• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.203-208
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• 2020

Objectives : Since there are complex associations between diseases/symptoms and acupoints, one-to-one correspondence may not be the proper approach. Pattern identification has been being used as a clinical framework to make treatment decisions by extracting and synthesizing clinical data including patients' signs and symptoms. In this article, we propose two different models explaining the relationships between diseases and acupoints based on the branch treatment [Zhibiaofa] and the root treatment [Zhibenfa]. Methods : We explained the relationships between diseases/symptoms and acupoints from the example data from our previous study on traditional acupuncture point selection patterns for pain control. Diseases include low back pain, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, ankle sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and dysmenorrhea, and acupoints included LI4, BL23, BL25, SP6, BL60, TE5, and CV4. Results : The relationships between diseases/symptoms and acupoints can be explained directly based on the branch treatment, and also can be explained indirectly through pattern identification based on the root treatment. Pattern identifications included both meridian-based pattern identification based on the spatial information of diseases and visceral organ-based pattern identification based on the characteristics of diseases. Conclusions : In the East Asian traditional medicine, Korean medicine doctors choose the most appropriate acupoints based either on the diseases/symptoms (i.e., branch treatment) or on the results of pattern identifications (i.e., root treatment). It is necessary to understand the two different approaches to choose specific acupoints for the targeted diseases.

• 대한한의진단학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.72-87
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• 2021

Objectives This is the review on the Jeolgyeong which means diagnosis method of meridian and acupoints. Detecting method of meridian and acupoints under the disease condition using fingertips were more developed in Japan than in China and Korea. This study is the introduction to the Japanese style palpation method on meridian and acupoints. Methods Firstly the textbook 'Acupuncture medicine' published by the committee of Korean professors' association of acupuncture and moxibustion was analyzed. Especially the contents of the palpation method on meridian and acupoints were focused and summarized and secondly the book describing the palpation method on meridian and acupoints was selected, translated and summarized. Results Until now the knowledge on the acupoints reaction depending on the patient's status, the deficiency pattern and the excessive pattern was rarely described in China and Korea. On the contrary, 4 kinds of reactions in the deficiency pattern and 4 kinds of reactions in the excessive pattern were well described in Japanese literatures. Mild touching, mild pinching, rubbing, mild pressing and severe pressing were also described along the meridians. Except the bladder meridian Back Shu points, Yuan points, Luo points, Xi(cleft) points, Front Mu points were depicted as the same as those in China and Korea. For the bladder meridian lines, 4 lines were organized including 2 lines of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue and the middle line between 1st and 2nd bladder meridian line as well as 1st bladder meridian line and 2nd bladder meridian line. Conclusions Detecting meridians or acupoints and using them for diagnosis and treatment is a method used in China, Korea, and Japan. However, detailed descriptions of the method for detecting meridians through palpation are revealed in Japanese books. Palpation methods for diagnosing meridians using touching, pinching, rubbing, and pressing methods are expected to be standardized and systematically learned in Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.179-191
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• 2004

It is well known that acupuncture is effective for treatment of gastric disease in human. For years, we have been utilizing a electro-acupuncture(EA) in attempt to manage gastric symptoms. However, the data on clinical effectiveness is conflicting and the action of acupoints is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of manual and electro acupuncture(EA) at acupoints of ST 36 and GB 34 on the serum gastrin level by radioimmunoassay in rats. All of acupuncture treatment was applied to the acupoints for 30 min during 3 days. Manual acupuncture with both acupoints resulted in increased gastrin serum level when compare to control group treated with only anesthesia. Either high (100 Hz) and low (2 Hz) frequency EA at ST 36 decreased gastrin serum level compared with control group, but EA at GB 34 conversely increased. In EA with device was designed stimulating only acupoint(New EA), either low frequency on ST 36 and high frequency on GB 34 unusually increased gastrin serum level compared to control group. The results of this experiment suggest that many factors, such as the selection of acupoints, the manipulation and the specification of acupuncture device, are capable of affecting acupuncture effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.42-48
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• 2002

Background : There are many books on ancient medicine among the Dunhuang books found at a cave in Dunhuang, most of which were transcribed during Tang dynasty, reflecting ancient theories and practices. Objective and Material : To investigate the usage of the terms of three pairs of yin and yang as acupoint names, 4 books on acupuncture and moxibustion among Dunhuang books were examined. Results and Conclusion : Investigation of the usage of the terms of three pairs of yin and yang in the scripts and illustrations of 4 Dunhuang books which are also the names of 12 main meridians revealed that the terms of three pairs of yin and yang were used as the names of specific acupoints so called three pairs of yin and yang acupoints. The significance of the terms of three pairs of yin and yang as the names of specific acupoints are discussed focusing on the early form and development of meridian theory.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.107-114
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• 2008

Objectives : Accurate location of acupoints is a prerequisite for both practice and research into acupoint specificity. Given that accurate location of acupoints is one of the most important issues in meridianology education, this study aimed at evaluating if the elastic ruler method for locating acupoints is suitable for meridianology practice class. Methods : Fifty-six students who took meridianology practice class participated in the experiment. Firstly, they were asked to locate PC6, CV12 and ST36 without any assisting tools and the distance between standard acupoint and their acupoint location was measured. Secondly, they were again asked to locate the same points this time with an elastic ruler. Then the first and second measurements were compared using a paired t-test. Results : Analysis of the results found using an elastic ruler significantly improved the difference between the student's acupoint location and the standard acupoint: there was a significant difference between 1st and 2nd measurements for PC6 (1.87${\pm}$0.29mm vs. 1.28${\pm}$0.19mm, P=0.037) and for ST36 (2.70${\pm}$0.22mm vs. 1.38${\pm}$0.15mm, P<0.0001). Conclusions : Using an elastic ruler as an assisting tool for locating acupoints in meridianology practice class should be considered for improving accuracy in acupoint location.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.104-107
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• 2018

Background: Reduced impedance at acupuncture points (acupoints) is a well-known phenomenon; and the impedance has been found to reduce further in relation to organ stress. The author hypothesises that any changes to an organ's state or function are communicated to its related acupoints in real time. As part of a research project to demonstrate this communication, the impedance of several acupoints was studied in real time. Methods: The acupoints were located electrically, and a 40 kHz signal was used to sample the impedances. Samples were taken at each acupoint and also at a 6 mm radius. The sample rate was 1 kHz and the session lasted for 5 minutes. The results presented here were taken from a single patient. Results: The impedance at an acupoint's centre frequently changed in an inverse relationship to the impedance at a 6 mm radius (i.e. when one goes up, the other goes down) and the left and right instance of the same acupoint usually displayed different impedance features. Conclusion: When studying the fine detail of real-time impedance samples taken from the centre of an acupoint and also from a 6 mm radius, this previously unreported contrary-motion phenomenon provides a useful tool to differentiate between artefact and genuine organ-related features in an impedance trace.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.121-127
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• 2014

Acupuncture is the process of stimulating skin regions called meridians or acupoints and has been used to treat pain-related symptoms. However, the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture may be different depending on acupoints. In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on behavioral responses and c-Fos expression were evaluated using a formalin test in male Sprague-Dawley rats in order to clarify the analgesic effects of three different acupoints. Each rat received manual acupuncture at the ST36 (Zusanli), SP9 (Yinlingquan) or BL60 (Kunlun) acupoint before formalin injection. Flinching and licking behaviors were counted by two blinded investigators. Fos-like immunoreactivity was examined by immunohistochemistry in the rat spinal cord. Manual acupuncture treatment at BL60 acupoint showed significant inhibition in flinching behavior but not in licking. Manual acupuncture at ST36 or SP9 tended to inhibit flinching and licking behaviors but the effects were not statistically significant. The acupuncture at ST36, SP9, or BL60 reduced c-Fos expression as compared with the control group. These results suggest that acupuncture especially at the BL60 acupoint is more effective in relieving inflammatory pain than other acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.121-135
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• 2003

Objectives & Methods : This study was designed to investigate acupunture and moibustion for leukorrhea through literature research. We extracted the parts and acupuncture and moxibustion forleukorrhea from ancient and modern oriental medical literature. Results & Conclusions : The acupoint used on acupunture only were 66 acupoints. The acupoints used often were SP6, GB26, LR2, CV6, SP9, BL30, BL32 in order and the meridians used often were BL, SP, CV, LR, KI, ST in order. The acupoint used on moxibustion only were 35 acupoints. The acupoints used often were CV3, BL30, GV4, CV8, SP6 in order and the meridians used often were CV, BL, SP, KI, LR in order. In case of comparative investigation about acupuncture & moxa point being found in the literature of the past and the modern age, in the past literature, acupoints curing a disease of internal genitals in women were selected. But on the other hand, in the modern literature, acupuncture points were selected by differentiation of symptoms and signs.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.101-120
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• 2003

This study is performed to investigate the cause, symptom and acupuncture on Dudurugi through the literature of oriental medicine. The findings of this study are as follows: 1. Dudurugi is caused by exogenous pathogenic factors(wind, heat, cold, damp), sthenic inter damage factors(heat accumulated in the intestine and stomach, blood-heat, blood-stasia) and asthenia inter damage factors(asthenia of the spleen and stomach, blood-asthenia, asthenia of energy-blood, yin-asthenia and blood-dryness, yan-asthenia and energy-asthenia). 2. The symptom of Dudurugi is appeared in the skin and its surface is processed apparently or itch. 3. The treatment of Dudurugi was used by expelling the wind with removing pathogen. 4. In the treatment of Dudurugi, The su-yangmyong taejang-kyong of 12 merdians was mainly used and, the kokchi(LI11) of acupoints was most used in the acupuncture and moxibustion. 5. In the treatment of Dudurugi, acupoints of tok-maek and chok-t'aeyangkyong were mainly used in the case of showing symptoms caused by exogenous pathogenic factors and, acupoints of chok-t'aemkyong were mainly used in the case of showing symptoms caused by damp-heat accumulated in the intestine and stomach. When there were any other symptoms accompanied, other acupoints were more used.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.115-124
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• 2014

Objectives : There are plenty of medical record of acupuncture & moxibustion in Traditional East Asian medicine(TEAM). We performed this study to find out the hidden criteria lies on this record to choose proper acupoints. Methods : "Zhenjiuzishengjing", ancient TEAM book was analysed using document clustering techniques. Corpus was made from this book. It contained 196 texts driven from each symptoms. Each texts converted to vector representing frequency of 349 acupoints. Distance of vectors calculated by weighted Euclidean distance method. According to this distances, hierarchical clustering of symptoms was builded. Results : The cluster consisted of five large groups. they had high corelation with body part; head and face, chest, abdomen, upper extremity, lower extremity, back. Conclusions : It assumes that body part of symptom is the most importance criteria of acupoints selecting. some high similar symptom vectors consolidated this result. the other criteria is cause and pathway of illness. some symptoms bound together which had common cause and pathway.