• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2021

Objectives: This study reported about a patient with a right middle cerebral artery infarction whose gait disturbance was improved by Korean medicine treatment. Methods: The patient was treated with a Korean herbal medicine (Gami-yukmijihwang-tang) along with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and physical therapy. The treatment effect was evaluated with the manual muscle test (MMT) and the Korean version of the modified Barthel index (K-MBI). The gait of the patient was evaluated by a 10-m walk test (10MWT), the timed up and go (TUG) test, the functional ambulation profile (FAP) score, and the functional ambulatory category (FAC) score. Spatiotemporal parameters were evaluated using a walkway system (GAITRite®, CIR Systems, Inc., USA). Results: After 83 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, the K-MBI and FAC scores improved from 50 to 70 and from 1 to 4, respectively. The 10MWT and TUG tests also improved from 24.86 to 16.66 sec and from 22.35 to 17.62 sec, respectively. GAITRite® measurements reflected gait improvements: the FAP score improved from 55 to 86 sec; the step time improved from 0.72 to 0.669 sec; the step length improved from 31.076 cm to 41.284 cm; the gait velocity improved from 42.8 cm/sec to 64.1 cm/sec; the cadence improved from 93.6 steps/min to 90.8 steps/min. No adverse effects resulting from treatment or evaluation occurred during the admission period. Conclusions: This study suggests that traditional Korean medicine treatment may reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with cerebral infarction.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1237-1244
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• 2021

Objectives: Drug fever and procedure-related fever are the causes of nosocomial fever. Oriental medicine has been practiced in Asia and is now being practiced as an alternative medicine in western countries. No data are available on the incidence of drug fever and procedure-related fever in oriental medical hospitals (OMHs). The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of drug fever related to oriental herbal medicine and oriental medical procedure-related fever. Methods: This was a retrospective study at one OMH of a university medical institute in Seoul, Korea, conducted from June 2006 to June 2013. Results: Overall, 95 episodes of drug fever occurred among 10880 patients treated with herbal medicine (0.89%). Peak body temperature was 38.37±0.58 ℃, and the fever lasted for 1.0 day (range 1.0-17.0 days). Eosinophilia was found in 15 patients (15.79%) and 8 patients developed toxic hepatitis (8.42%). Five patients had a drug-related skin rash (5.26%). The most common ingredients of the herbal medicines associated with drug fever were licorice, Angelica gigas root, and white Atractylodes rhizome. In total, 16 episodes of procedure-related fever (0.20%) occurred in 8125 patients treated with oriental medical procedures. The peak body temperature was 38.26±0.51 ℃, and the fever lasted for 1.0 day (range 1.0-3.0 days). Among various oriental medical procedures, moxibustion was the most common procedure related to fever, followed by acupuncture. Conclusions: The incidence of drug fever and procedure-related fever in oriental medicine is not high compared with the incidence in western medicine.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2022

■Objective The purpose of this case report is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with pontine infarction complaining of discomfort due to aggravated voiding dysfunction after the onset of the stroke. ■Methods The patient was hospitalized for 44 days and treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, and interferential current therapy(ICT). We checked the amount of self-voided volume and postvoid residual urine volume(PVR), and asked the patient to subjectively evaluate the degree of discomfort due to voiding dysfunction. ■Results After 44 days of hospitalization, the patient responded that the subjective discomfort due to residual urine remained 30% and delayed urine remained 50% compared to the day of admission. The maximum amount of PVR was 234 ml on the 3^rd day, and the minimum amount of PVR was checked on 25^th and 35^th day as 0 ml. ■Conclusions This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in the treatment of voiding dysfunction after stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.891-900
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the improvement of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after long-term combined Korean medical treatment. Methods: A patient diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitation for four separate hospital stays. To evaluate their respiratory discomfort and limb weakness, we used Manual Muscle Testing, the Pulmonary Function Test, and the Korean Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised. Results: The weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities and respiratory function was improved. Conclusion: We consider that combined Korean medicine treatments might be an effective treatment for muscle weakness and respiratory discomfort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To verify the effectiveness of these treatments, further research is required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.124-139
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of Korean medical treatment for two patients complaining of discomfort after receiving Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: The patients were hospitalized for 50 days and 12 days, respectively. They were treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion. We used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) on numbness in extremities and headache, Manual Muscle Testing Grading System (MMT), Criteria for Sweating Categorization, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) to evaluate the clinical effects of the treatment. Results: In Case 1, headache improved from peak NRS 9 and average NRS 7 on admission day to both NRS 3 on discharge. The SF-36 score was also increased, suggesting that the quality of life was improved. In Case 2, numbness in the extremities improved from NRS 8 on the day before admission to NRS 2 on discharge, and general condition also improved. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine can be an effective treatment for patients who experience long-lasting discomfort after being vaccinated with COVID-19, but with no abnormal findings in the examination.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.27-37
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• 2021

Objectives : In the current study, we performed the 13-week repeated oral dose toxicity test and a 4-week recovery test of standardized Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. and Psoralea corylifolia L. 30 % ethanol extract (SCP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats owing to aims for verifying no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). Methods : The animal study was performed according to OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals section 4 health effects test No.408 repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rodents (03 October 2008). In the repeated dose toxicity study, SCP was orally administered to female and male rats at dose levels of 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 mg/kg/day for 13-week. The control group and high dose (4,000 mg/kg/day) group were then monitored for 4 extra weeks to determine recovery time after the study period. 1) Results : Compared with the control group, there were no treatment-related adverse effects in clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum biochemistry (Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, 𝛾-Glutamyl transpeptidase, Blood urea nitrogen, Creatinine, Glucose, Total cholesterol, Total protein, Creatine phosphokinase, Albumin, Total bilirubin, Triglyceride, Inorganic phosphorus, Albumin/Globulin ratio, Calcium ion, Sodium ion, Potassium ion, Chloride ion), necropsy findings and organ weight (Ovary, Adrenal gland, Pituitary, Thymus, Prostate, Testis, Epididymis, Spleen, Kidney, Heart, Lung, Brain, Liver) at any dose tested. Conclusions : Taken together, these results suggest that the NOAEL of SCP in both genders was considered as over 4,000 mg/kg. Results from this study provide scientific evidence for the safety of SCP.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of Naetakbaekryeom-san (NTB), and whether it could be another treatment for inflammatory diseases. Methods The NTB water extract was extracted with hot water at 100℃ for 2 hours, concentrated at 80℃ under reduced pressure, and used. After 2 hours of pretreatment with NTB and positive control Bay11-7082, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1𝛽, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-𝛼) were measured in RAW264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 500 ng/mL. After 2 hours of pretreatment with NTB, the anti-inflammatory effect of NTB was evaluated by measuring nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-𝜅B) in RAW264.7 cells and 293T cells activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetic acid (PMA) 30 ng/mL. Results In RAW264.7 cells activated with LPS, NTB at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/mL showed no cytotoxicity, significantly inhibited NO production and inhibition of iNOS expression. TNF-𝛼 cytokine levels was not regulated, but NTB at each concentration inhibited the production of IL-1𝛽 and IL-6, and the effect was higher than that of the positive control Bay11-7082 (20 𝜇M). In PMA-activated RAW264.7 cells and 293T cells, each concentration of NBT decreased the NF-𝜅B transcriptional activity, with the greatest decrease at 1 mg/mL. Conclusions These results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of NTB water extracts, but further studies such as comparison of anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant effects by NTB component, comparison of effects according to extraction solvents, and clinical studies are needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.259-274
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical evidence to support the use of auricular blood-letting therapy (ABT) for headaches. Methods: Studies were identified by a comprehensive search of five databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of the ABT for headaches were included. Two authors independently extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using Cochrane's risk-of-bias tool. If two or more studies reported the same outcome, a meta-analysis was performed. Meta-analysis results for dichotomous variables are expressed as risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of eight RCTs were included in this review. The total effective rate (TER) was the most commonly used outcome measurement. Among the eight RCTs, five were included in the metaanalysis. The TER was not statistically significantly different in the ABT group compared to the medication group (two studies, n=55, RR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.96, p=0.36, I² =86%). However, the TER of the combined ABT and medication group was significantly different compared to the medication alone group (four studies, n=159, RR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.35, p<0.0001, I² = 0%). Pain and mental health-related outcomes in the combined ABT and medication group were significantly different from the control groups. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was generally low. Conclusions: ABT combined with medication may be effective for treating headaches. However, the number of studies included was small, so the results were insufficient, and statistically significant effects were not confirmed for a single implementation of ABT. Thus, well-designed further studies based on the findings of this study are recommended.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1264-1273
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• 2022

Posterior communicating artery aneurysms (PcomAAs) are the second most common type of aneurysm. Large cerebral aneurysms show various neurological symptoms, especially oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP), due to PcomAAs. Recent research has shown that stent-assisted coil embolization has many side effects. We report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of ONP due to PcomAAs after stent-assisted coil embolization. A patient with ptosis and limitation of eye movement was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal medicine (Samlyeongbaegchul-san-byeonbang [參苓白朮散變方] and Uwhangchungsim-won [牛黃淸心元]), acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. Clinical symptoms were observed by images of the inter-palpebral fissure and eyeball movement. After the treatment, the inter-palpebral fissure and eyeball movement were noticeably improved. These findings suggest that treatment with Korean medicine can be an effective option for the treatment of ONP due to PcomAAs after stent-assisted coil embolization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.122-138
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop a Korean Medicine(KM) Clinical Practice Guidelines(CPG) of female infertility. We conducted this questionnaire survey to reflect the experiences of Korean Medicine doctors(KMD) and clinical field in Korea. Method: We sent a questionnaire survey to KMD belonging to the Association of Korean Medicine by e-mail. We received 665 responds, and analyzed the answers. Results: 51.2% of respondents knew the previously developed CPG of female infertility, and 18.3% actually used. 83.3% agreed about the necessity of CPG of female infertility, and 80.3% had practical use plan. 90.2% of respondents treated less than 5 infertility woman for a month. 22.7% of respondents treated 50% of patients with collaborative treatment of KM and Western medical treatments. The main age group of patients was '35~40 years'(54.7%), and the most common cause was unexplained infertility(61.7%). The most common pattern identification of female infertility patients was Kidney deficiency(55.4%). KMD used 'a combination of decoction of herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment' the most(43%), and 'a decoction of herbal medicine treatment alone' was next(35%). 84.2% conducted lifestyle modification education about diet, stress, exercise etc. Conclusion: We figured out Korean Medicine doctors' recognition about CPG of female infertility, preference of treatments, and also characteristics of patients visiting Korean Medical clinics to make a practical CPG reflecting clinical situation.