• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.104-109
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• 2014

Objectives: To present the case of a 76-year-old man diagnosed with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) treated exclusively with traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Methods: The patient was treated with the revised Sasammaekmundong-tang (rSMT), acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture from September 2013 to May 2014 in our outpatient clinic. We prescribed rSMT three times a day for 4 months. Acupuncture and pharmacopuncture were performed twice a week for 9 months. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy, we recorded the patient's chief complaints at each visit, and pulmonary function test was performed at intervals of three months. Chest radiography and chest computed tomography were performed before and after treatment, respectively. Results: During the course of the treatment, dyspnea, cough, sputum, and overall pulmonary function improved. Conclusions: We suggest that traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for IIPs patients might be effective in the control of the main symptoms of IIPs and in the recovery of respiratory function.