• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.177-187
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• 2023

Varicose veins have a substantial burden on individuals' aesthetics and overall quality of life. The current body of research on Korean medical interventions for varicose veins is limited in Korea, and exploration into clinical trends is lacking. This review specifically analyzed fire acupuncture, which is an understudied intervention in Korea that demonstrated efficacy in alleviating pain and paralysis while promoting tissue regeneration. A comprehensive investigation of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database was conducted, utilizing terms such as "varicose vein," "fire needle," "fire acupuncture," "burning acupuncture," "burning needle," "huǒzhēn," "xiàzhī jìngmài," and "jìngmài qūzhāng." This review included 14 studies investigating the role of fire acupuncture in treating varicose veins. We extracted variables, including age, sex, disease duration, intervention method, treatment frequency, treatment period, acupoints, and outcomes. Fire acupuncture appeared as the primary intervention method, followed by general acupuncture. The protruding part of varicose veins is the main treatment area for fire acupuncture, while the acupoints BL57 and ST36 were most frequently utilized for general acupuncture. Treatment results revealed significant improvement in all studies. However, there are limitations, such as scarce studies, limited side effects studies, and potential bias. Consequently, extensive and well-structured future studies are necessary to demonstrate the role of fire acupuncture in varicose veins.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.38-49
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• 2003

Objective: This study is aimed to compare the change of clinical comfort and improvement after auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7) on insomnia in stroke patients. Methods : Clinical study was carried out on 40 stroke patients who was traeted insomnia by auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7) at Kwang-Dong Oriental Medical Hospital. Results: 1. Total sleeping time was increased in auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7). 2. Average delaying time before sleep and Average Awake Times was decreased in auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7). 3. Quality of sleep was improved in auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7). 4. Insomnia Score was increased in auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7). Conclusions : According to the results, both auricular acupuncture theraphy and auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7) were effective on insomnia in stroke patient. but, auricular acupuncture theraphy was more effective than auricular acupuncture theraphy with common acupuncture theraphy(Shinmun HT7) in total sleeping time and insomnia score.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of quality of life after reduction of muscluloskeletal pain treated with Korean traditional medicine. Methods : The authors observed reduction of musculoskeletal pain and recorded pain reduction by VAS. And we surveyed SF-36 twice, admission day and one month later and compared each other. Results : 1. Musculoskeletal pain with Korean traditional medical treatment decresed significantly. 2. As patients' musculoskeletal pain reduced, all parts of quality of life increased. Especially, the improvement of Bodily Pain(BP), Physical Function(PF), Vitality(VT), Mental Health(MH), General Health(GH) were statistically significant. Conclusions : Reduction of muscluloskeletal pain improved patient's physical, mental, emotional and social quality of life. But Social Function(SF) and Role Limitation(RP,RE) were less than others, so we need to develop complementary programs.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.166-175
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• 2005

Objecitve: To present criteria for acupuncture standardization, which will improve the quality of acupuncture and secure safety, through studies of the biocompatibility of acupuncture needles. Methods: Acupuncture needles distributed in Korea were studied. Acute poisonous tests and pyrogenicity materials tests were executed to study the biocompatibility of acupuncture needles. Results & Conclusions: All 3 brands of acupuncture needles commonly distributed in Korea were found suitable for medical use, through acute poisonous tests and pyrogenicity materials tests. However, the medical instrument standards of the Korea Food and Drug Administration for acupuncture lack criteria concerning acute poisonous tests and pyrogenicity materials tests. The criteria for these tests should be standardized in order to secure the biocompatibility of acupuncture needles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2005

Objectives : In order to ensure safe Herbal Acupuncture treatment, the quality of needle tip is much important. Therefore we investigated micromorphological characteristics of Herbal Acupuncture needle tip according to the number of injection. Methods : We have selected the 26 Gage syringes & 29 Gage syringes that using currently in Herbal Acupuncture treatment. And we evaluated the change of shape of Herbal Acupuncture needle tip after several times of injection by Inverted System Microscope(x 200). Results & Conclusion : We found at Herbal Acupuncture needle tips had several defects such as hooked, scuffed, lump and irregular, stubbed or malformed shape in spite of new syringes. And we found at Herbal Acupuncture needle tips had several defects that is harmful to body such as mild pain, possibility of damage of tissue after several times of injection. Therefore it is necessary to pay attention to use Herbal Acupuncture needle tips.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.159-176
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• 2004

Objective : To present a criteria for acupuncture standardization, which will improve quality of acupuncture and secure safety, through studies of the biocompatibility of acupuncture. Methods : The acupunctures distributed in Korea were studied. The chemical composition, elasticity, and the solidity of the acupuncture's metal material was analyzed. Results & Conclusions : 1) The acupunctures distributed in Korea were all produced with ST304. Because acupuncture is used on a living body, the corrosion resistance, allergy proof and magnetism of the metal material should be considered. In this point, STS316 stainless steel would be more suitable than ST304. 2) The elasticity and solidity of the acupuncture's metal material distributed in Korea meet the medical instrument standards of the Korea Food and Drug Administration. But since the standards are only roughly outlined, the criteria should be realized and standardized.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.123-135
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• 2007

Objectives : A number of instruments have been developed to measure the quality of life in patients with various shoulder disorders. Much progress has been made in this area, and currently an appropriate instrument exists for each shoulder state. The purpose of this study is to review the instruments that are currently in use for assessing the shoulder joint. Methods : A literature research was performed to choose appropriate scales for assessment of function and the disability of the shoulder. Theoretically based scales were selected for review. Therefore, 11 scales were reviewed. The status of scales involved in shoulder treatment of acupuncture throughout several countries was evaluated. Results : 11 scales: The American shoulder and elbow surgeons evaluation form(ASES), Constant Shoulder Score, The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand(DASH), Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), The Shoulder Pain And Disability index(SPADI), The simple shoulder test(SST), Oxford Shoulder Questionnaire(OSQ), The Rotator Cuff quality-of-life Measure(RC-QoL), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index(WOSI), Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index(WOOS), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index(WORC), wereevaluated. Each measurement has its own composition and characteristics. Their validity, reliability, responsiveness and practical characteristics were already evaluated. We found 3 domestic and 10 overseas papers about shoulder treatments using acupuncture assessed with shoulder scales. Conclusions : In clinical research, the selection of the measurement scale should take account of the condition of disease, the patient's traits and the characteristics of the research. Moreover, appropriate scales, which havevalidity, reliability, responsiveness and practical characteristics, are needed to enhance the quality of research.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.227-232
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to statistically analyze the treatment effect and patient satisfaction of traditional Korean medicine, including acupotomy treatment of cervical herniated intervertebral disc. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 22 patients who received traditional Korean medicine including acupotomy treatment amongst all patients diagnosed with cervical herniated intervertebral discs at the Korean Medicine hospital in Daejeon, Korean, from January 01, 2020 to April 30, 2021. The clinical data from patient medical records were statistically analyzed. Results: The Numeric Rating Scale, the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions, and the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire scores were each compared before and after traditional Korean medicine treatment, including acupotomy, showed significantly improved scores after treatment (p < 0.001). Out of a total of 22 patients, 11 rated the treatment "very satisfactory" (50%), 5 "satisfactory" (22.7%), 5 "indifferent" (22.7%), 1 "unsatisfactory" (4.5%), and 0 "very unsatisfactory" (0%). Of the total 22 patients, 17 patients (77.3%) were willing to have further treatment, and 5 patients (22.7%) were not willing. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment including acupotomy was an effective treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral discs. To determine the effect of an individual application (e.g., acupotomy) of traditional Korean medicine treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral disc, a prospective, controlled study is needed.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.169-186
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical evidence to support the use of acupuncture combined herbal medicine for post-stroke depression. Methods: Studies were identified by searching Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, NDSL, RISS, KMbase, KISS, and CNKI. Randomized controlled trials that verified effects of the acupuncture combined with the herbal medicine for PSD were included in this study. Literature searches of English, Chinese, and Korean databases were performed. Two authors independently extracted the data and assembled the study quality. Results: Of 698 RCTs screened, 17 RCTs were selected. Most of the studies had unclear risk of bias. Among the 17 RCTs, 10 were meta-analyzed. As for the outcome measurement, the effective rate and the HAMD were most commonly used. The meta-analysis of the studies revealed that the PSD cure effective rate in the acupuncture combined with herbal medicine group was higher than that in the Western medicine group (RR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.33, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Also, the HAMD in the acupuncture combined with herbal medicine group was significantly different compared to the Western medicine group (MD -5.54, 95% CI -9.80 to -1.29, p=0.01, I²=99%). The quality of the selected RCTs was low. Conclusions: Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is effective for treating post-stroke depression. However, It is worth noting that the included studies were of relatively poor quality. The sample sizes were also small. Based on the findings of this study, further investigations into the diagnosis and treatment of PSD are warranted.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.259-269
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to statistically analyze and compare the curative effect and satisfaction level between typical traditional Korean medicine treatment and nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment. Methods: Of the patients who were diagnosed with the cervical or lumbar herniated intervertebral disc at the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at the Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital from April 14^th to August 25^th, 2019, this study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients who underwent nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment and traditional Korean medicine (assigned to Group A) and another 31 patients who received typical traditional Korean medicine alone (assigned to Group B). The clinical data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23.0. Results: No statistically significant differences appeared in terms of sociodemographic, condition, and therapeutic characteristics, except whether the patient received Western medicine treatment, before or after a treatment with traditional Korean medicine. Group A exhibited higher variations in numeric rating scale, EuroQol- 5 dimension and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores compared to Group B as determined by independent sample t test and analysis of covariance. In addition, the satisfaction score of Group A was higher than that of Group B The result of cross analysis revealed that desire for continued treatment in Group A was higher than that of Group B. Conclusion: This retrospective observational study showed that the patients with nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment reported a greater reduction in pain, improved quality of life and satisfaction than patients receiving typical traditional Korean medicine.