• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.305-310
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• 2023

Background In this modern era of science-based medicine, some people still accept folk remedies as an alternative form of medicine. However, misinformation and misuse of folk medicines can result in dangerous complications. Among the possible complications of folk remedy use, this study focused on the clinical characteristics of burns caused by folk remedies. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who had been treated for burns caused by folk remedies from May 2015 to April 2022. Data were collected on patients' age and gender, type of folk remedy, reason for using the folk remedy, the severity of the burn, the number of wounds, lesion type, and type of treatment. Results We found 59 patients with burns due to folk remedies. Most were female (76.3%) and ≥ 60 years old (72.9%). The most common type of folk remedy was moxibustion (74.6%), followed by the use of glacial acetic acid (20.3%). The reasons for using folk remedies were arthralgia relief (39%), health improvement (18.6%), and treatment of tinea pedis (11.9%). Most patients had multiple wound sites and had burns that were considered severe, requiring surgical treatment (72.9%). The majority of lesions were on the lower extremity, including the foot. Conclusion This study described the risk of burns caused by folk remedies and the clinical characteristics of the wounds. The results emphasize the need for greater public awareness of the risk of burn injuries when using folk remedies.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2009

Recently, herbal drugs haver been used world wide. and generally regarded as safe with no serious adverse reaction. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of frequent cause of liver diseases. If DILI is not treated, it can be developed into liver cirrhosis, hepatoma, etc. Currently, DILI has been reported to be common cause of acute hepatitis, and oriental medicine and folk remedy are not exception. We encountered one case of DILI, cause by folk remedy. Patients complained chest discomfort, yellow skin and urine, nausea, vomiting. Lab test showed elevated level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (r-GTP), total bilirubin (TB). We estimated acute DILI and stopped taking folk medication made by himself. After 1 week of treatment, the clinical symptoms and liver function improved. Genetic and environmental factors as well as drug itself decide the hepatic toxicity, and the major DILI are belonged in acute type. So we need to get more attention to folk medication to help preventing the DILI cause by folk remedy.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 1998

This study was designed to find out the anti-cancer effects of two herbs using a folk remedy in Korea-The two herbs were A: Equisetum arvense L. (Seddugi), B: Eunymus alatus Siebold. (Hwasalnamoo) The experiment for the anti-cancer effects were conducted in mice and experimental groups were divided into normal(NO), standard (ST) and two other(A,B) groups for each herb and each of the two experimental groups consisted of three sub-groups(I, II, III) according to three different quantity doses of a folk remedy using five times and ten times the quantity of a commonly used in a folk remedy. The water soluble extracts of two herbs were orally administered to mice during six weeks followed by inoculation of the sarcoma-180 tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity. During experimental periods, the contents of ascites, abdominal organs were observed histopathologically. The results of effects on anticancer were as follows : 1. The survival time was significantly prolonged by the two herbs, especially in groups AII & BII.2. Body weight, circumference of the abdomen and contents of ascites at the time of sacrifice were noted and significantly decreased in groups AI, AII & BII. 3. Anti-cancer effects evaluated by the invasiveness and thickness of the tumor cells were noted in groups AIII & BII.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.443-451
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• 2002

In the present social-communicating situation of the folk remedies, we can say there is no responsible main group of it. When we look for recent published remedy books, their authors' background is too various. The folk remedy only focuses on the generality but it does not understand the problem of misusing with lack of explanation and classification in view of the oriental medicine. In conclusion, current folk remedies have formed a figure out of irresponsibility.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.322-327
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• 1993

The Korean folk medicine has been used to cure several diseases among the peoples and the folk remedy has so deep root. But the botanical origin of the folk medicine has been no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. It was investigated from March, 1986 to June, 1993 in order to verify its origin by describing botanical name, commercial name, and scientific name.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.331-347
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• 1990

This study was designed under the purpose to analyze the Korean Traditional Folk Remedies on food, to submit the basic statistical data, and to utilize them by examining how much they know about the Korean Traditional Folk Remedies and also by examining how frequently they used them. The sample was consisted of 312 housewives living in Daegu, Kyungsan city and Kyungsan-eup, the survey was made by use of questionaires from July 15 to August 1 1989. The results are as follows 1. Analysis of Folk Remedical Contents 1) The method of the Folk Remedies used in this area was mainly food, which can be easily found around their house and easy to use, it was possible to apply scientific principles in some cases. 2) The major popular method was shown to feed boiled barley or brown rice which are known as the Folk Remedy for Diabetes. 3) The ANOVA of variable shows the significant influence on each object which age, religion, the level of education, job, monthly income, and the area except family formation. 2. The Frequency of Folk Remedies and additional analysis 1) The most frequently used Folk Remedy was Arterio-sclerosis(1.44), which is followed by the loss of Eyesight(1.40), Hang over(1.28), Couth(1.27), Cold(1.26) etc. 2) In the analysis of Pearson Correlation between frequencies of Folk Remedies used, and demographic variables such as age(p<.05), the monthly income(p<.01), in that area, total number of response items showed a positive correlation. 3. The source to learn about Folk Remedy. 1) It is acknoledged that they are mostly instructed by their forefathers, friends, neighbors, professional textbooks, mass communications, herb doctors, other medical sources or education at school etc. 2) The ANOVA of Variables shows the big differences between each group by age. Based on the above findings, the following suggestions are made ; Most of Korean Traditional Folk Remedies are recognized scientific and reasonable which are based on the scientific research and herb medicine therefore it should be made good use of for our life in good health additionally. I hereby insist that the importance of our Folk Remedies should be reviewed and focused for maintenance our health.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 1992

A bibliographical study were designed under the purpose of the prevention and remedy in Dysentery, A boil, Syphilis, Pest and Pulmonary distoma by the Korean traditional sanitary customs and a superstition. The method of the Korean Traditional Folk Remedy used in this area was mainly food, which can be easily found around their house and easy to use.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.93-106
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• 1998

This study was designed to find out the effects on the lipid metabolism of two herbs used in folk treatment in Korea The two herbs were A: Equisetum arvense L. (Seddugi), B: Eunymus alatus Siebold (Hwasalnamoo). The experiment was performed with the male rats of Sprague-Dawley which fed on high calorie and animal fat supplemented diets from which 30% of the total calories can from lard. Experimental groups were divided into standard (ST) and two other(A, B) groups for the each herb. Each of the two experimental groups consisted of three subgroups (I, II, III) according to the three different doses of the folk remedy used, which were five times and ten times the dose commonly used in a folk remedy. During the experimental period, total food intake and body weight gains were measured, and FER, CER, PER were calculated at the same times. Serum levels of triglyceride, total lipid, ttal cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and total lipid as well as cholesterol contents of the liver were measured at the time of sacrifice. Epididymal fat pads were weighted and an indes was calculated. The results of the effects on the lipid metabolism were as follows : 1.Total food intake and body weight gains increased in group A & B. 2. The serum levels of the total lipid and triglyceride decreased in AIII, BI and BIII.3. The serum level of cholesterol decreased in group B, while level of HDL-Cholesterol were increased in all groups and most effectively in group B. 4. The contents of total liver lipid increased in groups A&B. cholesterol decreased in groups A&B. In conclusion, effects on the lipid metabolism associated with the kinds of herbs a diet were the increase of body weighta and the decrease of total lipid and cholesterol levels in serum and liver.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

On the ground of researches in social consciousness about the folk remedies, both of them, people and oriental medicine doctors, feel strongly the relative importance and the necessity of the folk remedies. But the folk remedy had not groped for proper adoption and not shared in the benefits actually. Therefore the oriental medicine doctors present a direct guide for use, instead of leaving people to use improperly. And the oriental medicine doctors are in need of making a guide for efficient use of the folk remedies at the existing disease types.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 1998

The purposes of this study were to identify the contents, frequency of use, and the rationales of folk remedies frequently used for first aid at home for stomachache, vomiting, strain, food poisoning, vaginal bleeding, or wounds of snake or dog bite, or bee sting. As the method of the study, data were collected by conducting a questionnaire of 185 persons, who filled it out or who were interviewed from May to August in 1998. The collected data was analyzed by using frequency and the rationales for the contents of the folk remedies were described base on literatures. The results were as follows,. 1. The folk remedies for stomachache in frequency order were 'warming the abdomen', 'rubbing the abdomen with a hand', or 'pricking a finger to bleed', which have the rationals. 2. The folk remedies for vomiting in frequency order are 'drinking water of watery radish' and 'pricking a finger to bleed', which have the rationales. 3. The folk remedies for strain in frequency order are 'soaking the affected area into cold water or applying an ice pack' and 'after soaking jasmine in water, making a dough with flour, and then attaching it on the affected area', which have the rationales, Additionally, although the frequencies are low, 'drinking brewed Achyranthis Radix' and 'applying brewed leaves and stalks of Sambuci Cortex' have the rationales. 4. The folk remedies for food poisoning in frequency order are 'drinking black beans and licorice brewed together' and 'eating mung beans', which have the scientific grounds. 5. The folk remedies for bloody discharge in frequency order are 'drinking brewed lotus root' and 'eating boiled chicken stuffed with root of bell-flower'. However, 'drinking brewed Thujae orientalis Folium' has the rationales. 6. The folk remedy for snake bite wounds that has the scientific grounds is 'sucking blood by a person without hurt in the mouth'. However, quite a lot of people apply alum or soy paste, which has no rationales. 7. The folk remedies for the bee sting in frequency order are 'after removing the sting, applying soy paste or sauce' and 'applying saliva'. No rationales for 'applying saliva' have been found. 8. The folk remedy for the dog bite wound that has the rationales is 'applying juice of leaves or stalks of Xanthii Fructus'. However, 85% of surveyed people use remedies that have no scientific grounds, such as 'applying burnt dog hair mixed with (sesame) oil' and 'applying soy paste or sauce'. Various materials are used in folk remedies for first aid treatment as shown above. Some of the folk remedies have the rationales since their medicinal actions have been found. However, the medicinal actions of the majority have not been found, but only known that they are effective, Especially for the materials except botanical drugs, they are used without knowing the effects since their components and pharmacognosies have not been described in any literature. The results of this research may be used for materials to educate the surveyed people or to consult them. Accordingly, the folk remedies that have the rationales are required to continue to study to find out the effects.