• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.27-31
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• 2002

Background and Purpose: There has been little study about the quality of acupuncture needle tips. In order to ensure safe acupuncture treatment, high quality of needle tips is essential. Therefore, we investigated the current condition of the tips of the acupuncture needles on the market. Methods: We selected needles made by 6 companies in Korea, one company each in Japan, the USA and China, and observed the tip of each needle using a scanning electron microscope. Results and Discussion: We found that needles had several defects such as scratch marks on the surface, metallic scuff, lumps and irregularities of the needle tips, stubbed or malformed tips, tips of point off-center, and peeled off coated tips. There were more faulty ones than good ones. Further, better-designed study with a bigger sample size is warranted.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.195-206
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the safety of Acupuncture needles made from duplex stainless steel. Methods : In order to check the safety concern of the DSS Acupuncture needle, we employed biochemical measures, DSS and SS304 Acupuncture needles were tested for pH level, heavy metals and UV absorbance spectrum along with cytotoxicity and hemolysis. As a guideline, we have referred to the 'standards for acupuncture needles', 'standards for disposable needles' and 'standards and experimental procedures for stents' for the Korean Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). Results & Conclusions : The DSS Acupuncture needle extract satisfied these requirements. There was no significant difference between the DSS and SS304 Acupuncture needle extract. In conclusion, the DSS Acupuncture needle displayed biochemical safety.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2012

Objectives : The present study is to verify whether the deformation of ear acupuncture needle tips that are currently on the market is caused during the process of initial packaging. Methods : Ear acupuncture needles distributed from three different companies were collected to measure the size of the groove on the transparent plate which is used in for the intial packaging. Then the tolerance range for off-centered tips, which represent the range of the groove size that is safe from damaging the needle tip, was determined based on the vertical length measured from tip to handle. 200 ear acupuncture needles were dipped in alcohol and scanned to confirm the position of the needles. Stereo-microscope was used to observe the needle tips that were located outside the tolerance range. Results : The increased number of ear acupuncture needle tips placed outside the tolerance range were seen from in the order of C company, A company and B company. The increased deformation of the needle tips caused by initial packaging was observed in the order of A company, C company and B company. Conclusion : Only the ear acupuncture needles from B company showed the strong correlation between needle tip deformation and initial packaging. It has been observed that the deformation of the ear acupuncture needles is mainly due to manufacturing process, not the packaging process.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.453-466
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to make nine classical needles understood easily through interpreting Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes. Methods : The principle of classification and clinical application of Nine Classical Needle was sorted out referring to "The beginning of Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes" and "The prescription and treatment of Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes" which is the chapter of "Golden Mirror of Medicine". Results & Conclusions : The Nine Classical Needles, which were designed to get harmonious interaction between human beings and the nature, have been representative medical appliance in Korean Medicine. The needles consist of shear needle, round-pointed needle, spoon needle, lance needle, stiletto needle, round-sharp needle, filiform needle, long needle, and big needle. Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes was formed in a poem format to help us easily memorize the essential contents of Nine Classical Needles. "The beginning of Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes" dealt with the reasons of making needles and organization principles about Nine Classical Needles. "The prescription and treatment of Nine Classical Needles in Rhymes" sorted main treatment applications of nine needles, helping understand needles as medical appliance.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 1992

For pain relief my collegue and I used thin acupuncture needles as electrodes in electric stimulation. The needles were inserted into a trigger point and into another point located in the same muscle instead of meridian points of electro-acupuncture. Low frequency electric stimulation was given through the needles to 130 patients for 15 min. The results were as follows In 25 acute sprain patients electric stimulation was given $3.14{\pm}1.12$ times and the pain was reduced on the average by $83.00{\pm}6.77%$ (VAS). In 45 chronic sprain patients electric stimulation was given $5.51{\pm}1.38$ times and the pain was reduced on the average by $70.22{\pm}8.98%$ (VAS). In 28 myofascial pain syndrome patients electric stimulation was given $6.22{\pm}1.25$ times and the pain was reduced on the average by $66.48{\pm}8.75$(%). In 7 muscle contraction headache patients electric stimulation was given $4.14{\pm}1.57$ times and the pain was reduced on the average by $75.00{\pm}9.57%$ (VAS). In 25 radiculopathy patients electric stimulation was given $4.73{\pm}1.131$ times and the pain was reduced on the average by $21.37{\pm}9.31%$ (VAS). We he conclude that electric stimulation therapy using acupuncture needles is very effective in acute sprain, chronic sprain, myofascial pain syndrome and muscle contraction headache. Any doctor with knows anatomy and trigger points can practice this method without studying oriental medicine or difficult acupuncture techniques.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2017

Objectives : Cervical herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) are common diseases. They can be managed with acupuncture, but the evidence for effectiveness is uncertain. This review analyzed the acupuncture studies of domestic neck pain and cervical HIVD; the purpose of this study was to provide basic data useful for future research. Methods : We investigated acupuncture treatments for neck pain and cervical HIVD by searching 5 Korean Internet databases. The keywords used were "neck pain", "HIVD-cervical spine", and "nuchal pain". A total of 53 research papers (17 case reports, 16 clinical data analyses, 11 randomized controlled trials, and 9 non-randomized controlled trials) were found and analyzed according to the publication year, type of study, treatment, use of filiform needles, and type of pharmacopuncture used acupoint. The effectiveness of acupuncture treatment was determined. Results : 1. Filiform needles have been primarily used in domestic research and were used in at least half of published pharmacopuncture studies. 2. In 51 papers using filiform needles, many studies used only local acupoints; few studies used only distant acupoints. 3. All studies using pharmacopuncture were performed using local acupoints. In particular, the studies based on A-shi point, trigger point, and radiologic lesion sites were useful for multiple purposes. Conclusion : In this study, we analyzed the acupuncture contents of the domestic neck pain and HIVD-cervical spine clinical studies. This study considers the assessment of the quality and efficacy of each study, which is likely to require research that reflects the future.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.112-138
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to organize the research methods and results of studies related to the temperature of the warm needle for systematic utilization of warm needling technique. Methods: This study used the databases of nine (Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane Central, 4 Korean databases, CNKI, CiNii) to analyze temperature-related studies of the warm needle from 2000 to June 2019. Results: A total of 19 papers were included. Of these, 15 were used for mugwort, 2 for high frequency, and 1 for both mugwort and high frequency, and the other one for a ceramic heater. The maximum temperature rises as the amount of moxibustion increases. It is also affected by the density of moxa and the ignition part. There were 16 papers using stainless steel needles and 4 papers using a needle made of gold or silver to compare. In the area of the needle, the closer it is to moxibustion, the hotter it is. Compared to stainless steel needles, gold and silver needles showed almost twice the temperature. The effects of environment and radiant heat should be considered during warm needle procedures. Conclusions: There are various experimental methods such as warm needle technique materials, methods, measuring parts, measuring instruments, etc. The results were also very diverse. When setting the heating source, ignition part, size of moxibustion, etc. of warm needles, it should be implemented in a way that takes safety and validity into account. Considerations for temperature characteristics, radiant heat, etc. of warm needles will be needed when making warm needle apparatus.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2018

Background: Parkinson's disease is the second most common degenerative brain disease after Alzheimer's disease. This study reviewed clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for Parkinson's disease to assess the future direction of these treatments. Methods: The literature search used 5 Korean Internet databases. The search terms were "Parkinson's disease." and "Parkinson (Korean)." 36 papers were selected: 27 case reports, 2 respropective studies, 3 uncontrolled clinical trials, 3 randomized controlled trial, 1 non-randomized controlled trial. Results: Filiform needles were used in most of studies. Pharmacopuncture, electro-acupuncture, and auricular acupuncture therapy were also used in combination with Filiform needles. 2. The most commonly used basic acupoints for Parkinson's disease was Saamchimbeop. The most commonly used form of pharmacopuncture involved Bee-venom. Conclusion: It is expected that treatment of Parkinson's disease with a variety of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies will continue to be studied, in addition to treatments that utilize existing Filiform needle treatments in clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.49-59
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• 2017

Objectives : This study evaluated the efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy using an insulated needle in adults with abdominal obesity. Methods : This study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-designed pilot trial. Sixteen participants eligible according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into an insulated needle group and a control group. Insulated or common needles were inserted at acupoints located on the abdomen (CV12, CV6, ST25, ST27, SP15) and were electrically stimulated for 30 minutes (16 Hz, within tolerable strength). A total of 10 sessions of treatment were performed twice per week for 5 weeks. All participants were requested to maintain their usual diet and lifestyle. The outcome measures were waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and abdominal computed tomography (CT) of the total fat area (TFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and visceral fat area (VFA). Results : A total of 12 participants divided into the insulated needle group (n = 5) and the control group (n = 7; common needle) were treated for 10 sessions and analyzed per-protocol (PP). WC decreased significantly after 10 sessions in both groups. The WC, TFA, SFA, and VFA of abdominal CT in the insulated needle group decreased more than in the control group; however, there were no significant differences in any parameter between the insulated needle group and the control group. Patients in the insulated needle group were more strongly stimulated with electrical stimulation than patients in the control group. Conclusion : Electroacupuncture using insulated needles in adults with abdominal obesity might be a more effective treatment than common needles. Additional studies are required to compensate for the limitations of this pilot study and to verify the results and efficacy.