• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.138-151
• /
• 2003

Although the use of acupuncture for pain has increased in recent years, the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (AA) remains obscure. The lack of suitable experimental animal models for persistent pain, which show clear AA, has been the major stumbling block in the investigation of the physiological mechanisms of AA. In the present study, we test AA in two knee arthritis model induced by injection of CFA or carrageenan as a chronic pain model. After induction of arthritis, the rat subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for the next several days. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied to an acupuncture point each on the contralateral forelimb for 30 minutes under enflurane anesthesia. After the termination of EA, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next several hours. EA produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the foot lasting for at least 2 hours when applied to LR2 In CFA model, and applied to ST36 in carrageenan model, but both points did not produce any significant effects in each other model. These data suggest that EA produce analgesic effect in knee arthritic pain and the analgesic effect is specific to the acupuncture point.

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

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.661-689
• /
• 2000

We came to the conculsion after considering all of information from many kinds of books on the cause, pathogenesis and treatment of Flaccidity-syndrome. The results were as follows : 1. Flaccidity-syndrome means limb-relaxation due to muscle atony that isn't able to constraction. It's begun as mild degree from extremities, in some cases ended to quadriplegia or expire. 2. Cause factor and pathogenesis of Flaccidity-syndrome is various. After Lung fluid consuption caused by heat-evil was refered in The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine. They were refered as cause factor that Main channel asthenia, excess of sexual intercourse, wetness-evil, heat-evil gets into the interior, asthenia of the spleen and stomach. Since Ming Dynasty, It's classified to wetness-heat evil, wetness-phlegm, deficiency of vital energy, deficiency of blood, deficiency of yin, blood stasis and indygestion, etc. 3. In the view of treatment of Flaccidity-syndrome, Yangming was selected in The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, and it's been mean to clear away wetness-heat evil located at Yangming. In the method of acupuncture it was same on the base, and many skills have been used that electronic acupuncture, point-injection theraphy, acupuncture point block, catgut implantaion at acupuncture point, cutaneous acupuncture, auriculo-acupuncture and head acupuncture by the through post generation. 4. Flaccidity-syndrome was defined to weak, disuse and non-pain. Beacause it was non-pain, so medicine to expel wind-evil was prevented to use. But through post generation Flaccidity-syndrome has been treated that is able to cause pain or numness as arthralgia-syndrome. Therefore there is tendency that medicine to expel wind-evil is capable within pathological basement of Flaccidity-syndrome in recent. 5. In the view of west-medicine, Flaccidity-syndrome is diplegia or quadriplegia with sensory disorder, muscle atropy in some cases. And there are spinal disease, peripheral nerve disease, muscular disease, nerve-muscle copula disease. The symptoms are able to amyotomia, numness, sensory disorder, pain.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2006

Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture (BVA) simultaneously exerts pharmacological effects of biologically active compounds, existed in the whole bee venom, and medicinal effect of the stimulation of acupuncture points. BVA has been considered as a promising therapeutic method for treating various chronic diseases, mainly accompanying severe pain and inflammation. As a painless injection device, jet injectors have been commercially marketed for various clinical applications including insulin injection and vaccination. Among them, a pressure-driven jet injector system could be used for intradermal delivery of a variety of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of the BVA using a needle-free injector (Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$, Bioject Inc., OR, USA), compared to the conventional BV aqua-acupuncture using a typical syringe. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with bee venom $(0.08mg/kg,\;50{\mu}l)$ using Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$ (BVA-B) or a syringe (BVA-5) into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, 30 minutes before plantar injection of 2% formalin. It was found that BVA-B-, or BVA-5-treated rats, compared to controls, exhibited significantly less licking behavior during the late phase in the rat formalin test, when compared to controls. During early phase, however, those effects were not significant but substantial. The analgesic effect of BVA-B was also compatible with that of the conventional BVA-5. In the immunohistochemical studies, BVA-B significantly suppressed the expression of formalin-evoked c-fos, a biomarker of neuronal activity, in the lumbar dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These results indicated that BVA-B waseffective in the modulation of pain in the rat formalin test, compared to BVA-5. Taken together, the needle-free jet injector system could be substituted for the conventional aqua- acupuncture with the advantage of little pain.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1285-1289
• /
• 2006

Hominis placenta (HP) has been used as an agent for promoting physiological function in traditional asian medicine. The present study was peformed to investigate whether HP acupuncture treatment in an experimental tumor mice model inhibit tumor growth through immunomodulatory effects. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with colon26-L5 cells on the back. Three days after tumor inoculation, HP herbal acupuncture treatment was conducted on BL18 acupoint every other day for three weeks. HP Herbal acupuncture treatment significantly suppressed the primary tumor growth and prolonged survival rate. To evaluate immunomodulatory effect of HP acupuncture, splenocytes proliferation assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and ELISA for IFN- ${\gamma}$, and IL-4 cytokine level. HP herbal acupuncture enhanced the mitogenic activity of Balb/c whole splenocytes induced by various mitogenic stimuli and increased immune cell population such as T cell, B cell, Th cell, Tc cell and Macrophages. HP herbal acupuncture caused a marked increase of production of Th1 cytokine (IFN- ${\gamma}$ ,) and decrease of production of Th2 cytokine (IL-4). These results indicated that HP herbal acupuncture suppresses tumor growth through a mechanism leading to a Th1 dominant immune state.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2024

Objectives : The aim of this study is to set out case series study protocol to complete clinical pathway (CP) of hip and finger degenerative arthritis by applying CP, based on Korean medicine clinical practice guideline developed by clinical experts, to clinical field. Methods : The treatments included Manual acupuncture, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, chuna, and physiotherapy. They were conducted in the 2nd week of admission and 4th week of out patient department (OPD) days. We carried out 10-point Likert scale questionnaires on the clinical usefulness and the satisfaction of patients and staff after applying CP. Appropriateness and improvement on patients were conducted using a 10-point Likert scale. An open-ended questionnaire was also conducted to ask if there was any requirement to be added. Results : In past research studies, there were no related studies about Korean medicine CP on hip and finger degenerative arthritis. Final version of CP is going to be completed based on the questionnaire. Conclusions : This evidence-based case series study protocol is expected to contribute development of hip and finger degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.85-106
• /
• 2003

Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and it is suggested that both of these effects are mediated by the same or closely overlapping dopamine systems. Specifically, the mesolimbic dopamine system has been implicated in the reinforcing and sensitizing properties of morphine. In oriental medicine, Shenmen (HT7) point on the heart channel has been used to treat mental and psychosomatic disorders. This study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on acute and repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and morphine-induced behavioral changes. In the morphine sensitization experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1 min after the morphine challenge. In the acute experiment, rats also received acupuncture for 1 min after an injection of morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint HT7, but not at control points (tail) significantly decreased both dopamine release and behavior induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single sc morphine injection in the acute animals. These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.510-517
• /
• 2003

Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and it is suggested that both of these effects are mediated by the same or closely overlapping dopamine systems. Specifically, the mesolimbic dopamine system has been implicated in the reinforcing and sensitizing properties of morphine. In oriental medicine, Shenmen (HT7) point on the heart channel has been used to treat mental and psychosomatic disorders. This study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on acute and repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and morphine-induced behavioral changes. In the morphine sensitization experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1 min after the morphine challenge. In the acute experiment, rats also received acupuncture for 1 min after an injection of morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint HT7, but not at control points (tail) significantly decreased both dopamine release and behavior induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single sc morphine injection in the acute animals. These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.143-155
• /
• 2007

Objectives: To observe the effect of acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment on adhesive capsulitis patients. Methods : 59 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to acupuncture treatment group(E group, n=22), nerve block treatment group(W group, n=17) and acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment group(EW group, n=20). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, $TE_{14}$, $GB_{21}$ and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. The EW group received the same treatment as the W group and after 5minutes of rest, successively received the treatment identical to that of E group. All three groups were instructed to practice groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 and 4week treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM), the patient's treatment satisfaction measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) were used as assessment tools. The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The E group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI, VAS and DITI. As for ROM, Adduction and Extension improved significantly(p<0.05). The W group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI, VAS and DITI. As for ROM, Abduction and Extension improved significantly. The EW group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI and VAS. As for ROM, Adduction, Abduction, Extension and Flexion improved significantly. The improvement of CSA, VAS and Abduction ROM in the EW group was significantly(p<0.05) superior compared to the groups treated with single type of treatment. Conclusion : It is suggested that acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment for adhesive capsulitis patients is more effective than the two single treatments. Through further studies, the acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment model may be developed into East-West Collaboration Model in treating adhesive capsulitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.211-220
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of high frequency electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point on the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced rat arthritis pain model. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of CFA into base of tail. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; Normal, Control and Jok-Samri ($ST_{36}$) and Non-Acupuncture point (NA). Normal group, non-arthritic group, was injected with normal saline，and the others groups were injected CFA. $ST_{36}$ group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point, and NA group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at non-acupuncture point. Each groups were evaluated by the change of c-fos positive neurons in periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results: - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($42.37{\pm}5.08$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($64.56{\pm}6.35$). - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the NA group were meaninglessly decreased compared with the control group - In the Cornu Ammonis(CA)l region of hippocampus, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($7.00{\pm}1.08$) and NA group ($5.56{\pm}2.01$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($13.81{\pm}1.24$). - In the dentate gyrus region of hippocampus, the number of fos- positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($10.75{\pm}0.98$) and NA group ($6.56{\pm}0.78$) were significantly (p$26.45{\pm}1.82$). Conclusions : It is expected that high frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of arthritic pain.