• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.201-213
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• 2023

This study reviewed clinical papers reported on hemifacial spasm (HFS). Six online databases were searched for clinical papers published between January 2000 and December 2022. This study reviewed 14 studies, including 13 case reports and 1 combination of case reports and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The most frequently used acupoints were ST7 and TE17, and the stomach meridian was the most frequently selected. Herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, thread embedding acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and physical therapy were combined with acupuncture. The most frequently used evaluation method is Scott's scale. Out of 95 cases, 82 reported improved HFS symptoms after treatment. Our findings indicated the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatment in treating HFS. However, evidence of efficacy and safety remains insufficient. Large-scale and well-designed investigations will be required in the future to corroborate these results. We believe that this paper will serve as the foundation for future RCTs.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.133-143
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined treatment of needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture for breast augmentation. Methods: 136 patients had needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture combined treatments for breast augmentation. The treatments was performed once a week for 10 weeks. We measured bust circumference, underbust circumference, bust circumference and underbust circumference difference, treatments either before or after. Results: The mean of bust circumference was $77.75{\pm}4.93cm$ before the procedure and $80.25{\pm}5.01cm$ after the procedure, $2.50{\pm}1.95cm$ significantly increased. The mean of underbust circumference was $70.01{\pm}3.99cm$ before the procedure and $70.49{\pm}4.08cm$ after the procedure, $0.48{\pm}1.48cm$ significantly increased. the mean of bust circumference and underbust circumference difference was $7.74{\pm}2.24cm$ before the procedure and $9.76{\pm}2.55cm$ after the procedure, $2.01{\pm}1.72cm$ significantly increased. Conclusions: The combined treatment comprising needle-embedding therapy and acupuncture had a significant effect with regard to breast augmentation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of Korean medical treatments combined with acupotomy on patients diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of twenty in patients diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. They had received Korean medical treatment combined with acupotomy on tender points in the gluteus minimus muscle and piriformis muscle at Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital of Dong-Shin University from April, 2014 to December, 2014. To evaluate the efficacy of the treatments, the twenty in patients were asked to complete the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) before acupotomy, the first day after acupotomy, the third day after acupotomy, and the fifth day after acupotomy. Results : 1. NRS significantly decreased from $6.15{\pm}1.27$ to $3.90{\pm}1.45$. 2. ODI significantly decreased from $23.64{\pm}8.76$ to $15.95{\pm}7.35$. Conclusions : Korean medical treatment combined with acupotomy on tender points in the gluteus minimus muscle and piriformis muscle might be effective in reducing pain and improving the life quality of patients with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. We hope that further studies will be done to produce more clinical data and ensure effective application of these results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a neurological condition/disease characterized by unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. We report the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment in 2 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy who developed symptoms 3-4 days following vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and who received oral steroids and antiviral medications. Complex Korean medicine treatments including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, cupping therapy, herbal medicine, and physical therapy were performed. Symptom improvement was evaluated daily using the Numerical Rating Scale, House-Brackmann Grade, and Yanagihara's Score. Patient 1 was hospitalized for 22 days and Patient 2 visited the outpatient clinic 20 times. In both cases, postauricular pain caused by Bell's palsy disappeared, and symptoms of facial paralysis improved following completion of treatment. These findings could suggest that combined Korean medicine treatment may improve symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy.

• 턱관절균형의학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.24-26
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• 2016

경추부 근긴장 이상증에 대해 턱관절 자세균형 개념에 따라 구강내 균형장치를 활용한 자세훈련법 등의 치료로 긍정적인 호전을 관찰했다. 증례 보고이기는 하지만 턱관절 자세균형을 활용한 치료법에서 긍정적인 치료효과가 이어지고 있어서 앞으로 더욱 체계적인 관찰과 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.350-361
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to report the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: The articles were sourced from databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CiNii, WHO ICTRP, JSOM, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, and OASIS as of July 2019. The main search keywords were peripheral neuropathy and acupuncture, and only randomized controlled trials using acupuncture for therapeutic purposes were included. Cochrane's risk of bias was used to assess the risk of bias, and the Review Manager 5.3 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: Six studies with a total 394 participants were included. When combined treatment of acupuncture and usual care was compared with usual care alone, quality of life improved more significantly in the combination treatment group (SMD=-2.71, 95% CI: -5.01 to -0.41, P=0.02, I²=97%). The CIPN pain score was lower among the combination treatment group, but not to a significant degree (SMD=-2.55, 95% CI: -5.14 to 0.04, P<0.05, I²=98%). There were no severe side effects in any studies. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with usual care may be considered to safely relieve CIPN pain and improve quality of life for cancer patients. However, as there are few randomized controlled trials studying the effect of acupuncture on CIPN, further well-designed research is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Background: Due to the aging population in Korea, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become an increasingly common condition. Many patients with KOA prefer analgesics, herbal medicines, acupuncture, or exercise, rather than arthroscopic surgery or a knee replacement. Gyebutang (GB) granules are a herbal extract widely used to treat KOA in traditional Korean medicine, but there is insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, 2-armed parallel, controlled clinical trial has been designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GB combined with acupuncture for the treatment of KOA. There will be 100 patients with KOA enrolled in the study from 3 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. The participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group (GB and acupuncture) or a control group (celecoxib and acupuncture) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks; one group will receive GB and the other will receive celecoxib for the same duration. Results: The primary outcome will be the change of knee osteoarthritic pain, based on scores on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will be scores on a numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, patient global assessment, European quality of life 5-dimension 5-level scale, and adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of GB as a treatment for patients with KOA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.107-114
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oriental medical treatment on Bell's palsy patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods : A clinical study was done on 3 patients who were diagnosed and treated as Bell's palsy at the Dep. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion College of Oriental Medicine Daejeon University. The effects of combined treatment of acupuncture, herbal medicine and physiotherapy were evaluated with Yanagihara's unweighted grading tool. Results : 1. There was significant improvement on Yanagihara score after treating with Gunbiikqi(健脾益氣) method, which was based on pattern differentiation as Hur(虛證). 2. Three patients commonly complained heaviness, dyspepsia, anorexia after receiving chemotherapy and oriental medical treatment showed significant improvement on the symptoms. 3. All three cases received herbal medicine treatment and liver function test. Three cases showed normal range of liver function during and after the treatment. Conclusions : Oriental-medicine treatment did not damage in liver function and showed significant improvement on Bell's palsy in patients receiving chemotherapy. But it is considerd that we need to keep limits in getting enough patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2016

Objectives : The serum creatine kinase(CK) level of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) patients suggests that it may be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of ALS. We report the changes of serum CK level of ALS patients treated by administering processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatments. Methods : We provided an ALS patient with processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatments including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine. The serum CK level was checked every month. The changes of ALSFRS-R and MRC grade were checked every month for additional result. Results : The serum CK level as the prognostic factor for the survival of ALS gradually decreased for three months. However, ALSFRS-R decreased by two points at the second trial. MRC rate had no change for three months. Conclusion : Combined administration of processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts and Korean medical treatment could be meaningful possibilities in the treatment of ALS. We should conduct further studies to solve the limitations of this case study.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Bee Venom acupuncture therapy for acute ankle sprain. Methods : From September 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2005, the 60 patients who had visited Conmaul oriental medical hospital with acute ankle sprain were sample into 2 groups for this study; one group for the bee-venom acupuncture therapy combined with needle acupuncture therapy and the other group for needle acupuncture therapy only at least 3 times respectively. Both group had been treated with same additional infrared lamp, physical therapy and ankle supporter during the whole treatment period. Among 60 patients, 20 participants satisfied the whole inclusion criteria. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, Numerical Rating System(NRS) and Ankle-Hindfoot Scale(AHS) were applied before 1st and 4th treatment. Each score results were analysed and compared by Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed rank test with the level of 5% significance. Result : The NRS score in bee-venom acupuncture therapy group was increased significantly and the AHS score in bee-venom therapy group was decreased significantly compared to each of single acupuncture therapy group(P<0.01). The score change comparisons between the two groups had no significance before and after the treatment. Conclusion : Both bee-venom acupuncture therapy and single acupuncture therapy were effective to treat the acute ankle sprain. but there were no significant data to prove that bee-venom acupuncture therapy is more effective than single acupuncture therapy.