• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.71-85
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• 2008

Objective : Acupuncture, one of the Oriental medical treatment techniques in East Asia, is growing in popularity all over the world. Based on bibliographical and clinical data, the depth of needling, i.e. superficial or deep needling, has been considered to be a variable as potential modifiers of needling effects, such as localization, manipulation of the needle, or elicitation of DeQi. The purpose of this review is to summarize clinical trials using minimal acupuncture and to evaluate its appropriateness as a control. Methods : A survey of computerized literature searches for randomized controlled trials using minimal acupuncture revealed that a total of 10 studies were published until April 2008. Results : Results obtained from clinical trials showed that acupuncture were more effective than minimal acupuncture in 3 out of 10 trials, while others were no more effective than control. However, minimal acupuncture might neither be a inert placebo nor be indiscriminable. Conclusion : Minimal acupuncture as 'placebo' controls seems misleading and scientifically unacceptable.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.200-212
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• 2007

Purpose: To find objective validity of minimal acupuncture using a modified guide tube as a method to verify the effect of acupuncture. Methods: Subjects of this study were participants of a randomized clinical trial which was practiced to verify the effect of acupuncture on postmenopausal hot flash. There were 2 arms of treatment, one's for active acupuncture group(AG) with manipulation and De qi, the other's for minimal acupuncture group(MG) using a modified guide tube which was designed to give minimal stimulation to the patient. After 8 weeks' treatment followed by 4 weeks' observation, participants were asked to fill in self-report forms on their education, previous experiences of acupuncture, original idea on the efficacy of acupuncture and recognition of blinding. Results: 19 participants of 26 in AG and 19 of 26 in MG completed the self-report form. There was no difference between AG and MG in their education(p=0.5976, Fisher exact test) and previous experiences of acupuncture(p=0.9999, Fisher exact test). In their original ideas on the efficacy of acupuncture, most of AG and MG respondents have been thought that acupuncture is very effective or quite effective, and there was no difference between 2 groups(p=0.5065). 16 of 19 in AG and 14 of 19 in MG believed that they underwent more effective way, there was no statistical difference between 2 groups(p=0.6928, Fisher exact test). Participants believed in undergoing more effective way not because they recognized treatment method, but they were satisfied with the effectiveness of treatment retrospectively. Conclusion: As the result of this study, these authors suggest that minimal acupuncture using a modified guide tube is acceptable as a method to verify the effect of acupuncture in acupuncture-familiar Korean culture. Also further studies on the stimulation-specific effect of minimal acupuncture are demanded.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2006

Objective : To test the hypotheses that individualized traditional Korean acupuncture improves pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and that benefits remain after stopping treatment more so than is the case for standardized minimal acupuncture. Design : Randomized single blind controlled trial with two intervention arms (individualized traditional Korean acupuncture, standardized minimal acupuncture) of six weeks' duration and three months follow-up. Setting : Acupuncture interventions were applied by two training doctors in the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in a 1000-bed hospital. Assessment of the result was performed in a university-based laboratory. Participants : 50 patients with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis as diagnosed by an orthopedist. Intervention : Individualized traditional Korean acupuncture or standardized minimal acupuncture for six weeks. Main outcome measures: Primary outcome measure was pain as measured by the visual analogue scale. Secondary measures of pain and disability included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Lequesne Functional Index (LFI) score and Korean version of Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ). Discussion : This paper presents detail on the rationale, design, methods and operational aspects of the trial.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.57-69
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• 2008

Objectives : To review the controlling methods used in RCTs (randomized controlled trials) of auricular acupuncture. Methods : To investigate the controlling methods used in clinical trials of auricular acupuncture, 46 articles were retrieved from PUBMED (from August 1976 to August 2007, with limits: english, clinical trial) using the key words of "ear acupuncture", "auricular acupuncture", "auriculo-medicine", and sorted out according to the types of control treatments. Among them, 10 articles were selected based on STRICTA (Standards for Reporting Intervention in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture), and the controlling methods used in those articles were reviewed. Results : In clinical trials of auricular acupuncture, 'sham acupoints (non-acupoints and non-treatment acupoints included)', 'minimal acupuncture', 'pseudo-intervention', and 'placebo devices' have been used as controlling methods, but their 'inactivity' have been in question. To compensate the disadvantages of 'minimal acupuncture', and 'pseudo-intervention' control, placebo auricular acupuncture needles have been developed, although these needles didn't satisfy the conditions of 'blinding' and 'physical inactivity' simultaneously. Conclusions : Further researches on 'sham acupoints' and new development of 'placebo auricular acupuncture needles' are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.229-239
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• 2005

목적: 알레르기비염은 이환율이 높은 질환이다. 비폐색은 알레르기비염의 주요 증상으로 수면장애, 우울, 주의력 저하, 기억력 감퇴 등을 유발한다. 비염에 대한 침치료는 문헌에 언급되어 있고 임상에서 많이 사용되지만 잘 디자인된 임상연구는 많지 않다. 본 연구는 알레르기비염환자의 비폐색에 대한 침치료의 효과에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 본 연구는 단일맹검, 무작위배정, 대조군연구로 치료혈은 영향(Il20), 상성(GV23), 합곡(IL4)으로 하였고, 유효성 평가는 음향비 강통기도검사를 통한 총비강용적, 총비강최소단면적의 변화로 하였다. 결과: 101명의 피험자가 연구를 종료하였으며 연령, 성별, 체중, 신장, 맥박, 호흡수, 지속성 비염의 중증도, 양성반응을 보인 항원의 수에서 대조군과 침치료군에서 차이는 없었다. 침치료군과 대조군 모두에서 치료직후 총비강용적이 유의성(침치료군: p=0.0007, 대조: p=0.0175)있게 증가하였고, 치료15 분후 침치료군에서 대조군에 비하여 증가된 총비강용적이 경계수준의 유의성(p=0.0871)으로 유지되었다. 침치료군과 대조군 모두에서 치료직후 총비강최소단면적이 유의성(침치료군: p<0.0001, 대조군: p=0.0005)있게 증가하였고, 치료15분후 침치료군에서 대조군에 비하여 증가된 총비강최소단면적이 경계수준의 유의성(p=0.0929)으로 유지되었다. 결론: 지속성 알레르기비염의 비폐색에 대한 침치료는 비강용적과 비강단면적을 증가시켜 비폐색을 완화시키는 효과가 있었으나 지속적인 효과에 대하여는 추가적 연구가 필요하다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.123-131
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• 2007

Purpose: To find the correlation between ambient temperature change and the efficacy of acupuncture on the postmenopausal hot flash. Methods: 52 patients entered a randomized clinical trial which was to verify the efficacy of acupuncture on postmenopausal hot flash. Participants were treated with optimal/minimal acupuncture in the course of 13 weeks. 34 of 52 visited for the temperature-rising period(Group 1), while 18 of 52 for the temperature-falling period(Group 2), 100mm hot flash VAS and average temperature were taken 18 times from each person. Linear mixed effects model was used to find the correlation between temperature and hot flash VAS score(p-value<0.05). Group1/2, optimal/minimal acupuncture, age, age of menarche, height, weight, percent body fat, BMI, waist-hip ratio, past history of hysterectomy and HRT were also examined. Results: Period of treatment had influence on the hot flash VAS. As time went by, hot flash decreased(p<.0000). Participants who underwent minimal acupuncture showed higher hot flash VAS(p=0.0479) and as waist-hip ratio rose, hot flash increased(p<.0000). As the temperature rose, hot flash VAS score became lower(p=0.0143) and it was because 34 of 52 participants were treated for the temperature-rising period. Group 1/2 had no interrelation with hot flash(p=0.5741). Conclusion: Hot flash diminished as participants were treated with acupuncture, independently of whether the ambient temperature rises or falls.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.74-85
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• 2007

Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, $4^{th}$ and $8^{th}$ visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using 'Box plot'. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study evaluated the effects of sa-am acupuncture (SAA) simpo-jeongkyeok (SPJK) treatment on the blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), and body temperature (BT) of patients with hwa byung (HB). Methods: This patient assessor blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial included 50 volunteers, divided randomly into two groups. The treatment group underwent SPJK (PC9, LR1, PC3, KI10) while the control (sham) group received minimal needle insertion at non acupoints. The BP in both arms, PR, and BT at several acupoints were measured before and after treatment at the $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, and $4^{th}$ visits and before treatment at the follow-up visit. We analyzed data by using the repeated measured analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U, and wilcoxon signed rank tests; differences at P < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: No significant differences in the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and PR between the treatment and control group were observed at each visit. However, the decrease in the SBP for the treatment group before and after each visit was significantly higher than it was in the control group. The SBP in both arms in the treatment group was decreased between visits 1 and 2, 1 and 3, 1 and 4, and 1 and follow-up. The DBP in both arms and in the right arm between visits 1 and 3 in the treatment group showed decreases. A minimal BT increase for treatment at CV06 and CV12 and a minimal BT decrease for treatment at CV17 and (Ex) Yintang were found. Patients in the treatment group who visited more frequently experienced a greater decrease in the PR, but that effect was not maintained. Conclusion: The results suggest that SAA SPJK treatment has instant positive effects on the BP, PR, and BT in patients with HB, but the effects on the BP and PR are not maintained.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.49-52
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• 2022

Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a condition/disease which involves involuntary muscle contractions causing the eye to repetitively close, making it impossible for the patient to perform daily activities. This study reports Korean medicine treatment of a rare case BEB in a 34-year-old male patient whose symptoms showed minimal improvement following botulinum toxin injection (the standard treatment). Acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine treatment for 11 days resulted in clinical improvement for all symptoms as assessed by using the Jankovic Rating Scale, Blepharospasm Disability Index, numerical rating scale, duration of spasms lasting more than 1 hour per day, and number of spasms lasting less than 1 minute per day. This case report suggests that comprehensive Korean medicine treatment could be a treatment option for BEB in patients who do not respond well to botulinum toxin injection.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

Introduction : Even though Acupuncture has been know for its effect for a long time, recently it is required to verifiy its effect. To solve this, clinical trial, based on EBM, has been the way to explain acupuncture's treatment effect. Methods: Last year we had a clinical trial based on acupuncture. From this experience we came to a conclusion mentioned below. Results : 1. To find out acupuncture's effect more certainly, it is needed that Korean medical method or treatment should be connected to diagnosis. 2. We had found out that sham and minimal acupuncture are the most appropriate way in single blinding. 3. It is required for the acupuncturist to practice the right real acupuncture point and sham's point in clinical trial. 4. The most important thing to maintain the subjects from dropping out is to always be concerned to the subjects and management them. Conclusion : The best way to advance clinical trial on acupuncture is to use single blinding system with sham acupuncture together in controlled groups and most of all also needs a standardized acupuncture point and depth.