• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.216-229
• /
• 2002

Objective : To compare the effect of Carthmi- Flos herbal acupuncture theraphy and acupucture treatment to Low back pain patient. Methods : 70 patients with Low back pain are evaluated by being divided Carthmi- Flos herbal acupuncture theraphy Group(HAG, 30 peples) and non- Carthmi- Flos herbal acupuncture theraphy Group(NHAG, 40 peoples) at Ik-San Oriental medical hospital in wonkwang university from the first November 2000yr to 31th December 2001yr. Results : 1. In the cause of Low back pain, the most of HAG is acute sprain(9cases, 30%) and NHAG is non-inducement(13 cases, 22.5%). 2. In the analysis of the radiation result, HIVD and Degenerative change respectively were 22 cases(50%) in HAG and 29 cases(52.8 %) in NHAG. 3. The effect of treatment by Duration as follows :Two groups were the most improved highly in acute stage and they were improved lowly in chronic stage(6 month). 4. The effect of treatment by condition of patients was follows: After treatment, Grade IV & III were decreased 69.5% in HAG and 60% in NHAG. 5. In the distribution of treatment progression : 28 cases(93.3%) were recoverd in HAG but 30 cases(90%) in NHAG. Conclusion : These results shows that the effect of treatment by Carthmi- Flos herbal acupuncture treatmen is exellent by relaxing contracted muscles, strengthening weakened ligaments and improving inflammatory parts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.12-23
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study evaluated clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods: Eight Korean databases and four international databases were searched for clinical trials of acupuncture treatment for hypertension up to June 2011. Study quality was assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool. Results: Twenty-four trials of acupuncture for hypertension were included. There were 14 randomized and 1 non-randomized controlled trials and 9 before-after studies. The most frequently used acupuncture points were zsnli (ST36), qch (LI11), fngch (GB20), snynjio (SP06), snjin (LI03) and hgu (LI04). In more than half of the studies, needle retention time was 20~30 minutes. Compared to baseline, change of blood pressure after treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect on blood pressure between acupuncture and control were not consistent. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence to suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hypertension. Further well-designed clinical trials will be required to evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for hypertension.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.149-163
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review RCTs on pharmacopuncture treatment for musculoskeletal diseases and to establish standards of pharmacopuncture treatment model. Methods : We searched articles up to date of March 2009 via computerized databases of Pubmed, The Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Journal of Korean institute of Herbal Acupuncture, Journal of Oriental Rehabilitation and Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine. Only Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) concerning the effects of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases. The pharmacopuncture treatment methods were assessed based on STRICTA and items considering the feature of pharmacopuncture. And the methodological quality of the trials was assessed by FEAS and modified Jadad score. Results : Eighteen trials of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases were analyzed. Except for 4 trials comparing the effect of SBV and BV, positive outcome was reported in ten trials. Among eighteen trials; most of the trials were about Bee Venom acupuncture, and most of the trials used about five acupuncture points, mainly local acupuncture points. But, the amount of injection to each point and total injection were various. And most of trials were lack in the information about method of stimulation. The adjusted FEAS score ranged from 0 to 12, and modified Jadad scoreranged from 1 to 5. Conclusions: To standardize pharmacopuncture treatment, we need more well-designed, high quality clinical trials. And methodological assessment tools designed for pharmacopuncture treatment are also needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.158-167
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The results from randomized controlled trials on traditional medicine have been negative or ambiguous. The appropriateness of the research methodology started to be questioned. However, the research methodology appropriate for studying traditional medicine has not been well-established. This study aims to explore the appropriate research methodologies for clinical studies on acupuncture. Methods : Clinical researches evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain were systematically searched and evaluated focusing on research methodology. The acupuncture treatment protocol is evaluated by 9 items which is individual treatment based on diagnosis, combining proximal and distal acupoints, exact location of acupoint, De Qi, adequate stimulation, duration of acupuncture, treatment sessions, treatment interval, and establishing relationship between patients and doctors. Results : Systematic review of acupuncture researches on low back pain suggested that observational studies and pragmatic trials rather than explanatory studies could incorporate these elements. Qualitative studies also could help understanding complex characteristics of acupuncture treatment which could not be evaluated by quantitative studies. Conclusions : In designing clinical researches on acupuncture, various study designs, especially observational study and pragmatic study, should be considered according to research objectives and subjects. The efforts to incorporate the core characteristics of acupuncture practiced in everyday clinical setting are also essential.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study is designed to investigate the effect of oriental medical therapy on a 10 year old male patient had atypical Miller-Fisher syndrome with ophthalmoplegia and ptosis. Methods : We experienced a case of atypical Miller-Fisher syndrome and treated with acupuncture treatment, electro-acupuncture therapy, herbal medicine. The effect of treatment were evaluated with pictures of palpebra and eyeball movement. Results : After oriental medical treatment, ophthalmoplegia and ptosis was improved. Conclusion : Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture therapy and herbal medication is promising treatment for atypical Miller-Fisher syndrome with ophthalmoplegia and ptosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.71-90
• /
• 2017

Objectives : This study was performed to review articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis. Methods : On-line databases including Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS were searched to identify articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis (DQST). Several duplicated articles and those not relevant to this topic were excluded, as were review articles and commentaries. Results : Fifty-one studies were identified, which included 28 clinical case studies with 1,227 patients and 23 randomized controlled trials with 2,040 patients. In these studies, acupuncture, acupotomy, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and laser acupuncture were used as DQST interventions. Although DQST is a common disease seen in clinical practice, only four of the 51 studies we identified in our search were published in Korean academic journals, all of which used pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Although the results of the studies to date provide evidence that acupuncture and moxibustion are effective treatments for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis, the absence of a standard, objective evaluation tool, and a lack of reporting on the negative side-effects associated with treatment remain important factors that should be addressed in future studies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2018

Background: This was a retrospective review of published articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of peroneal nerve palsy. Methods: On-line database searches were carried out using; Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS to find articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for peroneal nerve palsy. Duplicate articles and studies that were not relevant to the topic were excluded, along with review articles and commentaries. Results: 20 studies were selected, 18 clinical case studies (47 patients) and 2 randomized controlled trials (154 patients). Intervention treatments included acupuncture, moxibustion, bee-venom (BV), pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture and acupotomy. Surprisingly, although peroneal nerve palsy is not a very rare disease, only 2 studies out of 20 carried out a randomized controlled trial. Conclusion: Although studies to date report the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in peroneal nerve palsy patients, the absence of objective evaluation and the absence in the reporting of side-effects remains an issue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of study is to compare the effects of acupuncture therapy and acupuncture with Dong-Qi therapy for the patients with ankle sprain. Methods : This study has been carried out for 67 cases of ankle sprain patients who have visited Dong-Seo Oriental Medical Hospital from March 30, 2004 to October 12, 2002. 67 patients were randomized into two groups. We have treated 34 cases(sample group) of them by acupuncture therapy and the other 33 cases(control group) by acupuncture with Dong-Qi therapy. We have confirmed VAS 10 degree before treatment and checked VAS after treatment. We have compared those two group. Results & Conclusion : 1. Sample group : The VAS mean is $6.47{\pm}0.24$ after treatment. 2. Control : The VAS mean is $4.3{\pm}0.256$ alter treatment. The conclusion of this study was that The Dong-Qi Acupuncture Therapy is more effective than The Acupuncture Therapy without Dong-Qi for the Patient with Ankle Sprain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2014

Objectives : There are few reports on treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome in the field of traditional Korean medicine. The aim of this study is to report a case of a 29-year-old male patient diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, whose symptoms were relieved after 3-week integrated Korean medical treatment. Methods : A patient diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome was admitted into the Korean medicine hospital. The patient had left shoulder pain and left arm numbness. The pain was worse if it had become cold. The patient was treated using Sa-am acupuncture(Daejangseunggyeok), sweet bee venom acupuncture, herbal medicine and other treatment including physical therapy from September 7th to 27th of 2012. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated by verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS), skin surface temperature difference between the left and right symmetric part of digital infrared thermographic image(DITI). Results : After 3-weeks of treatment, VNRS decreased and skin surface temperature difference between the left and right symmetric part of DITI showed moderate improvement. Conclusions : The results suggest that integrated Korean medical treatment may affect to reduce the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Further study is needed to evaluate the importance of this report.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of indirect moxibustion treatment for patients with neck pain caused by whiplash injury. Methods : From October 2010 to October 2011, 85 patients with neck pain caused by whiplash injury who admitted to Semyung oriental medical hospital were divided into two groups. Group A was treated by general acupuncture, group B by indirect moxibustion and general acupuncture. The efficacy of treatment was measured by visual analog scale(VAS) scores and neck disability index(NDI) scores of before and after 5 days to start treatment. Results : 1. Both group A and B represented effective improvement in VAS and NDI of neck pain caused by whiplash injury. 2. Group B has more statistical effect than group A. Conclusions : Through this research, indirect moxibustion treatment is considered to be effective reducing pain for patients with neck pain caused by whiplash injury.