• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.43-50
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• 2024

Objectives : Samanhyeol is a combination of acupoints located in the cubital and popliteal fossa. It is commonly used in clinical practice to treat acute illnesses such as summerheat stroke, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhagic diseases. There are two types of Samanhyeol in literature: BL40 and LU5, and BL40 and PC3. We investigated which acupoint is representative of Samanhyeol, and more closely fits the definition of Samanhyeol between LU5 and PC3. Methods : We searched for literature related to Samanhyeol, compared the anatomical locations of LU5, PC3, and BL40, examined their indications associated with the effectiveness of Samanhyeol, and checked cases in the literature where LU5 or PC3 was used concurrently with BL40. Results : BL40, one of the Samanhyeol, has been used to treat summerheat stroke, vomiting, diarrhea, and epistaxis in acupuncture texts, and there are many references in the literature to BL40 being used for bloodletting. And BL40 is located in the midpoint of the traverse crease of the popliteal fossa. From this perspective, LU5 may be a more suitable than PC3 because it is located in the midpoint of the cubital crease. However, Samanhyeol is a combination of acupoints used to treat heat stroke, vomiting and diarrhea, and hemorrhagic diseases. Upon analyzing the literature, it was found that LU5 and PC3 have similar efficacy. However, PC3 was used more frequently in cases of severe fever, unconsciousness or syncope. Conclusions : Literature suggests that BL40 is the representative acupoint for Samanhyeol. And PC3 is more appropriate than LU5 for Samanhyeol because its effects are more stronger on heat stroke although both LU5 and PC3 can treat symptoms related to Samanhyeol.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.7-21
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• 2005

Objectives : In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to SI6 and won-rak point on the ankle sprain model was examined. A common source of persistent pain in humans is the lateral ankle sprain. Methods : To model this condition, the rat's right ankle was bent repeatedly, overextending lateral ligaments, for 4 min under enflurane anesthesia. The rat subsequently showed swelling of the ankle and a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful ankle. EA was applied to the several acupuncture point on the contralateral forelimb for 30 min under gaseous anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force and Paw volume were Periodically conducted during the next 4 h and 18 h respectively. Results : EA applied to $SI_6$ with won-rak point produced more powerful improvement of stepping force of the sprained foot than to $SI_6$ alone lasting for at least 4 h. However, neigher $KI_4$ point nor $BL_{64}$ point produced any significant increase of weight bearing force. The improvement of stepping pressure was interpreted as an analgesic effect. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effort on the ankle sprain pain model could not be mimicked by EA applied to $KI_4$ or $BL_{64}$. In addition, EA applied to $SI_6$ with won-rak combination point showed inhibitory effect on the paw edema induced by ankle sprain. Also, COX-2 protein expression increased by ankle sprain were suppressed by the EA stimulation. Conclusion : These data suggest that EA with won-rak combination point produces a more potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model in the rat and that EA with won-rak combination point induced anti-inflammatory effect through the suppression of COX-2 protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.113-123
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• 2006

Objectives: Pharmacopuncture which is a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine helps to prevent and treat the diseases and symptoms including various pains. However, little was known about the therapeutic effects and its mechanisms on acute pain, although pharmacopuncture has been used frequently in acupuncture clinics. Acupuncture is known for producing analgesia for persistent ankle sprain pain in human. Furthermore, it also produces analgesia in a rat model of ankle sprain pain. Methods: To illuminate the underlying mechanisms of capsaicin pharmacopuncture-induced analgesia, weight bearing force (WBF) was observed on the acute ankle sprained rat model. Ankle sprain was induced in the rat by manually hyper-extending ligaments of the right ankle. Capsaicin pharmacopuncture was applied to SI6 (Yanglo) on the left forelimb (contralateral to the sprained ankle). Results: In behavioral test, capsaicin pharmacopuncture produced marked analgesic effects on acute ankle sprained animals as measured by WBF of the affected limb similar to manual acupuncture. Capsaicin pharmacopuncture was also suppressed by serotonin (5-HT) receptor antagonist methysergide (2 mg/kg, Lp.), but not by opioids receptor antagonist naltrexone (10 mg/kg, Lp.) and alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg/kg, Lp.). Conclusion: The data suggest that capsaicin pharmacopuncture-induced analgesia is accomplished by activating the descending serotonergic inhibitory systems.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.71-78
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• 2010

Objectives : The warm needling technique is a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion. The purpose of this study was to find the physical and thermal characteristics in order to identify the effects and mechanisms of the warm needling technique. Methods : In this study, the thermal changes were observed with a testo 845 device, which is an infra-red thermometer specifically designed for measuring a combustion of corn shaped moxibustion(moxa-corn). The thermal changes at the apex of the moxa-corn placed on the top of the an acupuncture were observed at the level of 1 cm and 2 cm from the apex to understand heat conduction through acupuncture needle for combustion of moxa-corn. Results and Conclusions : The thermal conduction through acupuncture needle from the moxa-corn was relative to the weight of moxa-corn and was inversely relative to the distance of the moxa-corn and acupuncture needle length. And the value of thermal conduction to the apex of the acupuncture needle from the moxa-corn was about $3{\sim}5^{\circ}C$. The above results suggest that the present study may be useful in finding the mechanism and effects of the warming needling technique.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.47-57
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• 2006

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to widen a clinical use by investigating literatures about the acupoint of Pu-ryu(KI7) and Um-gok(KI10) concerning Kidney-Eum(vital essence of the kidney) and Kidney-Yang(vital function of the kidney). Methods: We investigated the first literature about $Pu-ryu(KI7)\;{\cdot}\;Um-gok(KI10)$ and a second name, a location and a characteristic of them. We made a comparative study about the chief virtue and combination of $Pu-ryu(KI7)\;{\cdot}\;Um-gok(KI10)$. Results: Pu-ryu(KI7) is the 7th acupoint of Kidney Meridian of Foot Soeum(少陰), which reinforces a meridian of belonging and has the efficacy of warming the Kidney Yang, clearing heat, excreting dump and regulating water passage. Um-gok(KI10) is the 10th acupoint of Kidney Meridian of Foot Soeum(少陰), which has the virtue of nurishing the Liver and Kidney Eum, promoting lower heater and marinating the free flow of Gi Conclusions: The chief virtue of Pu-ryu(KI7) is to remove edema due to disturbance in Gi activity by dificiency of Kidney-Yang because of warming Yang to induce diuresis. To Um-gok(KI10), it is to treat instability of Kidney-Gi by Eum dificiency of the Liver and Kidney because of nurishing the Liver and Kidney Eum.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.187-202
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• 2018

Objectives : Non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation is one of therapeutic interventions to change in neural excitability of the cortex. Transcranial electro-acupuncture (TEA) can modulate brain functions through changes in cortical excitability as a model of non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation. Some composites of fermented Scutellaria baicalenis (FSB) can activate intercellular signaling pathways for activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is critical for formation of neural plasticity in stroke patients. This study was aimed at evaluation of combinatory treatment of TEA and FSB on behavior recovery and cortical neural excitability in rodent focal stroke model. Methods : Focal ischemic stroke was induced by photothrombotic injury to the motor cortex of adult rats. Application of TEA with 20 Hz and $200{\mu}A$ in combination with daily oral treatment of FBS was given to stroke animals for 3 weeks. Motor recovery was evaluated by rotating bean test and ladder working test. Electrical activity of cortical pyramidal neurons of stroke model was evaluated by using multi-channel extracellular recording technique and thallium autometallography. Results : Compared with control stroke group who did not receive any treatment, Combination of TEA and FSB treatment resulted in more rapid recovery of forelimb movement following focal stroke. This combination treatment also elicited increase in spontaneous firing rate of putative pyramidal neurons. Furthermore expression of metabolic marker for neural excitability was upregulated in peri-infract area under thallium autometallography. Conclusions : These results suggest that combination treatment of TEA and FSB can be a possible remedy for motor recovery in focal stroke.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.57-74
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• 2005

Objective : Frutus gardeniae, seed of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is one of the crude drugs used for the treatment of inflammatory condition in oriental medicine. Methodes : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect and anti-inflammatory effect of Frutus gardeniae extract (FGE) on a rat model of ankle sprain pain, and the relations between FGE-induced effect and endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord. As a chronic pain model, ankle sprain pain model was used to test the effect of FCE injection applied to acupuncture point. After the induction of ankle sprain, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for at least the next 4 days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee. FGE dissolved in normal saline was injected several acupoints. Results : After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 8 hours. FGE produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the ankle sprain lasting at least 4 hours. FGE produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FGE injection showed inhibitory effect on the paw edema induced by ankle sprain. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by ankle sprain were suppressed by FGE. FGE on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the ankle sprain than either FGE or EA did. The present study suggest that FGE produces a potent analgesic effect on the ankle sprain pain model of the rat and that FGE-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.1-17
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate current status researches and to provide source in setting development strategy on Liver-tonification acupuncture(LTA) and Liver-sedation acupuncture(LSA). Methods : We searched databases of Pubmed, KISS, OASIS, Google scholar and CNKI up to February 2017. We included articles that using LTA or LSA as main treatment, using the partial acupoints combination of LTA or LSA, or using each acupoint of LTA or LSA. We analyzed disease, details of acupuncture and control treatment and clinical outcomes from included studies. Results and Conclusions : Among the included clinical studies, case report was the most used methodology. LTA used to treat obesity, myopia, bartholinitis, tinnitus, hiccup and sleep disorder, prostate cancer and tremor. LSA used to treat panic disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowl syndrome, herpes zoster and neuralgia. Obesity and tremor were the most studied diseases using LTA or LSA. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was the only disease which LTA or LSA have no therapeutic effect. Each acupoints was not used as a meaning of Saam acupuncture but as affiliated meridian acupoint. Since animal researches were not fully conducted, mechanism of LTA and LSA was hard to be proved. Thus, more clinical studies and basic animal research are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.31-41
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• 2010

목적 : 침술은 한국과 같은 동아시아에서 잘 알려진 효과적인 치료법이며 정신 이상을 포함한 다양한 질환의 치료에 사용되어 왔다. 서양에서 침술은 유용한 보완대체의학으로서 각광을 받고 있다. 본 연구는 침술이 코카인 섭취를 줄이는 데에 있어서 효과가 있는지, 또 경혈의 복합 처방이 단일 경혈에 비해 더 효과적인지 여부를 알아보고자 계획되었다. 방법 : 본 실험에서는 270~300 그램의 웅성 흰쥐에게 FR 1 프로그램에서 먹이를 자가 섭취하도록 훈련시켰다. 동물이 3일 연속 3시간 이내에 100개의 먹이를 섭취하면 수술을 하였다. 복강주사로 마취를 시킨 뒤 오른쪽 경정맥으로 관을 삽입하고 천으로 고정시켰다. 회복기를 끝낸 동물은 매일 1시간 동안 FR 3 프로그램으로 코카인을 섭취하도록 훈련 받았다. 3일 연속 섭취량이 일정하면 다음날 한의사가 1분간 침 처치를 하였다. 대조군은 침 자극을 제외하고 똑 같은 조건으로 하였다. 결과 : 신문혈은 코카인 섭취를 줄였으나, 다른 경혈은 그렇지 못하였다. 더구나 신문과 태연을 같이 자침한 경우 단일 경혈에 비해 약간 더 억제하는 효과를 보였다. 그럼에도 불구하고 침술이 식욕에는 별다른 영향을 주지 않았다. 결론 : 이러한 연구 결과는 침술이 적어도 어느 정도 코카인 남용 치료에 있어서 유용하며 경혈을 복합으로 사용하는 것이 단독 사용보다 더 우수할 수 있음을 제시한다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.61-80
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• 2003

Objectives : Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to prevent and treat the cerebrovascular accident, such as a stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning to the stroke have been undertaken in the human and various animals. Recently, the new therapeutic tool, that is herbal acupuncture, has been developed since the 1950' and applied to various diseases including the cerebrovascular accident. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. Methods : In this study, effects of folium Artemisiae Argyi and moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on the $GV_{20}$, named Baek-Hue, on neuroprotection after the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohis- tochemistry and ELISA technique. Results : Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi or moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group, respectively. These features were observed in the motor cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Also, pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi and moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on$GV_{20}$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus and the cortex compared to control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, respectively. Conclusions : These results suggest that pretreatment with folium Artemisiae Argyi or moxa tar' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and theherbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}$ may be related to antioxidative function.