Literature Review on Parkinson's Disease in Oriental Medicine

파킨슨병의 한의학적 고찰 -병인병리(病因病理)와 침구요법(鍼灸療法)을 중심으로-

Objective: In order to find oriental medical therapies on Parkinson's disease and to make a fundamental basis for clinical application, this study was performed. Methods: We reviewed 35 kinds of the ancient and modern text, and related articles. Results: Parkinson's disease is an extrapyramidal disease characterized by akinesia, tremor at rest, rigidity, and slowness of movement. In old oriental medical text, Parkinson's disease is described as Jinjeon(振顫), Chi, Gyeong (痙), Gyejong, Ryeon(攣) and Pyeongo(偏枯), Tantan, Jungbu(中腑症) of Jungpung(中風). According to the text, major pathological causes were Wind(風), Fire(火), Phlegm(痰), and Blood stasis(瘀血). And Parkinson's disease can be classified into four clinical types as liver & kidney yin-deficiency, qi & blood deficiency, retention of phlegm-heat, and qi-stagnation & blood stasis. Standardized acupuncture points are GV20, GB20, GV14 on head, CV12, ST25 on abdomen, GV26, ST7, GB1, S14, LI20 on face, LI4, LI11, TE5, SI3, HT3, LI15, SI6 on upper extremity, and ST36, GB34, SP6, LR3, KI1, GB30, BL40 on lower extremity. Other methods, such as scalp acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and herb-acupuncture, can be applied to treat Parkinson's disease. Conclusions: We find out that there are oriental medical concepts related with Parkinson's disease such as Jinjeon(振顫), Chi, Gyeong (痙), Gyejong, Ryeon(攣) and Pyeongo(偏枯), Tantan, Jungbu(中腑症) of Jungpung(中風), of which major causes are Wind(風), Fire(火), Phlegm(痰), and Blood stasis(瘀血). We can also apply many effective acupuncture points and acupuncture therapies according to differential diagnosis, for example, liver & kidney yin-deficiency. qi & blood deficiency, retention of phlegm-heat, and qi-stagnation & blood stasis.