• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.349-354
• /
• 2000

Objective : The studies on liver effect in administration of western medicine have been well-established so far, but the studies on liver effect in administration or herbal medicine haven't been made. To make things worse, people who have liver disease generally believe that taking a herbal medicine is not useful to take care or their disease and even think it can cause liver disease. But this belief is not verified at all. And some doctor claim that herbal medicine is good to cure liver disease. So those various assertion makes patients to feel confuse about taking a herbal medicine. so we feel the need to study about how taking herb medicine affect to liver disease patient. Methods : First we chose the 12 patient who seems to have the liver disease on the index of biochemistry test and we administrate the herbal medicine and after several day or weeks we recheck the biochemistry test. Results : Through the this method, we find the positive effect of taking herbal medicine on the patients who have the liver disease. Conclusions : Our results give no evidence that herbal medicine is harmful for liver disease. We need to study more about this.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.129-138
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The discussion of enlargement of Korean Medical insurance has been existed since 1987. But it had less effects. For better discussion, we compared insured herbal extracts and clinical prescriptions. Methods : The database of insured herbal extracts and clinical prescriptions bas set up to compare the ratios of herbal weight and analyze indications of insured herbal extracts and diagnosis and chief complain of clinical prescriptions. Results & Conclusions : The most frequent insured herbal extract is Bojungiki-tang. Analysis about indications of insured herbal extracts and diagnosis and chief complain of clinical prescriptions is that Bojungiki-tang is used frequently for gastrointestinal diseases, pulmonary diseases, and not for diseases. Bojungikgi-tang is also used for muscloskeletal dieases, hemorrhage, and ischemia.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2015

Objective : There are many documents that explain efficacy of herbal medicine products (HMP), however, explanations on efficacy are not consistent with the clinical use. The objective of this study is to identify the differences between herbal medicines used in clinics and Korean Medicine literatures. The disease was restricted in low back pain (LBP). Method : In order to investigate HMP for the treatment of LBP, we selected five Korean medical documents as reference and searched for key words related to LBP. Five databases were Information on Herbal prescription published by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 56 Herbal Medicines covered with Health Insurance, Guideline for prescribing herbal medicines announced by Ministry Health & Welfare, Explanation on Herbal Medicines published by Korean Pharmaceutical Association, website of Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (http://www.health.kr/). The keywords were 'low back pain', 'lumbar', 'pain', 'myalgia', 'neuralgia', 'arthralgia', 'arthroneuralgia', and 'sciatica'. We also utilized the result of retrospective cross-sectional study in five university hospitals to investigate HMP used in practice for LBP. Results : From five databases, the number of searched HMP was 25, 12, 40, 12 and 38 respectively and 83 remained after removing duplications. There were 43 kinds of HMP used in clinical practice and only 20 (46.51 %) were included in one or more databases. Conclusion : This study suggests the necessity for reorganizing efficacy of herbal medicine. Standardizing explanation on herbal medicine should reflect the clinical conditions in further study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.15-33
• /
• 2019

Objectives The objective of this study is to provide the evidence of the effectivness of herbal medicine for frozen shoulder. Methods 2 Korean medical on-line databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Traditional Knowledge), and 3 foreign databases (Pubmed, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched to find articles concerning herbal medicine for frozen shoulder. We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Several repeated articles and those not relevant to the topic were excluded, as well as review articles and commentaries. The methodological quality of RCTs were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and meta-analyes were perfomed. Results Total 474 studies were founded and 22 RCTs were selected for systematic review. Efficiency rate was used as the primary evaluation method. Almost studies reported that herbal medicine has significant effect on pain reduction, increasing shoulder function on frozen shoulder. 3 studies comparing herbal medicine and chuna with chuna and 3 studies comparing herbal medicine with ibuprofen were included in the meta-analysis. At herbal medicine and chuna with chuna meta-analysis, it showed positive results of herbal medicine for efficiency rate (risk ratio: 1.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.27, p<0.0001). At herbal medicine with ibuprofen medta-analysis, it showed positive results of herbal medicine for efficiency rate (risk ratio: 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.27, p=0.003). Conclusions The studies showed that herbal medicine can significantly effective on frozen shoulder. However, the risk of bias in RCTs were evaluated as uncertain. In the future, further well-designed RCTs are needed to prove the effectiveness of herbal medicine for frozen shoulder and reduce the risk of bias.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2019

Objectives: Pharmacopuncture is a new form of acupuncture treatment that injects herbal medicine into acupuncture points. This paper introduces the management status of pharmacopuncture through accreditation, and examines the effect of accreditation on pharmacopuncture management. Methods: The Accreditation System of External Herbal Dispensaries (EHDs) of traditional Korean medicine clinics announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in September 2018 were investigated. Results: The Accreditation System of EHDs assesses and certifies herbal medicine and pharmacopuncture preparations. Regular components for the 'pharmacopuncture' certification consist of nine standards, 30 categories, and 165 items. The nine standards include: herbal dispensary facilities, clean room management, management and organization operation, employee management, document management, continuous quality control, herbal medicine management, management of preparation, and pavement management. Conclusion: Through EHD accreditation and certification system, traditional Korean medicine clinics and EHDs can now manage pharmacopuncture medicine quality and promise safe pharmacopuncture treatment for the people.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.33-46
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The objective of the study was to summarize randomized clinical trials(RCTs) that have assessed the effectiveness of herbal medicine on treatment of obesity and to propose better process of study. Methods : NLM Medline(pubmed), EMBASE, the Cochrane library, Science Direct, EBSCO, 4 Korean medical databases were systematically searched and 4 Korean medical journals were manually searched for clinical trials investigating the efficacy of herbal medicines on treatment of overweight or obese people from 1998 to 2008. The methodological quality was assessed using a Jadad score and validity was assessed using Oxford Pain Validity Scale(OPVS). Results : 14 RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. The methodological and ethical quality of the trials was generally low. The mean score by Jadad was 2.6 and the mean score of validity was 11.2. Complex herbal medicine was used in 8 RCTs and single herbal medicine was used in 6 RCTs. Except 1 RCT, the other RCTs reported positive effects of herbal medicine on treatment of obesity. Herbal medicines didn't seem to affect toxicity. In general adverse events relevant with the therapy were minor, but more than half of RCTs did not report about the safety or adverse events of herbal medicine, questioning their reliability. Conclusions : Although most RCTs concluded the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines on treatment of obesity, the quality of trials was low in general. Further rigorous clinical trials using complex herbal medicine should be performed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.1 s.65
• /
• pp.78-90
• /
• 2006

Background : Traditional herbal medicine is used extensively among the Korean populations, and other Asian countries employ similar therapies as well. In recent years, extensive focus was laid on adulteration of the herbal medicine with liver damage. The use of herbal preparations as remedies for various medical conditions has continuously increased in Korea. Large proportions of Korean patients use herbal medicinal products, folk remedies, and health food. However, studies on the safety of herbal products are conducted on a less than sufficient basis even in the countries like Korea where herbal medicine is being used extensively. Some of the reports on the safety of herbs were done by the doctors of western medicine but lack of knowledge and misclassification led to misunderstandings. Objectives : This study aims to verify the evidences on safety of frequently used 4 herbal medications (Sipjeondaebo-tang, Bojungikgi-tang, Ohjeok-San, Yukmaijihwang-tang) in the lab animal model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats was treated by 4 herbal medications during 31 days. After 1 month, we checked body weight, liver weight, and serum enzyme associated with liver function. Results : There is no significant difference in body weight and liver weight after 1 month of administrations. In all experimental groups, no abnormal findings was observed in histotogical research and lab liver Functions test(AST, ALT etc). Conclusions : These four herbal medications, frequently used in oriental medicine clinics and hospitals, are safe from hepatoxic events in the lab animal model.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.8-20
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Traditional oriental herbal medicine is used in cancer care to alleviate symptoms. Anorexia is a symptom which is frequently observed in patients with cancer and impairs their quality of life. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize current available evidence to evaluate the effect of traditional oriental herbal medicine on anorexia in cancer patients. Methods: The review evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effect of any types of herbal medicine on anorexia in cancer patients within 4 electronic databases and manual search up to December 2015. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (ROB) was used to assess the quality of RCTs. Results: In total, 11 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. All of the studies reported the rate or severity of anorexia improved after treatment in herbal-conventional medicine combined group compared to conventional medicine group. 7 of 11 studies showed between-group statistical differences. The methodological quality of RCTs was insufficient with unclear and high ROB. Conclusions: Traditional oriental herbal medicine may have a potential to improve anorexia in patients with cancer. To confirm the clinical recommendation, further researches with rigorous study design are required to support the effects of herbal medicine.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.13-32
• /
• 2017

Objectives This study is to review the effect of herbal medicines on obesity in animal models reported in Korean domestic journals after 2010. Methods The Databases (Koreantk, KISS, NDSL) are searched with terms as obesity, and animal study reports on obesity with herbal medicines after 2010 were reviewed. Animal model, intervention, and obesity indicator were extracted. Results 69 articles were reviewed. 57 studies used high fat diet to induce obesity. 56 studies used complex herbal medicines. Most used herbal material for anti-obesity effect is Ephedrae Herba. Each study shows significant changes of obesity indicators. Conclusions These results suggest that herbal medicine is effective treatment to obesity. But we need continuously agonize and research more effective and safe herbal medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.555-563
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This case report describes a patient who had suffered a stroke and who was treated for a long period with herbal medicine in combination with a Western medicine. Methods: Changes in liver function and renal function laboratory tests were measured while the patient took herbal medicine during the 1190 days of hospitalization. Results: During the hospitalization period, the liver function test (LFT) levels were elevated two fold, but after taking the herbal medicine, the LFT levels were stabilized and have remained stable since. Conclusions: The high risk of prescribing herbal medicine by an unlicensed person and the possibility of long-term herbal medicine usage for stabilizing liver function test were shown.