• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.250-257
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• 2012

Recently oriental medicine has become a new issue in the global medical field because of increasing demands for the treatment of old people. Western medical equipment is becoming popular with big companies related to IT, communication and medical treatment. But globalization of oriental medicine techniques is inadequate due to lack of knowledge about oriental medicine. The cupping equipment has great growth potential because it is easy for old people to use the equipment. The purpose of this paper is to promote the portable multi electrical cupping system. The system may be used by patients themselves without any help from others. By using many cupping cups at the same time and regulating the timer and vacuum pressure. The patient can decrease itching and relax the hardened muscles. The system is expected to grow in the future as oriental medicine will be in high demand in aging society with IT convergence industry.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.33.1-33.3
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• 2012

Menorrhagia (kasrate tams) is the most common gynecologic complaint in contemporary gynecology, affecting 10 to 15% of the adult female population. It can occur at any age. In the Unani system of medicine, since antiquity, dry cupping therapy (hijamat bila shurt) has been used to treat menorrhagia. An effort was made to evaluate the usefulness of dry cupping on excessive menstrual blood loss in menorrhagia with a well validated menstrual pictogram. This study was conducted on 15 patients at the National Institute of Unani Medicine, Hospital Bangalore, from January 2010 and July 2010. Unmarried or married patients aged 17 - 47 year with a history of excessive or prolonged bleeding per vaginum were included. Two large cups (with 5.7 cm internal diameter) were applied below each breast for 15 min, only once during the menstrual period when the patient reported to the outpatient department. If the menstrual flow was not reduced, the next day again dry cupping was repeated. The outcome was to assess the efficacy of dry cupping on the reduction in the amount of menstrual blood loss. The data was analyzed by the Wilcoxon matched test. The mean scores of menstrual blood loss before and after the treatment was 400.26 (277.95) and 48.4 (32.082) ml respectively, p = 0.002, considered statistically significant. A dry cupping therapy is a useful treatment modality in decreasing the amount of menstrual blood flow in menorrhagia. Further randomized controlled clinical trials and validation are needed in a large population.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1363-1373
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• 2014

In this study, a hybrid multi-cup electric cupping system (HMECS) was proposed, based on the ancient cupping method. HMECS consisted of several cups that could be used simultaneously to treat different areas of the patient's body. Each cup was equipped with its own pump and pressure-monitoring system. Moreover, the vacuum pressure of the cups was controlled using fuzzy logic. Through automated control of the vacuum pressure, long-term relief of muscle tightness was achieved. To develop a scientific foundation for this alternative treatment, we compared the VAS(Visual Analog Scale) and ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) scores from conventional basic cupping to the VAS and ODI scores for our proposed HMECS. The improvement rate in the VAS and ODI scores using HMECS after three treatments was higher than that achieved by basic cupping. These results, combined with the convenience offered by enhanced IT capabilities, should increase the popularity of this device among an aging society, and facilitate the opportunity to further explore the potential of Oriental medical practices.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.101-103
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• 2018

Cupping therapy (CT) is used in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and is prevalent in Muslim communities where it is recommended by the Prophet of Islam. The majority of modern, medical practitioners interested in CT, view it as a medical technique and distance themselves from the mechanisms proposed by traditional medicine. However, modern medicine does not offer a valid explanation for the mechanisms involved in CT. There is growing evidence of CT's effectiveness, specifically in chronic pain management when compared to an inactive control, but not against sham treatment. CT accompanied by religion and prayer, as it is in Muslim communities, cannot be considered to be equivalent to any procedures in modern medicine. "Whole System Research" may be the most appropriate trial design to test the ancient practice of CT efficacy whilst pending development of a novel placebo for assessing the connectivity of body and mind interventions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2023

This study aimed to report the effect of moving cupping therapy (MCT) on peripheral facial palsy (PFP). Four patients with PFP treated with MCT combined with integrative Korean medicine treatment (KMT). Patients were hospitalized for < 17 days. House-Brackmann Grading System (HBGS), Yanagihara grading score (Y-score), and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SBGS) were used to assess the changes during treatment periods, and facial photos were taken at admission, interim, and discharge. Facial paralysis symptoms and HBGS grades improved in all patients (Patient 1: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 2: HBGS of V to III; Patient 3: HBGS of IV to II; Patient 4: HBGS of IV to II) following an average of 14.5 days of treatment. The mean (± standard deviation) Y-scores and SBGS scores also increased (Δ[Y-score]: 13.75 ± 3.50 and Δ[SBGS]: 40.00 ± 13.11) from baseline to end of treatment. These findings suggest the clinical effectiveness of MCT combined with integrative KMT in treating patients with PFP.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study is evaluation for significance of skin meridian-acupoints energy measurement system, and is verification of principle to measure the bio-ion charge on acupoints. Methods : To check a correlation between the MEP(Meridian Energy Potential) and bio-electric charge condition, ten acupoints(left/right BL meridian : BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23) were chosen. Based on basic theory concerning the upward trend of the bio-electric charge by cupping therapy, we measured MEP change before and after 600mmHg(80kPa) Negative pressure stimulation using cupping. Results : We could identify the correlation between MEP and the condition of bio-electric charge in acupoints. Also, we checked the balance or imbalance of left/right the MEP and unusual cases. Conclusions : We confirmed significance of proposed principle and meridian energy measurement system.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.2747-2754
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• 2010

Cupping therapy has been used to extensive diseases. However, the research was yet to meridian and acupoint's change of state caused by Cupping. This study was considered a human-ripple effect by the anlaysis of meridian & acupoint's change of state. We developed the system which is keeps 30kPa Negative-pressure and stimulated on the Left Lung Meridian(LU) a halfway point between LU4 and LU5. We checked moisture and elasticity change on left/right acupoints & non-acupoints, then measured EMG Signal. We observed that moisture had little change(12.49%) and the better part of the elasticity on both sides had identified the change(64.42%). The number of the provoked acupoiunt elasticity change was more than non-acupoint. Also, elasticity change of Right side was more than Left side. We confirmed that RMS and Median Power change patterns were lower in proportional to the elastin change, but there was no significance about Median Frequency. Therefore inducing the change of elasticity and EMG signal on meridian-acupoints. Therefore, We checked the human-ripple effect Negative-pressure by the Cupping therapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.231-244
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to introduce the types and contents of books related to acupuncture published in North Korea that can be identified in South Korea, and to understand the general characteristics of North Korean acupuncture. Methods : Firstly, we identified books related to acupuncture in the Information Center on North Korea of the National Library of Korea. Specialized books on treatment interventions such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, electrotherapy, and manual therapy including acupressure which stimulate acupoints were included in the study. Two authors reviewed the title, table of contents, and contents of each book in the order of publication year for the searched books. Based on this, the characteristics and trends of North Korean acupuncture were comprehensively examined. Results : The included 18 books were published between 1964 and 2018. One of them was considered a Chinese book translated into Korean and published in China, and another was a North Korean book republished by a South Korean publisher. Except for these, all were published in North Korea, two of which were translations of Chinese books. Most of them were books on the theory and clinical applications of acupuncture, but some of them focused on specific treatment interventions such as auricular acupuncture, fire needling, manual therapy, cupping, or electrotherapy. Also, there was a book about the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in a neurophysiological way. Conclusions : Since the mid-1960s, North Korea has been steadily attempting to combine acupuncture and Western medicine by applying the disease name and classification system of Western medicine, using modern diagnostic technique, and explaining the mechanism of acupuncture based on the latest research. After the 2000s, the standard international acupuncture nomenclature by World Health Organization was used. In recent years, there has been a tendency to publish and widely disseminate specialized books on non-pharmacological treatment such as cupping, electrotherapy, and fire needling.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.252-263
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• 2013

Objectives : Skin color deformation by cupping has been widely used as a diagnostic parameter in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). Skin color deformation such as ecchymoses and purpura is induced by local vacuum in a suction cup. Since existing studies have relied on a visual diagnostic method, there is a need to use the quantitative measurement method. Methods : We conducted an analysis of cross-polarization photographic images to assess the changes in skin color deformation. The skin color variation was analyzed using $L^*a^*b^*$ space and the skin erythema index(E.I.). The meridian theory in TKM indicates that the condition of primary internal organs is closely related to the skin color deformation at special acupoints. Before conducting these studies, it is necessary to evaluate whether or not skin color deformation is influenced by muscle condition. Hence, we applied cupping at BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20 and BL23 at Bladder Meridian(BL) and measured blood lactate at every acupoint. Results : We confirmed the high system measurement accuracy, and observed the diverse skin color deformations. Moreover, we confirmed that the $L^*$, $a^*$ and E.I. had not changed after 40 minutes(p>0.05). The distribution of blood lactate levels at each part was observed differently. Blood lactate level and skin color deformation at each part was independent of each other. Conclusions : The negative pressure produced by the suction cup induces a reduction in the volumetric fraction of melanosomes and subsequent reduction in epidermal thickness. The relationship between variations of tissue and skin properties and skin color deformation degree must be investigated prior to considering the relationship between internal organ dysfunction and skin color deformation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2007

Objection : A medicine which is patient-initiative and preventive is required in Korea, which is going to an aging society. On this, we started this study to make a new rule to diagnose and treat more definitely by linking traditional Oriental medicine to Sasang Constitional medicine, which thought to be suitable because of Sasang Constitional medicine has been valued on staying, diet and human's nature which means preventive medical propensity. Methods : On this study, we discriminated Sasang Constition of 161 students, who is in college of oriental medicine, Wonkwang university, by using QSCCII program; and in those students, we checked 30 volunteers's five vicera's Back-su point on riging and depression, tenderness reaction, and color reaction after cupping treatment. Results : As a result of study of riging and depression of five vicera's Back-su point, we could confirm that defecient organ's Back-su point were more depressed than excess organ in Seum-in, Taeeum-in, Soyang-in. As a result of study of tenderness reaction of five vicera's Back-su point, we could confirm that excess organ's Back-su point showed stronger tenderness reaction than defecient organ in Seum-in, Taeeum-in; and excess organ's Back-su point showed weaker tenderness reaction than defecient organ in Soyang-in. As a result of study of color reaction after cupping treatment of five vicera's Back-su point, we could confirm that excess organ's Back-su point showed stronger color reaction than defecient organ in Seum-in, Taeeum-in; and excess organ's Back-su point showed weaker color reaction than defecient organ in Soyang-in. Those data suggest that there are close correlation between Sasang Constition and on riging and depression, tenderness reaction, and color reaction after cupping treatment of five vicera's Back-su point in treditional Oriental medicine. Conclusions : From this study, we can make a new rule to differentiate Sasang Constition by clearfy a relation between Sasang Constition and five vicera's Back-su point; and with this rule, we could contribute to popularization and objectification of Sasang Constition medicine and further more, Oriental medicine by making a Sasang Constition diagnosis instrument. With this, a trait of Sasang Constition medicine that is preventive and valued on character of individuals will contribute to building a patient-initiative and preventive medical system and will expend the domain of Oriental medicine.