• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze acupuncture treatment methods and acupoint used to treat infertility in the last decade. The data were retrieved from 2010.1 to 2021.8. using national and international electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, OASIS, NDSL, and KISS). "Infertility," "sterility," "acupuncture," "electroacupuncture," "bloodletting," "pharmacopuncture," were used as search terms. All studies were mainly concerned with acupuncture treatment of infertility, but the studies which were not related included; (1) infertility or acupuncture treatment; (2) animal studies; (3) review/meta/protocol or clinical study; comparative studies and case reports which were excluded from this review. Only clinical trials for acupuncture treatment of infertility were included in this review (n = 18). For infertility treatment studies using acupuncture, polycystic ovarian syndrome was the main cause of infertility, the most common acupoint used was CV4, CV3, CV6, SP6, BL23, and the treatment effect significantly improved in the group receiving acupuncture treatment compared with the control group, or the group taking Western medicine alone. In some studies, the group using acupuncture treatment did not show side effects. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for infertility.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.187-196
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• 2019

This study was performed to review clinical research studies involving acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders to provide a basic reference for future studies. Clinical studies of primary headache disorders treated with acupuncture were retrieved from 3 Korean electronic databases (NDSL, OASIS, and RISS). The studies were classified by year of publication, type of study, type of acupuncture, outlined acupoints, methods used for filiform needles, pharmacopuncture, auricular acupuncture, and thread-embedding acupuncture. Thirty-eight trials were reviewed, of which 33 used filiform needles, 6 pharmacopuncture, 1 auricular acupuncture, and 1used thread-embedding. Most of the studies reported that acupuncture treatment was effective in treating primary headache disorders. Some studies reported statistically significant effects, but the results overall were inconsistent. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support the treatment of acupuncture to resolve headaches. On the basis of these results, further studies should be performed to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.137-148
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• 2010

Objectives : To research the changes of electroencephalogram(EEG) signals for acupuncture stimulation and to establish the hereafter direction for the study on EEG. Methods : We reviewed the domestic papers searched by search engine of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society and Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Results : We have searched 31 articles in 10 journals. The 13 articles were concerned with acupuncture. 1. All articles were published after 2001. In 2007 there were 10 articles. 2. The studies dealing with the changes of EEG signals were 24, the studies dealing with correlation of EEG signals were 5, and the studies analyzing EEG with Korean medicine were 2. 3. In the studies dealing with the changes of EEG signals, the case-control studies were 9, the non case-control studies were 14, and the case study was 1. 10 studies used electro-acupuncture, 1 study used herbal acupuncture, and 2 studies used manual acupuncture. Conclusions : We need more various kinds of studies. 1. Excited condition by acupuncture stimulation may reduce $\alpha$ wave. 2. There may be the acupuncture point-specific variation of EEG signal patterns. 3. The number of responding channels for acupuncture stimulation may correlate with the quantity or variety of acupuncture effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.131-139
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between heat transmission and intervention factors for warm acupuncture (such as features of acupuncture material and moxa, the treatment method, and clinical symptoms). Methods: Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese databases were analysed. Experimental studies that explored the association between thermal stimulation delivery and warm acupuncture intervention factors were included. The peak temperature, time to reach the peak temperature, and time of the effective stimulus, were set as the major parameters and analysed. Results: A total of 12 studies were included. Two studies were associated with the acupuncture needle material, 4 studies associated with the moxa mass, 1 study associated with the moxa density, 2 studies associated with the location of ignition, and 1 study associated with treatment environment were reviewed. The reporting quality of the 12 studies was low. Conclusion: This study provided limited information because of the heterogeneity of materials and parameters depending on each experiment. Further studies should clarify the correlation between heat transmission and intervention factors for warm acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.147-158
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to obtain some knowledge about the acupuncture treatments on Parkinson's disease for the future practice and the research from the clinical studies in China. Methods : The literatures were searched using the data base-China Academic Journals (CAJ) (1994-2011). Clinical studies of acupuncture for Parkinson's disease such as randomized controlled trial (RCT), non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT), case series, case report were included. Results : Of 145 articles, 52 Clinical studies met our inclusion criteria: 20 RCTs, 7 NRCTs, 22 case series and 3 case reports. Various kinds of acupuncture treatments such as scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture, acupoint injection, eye acupuncture and thick needle acupuncture (粗鍼) were used in the clinical studies. The treatment and control groups take Madopa Tablet (Levodopa + Benserazide HCl) in the same time in many studies, and Madopa treatment was used as a comparative treatment in the most of studies. Acupuncture treatment was done daily or 2~3 times a week for 2~20 weeks. All of studies reported high effective rate in the treatment group compared to control group. Conclusions : The results of this study could be used for the future study about the acupuncture therapy for Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the acupuncture treatment studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. Methods : We reviewed the 16 studies about acupuncture treatment of tic disorder which were published from 2005 through 2007. We selected those studies from CNKI(中國知識基礎設施工程 http://www.cnki.net). Results : Selected 16 studies were divided into 8 case reports and 8 control studies. CCMD(6 studies) and DSM(4 studies) were frequently used in the diagnosis of tic disorder. Acupuncture points frequently used were 百會(Baekhoe, $GV_{20}$), 太衝(Taechung, $LR_3$), 風池(Pungji, $GB_{20}$), 合谷(Hapgok, $LI_4$), 神門(Sinmun, $HT_7$), 三陰交(Sameumgyo, $SP_6$), 內關(Naegwan, $PC_6$) and so on. According to specific parts of symptom, some acupuncture points were added. Most of studies reported that acupuncture treatments of tic disorder were very effective. Conclusions : There have been reported many acupuncture treatment studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. We believe that these studies could be applied to the clinical practices in Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.71-90
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was performed to review articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis. Methods : On-line databases including Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS were searched to identify articles concerning acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis (DQST). Several duplicated articles and those not relevant to this topic were excluded, as were review articles and commentaries. Results : Fifty-one studies were identified, which included 28 clinical case studies with 1,227 patients and 23 randomized controlled trials with 2,040 patients. In these studies, acupuncture, acupotomy, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and laser acupuncture were used as DQST interventions. Although DQST is a common disease seen in clinical practice, only four of the 51 studies we identified in our search were published in Korean academic journals, all of which used pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Although the results of the studies to date provide evidence that acupuncture and moxibustion are effective treatments for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis, the absence of a standard, objective evaluation tool, and a lack of reporting on the negative side-effects associated with treatment remain important factors that should be addressed in future studies.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to review the acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) in China. Methods : The literatures were searched using the database-China Academic Journals(CAJ)(~2015.1.). Clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for GERD such as randomized controlled trial(RCT), non-randomized controlled trial(NRCT), case series, or case report were included. Results : Thirty studies met our inclusion criteria: 24 RCTs, 4 NRCTs, 1 case series, 1 case report. Various kinds of treatment such as body acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture, acupuncture therapy with finger on back-shu point, electroacupuncture, acupoint injection, auricular acupuncture, and moxibustion were used in the clinical studies. The treatment groups take herbal medicines at the same time in 16 studies, and proton pump inhibitor(PPI) and histamine 2 receptor antagonist were used as a comparative treatment in the most of studies. Acupuncture or moxibustion treatments were done daily or 2~3 times a week for 5 days~18 weeks. All of studies reported higher effective rate in the acupuncture or moxibustion treatment group compared to the western medication control group. Conclusions : The results of this study could be used for the future practice and the clinical research about the acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for GERD.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.46-59
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate recent clinical studies on effect of acupuncture for rhinitis in other countries. We have analyzed the studies on effect of acupuncture for rhinitis within randomized controlled trial(RCT), reviewed for 11 years (from 2001 to 2011). Methods The search database includes PubMed. To narrow the search, the following key search terms were used: 'rhinitis, acupuncture'. The search was limited to the publication date from 2001 to 2011. Results Total 20 studies were selected: RCT(13), review(5), case report(1), and cost effectiveness study(1). In RCT, 9 studies used acupuncture only, and 8 studies of them have revealed that acupuncture is effective on rhinitis. In review, 3 studies are systematic review, 2 studies are no systematic review. Among systematic review, 2 studies have revealed partial effectiveness of acupuncture for rhinitis, but they suggested the necessity of further studies. Conclusions Domestic studies on effect of acupuncture for rhinitis are necessary. For more accurate results, controlled, large scale and well designed studies are recommended.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2023

Varicose veins have a substantial burden on individuals' aesthetics and overall quality of life. The current body of research on Korean medical interventions for varicose veins is limited in Korea, and exploration into clinical trends is lacking. This review specifically analyzed fire acupuncture, which is an understudied intervention in Korea that demonstrated efficacy in alleviating pain and paralysis while promoting tissue regeneration. A comprehensive investigation of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database was conducted, utilizing terms such as "varicose vein," "fire needle," "fire acupuncture," "burning acupuncture," "burning needle," "huǒzhēn," "xiàzhī jìngmài," and "jìngmài qūzhāng." This review included 14 studies investigating the role of fire acupuncture in treating varicose veins. We extracted variables, including age, sex, disease duration, intervention method, treatment frequency, treatment period, acupoints, and outcomes. Fire acupuncture appeared as the primary intervention method, followed by general acupuncture. The protruding part of varicose veins is the main treatment area for fire acupuncture, while the acupoints BL57 and ST36 were most frequently utilized for general acupuncture. Treatment results revealed significant improvement in all studies. However, there are limitations, such as scarce studies, limited side effects studies, and potential bias. Consequently, extensive and well-structured future studies are necessary to demonstrate the role of fire acupuncture in varicose veins.