• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.8
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• 2014

Spa represents a treatment widely used in many rheumatic diseases (RD). The mechanisms by which immersion in mineral or thermal water ameliorates RD are not fully understood. The net benefit is probably the result of a combination of factors, among which the mechanical, thermal and chemical effects are most prominent. Buoyancy, immersion, resistance and temperature play important roles. According to the gate theory, pain relief may be due to the pressure and temperature of the water on skin; heat may reduce muscle spasm and increase the pain threshold. Mud-bath therapy increases plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels and secretion of corticotrophin, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin. It has recently been demonstrated that thermal mud-bath therapy induces a reduction in circulating levels of prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, important mediators of inflammation and pain. Furthermore, balneotherapy has been found to cause an increase in insulin-like growth factor-1, which stimulates cartilage metabolism, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$. Beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-degenerative effects of mineral water were confirmed in chondrocytes cultures, too. Various studies in vitro and in humans have highlighted the positive action of mud-packs and thermal baths, especially sulphurous ones, on the oxidant/antioxidant system. Overall, thermal stress has an immunosuppressive effect. Many other non-specific factors may also contribute to the beneficial effects observed after spa therapy in some RD, including effects on cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. adipokines) and changes in the environment, pleasant surroundings and the absence of work duties.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2002

This study examined the changes in body temperature through conductive heat applied to the body and clarified the influences of body fluid on the thermal effects. Body fluid was measured using the Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method. The subjects consisted of 13 men and 14 women. TBW was 37.56 (4.35 L for men and 29.93 (3.12 L for women, with the former being significantly (p<0.01) higher. The amount of body fluid in the right and left legs was 6.46 (0.83 L and 6.39 (0.86 L for men and 4.78 (0.49 L and 4.78 (0.49 L for women, respectively, with men's values being significantly (p<0.01) higher than women's on both the right and left sides. The maximal change in the surface temperature was 33.93 (0.61(C at the start of a warm bath to 3407 (0.61(C after 14 min for men. In contrast, the maximal change was 33.38 (0.99(C at the start to 33.73 (0.86(C after 18 min for women. For the other sites, the maximal temperature in Depths 1 and 2 was attained earlier for men than for women. The decrease in body temperature after the end of warming was more remarkable for men. Men had fluid with a higher conductivity than women, indicating influences of body fluid on the changes in body temperature. There were few changes in body composition with a partial bath having a crossed effect, indicating that this is a safe therapeutic method for elderly people.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.4
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• pp.677-685
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of forest environment and therapeutic program to the patients with major depressive disorder in antidepressant medication. The first group participated the four sessions of therapeutic program in the forest environment ("forest therapy"), the second group did in the program in a hospital environment, the third group did merely walking in the forest ("forest bath"), and the last group was controls. All the participants was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and had been taking antidepressant medication longer than 3 months. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression(HRSD), Montgomery-Asberg Depressin Rating Scales(MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and general health perception was measured by Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire(SF-36). Heart rate variability(HRV) were also examined to observe the physiological parameters before and after the program. In the results, HRSD score of forest program group was significantly lower than controls after the program. MADRS score of forest therapy group and hospital program group was also significantly lower than controls after 4 sessions of the program. The remission rate defined as below 7 points in HRSD was higher in the forest therapy group, hospital program group, forest bath group, and controls in order. These results reveals that the therapeutic program performed in forest environment may improve unremitted depressive symptoms of patients with major depressive disorder. Although not significant, the forest therapy program showed better outcome than hosptial program and forest bath.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.35-49
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• 1996

This study was conducted to see variation of vital sign of hot and cool bath according to time, a questionnair survey and measurement was carried out for 32 students(sophomore) of department of physical therapy Andong Junior College on the 27th of June, 1995. The result were as follows: The average systolic blood pressure(SBP) of stability for 32 college students who were measured was 105.3mmHg, the average diastolic blood pressure(DBP) was 67.3mmHg, the average pulse frequency(PF) was 70.7(frequency/min), the average respiratory frequency (RF) was 15.6 (frequency/min), and the body temperature(BT) was $36.6^{\circ}C$. As time went on, SBP for 32 students who were measured in hot bath according to stability, 3 min, 6 min, 9 min, and 12 min was decreased(105.15 mmHg, 104.69mmHg, 104.24 mmHg, 103.03 mmHg, and 96.69 mmHg)(P=0.3006). SBP was decreased in cool bath, too(105.15 mmHg, 103.33 mmHg, 103.33 mmHg, and 100.91 mmHg), but it at 12 min was a little higher(l03.09 mmHg)(P=0.7566). As time went on, DBP according to stability, 3 min, 6 min, 9 min, and 12 minutes was decreased in hot bath(66.82 mmHg, 65.45 mmHg, 64.54 mmHg, 63.03 mmHg, and 59.39 mmHg)(P=0.0906). It was similar in cool bath(66.82 mmHg, 67.87 mmHg, 68.48 mmHg, 67.87 mmHg, and 68.78)(P=0.9654). As time went on, PF was significantly increased in hot bath(70.42 times, 86.96 times, 93.57 times, 99.30 times, and 101.78 times)(P=0.0001). It was a little increased in cool bath, too (70.42 times, 70.85 times, 71.63 times, 71.06 times, and 71.45 times)(P=0.9803). As time went on, RF was significantly increased in hot bath(15.75 times, 19.09 times, 22.09 times, 24.94 times, and 26.48 times)(P=0.0001). I t in cool bath of stability, 3 min, and 6 min was a little increased(15.75 times, 19.30 times, 19.39 times), but it in 9 min(18.67 times), and 12 min(18.09 times) was a little decreased(P=0.0176). As time went on, BT was significantly increased in hot bath($36.63^{\circ}C,\;37.45^{\circ}C,\;37.81^{\circ}C,\;38.12^{\circ}C,\;38.33^{\circ}C$)(P=0.0001). It was a little increased in cool bath of stability and 3 min($36.63^{\circ}C,\;37.40^{\circ}C$), but others are similar($37.33^{\circ}C,\;37.37^{\circ}C$, and $37.36^{\circ}C$)(P=0.0001). It was revealed by this study, SBP and DBP according to time in hot and cool bath were decreased. PF, RF, and BT in hot bath were higher, RF and BT in cool bath were higher too. but PF was similar.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1171-1172
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• 2012

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

This study finds out the aged consumers' needs on the developing elderly friendly and sensitive bathtub. This bathtub focuses on enhancement of multi-senses and enhancement of health, safety & convenience during bath. The enhancing multi-senses would have four functions; therapy with color and aroma, the massage with micro water bubbles, the visual and auditory with TV & cinema, and the auditory with music and radio. Also, enhancing others of bathtub would have seven functions; emergency bell, blood-pressure check system for health condition, water temperature indicator, keeping water warm, reading a book in that, and controlling of house entrance door and a getting the phone during bath. The aged consumers' needs find throughout a questionnaire survey, and 497 data was analyzed. The main results are as follow. They consider a full bath behavior as a healthcare. They have an intention to purchase or use the elderly and friendly bathtub, and they prefer using it in common facilities to using it at home. They highly need health related function of bathtub, which are massage (64.4%), blood-pressure check system (55.1%) and aroma therapy (45.7%). The emergency bell (67.0%), keeping water warm (62.2%), and water temperature indicator (49.7%), related to safety & information function of bathtub, are needed. Also, they think tolerance for error and low physical effort in bathtub design alternative, opening door and inside sitting support, to be important.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.503-511
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• 2000

This case study was done on a 37 year old female patient at the department for rehabilitation in Bundang Cha Oriental hospital who was treated for 70 days by traditional Acupuncture and Herbal medicine therapy as well as fasting with saengshig(生食), air bath(風浴) and cold-hot-bath(冷溫浴) for skin revitalisation, furthermore by Doinangyo and exercise for improvement of general condition and colon-hydrocleansing. The results are as following: 1. The body weigth was reduced by 14.5kg from 87.4kg to 72.9kg 2. The obesity degree reduced from 159% to 133% 3. The BMI reduced from 33.3 to 27.8 4. The WHR reduced from 0.96 to 0.88 5. The amount of body fat reduced by 7.7kg from 27.2kg to 19.5kg 6. The fat distribution of the abdomen reduced from 0.92 to 0.85 7. The percent body fat was reduced from 31.1% to 26.7 % 8. Except of a mild systemic pruritus the clinical symtoms like kneepain, fatigue, chilling, headache, indigestion, menorrhalaia improved significantly.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.587-599
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine self-perception of body image and dieting behaviors by gender among high school students. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire during April, 2010, and analyzed by SPSS Windows V.18.0. The results were as follows. First, many respondents showed a desire to be underweight and regarded themselves as overweight, even though they had a normal BMI. Second, female respondents showed a higher level of concern about diet than male respondents. Third, male respondents received information about diet mostly from their family or friends, whereas female respondents received information from blogs, mini-homepages, or Kin-search on the Internet. Finally, female respondents showed a higher level of practice for fasting therapy than male respondents, whereas male respondents showed a higher level of practice for food therapy, drug therapy, oriental medicine therapy, and steam bath therapy. Therefore, high school should educate students to get right recognition and knowledge of diet.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.463-471
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• 2012

Objective of this study is to provide basic information for developing more differentiated and targeted forest healing policy and Korean medical healing programs grounded on consumer preference for forest based Korean medical healing tourism products. The internet survey(CAWI) by percentage quota sampling with 400 Seoulite ages over 30 by the age, area, and gender was conducted, and 317 samples were used for a final analysis. 61.5% of the Seoulite associated 'forest bath/walking in the woods/tree' with an image of a forest based Korean medical healing tourism product, and preference for the product and the intention to use were positive at the percentages of 72.9% and 67.5%, respectively. Preferred areas were Seoul/Gyeonggi-do(53.5%) and Gangwon-do(38.8%). 'Stress solving and refreshment', 'taking a forest bath and a walk', and 'maintaining and promoting health' were the main purposes of the use. As for a therapy, 'walking therapy' was most preferred, and 'ergotherapy' was the next. First priority as for a use facility was 'healing trail', and 'professional medical facility' ranked second. Although important decision attributes were ' cost of use', 'food', and 'friendliness of medical staff', all the other sets of attributes related to use convenience, quality of medical service and tourism activities also recorded high, which forecasts higher consumer expectation for the product. As the result showing differences in consumer preference by the demographic segmentation, differentiated and segmented consumer needs should be considered when planing and managing a product. The scope of the study is limited to a demographic segmentation which is a basic stage of understanding consumer preference, therefore more detailed future researches on complicated and multi-dimensional consumer needs are required.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to understand the research trend of reports on forest therapy so far and analyze the Korean medicine therapy being applied in forest therapy programs. Methods We ran a keyword search on domestic databases with the following keyword 'forest therapy, forest healing, forest treatment, recreational forest, forest bath, forest experience'. The search took place in December 2014 and there was no limit to search time. A total of 334 forest therapy articles have been selected. Results The number of research on forest therapy continued to rise from 1985, with 334 articles being published from 84 journals. When those 188 articles were sorted by their contents and methods, except 146 articles of survey on simple satisfaction, recognition and visting, 94 were clinical studies, 79 were literature studies, 15 were experimental studies. Of the 94 clinical researches, there were 52 CCTs (Controled Clinical Trials), 39 ODs (efficacy studies with either a controlled or an Other than controlled Design) and 3 RCTs (Randomized Clinical Trials). Among the clinical researches, there were a total of 21 studies that used Korean Medicine programs, and meditation was the most popular, being used in 18 studies. Herbal food and tea therapy and Qigong were used in 3 studies each, and Korean medicine music programs were used in 2 studies. Conclusions A systematic and standardized Korean medicine forest therapy program must be developed, and based on the program, more research treating diseases should be conducted.