• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2020

Objectives : Acute low back pain syndrome causes pain and poor quality of life. There are various studies of SBV (Sweet bee venom) pharmacopuncture, but few have identified the therapeutic effects for patients unable to walk due to acute back pain. This case series report three cases of acute low back pain syndrome treated with SBV pharmacopuncture combined with Korean Medicine (KM) treatments. Methods : Three acute low back pain syndrome patients with no other acute abnormalities in the imaging were treated by KM treatments including SBV pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine and physical therapy. The improvement of symptoms was evaluated using Numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 dimension index (EQ-5D) and EuroQol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Results : Patients who were unable to walk due to acute back pain were able to walk. There were significant improvements of NRS, ODI, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS after treatment. The patients experienced an average 90% decrease in low back pain after inpatient KM treatment for about 8 days. NRS decreased by an average of 78.9%, ODI decreased by an average of 49.4%, and EQ-VAS increased by an average of 92.6%. In the case 1, EQ-5D decreased in all categories, but in the case 2, it decreased in all categories except for pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, but in the case 3, it decreased in all categories except anxiety/depression. There was no serious side effect after treatment of SBV pharmacopuncture. Conclusions : KM treatments including SBV pharmacopuncture may be effective for acute low back pain syndrome patients. However, randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to confirm the clinical effects of these interventions.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2018

This study investigates the effect of a combination of homeopathic medicine and electro- acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe liver disease who could not receive standard anaesthesia therapy due to liver problems. Specifically, measurable and quantifiable parameters were used to evaluate whether an integrated approach-consisting of electro- acupuncture and a homeopathic medicine diluted above Avogadro's limit (that is, above a potency of 12CH) during the pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical phases -can improve general well-being of a patient undergoing breast cancer surgery. In breast cancer surgery, we employed an integrated approach consisting of induction with hypnotics and muscle relaxants, followed by maintenance with anaesthetic gas, combined with a homeopathic treatment (Arnica montana 15CH and Apis mellifica 15CH) before and after surgery and an electro- acupuncture treatment performed in the pre- and post-surgical phases without any analgesic/pain relieving medications. Both of the patients treated with the integrated approach improved their overall condition without need for other common pain relieving medicines. Additionally, thanks to their rapid awakening, the patients were not relocated to a protected area and the hospitalization was shorter. A multidisciplinary approach incorporating homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture can be a solution for patients who need or ask about a different and/or safer alternative to the standard treatment. This approach can offer a safe, much less expensive, non-invasive and viable alternative for such cases. Moreover it can be useful for an opioids free anesthesia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.870-875
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• 2011

Arthritis of the knee is the most common type of joint inflammatory disorder and it is associated with pain and inflammation of the joint capsule. The aim of present study was to investigate the endogenous effect of low intensity laser acupuncture on collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, arthritis group, low laser group with 10 rats in each group. Arthritis in rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of type II collagen combined with complete Freund's adjuvant. Here we investigated the effects of low intensity laser therapy in experimentally induced rat knee arthritis. To evaluate preventive and therapeutic effects of low intensity laser acupuncture on collagen-induced arthritis rats. In collagen induced arthritic rats, there was significant increase in rat paw volume and decrease in body weight increment, whereas low intensity laser therapy groups, showed significant reduction in paw volume and normal gain in body weight. The altered biochemical parameters(blood urea, serum creatinine, total proteins and acute phase proteins) in the arthritic rats were significantly brought back to near normal by the low intensity laser therapy. Therefore, low intensity laser acupuncture may be a useful treatment in the prevention and treatment of collagen-induced arthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.9-17
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• 1999

Objectives: Recently a renovation of the medical-welfare system to reflect the changes of disease spectrum with the demographic changes of society, the increase in income level, and marked concerns for health promotion has been demanded. In accordance with this, attempts have been made to actively integrate traditional medicine based on symptom-differentiated treatment and Western medicine based on disease treatment so that they can complement each other. China has already tried a complementary medical treatment system integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine. So, this article reviewed major advances in research on integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in China. Methods: The authors analyzed data from clinical articles and experimental works in the ' Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine' Results and conclusions: Each department attempted to integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) and Western Medicine in treatment of various diseases such as malaria, AIDS, and intoxication (rarely found in Korea clinically). Especially in the departments of surgery, dentistry, radiology, and anesthesiology we could see the frequent use of combined treatment. TCM and Western medicine complemented each other very successfully, and the effect of the combined therapy was superior to that of traditional therapy alone. There were diverse methods for therapy in integrated TCM and Western medicine; bath-Tx, physical-Tx, manipulative-Tx, drug -acupuncture, Tibetan medicine, etc. were available in therapy as well as traditional methods such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and negative- Tx. The way of producing Chinese medications were diversified and formulated; making new prescriptions, compounding various kinds of new medicine called' Zhong Cheng Yao' (中成藥) which were easily made, stored, and taken. 'Diagnosis Criteria', 'The effect of TCM Treatment Criteria' were made by committee and broadly used for objectifying diagnosis, discriminating effects of treatments and treatment development, and developing new medical products.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.147-164
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the pattern identification in infertile women who participated in infertility support program of Cheongju-city. Methods: The project proceeded from October, 2016 to June 2017. Participants filled in the questionnaire which is composed of 33 symptoms before korean medical treatments. Data were collected from 17 participants. We classified symptoms into six pattern identifications based on previous research and rated each answer to score. Results: Throughout the study, the average age of 26 patients was $34.88{\pm}3.19$ years old, the average height was $162.51{\pm}4.99cm$, and average weight was $58.41{\pm}7.88kg$. The average duration of acupuncture treatment was $121.03{\pm}52.73$ days and the average times of acupuncture treatment was $27.42{\pm}10.77$ times. The average number of herbal medicine treatment was $2.65{\pm}0.69$, the majority of it was Chokyungjongok-tang. After the treatment, 3 patients of infertility became pregnant (11.54%) in twenty six patients. By analyzing pattern identification survey papers, We can classify infertile women into 6 pattern identification based on previous research. The majority of participants was identified as Blood deficiency and the other participants were identified as Kidney deficiency, Liver depression, Dampness-phlegm, Qi deficiency and Static blood in order of priority. Most of patients' pattern identification were combined with two kind of pattern identification. In terms of priority, Liver depression combined with Kidney deficiency, Blood deficiency combined with Kidney deficiency, Liver depression combined with Qi deficiency, Liver depression combined with Dampness-phlegm. Conclusions: After the study we confirmed that Korean traditional medicine is a safe treatment for infertile women. Further clinical study about herbal medicines of patients who have combined pattern identification is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.176-188
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• 2002

Objective : Sono-acupoint (SA) therapy is a new therapeutic technique that combined with acupuncture points, herbal medicine and ultrasound therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of sono-acupoint therapy. Methods : We performed the tail-flick test with normal rats to examine the tail-flick latency (TFL), and the Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model to examine the edema, skin temperature and serum concentration of c-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor (RF). Herbal SA (HSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the hanbang-gel made of several selected herbal drugs in Sprague-Dawley rats (male, $250{\pm}30g$). General SA (GSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the gel used in ultrasound therapy. In arthritis rat model, Freund's adjuvant (50mg/ml) was injected in dorsal part of right foot, and these treatments were performed after 15 days. Results : TFL was lengthened after SA treatments. Skin temperature and RF concentration that were the evidence of arthritis in rats were decreased by HSA treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that HSA has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rats, and further developments will produce the advance of this new therapeutic skill.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to report the effects of electroacupuncture and bee venom (BV) acupuncture for a patient suffering with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. There was a one patient who was diagnosed as idiopathic peroneal neuropathy and tibial neuropathy received electroacupuncture and BV acupuncture at acupoints on peroneal and tibial nerve pathway. The evaluation of clinical outcome was done by range of motion (ROM), manual muscle test (MMT), perimeter of lower leg, neuropathy pain scale (NPS). After treatment, the patient showed improvement in ROM and MMT. The patient's perimeter of lower leg was increased, NPS was decreased. This study suggests that the treatment of acupoints on the damaged nerve pathways could be an effective treatment for peripheral neuropathy, although further studies will be needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.102-111
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the case of a presbycusis patient whose hearing had improved. Methods : A 81-year-old male diagnosed with presbycusis were treated with Korean medical interventions (acupuncture combined with electromagnetic stimulation and pharmacoacupuncture) and Threshold sound conditioning(TSC) for 3 months. Pure tone audiometry(PTA) was performed for the evaluation. Results : The patient's hearing was improved from moderate to mild level according to the Classification of Hearing Loss(International Organization for Standardization, 1969). The average hearing were improved from 40.5 dB to 32.7dB on the left side, 46.9dB to 34.1dB on the right side. Conclusions : We observed an improvement in a presbycusis patient's hearing and hereby suggest the possibility of Korean medical treatment and TSC's ameliorating effect on sensorineural hearing loss as well as prebyscusis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.400-409
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• 2015

Objectives The study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Hyungtonghaeul-tang along with Korean medicine treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome. Methods A patient with fibromyalgia syndrome was treated with Hyungtonghaeul-tang as well as Korean medical treatment including acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, bee venom therapy, chuna, aromatherapy, and physical therapy. The counts of tenderness points, widespread pain index (WPI), symptom severity scale score (SS scale score), digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), Ryodoraku diagnosis, visual analogue scale (VAS), fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), and beck depression inventory (BDI) were measured. Results After treatment, the counts of tenderness point, WPI, SS scale score, VAS, FIQ, and BDI were decreased. The DITI and the Ryodoraku pattern recovered normally. Conclusions Hyungtonghaeul-tang along with Korean medicine treatment can be used in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.110-117
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a Korean medicine treatment on a traumatic spinal cord injury. Metohds : A 44-year-old male patient who had suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury was treated for two months. The effectiveness of complex Korean medicine treatments was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Manual Muscle Test (MMT). Result : We found that the NRS of pain caused by numbness was decreased from 7 to 0-1, and the overall motor measured by the MMT was also improved. The patient's walking state was changed from wheelchair ambulation to walker ambulation. Conclusion : Based on this finding, complex Korean medicine treatments may be effective in treating patients' pain, controlling paresthesia, and aiding the recovery function of activities in daily living. However, because of the limitation of our study, further high-quality research should be conducted.