• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.157-168
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• 2020

The number of disasters caused by natural or human-made events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, typhoons, industrial disasters, and the recent outbreak of COVID-19 has increased and the damage caused by such disasters is increasing every year. Disasters can cause physical destruction and also have unexpected psychological impacts, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ear acupuncture is a treatment modality that can be helpful for both physical and mental health problems. Since ear acupuncture is a cost-effective, flexible, and safe treatment tool, it has the potential to provide medical assistance in disasters. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) auricular acupuncture protocol, originally developed for addiction treatment, has been used for mental illness and behavioral symptoms in both community health settings and in a variety of disaster, terror, and refugee settings. In this review, we introduced the NADA protocol, including its history, features, training, clinical evidence, and cases in disaster settings, suggesting that the NADA protocol could be utilized as a disaster medical support model in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2003

Objective : Auricular acupuncture is a method of treatment that involves needling the ear in order to produce relief of symptoms. This concept was first developed by P.Nogier, french doctor and referred to as somatotopic representation. Many authors have commented the fact that the vagus nerve supplies the external auditory and the concha. The aim of this randomised, single blind study was to investigate whether auricular acupuncture of the ear produced changes in the pulse rate, an indicator of vagal tone. Methods: 10 healthy man volunteers were divided into normal and epinephrine stimulation group. Then each group was divided into vagus area acupuncture and control area acupuncture group again. Epinephrine stimulation group was injected by epinephrine 0.3cc twice, first. All of them were needled in either the vagus area or control area of the ear, and pulse rate changes were measured by patient monitor over 1 hour. Results : In the epinephrine stimulation group, there was significant differences in the pulse rate change between vagus area acupuncture and control area acupuncture group. After injection of epinephrine, the basal pulse rate was increased 1.3~1.4 times in the control group. However, in the vagus area acupuncture group the basal pulse rate was increased only 1.1~1.2 times.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.176-183
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• 2018

Objectives: To observe the treatment progress of two patients diagnosed with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Methods: We closely observed two patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis who had visited the Department of Hepato-hemopoietic System, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital in 2017. They were treated with Chungganhaeju-tang and auricular acupuncture, and we evaluated the changes in their general conditions and laboratory tests. Results: In the first case, the patient underwent continuous drinking despite the treatment, and the laboratory tests showed exacerbation. During the treatment, the patient stopped drinking for one week, and both clinical symptoms and laboratory tests were slightly improved. However, overall, there were no substantial improvements. In the second case, clinical symptoms and laboratory tests were markedly improved as the patient took herbal medicine and was treated with auricular acupuncture combined with abstinence from drinking. Conclusion: Two patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis were observed with the treatment of Chungganhaeju-tang and auricular acupuncture. A patient with continuous drinking showed no improvements while a patient with abstinence from drinking showed substantial improvements in both clinical symptoms and laboratory tests.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2 s.28
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• pp.92-112
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• 1994

Clinical studies were done on 109 peoples(9males. 100females) who were treated with the auricular and body acupuncture therapy to decrease body weight in the Dept. of the Acupuncture and Moxibution. Hospital of Oriental Medicine in Won Kwang University. from Feberuary 1, 1992 to March 31, 1994. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Total judgement of efficacy: significant(33.0%). good(50.4%). unchanged(16.5%). 2. Loss of appetite and decrease of meal quantum after auricular and body acupuncture treatment: loss of appetite(61.4%). decrease of meal quantum(68.8%). 3. Degree of average body weight loss during 1 week: 0{\sim}1.0kg(64.2%), $1.0{\sim}2.0kg(29.3%),\;2.0{\sim}3.0kg(6.4%)$. 4. Body weight loss during auricular and body acupuncture treatment : $0{\sim}0.5kg(16.5%),\;1{\sim}1.5kg(34.8%),\;2{\sim}2.5kg(17.4%),\;3{\sim}3.5kg(l1.0%),\;4{\sim}4.5kg(11.0%),\;5{\sim}5.5kg(5.5%),\;6{\sim}6.5kg(0.9%).\;7{\sim}7.5kg(2.7%)$. 5. The men who were $10.0{\sim}20.0%$ in the grade of obesity resulted in 79.1%. and men who were more than 20.0% in the grade of obesity resulted in 84.7%. The percentage of whole efficiency of the men who had been treated the auricular and body acupuncture therapy to decrease the body weight resulted in 83.4%, and of the men who were more than 20.0% in the grade of obesity resulted in 84.7% and of the man who belonged to simple obesity resulted in 87.8%.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.508-515
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a five-week auricular acupressure (AA) program on smoking cessation for male high school students.Methods: From May 27 2015 to November 18 2015, this study investigated 66 high school students who had been smoking. More than four sessions of AA were given to participants, and surveys were conducted before each treatment. Once a week, the AA was administered at the endocrine point, lung point, throat point, nasal fossae point, bronchial tube point, and mouth point.Result: Thirty-four (51.5%) students reduced their number of cigarettes smoked per day, while 17 (25.7%) students complained of side effects.Conclusions: Results show that AA is generally effective, and side effects occur less often than with anti-smoking acupuncture. So AA could be preferred on smoking cessation for students.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.99-109
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Auricular acupressure with semen sinapis in obese children over a specific period of time. Methods : The study subjects included 27 obese children who were evaluated as such using Broca's Index at an elementary school located in M city. The data was collected throughout March 2, to May 31, 2005. In order to collect data, as a pre-test, characteristics of obesity and general characteristics were examined. Experimental treatments were used on Shinmun, Kijeom, Wijeom, Bijeom and Naebunbijeom. Among the auricular spots, one pill of semen sinapis was placed and pressed for five seconds at a time with exerted force and the subjects endured pain. This procedure was conducted ten tunes every morning, noon and evening for a period of six weeks. As a post-test, the degree of obesity were examined two weeks, four weeks and six weeks after acupressure had been applied. The data was collected and analysed using the SPSS/WIN 10.0 program by number, percentage, mean standard deviation, and Repeated Measure ANOVA. Result : The first hypothesis that 'The obesity of the children who had auricular acupressure with semen sinapis will show no difference over time' (two weeks, four weeks and six weeks after acupressure had been applied) was rejected(p=.000). A statistically significant difference in the obesity of the children who had auricular acupressure with semen sinapis was shown over time. The children's obesity degree reduced from 35.85% before auricular acupressure with semen sinapis to 28.67% six weeks after acupressure. Thus after six weeks of acupressure the relative degrees of obesity were reduced by 7.18%. Conclusion : Bases on the above results, it can be determined that auricular acupressure with semen sinapis can be used as an effective method of treatment in Korea, for reducing degrees of obesity in children.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1997

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the changes between pre-treatment and post-treatment of four groups of 15 persons each and 2) to compare the effect of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and laser at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist. Sixty healthy adult men and women(M:32, F:28), aged 20 to 28 years, were assigned randomly to one of four groups. Group 1 received TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 2 received laser to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 3 received placebo TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 4 received no treatment and served as controls. Experimental pain threshold at the wrist was determined with a painful electrical stimulus before and 20 minutes after ear stimulation. Group 1 was the only group that showed a stastically significant increase (p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 2,3 and 4 did not. These results suggest that TENS has the capability to higher pain threshold but laser does not.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

Objectives : To review and summarize the existing evidence on acupuncture treatment for cancer and cancer related symptoms. Methods: Literature searches were made through domestic and international databases. Data were extracted according to pre-defined criteria. The methodological quality was assessed using the Modified Jadad scale. Results: Seven studies were included. Two of the studies were high in methodological quality. One study concerning acupuncture treatment for cancerous dyspnea reported insignificant differences between the treatment group and placebo group. The other study concerning auricular acupuncture for cancer related pain showed significant pain relief compared with the control group. All the other studies were non-blinded or uncontrolled trials. Conclusion : The hypothesis that acupuncture may be effective for the treatment of cancer is not supported by the data in recent clinical trials. More accurately designed randomized control trials (RCT) are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine clinical studies on the treatment of dysmenorrhea treatments and analyze the results to provide sufficient evidence to provide adequate evidence of the efficacy of the ear-acupuncture treatment on dysmenorrhea patients. Methods: The search for foreign papers used 'Pubmed', a research engine in the America National Library of Medicine. Used searching terms were 'dysmenorrhea' and 'menstrual pain' in all cases. And among these studies, we searched by using key word 'auricular acupuncture' or 'ear acupuncture' or 'auricular acupressure' or 'ear acupressure'. Results: Overall 53 studies, 7 studies were finally selected to this study. There was 1 controlled study, 3 clinical trials, and 3 randomized-control studies. About acupoints in study, the endocrine was used in all 7 papers. Internal genitals, shenmen, sympathesis, kidney, liver were used in 4 papers, central rim, hypo-cortex, uterus were used in 2 papers, central of cymba auriculae was used in 2 paper. In 4 papers, the effect of ear acupuncture treatment was effective in relieving menstrual pain. Moreover, we can see that ear acupuncture therapy was effective in reducing menstrual pain than in oriental herb medicine. Conclusions: As a result of the 7 papers, we found that patients with menstrual pain decreased after ear acupuncture therapy. However, there was little research and it was limited to achieving the results of the analysis. A vigorous clinical study should be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of ear acupuncture therapy and standardize treatment methods.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of further acupuncture research as an effective alternative and safe treatment for abdominal pain control in patients with pancreatitis. Methods and Results : This study is an open-label, assessment-blind, parallel designed pilot clinical trial. Thirty participants will be assigned to the acupuncture group(n=15) and usual care group(n=15). All patients will receive the conventional standard-of-care(SOC) therapy, but only the experimental group will receive acupuncture therapy six times a week, and the duration of acupuncture therapy will be held up to 12 weeks or until the pains are to be resolved. For the conventional SOC therapy, painkiller will be given. In treatment group, the subjects will receive the identical SOC therapy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on twelve acupuncture points(LI4, PC6, SP6, GB39, ST36, ST37), and auricular acupuncture therapy on five auricular acupuncture points(Sympathetic, Shen Men, Abdomen, Pancreas gall, and Spleen). The primary outcome will be measured using the visual analogue scale(VAS), and the secondary outcome will be measured using the painkiller demand, quality of life index and severity of pancreatitis by abdominal computed tomography(CT). Assessments will be made at baseline and at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Results of abdominal CT will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatitis.