• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.202-216
• /
• 2001

Subject : After acupuncture at So-Chung(HT9) in humans(n=4) we intend to know the differents of acupuncture at acupuncture and non-acupuncture on the electrical frequency change and signal transmission along the meridian with different acupuncture manipulation method. Met6ods : The etectrical signal on the heart merdian acupuncture point, So-Bu(HT8), Shin-Moon(HT7) and So-Hae(HT3), and control non acupuncture points was measured by electrodes biopack instrument. Acupuncture needles(diameter: 0.25mm, length:30mm) were used for acupuncture. The frequency was recorded before, during and after needling the So-chung. Results : After acupuncture the components between 2 and 5Hz frequency level were decreased comparing with that of pre-acupuncture state. Time-delayed correlation coefficient was increased every 10 seconds. It imply that the signal may be transferred. These effects did not appear at non acupuncture point and also did not arise when there was no ki(氣) feeling. These results suggest that acupuncture stimulation is similar to 2~5Hz frequency electric acupuncture. and ki feeling and manipulation which can induce ki feeling is very important in acupuncture clinic.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1 s.31
• /
• pp.222-233
• /
• 1996

In order to understand the stimulation quality of Artemisine Vulgaris Folium(Bong), Mori Ramulus(Sangi) and Persicae Ramulus(Dogi) combustion, and get the basic data for the development of electric moxibustion apparatus, the average temperature, peak temperature, average gradient temperature, maximum gradient temperature and combustion time of heating period on the three moxa materials were measured. 1. The average combustion temperature was high in order of Dogi, Sangi and Bong, and these were acknowledged to have a significant difference each other in the average temperature. 2. The peak combustion temperature among those was high in order of Dogi, Sangi and Bong, and Bong was acknowledged to have significant differences with Dogi and Sangi. Sangi and Dogi however were not acknowledged to have difference each other. 3. The average gradient temperature among those was high in order of Dogi, Sangi and Bong, and Bong was proved to have significant differences with Dogi and Sangi. Sangi and Dogi however were not proved to have difference each other. 4. The maximum temperature among those was high in order of Dogi, Sangi and Bong, bong was acknowledged to have signigicant differences with Dogi and Sangi, but Sangi and Dogi were not proved to have difference each other. 5. The combustion time was short in order of Dogi, Sangi and Bong. Bong was acknowledged to have significant differences with Dogi and Sangi, but Sangi and Dogi were not. In order to understand well the characteristics of combustion, it is required to have a quantitative interpretation of combustion calory, and, in the future, we expect it is required to have a consistent study for the clinical effectiveness and the mutual relationship according to the combustion characteristics.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.18-29
• /
• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to provide evidence of treatment of growth disorder Methods We have reviewed clinical studies of growth disorder in children and adolescent through 6 databases until February, 2020. The searching keywords were "short stature OR dwarfism OR growth disorder" AND "acupuncture OR electric acupuncture OR electroacupuncture OR moxibustion OR herb medicine OR cupping OR Korean medicine OR oriental medicine OR chuna OR pharmacopuncture OR qigong OR traditional medicine OR traditional Korean medicine OR Korean medicine". There was no limit to time and language. Results As a result of the initial search, a total of 270 papers from six domestic databases were found. Among these papers, 156 papers were selected after excluding duplicated papers, and 109 of them were further excluded after checking the title and the abstract. Additionally, 28 papers were excluded by reviewing the full text. The author, year, number of patients, treatment, evaluation tools, and results of a total of 19 papers were included in this study and were summarized. 90.5% of the studies have shown that herbal remedies have improved childhood growth. Conclusions Random control studies and large-scale observational studies are needed in future to show high-quality evidence for the treatment of Korean medicine in pediatric growth.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The electroacupuncture(EA) was often used in Oriental medicine clinic and basic researches. However, there have been neither any national standard of acupuncture needles in Korea nor many studies about the property of acupuncture needles for applying electrical stimulations. Therefore we investigated the electrical corrosion property of acupuncture needles used for EA stimulation in clinic. Methods : We observed the occurrence of electrical corrosion like changes in the surface of acupuncture needles after EA stimulation with various parameters(electrical stimulation intensity, treatment duration, diameter of needle) under a light microscope. We performed EA stimulation on Baekhoe($GV_{20}$) or Joksamli($ST_{36}$) of rats with intensity of 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.25 or 0.5mA at a 10Hz frequency. Results : The electrical corrosion-like changes were found on the surface of needles when the EA stimulation was given over 0.05mA of intensity. When electrical stimulation was treated for 10min, the electrical corrosion-like changes were low, but the electrical corrosion-like changes gradually increased by the treatment duration(20, 30min). We also found that acupuncture needles of 0.2mm diameter were produced more extensive electrical corrosion-like changes than acupuncture needles of 0.3 or 0.4mm diameter by electrical stimulation. Conclusions: These results suggested that EA stimulation could produce electrical corrosion-like changes of acupuncture needles through intensity of current, duration of electric stimulation and/or diameter of needle.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Warm needling is the method combining the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. In modern clinics, warm needling is only affected by treatment time or frequency. We need to study the physical characteristics of warm needles currently used in clinics in order to develop more efficient and economical treatments. Methods : We collected various warm needle specimens and analyzed chemical constitutions, measured heat transfer velocity, micro Vicker's hardness and specific resistance. We studied the relationship between heat transfer velocity and micro Vicker's hardness as well as that between heat transfer velocity and specific resistance. Results : The heat transfer velocity of the Silver_HL was 3.3 mm/sec, of the Au alloy group was 1.3~2.6 mm/sec, and Silver_IN, Silver_ZK and SS groups was less than 0.3 mm/sec. We therefore concluded that the needle composed of Ag has the best heat transfer velocity. In the Micro Vicker's hardness test, Vicker's hardness of the Au alloy group was 159~170 Hv, of Silver_HL was 181 Hv, and of the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK, SS group was 450.8~519 Hv. In the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK and SS groups, hardness was inversely proportial to thermal conductivity. In the specific resistance test, the specific resistance of Silver_HL was the lowest, that of the Au alloy group was the second lowest, and that of the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK, SS groups were the highest. Conclusions : We concluded that the needle composed of Ag has the best heat transfer velocity, highest electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, therefore the needle composed of Ag is suitable for warm needling.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.27-41
• /
• 2000

The meridian system is the most essential and basic connecting structure that maintains the vital activities of viscera and bowels by connecting them with each part of body's surface. Doctors can understand the healthy condition, and the region and deficiency-excessiveness of disease by observing the condition of Qi flowing. Deficiency and excessiveness could be differentiated by various symptoms expressed in meridian system. Especially there could be several clues like pain, heat-cold, protuberance-depression, change of color and shine in the line of channel leads to the judgment of deficiency-excessiveness The diagnosis of deficiency and excessiveness can be generalized by quantification of elastic status in skin surface along the meridian system. By comparing data from measurement of elastic condition with those from traditional deficiency and excessiveness, it could be utilized for the development of oriental medicine. All biological activities in the human body are based on meridian system according to the oriental medicine. Also the meridian system is viewed as basic and essential structure connecting internal viscera and each part of body. The areas of expressed channel phenomena are muscle to bone, muscle to muscle and bone to bone. These areas are called depression where meridian system is present and any changing state on those points can be measured. It could be difficult in diagnosing the reaction of meridian system because doctor can depend on his own judgment. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify and indexate channel reactions. To quantify the channel reactions, specially manufactured instrument was used to quantify the protuberance and depression to differentiate the deficiency and excessiveness. The results follow as below; 1. The elastic index measurement by the equipment proved a pattern of agreement showing the values that ranged within standard deviation 0.05kgf/cm throughout the experiment except few cases' measurement in CV-17. 2. To evaluate the state of deficiency & excessiveness of elastic index measurements in frontal point, elastic index measurements in the front paint were compared to the elastic index measured surrounding the point within 2.5 cm. Such result of indexing procedure was closely matched to the concept of palpitation. 3. If the elastic index values in the surrounding front point closely located to the elastic index values in the front point, the judgement on the state of deficiency and excessiveness was delayed. Otherwise, it was judged as deficiency or excessiveness. 4. Out of total 12 cases of comparing the elastic index values to the elastic index values in the surrounding front point, Three to nine front points were judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness. 5. Among the nine front points judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness, Four cases were matched to the electric index measured by EAV that evaluating the internal organs by five different phases. If more clinical cases are accumulated, it is expected to systematically theorize and improve the concept of deficiency and excessiveness in the internal organs using the front point.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.392-400
• /
• 2017

Objective: To report the case of a patient suffering from cervical vertigo who was treated with a combination of Korean medicine treatments (including acupuncture, pharmaco-acupuncture, and Chuna manual therapy). Method: An outpatient with cervical vertigo was given a combination of Korean medicine treatments five times, from December 5 to 16, 2016. All of the treatments, acupuncture with electric stimulation and pharmaco-acupuncture, were applied on the trigger points (TP) of the cervical muscles and the upper trapezoid muscles. Chuna manual therapy was then applied on the cervical area. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) - according to outpatient's statement on vertigo, neck pain and headache - and the Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), which is a self-evaluating scale of dizziness in daily life, were used to evaluate the effects of this treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment, the vertigo and the headache disappeared. The NRS decreased from 9 to 0 for vertigo and from 5 to 0 for headache. Although the neck pain also decreased, it did not disappear; this NRS decreased from 7 to 1. The DHI score also decreased significantly, from 64 to 4. Conclusion: Since the symptoms of the patient with cervical vertigo improved after the very first treatment and the improvement of the symptoms was observed as the treatment progressed, this case report is worth supporting the efficacy of combined Korean medical treatments. However, because there was only one subject, it is hard to say that this efficacy can be generalized. Moreover, this report cannot prove the individual efficacy since various treatments were combined. While there are many researches related to cervical vertigo in Western medicine, the studies in Korean medicine are comparably insufficient; therefore, follow-up research on more subjects is needed.

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