• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.67-85
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• 2006

Obiecnves : The purpose of this study was to examine the analgesic effect of moxi-tar on a rat model of carrageenan-induced arthritis and the relations between moxi-tar-induced analgesia and endogenous NO and iNOS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord. Methods : Carrageenan-induced arthritis rat model was used to test the effect of moxi-tar as a chronic pain model. After the induction of arthritis, 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, since oral injection of indomethacin produced temporary improvement of weight bearing. Moxi-tar dissolved in ethyl alcohol was injected several acupoints. After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 12 hours. Results : Moxi-tar produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis lasting at least 9 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was equivalent to that obtained after an oral injection of 3 mg/kg of indomethacin and this improvement of stepping force was interpreted as an analgesic effect. Moxi-tar produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by moxi-tar. moxi-tar on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis than either moxi-tar or EA did. Conclusion : The present study suggest that moxi-tar produces a potent analgesic effect on the chronic knee arthritis pain model in the rat and that moxi-tar-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was produced to examine the effects of moxibustion that had been played important role to traditional oriental medical treatment on disease. Recently, it was reported that moxi-tar which is generated in the process of moxibustion as burning combustibles decreased nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) generation in cellular experiments. Methods: Carrageenan-induced arthritis rat model was used to test the effect of moxi-tar as a chronic pain model. Diluted moxi-tar was single injected in several acupoints or combined with electroacupuncture (l ms, 2 Hz, and 2 mA) into contralateral ST36 acupoint for 30 min to assess the synergic effects. After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 12 hours. Endogenous NO and iNOS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord were examined on a rat model of carrageenan-induced arthritis. Results : After the induction of arthritis, 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, since oral injection of indomethacin produced temporary improvement of weight bearing. Maxi-tar produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis lasting at least 9 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was equivalent to that obtained after an oral injection of 3 mg/kg of indomethacin and this improvement of stepping force was interpreted as an analgesic effect. Maxi-tar produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by maxi-tar. Moxi-tar on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis than either moxi-tar or EA did. Conclusion : The present study suggest that maxi-tar produces a potent analgesic effect on the chronic knee arthritis pain model in the rat and that moxi-tar-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.201-211
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study is to summarize and compare acupuncture points used for dental disorder in the classics with those used in recent clinical trials. Methods : We searched the data for acupuncture points used and rationale of acupuncture in dentistry. Following two sources were searched: 1) seven Classics of traditional medicine and 2) clinical trials through Pubmed from January 2000 to March 2013 with no language restriction. Results : Dental pain was the most common disorder in the dentistry section of the Classics of traditional medicine. We found many similarities of acupuncture points used between literatures and clinical trials. From the meridian perspective, large intestine meridian(LI), stomach meridian(ST), triple energizer meridian(TE), and gallbladder meridian(GB) were frequently used in the Classics of traditional medicine and the clinical trials. From the acupuncture point perspective, acupuncture points were selected according to syndrome. The specific points such as five transport points, source points, and connecting points were also used. In the clinical trials, combination of acupuncture points usually consisted adjacent points and distant points. Among them, LI4 was used in all of the studies included in this review. Conclusions : For well-designed clinical trial, appropriate intervention is essential. To establish appropriate acupuncture treatment, we have to suggest reasoning for treatment based on literature and/or expert consensus. Our review only focused on pain relief in dentistry and had many limitations. Further studies based on the literatures such as the Classics of traditional medicine are required to ensure the rationale of acupuncture treatments in various dental disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of low frequency electroacupuncture according to acupoints combination on NOS positive neurons in the PAG and Hippocampus of Rat with adjuvant induced Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA into base of tail. Experimental group were divided into 6 group ; Normal, Control, $ST_{36}$, $SP_9$, $ST_{36}+SP_9$, and NA. Normal group was injected with normal saline and not treated electroacupuncture. Control group was injected with FCA and not treated electroacupuncture. ST36 group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$. $SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $SP_9$. $ST_{36}+SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}+SP_9$. NA group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at non acupoint. Each groups were evaluated by the number of NOS-positive neurons in PAG and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results : 1. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the NA group were significantly decreased in the CA2-3. 2. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and CA2-3. 3. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and DG 4. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36+SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG, CA1 and DG. Conclusions : It is expected that low frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of rheumatoid arthritic pain and that treatment of electroacupuncture at combined acupoints is more efficient than treatment of low frequency electroacupuncture at one acupoint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.83-104
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• 2005

Objectives : DaeBangPungTang(DBPT) is one of the prescriptions used for the treatment of knee arthritis in oriental medicine. The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect of DBPT on a rat model of carrageenan-induced arthritis, and the relations between DBPT-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord. Methods : Carrageenan-induced arthritis rat model was used to test the effect of DBPT as a chronic pain model. After the induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for at least tile next 4 days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee, since oral infection of indomethacin produced temporary improvement of weight bearing. DBPT dissolved in normal saline was minted several acupoints. After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 12 hours. Results : DBPT produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis lasting at least 9 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was equivalent to that obtained after an oral injection of 3mg/kg of indomethacin and this improvement of stepping force was interpreted as an analgesic effect. DBPT produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by DBPT. DBPT on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis than either DBPT or EA did. Conclusion : The present study suggest that DBPT produces a potent analgesic effect on the chronic hee arthritis pain model in the rat and that DBPT-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

Background : There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Ayurveda and Korean medicines are most world-widely spread as Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM). Objectives : This review gives an overview of basic principles and commonalities of Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine. Method : I have summarized the results of the research into the following categories: basic theoies, history, physiology and pathogenesis. Result : 1. Ayurveda is the medical science that grasps individual constitution through Tridosha, a combination of five primary elements(space, wind, fire, water, and earth), and systematically explains physiological and pathological phenomena which reveal according to the constitution. 2. The theoretical basis forming the Tibetan Medicine is the substance of phlegm, bile, and wind each of which is divided into five kinds. These physiological substances can be transformed into pathological factors when certain environment is formed. 3. Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine, three main axes of the traditional medicine arouse western medical researchers' interest by their peculiar views of the disease and the system of their medical theories. And they are expected to render services to human health. Conclusions : We can expect the potential of the approaching between Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Objectives : The effect of pear extract with Daekumeumjagami and vitamin C medication(PDV) on alcohol metabolism and hepatic injury was assessed following hepatic injury induced by alcohol in mice. Methods : The model of alcoholic hepatic injury was established by orally administration with 3 g/kg 25% alcohol in mice. PDV was orally administrated once a day for 5 days. Mice were randomly divided into 5 groups : normal group, control group, and PDV groups (PDV-A, PDV-B and PDV-C). The activities of aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in serum, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in liver were determined after alcohol exposure. Results : Compared with control group, treatment with PDV-B and PDV-C significantly elevated activities of ADH. Moreover, the index of hepatic injury in serum was significantly decreased by treatment with PDV-B and PDV-C in ALT activity and PDV-C in AST activity. Additionally, enhanced catalase activities in liver was found in PDV-C treated mice after exposure to alcohol. Also, WBC in blood was significantly lower by treatment with PDV-B and PDV-C. Conclusions : This study suggests that PDV treatment could enhance alcohol metabolism, and prevent hepatic injury after alcoholic hepatic injury and that this effect is likely related to its modulation on the alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2002

The frequency of the hypertension is increasing as the life level is improved and an average span of the life is extended since we approached modern stage. The hypertension is also dangerous disease which raises fatal complication for example with the bleeding aproplexy and the ischemic attack. The medicinal treatment about the hypertension is required patients to take continually. The acupuncture have been introduced because a medicine-chemical treatment hasn't good influence on the human body. It recently has been processed that studies acupuncture effect for blood pressure and have been found out that blood pressure go down. The object of this study observe the effect of LR3 acupuncture on hypertension in Renal Hypertension RAT induced by 2K1C. The 2K1C model was based on renin-angiotensin system. We put the silver clip in renal artery to induce renal hypertension. We try to observe that LR3 acupuncture influence on the blood pressure and c-fos expression in CVLM, NTS, RVLM. In results, the blood pressure was decreased during acupuncture than before acupuncture, after acupuncture. The heart rate was also decreased during acupuncture than before acupuncture, after acupuncture. The LR3 acupuncture significantly effects on blood pressure and heart rate (P<0.05). The increased expression of c-fos was shown in CVLM, NTS, but not in RVLM. In conclusion, LR3 was relived the action of control upon the hypertension and related with medulla, particularly CVLM, NTS. It needs to be closely examined pharmacological mechanism and studied combination with other acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2015

Background : Saam acupuncture were composed by applying the elemental concepts from the Five Phase theory - the relationships between the cycles such as Saeng(Sheng, 'nourishing' or 'creating') and Geuk(Ke, 'suppressing' or 'controlling') - onto the Five Phase points and 12 channels to compensate for the imbalance in each of the 12 main energy traits. Objective : The present study is aimed to find out the characteristics of Five Phase points pattern in Saam acupuncture. Methods : We analysed the characteristics of five elements of the Five Phase points in Korean medical texts such as Saamdoinchimguyogyeol, Dongeuibogam and Chimgugyeongheombang in mid Chosun Dynasty. Using non-negative factorization(NNMF) methods, we extracted the feature matrix of five elements of Five Phase points in each classic medical text. Results : In Saam acupuncture, two characteristics were most prominent: (1) "Self" component of Five elements, (2) "Mother" and "Grandmother" component of Five elements. Conclusions : Saam acupuncture used the combination of Five-Shu acupoint based on ZangFu pattern identification. Our findings suggest that grasping the characteristics of Five Phase points combinations can improve the understanding the selection of the relevant acupoints based on the ZangFu pattern identifications.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.135-147
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• 2008

Objectives: Oriental pear was used as traditional remedies for respiratory diseases like cough and asthma etc. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of preventing asthma by the combination of phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs. Methods: In order to study the effects of preventing asthma by the combination of phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs(Platycodon grandiflorum, Prunus armeniaca) on allergic asthma, mice were pre-treated by oral administration of the solution before antigen sensitization for 10 days and 20days. And 2 days later, mice were actively sensitized with a subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin and 13 days later, they were provoked with ovalbumin aerosols. The experimental groups were divided 6groups(10d1P, 10d2P, 10d4P, 20d1P, 20d2P and 20d4P) by meditation quantity and period. We measured isometric contractile responses to acetylcholine(ACh) and KCl in the isolated tracheal smooth muscle(TSM), IL-4, eosinophil and lymphocyte in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), IgE in serum, WBC, RBC and hemoglobin in blood. Results: Contractile responses of TSM to ACh, the sensitivity of TSM to Ach and the maximal contractile response of TSM to KCl were decreased by direct proportion of meditation quantity. Eosinophil and IL-4 level in BALF were more significantly decreased, and IgE level in serum was more significantly increased in 10d4P and 20d4P group than the control group. Conclusions: Based on the above results, it is assumed that oral administration of the combination of phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs(Platycodon grandiflorum, Prunus armeniaca) can help the preventing effects of allergic asthma.