• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

Background: This research was performed to investigate the effects of Pulsatilla Koreana NAKAI pharmacopuncture (PPA) therapy on intestinal disease in rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods: The subjects were divided into five groups : A control group, saline group, pharmacopuncture group PPA1 ($0.2mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$), pharmacopuncture group PPA2 ($0.5mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$), and pharmacopuncture group PPA 3($1mg/1kg/40{\mu}{\ell}$). The experimental model of colitis was induced by infection of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for eighteen days. After colitis was induced, PPA therapy was practiced on the Chunchu (ST25) once every two days for a total six times. Thereafter Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, damage to the colonic mucosa, body weight, IL-6, IL-10, $IL-1{\beta}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $TGF-{\beta}1$, IL-23 and IL-17 were measured. Results: The results were as follows. 1. DAI was significantly decreased in the PPA groups. 2. Colon length was significantly increased in the PPA groups. 3. Damage of colonic mucosa was observed less in the PPA groups. 4. Body weight was significantly increased in the saline group and the PPA groups. 5. The PPA2 group showed a significant decrease in the intensity of IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels and the mean of IL-23. 6. The PPA3 group showed a significant increase in the intensity of IL-10 and $TGF-{\beta}1$ levels. 7. No significant differences were shown in the mean of IL-17. Conclusion: These results suggest that PPA therapy on Chunchu (ST25) can be used as an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-176
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture stimulation and relaxation therapy on autonomic nervous system for students with examination stress by HRV, PSV and to find out relationship with anti-stress effect. Methods : The study group consists of 42 students were classified into three groups randomly : acupuncture stimulation group(male n=8, female n=6), relaxation therapy group(male n=8, female n=6) and rest group(male n=8, female n=6). Using heart rate variability and pupil size variability, we measured the value of HRT, SDNN, SDSD, LF norm, HF norm, LF/HF ratio, Pupil area, and compared the changes the sympathetic- parasympathetic activity. Measurement value were compared before and after, during midterm examination and normal times. Results : 1. HRT, LF/HF ratio, LF norm of acupuncture group was significantly decreased and HF norm were significantly increased in HRV after acupuncture stimulation at a term of examination. While variables of the other group were no significantly different. 2. SDNN of acupuncture group were significantly increased in HRV after acupuncture stimulation at normal times. 3. Pupil area, LF norm, HF norm of three group were no significantly different in PSV at a term of examination. 4. Pupil area of relaxation group were significantly decreased in PSV at normal times. While variables of the other group were no significantly different. 5. HRT of rest group were significantly decreased in HRV between three groups at a term of examination and normal times. 6. Pupil area of relaxation group were significantly decreased in PSV between three groups at a term of examination and normal times. Conclusion : The results suggest that acupuncture stimulation is associated with changed activity in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Measurement values of HRV and PSV are suitable to estimate the activity of automatic nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2009

Purpose: $17\beta$-estradiol is the most active endogenous estrogen, which is related to favorable changes in the plasma lipid profile, to relaxation of the coronary vessels, and to a decrease in platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. However, although the beneficial effect of estrogens on plasma lipoproteins (ie, lowering low-density lipoprotein and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) contributes to cardiovascular protection, it does not fully account for the protective effect, particularly in the application of physical therapy, including low frequency electrical stimulation. Methods: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the inhibition of stressors, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), prostaglandin $F2\alpha$ ($PGF2\alpha$), and a protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB), induced isometric tension by $17\beta$-estradiol in vascular smooth muscle strips, respectively. In addition, the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation at the meridian points (CV-3, -4, Ki-12, SP-6, LR-3, BL-25, -28, -32, -52) on the indirect antihypertensive effect were examined by monitoring the changes in the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in healthy volunteers. Results: Isometric tension analysis showed that the responses of inhibited tension by $17\beta$-estradiol were similar to the same stressors in rat aortic smooth muscle strips. Furthermore, although the continued amplitude modulation (AM) type of electrical stimulation was not increased significantly by electrical stimulation, the current of the frequency modulation (FM) type of low frequency electrical stimulation increased the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in normal volunteers. Conclusion: These results, in part, suggest that $17\beta$-estradiol has the capacity to supress stressor-induced muscle tension, and electrical stimulation, particularly current of the FM type, has a modulatory effect on the sex steroid hormones, particularly $17\beta$-estradiol, in healthy volunteers.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.227-229
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• 2017

Fibrosis of skeletal muscle following acupuncture is an iatrogenic disorder. The present case illustrates a patient with a unilateral fibrotic formation on a thumb muscle after acupuncture injection therapy with red sage. The patient in the present case was a counter-terrorism police officer with right-handedness; he noted a palpable nodule three months after injection therapy at his left first dorsal interosseous in which the acupuncture point LI4 (He Gu) is located. He also found a reduction in the strength of his left pinch grip that noticeably affected his left handgun marksmanship. However, being ambidextrous in single-hand pistol shooting is an essential requirement for counter-terrorism police officers. Based on the patient's medical history and claims, no underlying disease or trauma was found to be associated with his current complaint. During physical examination, a fibrotic formation in his left first dorsal interosseous muscle was visualized by using diagnostic ultrasound; also, as confirmed with dynamometry, the strength of his left pinch grip was significantly lower than that of the right counterpart. Because acupuncture injection therapy has three components, antiseptic practices, the mechanical action of syringe insertion, and the pharmacological effect of the sterile herb extract, any one of the components may have contributed to the present adverse event. The first dorsal interosseous muscle is small in dimension and rather vascular; thus, it is not an ideal site for intramuscular injection. When a clinician needs to treat a patient by performing acupuncture at the LI4 acupoint and injecting a herbal extract simultaneously, the clinician should only mechanically stimulate the LI4 acupoint while injecting the herbal medicine into the LI14 (Bi Noe) acupoint on the same meridian, the LI14 acupoint being located in the distal portion of the deltoid muscle and being fairly close to the universally agreed upon site on the upper arm for safe administration of an injection.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.122-132
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• 2021

Objectives : This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of thread embedding therapy on animal model for rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : Search was conducted in the Cochrane library, MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang Database, Technology Journal Database, the Korean Studies Information Service System, the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, the Research Information Sharing Service, the National Digital Science Library, the Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal and the Korea Citation Index. Data were extracted concerning animal model, intervention and rheumatoid arthritis indicator by two independent reviewers. Reporting quality was also evaluated by the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) guidelines 2.0. Results : One thousand thirty six studies were primarily selected. After screening, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. 1 study was published 2005, 1 study was published 2010, 1 study was published 2012, 1 study was published 2015, 2 studies were published 2016, 3 studies were published 2017, 1 study was published 2018. The most frequently used acupoints were ST36 and BL23, and were used with an average frequency of 11.8 days. All of these thread embedding therapy studies were effective on behavioral, morphological, immunohistological and hematological indicators to treat of rheumatoid arthritis model. Conclusions : These results demonstrated the effectiveness of thread embedding therapy and suggested the putative mechanism. However, considering the small number of included studies, low reporting quality and differences in study design, further studies with rigorous designs and high reporting quality need to be conducted.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze Korean clinical studies in Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis and to propose for better methods of clinical studies and effective treatments on allergic rhinitis. Methods Electronic researches were performed with NDSL, RISS, KISTI, KISS, OASIS by keyword 'Allergic rhinitis'. Results The treatments used in 36 studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, cupping, inject medicine to nasal cavity, aroma therapy, ointment, nasal cleansing solution, laser treatment, infra-red therapy, oxygen nebulizer, diet treatment, moxa-pellet treatment, mindfulness meditation and space-spine manipulation techniques. The most common acupoints were LI4 and LI20 (Large Intestine Meridian). The most common methods of assessment is subjective nasal symptoms. All studies using subjective nasal symptoms and quality of life as assessment methods to show valid results on the improvement of allergic rhinitis. Conclusions This study shows that Korean medicine and complementary and alternative medicine on allergic rhinitis are effective. It will be expected to use that various methods for allergic rhinitis and more clinical studies for allergic rhinitis and pediatric patients needed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to find out some rationales for using Hominis placental extract(HPE) pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients, and to suggest an appropriate clinical research of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture on asthma. Methods : Articles regarding immunologic experiments about HPE and clinical reports about HPE-contained pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients were reviewed by on-line and off-line searching. Results and Conclusions : HPE is suggested to have several pharmacological effects on allergic diseases including asthma as well as autoimmune diseases. There are some observational studies of HPE-contained pharmaco-acupuncture on asthmatic patients. However, the designs of these studies are not sufficient to investigate the exact effect of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture on asthma. To investigate HPE pharmaco- acupuncture as a novel asthma therapy, it will be needed to perform further experiments about HPE's pharmacological mechanism on asthma and to try further advanced clinical researches such as well-designed randomized controlled trial of HPE pharmaco-acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.2 s.20
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• pp.91-100
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• 2007

In this paper, We tried to analyze the patent trend on constitution diagnosis and treatment related technologies. For this, constitution diagnosis and treatment related technologies divided into 16 sub-technology by the advisory committee. And we analyzed patents applied in Korea, Japan, U.S.A., China, and Europe. The 16 sub-technology consist of pulse analyzer, skin diagnosis, tongue analyzer, face and body detector, face analyzer, voice analyzer, intelligence ontology, meridian diagnosis, infrared thermography, electric stimulation, laser, high and low frequency, physical, magnetic, and ultrasound therapy. As a result we found that patents of constitution diagnosis and treatment in Korea has been growing steadily in both quality and quantity since 1980s. The number of patent the pulse analyzer and low frequency therapy are larger than others. But applied relevant international patents, marketability of the patent and Cites per Patent (CPP) index are shown to be very low. In conclusion, to occupy key original technologies of the Oriental medical device, we need to apply more patent of the whole related technology and international patents.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2019

It was observed in the Subfertility Cases that Customized yinyang Balance Appliance (CBA) and Balancing Upper Cervical Alignment Technique of functional cerebrospinal therapy (FCST) for meridian and neurologic yinyang balance are theraputic. Four Subfertility cases were managed with the CBA, combined with acupuncture and herb-medicine. The other cases were managed with the Balacing Upper Cervical Alignment Technique, combined with acupuncture and herb-medicine. Clinical outcome measurement was based on subjective measures and clinical observations. Patients showed positive changes in subjective symptoms after the treatment and these effects maintained over the follow-up period. And each patient gave a birth to a male/female child. Further clinical and biological research with FCST therapy on hormone-related disordres is expected.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.29-41
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study is to examine the effects of SSP(silver-spike point) therapy, applied to acupuncture points, on the middle cerebral arteries blood flows of sample group(tention-type headache patients, n=12) and control group(non tension-type headache patients, n=12), and on the reduction of their headaches, when applied to acupuncture points. Methods : We stimulated 6 acupuncture points for headache with the SSP(three times a week for three weeks), and measured VAS(visual analogue scale) and the blood flow of the middle cerebral arteries with TCD(transcranial doppler ultrasonography). Results : The blood flow of the middle cerebral artery and VAS of the sample group and the control group were compared four times(initial, 1weeks, 2weeks, 3weeks) and significant differences in the measurements were found at 3 weeks(p<.05). The blood flow of the middle cerebral artery of the sample group was significantly increased, and VAS was significantly decreased in both groups. Conclusions : The silver-spike-point low-frequency electrical-stimulation treatment, applied to acupuncture points, can significantly increase the blood flow of the middle cerebral arteries in headache patients and can thus alleviate their headaches.