have showed the evidence of the effect of the acupuncture treatment through scientific methods. One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on St40 and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Methods : To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Fenglong(St40), the experiment was carried out on six healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). after the needle insertion on right Fenglong(St40), 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. Results & Conclussion : Electro-acupuncture stimulation on Fenglong(St40) activated Brodmann's Areas of 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 13, 18, 22, 30, 40, 42, 43 which may be the central pathways of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Fenglong(St40).