• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2020

A total of 1,235 studies were retrieved on June 23, 2019, from 3 databases. Selected 59 studies were evaluated by year of publication, study type, subject condition/disease, acupoint, standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of moxibustion (STRICTOM), Cochrane risk of bias (RoB), and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS). Most studies were conducted in 2011, after which the number of studies decreased. The most common study type was 25 case reports (CR), 16 uncontrolled clinical trials (UCT), 11 randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 7 controlled clinical trials (CCT). Moxibustion treatment was mainly used for musculoskeletal and circulatory diseases/conditions. A total of 83 acupoints were used, A-shi points being the most used. As for STRICTOM, an average of 7.4 items were satisfactory for UCT and CR without a control group, and an average of 9.4 items were satisfactory for RCT and CCT. RCT was assessed using the RoB, and many items were rated as uncertain. In this study, the need for RCT of moxibustion treatment in Korea was identified. The detailed description of study methods and results will provide evidence for the efficacy of moxibustion treatment in preventive and therapeutic aspects of Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.105-127
• /
• 2013

Objectives : We examined the use of the moxibustion through survey on Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) on preparation of universal moxa product standard by fully reflecting opinions of practitioners and the industry. Methods : The questionnaire is composed of 25 questions including use of indirect moxa, side effects, complaints and improvements, general characteristics and so on, and were responded by 1,588 KMDs. For statistics, frequency analysis, chi-square analysis, T-test and ANOVA were conducted using SPSS 12.0 for windows, and the significance level was 0.05. Results : In this research, 91% of the responded KMDs was using moxibustion, and the proportion of using mediate moxibustion was shown as 63.2%. They used mediate moxibustion for side effects of direct moxa method such as risk of burn, ease of use, control of stimulation and so on. And it was mostly being conducted to women and 40 ages. Most respondents gave moxibustion treatments for the purpose of thermal stimulation on acupoint to musculoskeletal diseases. Most respondents were treating 1~2 pieces of moxibustion to patients by moxibustion points to those of 1~2 regions every time within 10 minutes. Regarding the frequency of side effects of mediate moxibustion, within 3% of respondents had experienced side effects, and the types were burn, flare and itchiness, odor and smoke. The dissatisfaction of mediate moxibustion products was moderate(2.00 out of 5 point scale), and went up public health doctors, the younger ages and the shorter clinical experience. Complaints on mediate moxibustion products were serious odor, poor attachment, risk of burn etc. Regarding ways to improve mediate moxibustion, the expansion of moxibustion's insurance cost carne out highest, followed by preparation of manual on efficacy, strengthening of training, acquiring evidence on efficacy, diversification of specifications, safety improvement, quality improvement of mediate moxibustion products. Conclusions: Many KMDs use for ease of use and give moxibustion treatments for thermal stimulation but they complain about safety, efficacy and quality of mediate moxibustion. After this it is considered that we have to elevate therapeutic effect through the improvement of mediate moxibustion products.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials using moxibustion on hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods : Electronic literature searches for clinical trials (randomized trial, non-randomized trial, before-after study) of moxibustion were performed in nine electronic databases (four international databases and five Korean databases) and handsearch. English, Korean or Chinese articles were included. Laboratory or animal studies were excluded. Results : A total of twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven randomized controlled trial, three non-randomized trials and two before-after studies were included. Seven studies used direct moxibustion(two are scarring one) and five used indirect one. Five of twelve studies used moxibustion treatment just one time, except for that most frequency was once daily or 2-3 times per week for 1-2 months. Of ten randomized or non-randomized studies, three used antihypertension drug control and another three used waiting list control. Compare to baseline, change of blood pressure after moxibustion treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect in blood pressure between moxibustion and controlled were not consistent. Methodological quality of clinical trials included in this review was low and has risk of bias, especially in blinding of parcitipant. Conclusions : There are little high-quality clinical trials of moxibustion for hypertension. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion, more rigorous trials are warranted. Also, methodology of clinical trials have to be descripted in detail.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.4_2
• /
• pp.995-1006
• /
• 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study is to see whether pain in cancer patients is decreased by Eriobotryae Folium Fomentation. Methods: We examined the change in pain among six cancer patients, prescribing Eriobotryae Folium Fomentation. As for evaluating methods, we used the case history of pain, the direct evaluation of pain, the indirect evaluation of pain. The direct evaluation of pain is subdivided by the language expression, the non-language expression, and Visual analog scale(VAS). The indirect evaluation of pain is subdivided by the condition of walking, mood and the condition of sleep. Results: After two weeks, any remarkable pain decrease is not observed in both of the direct evaluation and indirect evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.54-59
• /
• 2010

A laser moxibustion therapy device having effect similar to that of traditional moxibustion is being developed using 1064 nm infrared laser. The therapy device allows direct interaction of laser light with the tissue rendering temperature distribution both on the skin surface and deep under the skin. We made a device that could measure temperature of deep under the surface of agar gel tissue phantom using thermocouples. A thermal imaging camera was used to verify results from the temperature measurement device. We compared the characteristics of heat transfer inside the tissue phantom during moxibustion and laser irradiation. The temperature distribution measured by thermocouples was found to be similar to that of distribution given by thermal imaging camera.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism and effect of moxa bucket moxibustion, to be used as the quantitative data through the measurement of temperature, and to grasp the thermodynamic characteristics of moxa bucket moxibustion. Methods : We have selected the moxa bucket moxibustion. We have made a comparative study of the thermodynamic characteristics of moxa bucket moxibustion. We have examined combustion times, temperatures, temperature gradients in each period during a combustion of moxa bucket moxibustion made by oak wood. Results : 1. We could design the moxa bucket moxibustion so that it has $57.6^{\circ}C$ maximum temperature with 7g weight and 10mm height, if we use more weight of moxa or lower height of moxa, we can observe relatively elevated maximum temperature. We observed the maximum temperature following the measuring position of moxa bucket and we could see higher temperature at the center of the moxa bucket and lower temperature at the side of the moxa bucket. 2. We could design the moxa bucket moxibustion with 5g moxa and 10mm height so that it has 0.12 $1^{\circ}C/sec$ of maximum temperature gradient, and it has relatively high temperature gradient at lower weight and height condition. 3. We could design the moxa bucket moxibustion with 7g moxa and 15mm height so that it has 4,135sec of the longest effective temperature combustion time. If we use more weight of moxa or higher height of moxa, we can observe relatively extended effective temperature combustion time. Conclusions : We observed the longest effective combustion time following the measuring position of moxa bucket. We can see a higher temperature at the center of the moxa bucket and a lower temperature at the side of the moxa bucket.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The aim is to comprehend the difference of moxibustion used according to applied body parts (knee pain, neck pain, back pain) to oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul. Methods : A sampling of 288 oriental doctors running clinic in Seoul was done and the doctors were asked to fill out 20 questions by interviewing directly from Nov. 23. 2009 to Jan. 9. 2010. Results : The result shows that moxibustion was used for knee pain and back pain more than neck pain. The type of moxibustion mostly used was sticker moxibustion for all three symptoms. Burn marks were left mostly in knee and back pain. Most large volume of moxa was used to back pain. More than half of the oriental doctors used 1-3 acupoints for one procedure and on average 2-3 sessions was done. Patients with knee pain and back pain had more than 4 sessions compared to neck pain. Treatments were mostly done 3 times a week, and as for total treatment period, it took less than 1 week for acute symptom, and it took more than 1 week and less than 5 weeks for chronic symptom. Conclusions : This research shows that the method of moxibustion used differs according to the area of treatment(knee pain, neck pain, back pain) by survey of oriental doctors through direct interviews.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.135-146
• /
• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate clinical evidence of moxibustion treatment for knee pain. Methods : All processes were independently carried out by three investigators. A literature search was performed in 3 databases from their inception to May 2015. Ten reports were found based on their title, abstract and text. Following this, data extraction and analysis were done using a risk of bias(ROB) and through an assessment of multiple systematic reviews(AMSTAR). Results : 10 studies(6RCT, 2SR, 2CR) were included. Generally, indirect moxibustion was used for knee pain, but only one study indicated the use of direct moxibustion. Moxibustion was shown to be effective in treating knee pain, and the number of required treatments was fourteen on average. In assessing risk of bias, indefinite and uncertain information made all included trials subject to a high risk of bias. On the other hand, SR showed all evaluation items in the assessment of multiple systematic reviews, with the exception of an included or excluded studies list. Conclusions : Because of deficient study design or limited research planning, there is not sufficient evidence to allow for any conclusion about the efficacy of moxibustion for knee pain. Therefore, well-designed high quality trials are needed from now on.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.23-34
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to define clinical character of peripheral facial nerve injury. Methods : 36 patients was identified with peripheral facial nerve injury among 1128 patients who visited the Facial Palsy Center in Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gang-dong between January 2010 and November 2011. We reviewed the medical records including gender, age, cause, symptom, period of treatment, and axonal loss. Results : Most common cause of peripheral facial nerve injury was iatrogenic surgery, followed by direct trauma, neoplastic disorders. Patients with facial nerve injury commonly complain about facial palsy(ipsilateal or bilateral), followed by paresthesia, facial spasm, facial pain, auricular pain. Peripheral facial nerve injury group showed worse electrophysiological pattern and younger onset age compared with Bell's palsy group. Conclusion : This study was designed for 36 patients and further studies are necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.135-151
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To survey concept, meaning, and problems of beekeeper's bee sting therapy by reviewing and summarizing outline, indications, and clinical cases of 'Research on Bee Sting Therapy' described in Monthly Yangbonggye. Methods : As a narrative review, literature researches were carried out based on 'Research on Bee Sting Therapy' in Monthly Yangbonggye in the aspects of outline, indications, and clinical cases. In the concrete, outline was just summarized and described, and indications were categorized by recent version of international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems(ICD) of WHO(World health organization), and clinical cases were collected and summarized from the viewpoint of acupoints and methods of therapy. Results : 1. Bee sting therapy is to inject venom into skin by stimulating affected lesions or acupoints on meridian with sting of bee alive for therapeutic purposes. It can be divided into two classes(direct stimulation(直針法) and indirect stimulation(拔針法)) by the differences of methods, and is different from bee venom acupuncture therapy in the aspects of the way of extraction and injection. 2. In this material, bee sting therapy has 83 indications classified into 17 of 22 chapters of ICD. Among clinical cases, cases on neoplasm, goitre, lump, and haemorrhoids by direct stimulation were especially outstanding. 3. The therapeutic acupoints selected in bee sting therapy are mainly Ashi points(阿是穴), and partly acupoints on meridian(經穴), Extra points(經外奇穴), and New points(新穴) with careful consideration of patients' condition. Conclusions : Although bee sting therapy has more or less controversial points of diagnosis, treatment, and management of side effects, it is thought that the accumulated and inherited experiences from old times can be used as meaningful material by further experimental and clinical researches.