• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.73-82
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this review is to investigate studies of Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture and the evidence of it's effects in order to suggest a better research method in the future. Methods We retrieved numbers of clinical studies about Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture from 7 Korean web databases, using key words such as 'Scolopendrid', 'Scolopendrid AND Pharmacopuncture'. This study had been conducted from 1st May 2013 to 31th July 2013. Controlled studies and case studies were only used for this study. Clinical studies that we picked from the databases were classified according to the diseases that those studies are about, and from these clinical studies, we are to research what has to be improved generally in clinical researches. Results 18 case studies, 4 controlled studies had been under research. Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture has a therapeutic effect mainly in musculoskeletal and neurological diseases such as herniated intervertebral disc, carpal tunnel syndrome, swollen leg, feeling of cold on legs, wrist ganglion, lateral epicondylitis, radial nerve palsy, cervical myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, postauricular pain; as an early symptom of Bell's palsy, pain of popliteal part, gout, plantar fasciitis, cellulitis, frozen shoulder, pain of hip adductors. However objectivity and reliability of the Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture studies still remains controversial. Conclusions It has been suggested that there are positive effects of Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture therapy in treating specific diseases (especially neuromusculoskeletal diseases). However, this narrative review can't conclude and prove that the Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture has positive effectiveness on these diseases unlike systematic review. So, in order to put Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture therapy to use for many kinds of diseases in more reasonable ways, it is essential to build well-designed clinical research tools. In the future, abundant case studies, more follow-up trials and randomized controlled trials based on the korean medicine should be done to use Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture for a clinical purpose.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.8-20
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacopuncture in the treatment of acute peripheral facial paralysis (APFP) through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the clinical evidence for pharmacopuncture as a treatment for PFP. Methods: Literature was searched using databases. The search terms used were "pharmacopuncture," "sweet BV," "apipuncture," "apitoxin," "injection acupuncture," and "herbal acupuncture" in English and "bongchim," "bongyakchim," and "yakchim" in Korean. The RevMan 5.2 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: In all, 1902 studies were screened and the full texts of 219 articles were reviewed. Of these, nine studies were included in the systematic review and nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. Treatments utilizing bee venom, sweet bee venom (SBV), Soyeom, Calculus Bovis Fel Ursi Moschus (BUM), Hominis Placenta, and Suseunghwagang (SSHG) were observed in nine RCTs. In the forest plot, the diamond favors the PA treatment against the control treatment. (95% CI: 0.34 [0.08, 0.60], Z = 2.57, P = 0.01), which Our meta-analysis in RevMan 5.2 confirmed the significant efficacy of PA in treating APFP. Conclusion: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that treatments using Soyeom, bee venom, and BUM are effective in APFP and they reduce the duration of postauricular pain occurring at the acute stage of APFP. However, due to small effect size, further investigation is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-158
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of anxiety and depression on motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy to estimate how much psychological factors affect the clinical prognosis. Methods : A total of 20 inpatients with acute unilateral Bell's palsy within 1 week of onset participated in this study. The severity of participants' facial palsy was measured by Yanagihara(Y-system) score, FDI and House-Brackmann scale at the time of 1 week and 3 weeks from the onset. The motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy is defined as ${\Delta}Y$-system during 2 weeks. Beck anxiety scale(BAI) and the center for epidermiologic studies depression scale(CES-D) were adopted to assess anxiety and depression, respectively. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted between ${\Delta}Y$-system and prognostic factors including anxiety and depression. Results : Significant associations were found between ${\Delta}Y$-system and depression(CES-D) but no significant associations were found between ${\Delta}Y$-system and other prognostic factors, hypertension, diabetes, postauricular pain, disgeusia, age, degree of initial palsy and anxiety(BAI). And a regression equation with 0.295 for coefficient of determination was obtained. Through this analysis, the ${\Delta}Y$-system can be predicted using regression equation which cover 29.5 % of depression index(CES-D). Conclusion : Depression is a significant clinical prognostic factor on motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy. So, Bell's palsy treatment should be combined with psychological care and support.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Background: Bell's palsy (BP) is a self-limited rapid onset facial palsy that is non-life-threatening and has a generally favorable prognosis. Facial paralysis can be caused by numerous conditions, all of which should be excluded before the diagnosis of BP is reached. The etiopathogenesis and clinical course of BP are uncertain. So we analyzed the epidemiology and clinical course of BP patients. Methods: The subjects include 100 cases of BP examined during the period of 18 months. Careful clinical history, neurologic examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies, and brain imaging were performed. Follow-up examinations were done once a week during the first month and subsequently once a month until normal function was restored or for up to 3 months. Facial nerve function was assessed by House-Brackman (HB) facial nerve grading scale and electrophysiologic studies. Results: Except 13 recurrent BP patients, we analyzed 87 BP patients. Forty-four (50.6%) were men and 43(49.4%) were women and the mean age was 51.0(${\pm}16.6$) years. Three (3.4%) patients showed a familial tendency. The initial examination within 1 week after attack revealed 35.2% was below HB grade 4 and 64.8% was above grade 3. The associated symptoms are as follows; postauricular pain, increase tear flow, taste change, hyperacusis and drooling. The initial facial nerve conduction study and blink reflex within 1 week after attack showed abnormal findings in 12.6% and 100%, respectively. Brain MRI was performed in 59(67.8%) patients and showed abnormal enhancement of affected nerve in 57(96.6%). Follow-up examination showed that 78.2% of the patients partially improved within 4 weeks and completely improved within 3 months. Finally 80.5% of the total patients obtained normal function in 3 months. Conclusions: We report epidemiologic, clinical, electrophysiologic and radiologic characteristics of BP patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.148-156
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• 2009

Objectives : Facial palsy is not uncommon disease and most patients with facial palsy are peripheral type, as in Bell' s palsy. In western medicine, oral steroid is the mainstay of the treatment. Recently, oriental-western treatment became one of the alternative modality for the treatment of the facial palsy. However, the treatment result and the degree of patient' s satisfaction were not evaluated. In this study, we tried to characterize the clinical characteristics, short-term recovery rate and degree of patient' s satisfaction after oriental-western medicine treatment on facial palsy of peripheral type. Methods : Between May 2008 and December 2008, we examined 16 patients who presented with facial palsy of peripheral type in Dongguk University Medical Center. Clinical characteristics and recovery rate was analyzed by retrospective chart review. The degree of patient' s satisfaction was measured by 5 point scale. Results : The causes of facial palsy were Bell' s palsy (87.5%) and the Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (12.5%). The highest age groups of facial palsy were 6th and 7th decades. Most frequent accompanying symptom was postauricular pain. After oriental-western medicine treatment, 10 patients (62.5%) showed recovery of facial palsy better than House-Brackmann grade 2. 11 patients (68.8%) were satisfied with the oriental-western medicine treatment. Conclusions : Considering the degree of patient' s satisfaction and treatment result, we believe that oriental-western treatment could be safe and reliable protocol for the treatment of facial nerve palsy of peripheral type.