• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2021

This review investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis. There were 7 online databases used in the search from inception to March 17, 2021, for randomized controlled trials of the use of acupotomy in patients with scoliosis. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included (n = 12). A quantitative synthesis of the randomized controlled trials was performed using RevMan Version 5.3. The effect sizes of studies were presented as mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes, with a 95% confidence interval. As part of combined therapy, acupotomy was reported to significantly improve Cobb's angle compared with other treatments. Likewise, the Visual Analog Scale score, the Oswestry Disability Index score, and pulmonary function were also reported to be improved following acupotomy combination therapy. Although 5 studies mentioned the criteria for reporting adverse events, only 1 study reported adverse events. In conclusion, acupotomy may be an effective treatment for scoliosis. However, the small number, and heterogeneity of the included studies, as well as the poor methodological quality, indicate that higher-quality studies should be conducted to verify the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2008

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide epidemic. Global projections suggest that most nations will have a doubling of the incidence of Diabetes mellitus(DM) within 20years. The Herb-Combined Remedy(HCR) of DM was known as one of anti-hyperglycaemic agents. But it is unclear whether HCR can be used to treat patients with Diabetic nephropathy or not. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-hyperglycaemic and preventive effects from diabetic nephropathy of HCR in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Treatment with HCR regulated blood glucose levels, but did not affect body weights. In addition, HCR was able to decrease blood glucose levels after 120min. Serum BUN levels were not effective but, serum Creatinine levels were lowered by treatment with HCR or MF. In histopathological observation of renal tissue, both HCR and MF groups showed decreased tendency of inflammation and renal injury. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that HCR is effective to treat patients with DM and also has preventive activity on diabetic nephropathy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2018

Objective : This case study reports the therapeutic effect of Korean Medicine (KM) treatments including CS(care special pain) and BV(bee venom) pharmacopuncture on herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine(L-spine). Methods : Two patients diagnosed with HIVD of L-spine were treated with CS and BV pharmacopuncture on GV3 and EX-B2, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. The Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), the Oswestry low back pain Disablility Index(ODI) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ) scores were evaluated before and after treatment for comparison. Results : Low back pain(LBP) and radiating pain was improved with a decrease in patients' NRS, ODI and RMDQ scores. Conclusion : These results suggest that KM treatments including combined CS and BV pharmacopuncture could be an effective treatment on patients with HIVD of L-Spine.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2007

1. Objectives This study evaluates the effect of oriental medical treatment on a chronic sinusitis patient. 2. Methods The patient was teated with acupuncture, nasal cavity irrigation, and Yangdokbackho-tang(陽毒白虎湯). Previous western medical methods were excluded in order to provide therapeutic methods different from pre-existing ones because we needed different, long-term treatment plan from previous treatment. We applied acupuncture 15 times during treatment period and instructed the patient to carry out nasal cavity irrigation at home. 3. Results & Conclusions Combined application of oriental treatment including administration of Yangdokbackho-tang and nasal irrigation showed remarkable clinical effects on symptom, physical examination and radiological finding.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.149-158
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of oriental medical combined treatment on the fibromyalgia syndrome patient. Methods : Oriental medical combined treatment was administered during 3 weeks at 2 times admissions. The improvement of clinical symptom was evaluated by VAS(visual analogue scale), SF-MPQ(short form-McGill pain questionnarie) and PRS(pain rating scale), change of tender points. Results : After treatment, the patient's VAS score was reduced to 3-5, 4-5 point. First admission, there is no observable change in the SF-MPQ. But, Second admission, SF-MPQ score was reduced from 16 to 6. The PRS score was reduced from 72 to 24, from 75 to 48 respectively. Tender points was reduced generally. Conclusions : Oriental medical combined treatment for the fibromyalgia syndrome patient was effective. Although this case presented valuable result, further research is encouraged to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment with large number of patient.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.141-144
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• 2018

The aim of this report is to describe improved symptom changes in eye movement disorders and dizziness of a patient with Miller Fisher syndrome after receiving combined Korean medicine treatment (CKMT). A 24-year-old male was diagnosed with MFS accompanied by eye movement disorder, diplopia, and dizziness. For 6 weeks, the patient received acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy treatment. Visual analogue scale were checked and other outcomes (the range of eye movement, the distance that diplopia appears, diplopia questionnaire) were measured. Following CKMT, the movement of both eyes improved in both the horizontal and vertical direction. Also for diplopia and dizziness, there was a decrease in the visual analogue scale and the distance that diplopia appeared. The present case report suggests that CKMT may have a role in treating eye movement disorders and dizziness in patient diagnosed with MFS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2020

This review examined recently published (July 2014 to June 2017), randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which investigated the safety and effectiveness of combined Korean medicine/complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and Western medicine, to indicate the direction for integrative medical practice. The Korean Medicine Convergence Research Information Center evidence-based medicine database (KMCRIC EBM DB) was used to retrieve relevant RCTs indexed in the last 3 years. Study design, country, sample size, disease/condition with the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code, interventions, direction of outcomes, and adverse events were extracted and summarized. A total of 93 RCTs were included in this review. Acupuncture/moxibustion was the most commonly used intervention (n = 47; 51%), and 19% (n = 18) of the studies treated musculoskeletal disorders, followed by circulatory disorders (n = 16; 17%), and mental and behavioral disorders (n = 9; 10%). Integrative treatment was reported as more effective than monotherapy in approximately 83% of these studies. Adverse events were poorly reported in most studies. This review suggests that integrative treatments are feasible, effective, and safe for various diseases/conditions, based on the evidence from recently published RCTs. Future studies on integrative healthcare are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2023

목적: 항암유발말초신경병증은 암 환자가 겪는 흔한 항암 부작용이나 현재까지 효과적으로 알려진 치료법은 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 항암유발말초신경병증에 대한 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법의 효과와 안전성을 평가하는 것이다. 방법: 항암유발말초신경병증을 겪고 있는 24명의 암 환자를 침 치료 단독군 (AG, acupuncture group)과 침과 가바펜틴의 병용요법군 (CG, combined acupuncture and gabapentin group)으로 무작위 배정하였다. 두 그룹 모두 침 치료는 주 3회, 4주간 수행하였다. 병용 요법군은 침 치료와 더불어 1일 900mg의 가바펜틴을 복용하도록 하였다. 치료 효과는 Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), visual analogue scale (VAS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 items (EORTC-CIPN20)를 이용하여 측정하였다. 치료로 인한 부작용은 대상자가 방문할 때마다 조사하였다. 결과: 총 23명의 대상자(AG, n=12; CG, n=11)의 평가지표를 분석한 결과, 치료 4 주 후 침 치료 단독군은 NPSI 점수가 44.33±25.04에서 30.58±21.55으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군은 30.55±25.59에서 18.64±19.42로 감소하였으며, 두 군 모두 통계적으로 유의미하게 감소하였다(p<0.001). VAS점수는 침 치료 단독군에서는 4.79±2.17 에서 3.42±2.49으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군에서는 3.55±2.07에서 2.73±2.49 로 감소하였다(p<0.05). 치료 효과는 치료 완료 2주후까지 지속되었으며, 두 군간의 유의미한 차이는 없었다. EORTC-CIPN20은 침 치료 단독군은 30.27±18.87에서 20.84±16.35으로 감소하여(p<0.01), 두 군 모두에서 삶의 질이 향상되었다. 결론: 본 연구로 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법이 항암유발말초신경병증 환자의 증상 및 삶의 질 개선에 효과적이며 안전한 치료법임을 확인하였다. 그러나 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 시너지 효과에 대해서는 확인 할 수 없었으며, 이를 확인하기 위해 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.78-89
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• 2023

This paper presents the clinical outcome of an 82-year-old female who experienced sudden back pain combined with lower limb paresthesia and weakness after epidural steroid injection. The magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine showed a spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) extending from T8 to L4. She was treated non-operatively in the traditional Korean medicine (TKM) hospital. The patient's progress was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM III), and self-reported symptoms. During the 22-day hospitalization period,the NRS score decreased from 7 to 2 points, the motor score on the ASIS scale increased from 65 to 95 points. The subjective sense of lower extremities was felt by 1 increased to 8. The SCIM III score increased from 32 to 69 points. These results suggest that TKM could effectively reduce pain and aid the rehabilitation of patients with SEH.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.82-94
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of east-west medical combined treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) through cooperation in a hospital. Methods : We treated three patients diagnosed as SSNHL by combination of herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmoacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, laser therapy and conventional medications. We evaluated the results of this treatment with pure tone audiometry, word recognition score(WRS), the changes in distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) and visual analogue scale. Results : One of them showed a meaningful improvement in the hearing level of the low frequency region. The others showed 'Complete recovery' in pure tone audiometry and WRS. The subjective symptoms including tinnitus and ear fullness improved in three patients. Conclusion : This study suggests that east-west medical combined treatment is effective on SSNHL patients.