• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.286-299
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to report significant improvement of functional dyspepsia in 3 patients, who were diagnosed with 'Soyangin Spleen Cold-based Exterior Cold disease' and applied medication based on Sasang Constitutonal medicine.Methods The patients were treated with herbal medications, according to their own constitution. The objective outcome was measured by body composition analyzer and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the subjective sensation was assessed by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Results The symptoms of functional dyspepsia improved remarkedly in all respects, without any side effects. Original symptoms also changed for the better.Conclusions This results show that it is available that functional dyspepsia is treated with medicines according to Sasang Constitutional medicine.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.727-735
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• 2017

This case report describes a 60-year-old man who had reflux symptoms despite treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Korean traditional medicine, including a herbal prescription, acupuncture, and moxibustion was administered to the patient during his 19 days of hospitalization. The visual analogue scale (VAS), gastrointestinal scale (GIS), and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) scores were assessed on the dates of admission and discharge. An abdominal examination, which is one of the Korean medicine diagnostic tools, was performed every day to evaluate the treatment progress. During the treatment, the improvement of symptoms was clinically correlated with abdominal examination outcomes. We suggest that administration of traditional Korean Medicine on PPI-refractory GERD patients could be effective and we recommend utilization of the abdominal examination as an assessment tool for Korean Medicine treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.16-28
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of Yukgunja-tang(YGJT, Rikkunshito, Liujunzi) on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD). Methods: Sixteen electronic databases were used to search for studies published through March 2019, and a randomized controlled study was conducted to study the effects of YGJT or modified YGJT on GERD. Study quality was assessed using the risk bias tool provided by Cochran, and data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.0 software Results: Two-hundred and forty articles were initially searched, and 13 studies that satisfied the study criteria were evaluated qualitatively; 11 of the 13 were included in the meta-analysis. In the two studies, the effects of YGJT and a placebo were compared. Meta-analysis showed that YGJT significantly improved FSSG (Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD) scores, but not GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) scores (FSSG: MD -2.40, 95% CI [-5.31, 0.51], p=0.11, GSRS: MD 0.05, 95% CI [-0.12, 0.22], p=0.55). Meta-analysis of nine studies comparing the efficacies of YGJT and conventional medicine showed that YGJT had a significant clinical effect (OR 5.72; 95% CI [3.41, 9.61]; I2 p<0.00001). Conclusion: This study suggests that YGJT effectively relieves the symptoms of GERD. Unfortunately, owing to the small sample sizes, limitations of several methodological qualities, we believe large-scale clinical studies with less bias will provide evidence of qualitative improvement.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.261-266
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• 2021

This study aim to report 4 cases with chronic abdominal pain whose symptoms are alleviated by Sihogyeji-tanggagam with Korean medicine treatments. The patients were decided to administer Sihogyeji-tanggagam through abdominal examination. The patients were treated by Korean medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Sihogyeji-tanggagam). We used Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Abdominal examination, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Subjective Unit of Clinical Symptoms to evaluate the progress of treatments. The improvement of clinical symptoms appeared to be effective with out any remarkable side effects. The abdominal pain of all patients stared to improve as soon as treatment begin, and disappeared in 1-2 weeks. We also confirmed that the abdominal symptoms improved together with the improvement of clinical symptoms. This study suggests that Sihogyeji-tanggagam is effective on reducing symptoms of chronic abdominal pain, but further studies should be followed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.27-38
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• 2016

Objectives: According to Korean Medicine theory, the skin color of LU10 serves as a diagnostic clue to dyspeptic symptoms. The aims of this study were (1) to find the difference of skin color in LU10 region between functional dyspepsia (FD) and healthy control (HC) and (2) to examine the relationship between LU10 skin color parameters and dyspeptic symptoms. Methods: 39 participants (29 FD and 10 HC) have participated in this study. They were asked to complete gastrointestinal scale (GIS), gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI), functional dyspepsia-related quality of life (FD-QoL), visual analogue scale (VAS) for dyspeptic symptoms, food retention questionnaire (FRQ) and cold heat questionnaire (CHQ). $L^*$ (luminance), $a^*$ (red-green balance) and $b^*$ (yellow-blue balance) values of LU10 region were calculated through digital images of the participant's hand. Then we evaluated test-retest reliability of $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of LU10 region. Additionally, we compared $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of LU10 between FD and HC, and examined the relationship between LU10 color parameters and seven questionnaires scores. Results: Only $L^*$ values in LU10 region were significantly higher in FD compared with HC. GIS scores and the subset scores of NDI had a positive correlation with $L^*$ values significantly. Correlation coefficients of test-retest reliability of skin color measurement of LU10 ranged from 0.871 to 0.936 representing very strongly statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusions: We confirmed the difference of skin color in LU10 region between FD and HC, and relationship between LU10 skin color parameters and dyspeptic symptoms.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.814-821
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• 2019

Objective: This case study reports on the result of Korean medicine treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm. Methods: A 46-year-old female Korean patient with diffuse esophageal spasm received electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion treatment for 2 weeks in hospital. Results: Decreases in the visual analog scale (VAS) (from 8.7 to 7.0), numeric rating scale (NRS) (from 7.0 to 5.5), gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) (from 9 to 6), and gastroesophageal reflux disease-health related quality of life questionnaire (GERD-HRQL) (from 46 to 38) scores were observed after the treatment. Conclusion: Evaluation of Korean medicine treatment is worthwhile for rare diseases like diffuse esophageal spasm.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.110-121
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• 2010

1. Objectives: This investigation compares the eating behaviors across normal-weight male groups of different Sasang constitutional types. 2. Methods: We recruited 31 male participants aged 20-35 with BMI 18.5-23. The eating behavior was assessed using Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Bulimia Test Revised (BULIT-R), Korean Version of Eating Attitude Test-26 (KEAT-26), and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). 3. Results: 1) Assessments made by GSRS, KEAT-26, and BULIT-R were not significantly different across different Sasang constitutional types. (p<0.05) 2) The Soeum group showed significantly lower BMI and body weight compared to the Soyang and Taeeum groups. 3) The Emotional eating subscale of DEBQ differed significantly across different Sasang constitutional types. (p<0.05) 4) The Soeum group showed a significantly lower Emotional eating subscale score of DEBQ compared to the Soyang and Taeeum groups. 4. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that emotional factors could influence eating behaviors differently across different Sasang constitutional types, in which the Soeum type is less affected than the Soyang type by emotional states.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.306-317
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• 2004

Background & Object : Dyspepsia for which no organic causes are disclosed is referred to as functional dyspepsia. Functional dyspepsia is here studied in connection with a biopsychosocial model. From the aspect of individual response to external environment, in connection with stress response, functional dyspepsia is studied by both the psychology department and the internal medicine departments. The disease is taken as approachable from the aspect of internal injury due to seven emotions and stress as differentiated by Oriental medicine. Materials and Methods : Targeted at 223 patients underwent medical checks and endoscopy at Kangnam Korean Hospital, Kyunghee University. They agreed to join this clinical experiment. Stress response inventory, GARS (global assessment of recent stress scale), GSRS (gastrointestinal symptom rating scale), diagnostic scores for Ki-depression, and Spleen Disease Differentiation of Syndromes were all measured and evaluated. The test group was comprised of functional dyspepsia patients. The control group was comprised of nonsymptomatic chronic gastritis patients who were found to suffer from chronical gastritis in endoscopy and thus could be diagnosed with functional dyspepsia if symptoms would arise, but did not complain of subjective symptoms. Results showed these corelations: Functional dyspepsia patients were found to have more serious Ki-depression compared to nonsymptomatic chronic gastritis patients. The more serious Ki-depression the more serious the dyspepsia symptoms. The higher the stress response inventory the more serious the dyspepsia. Deficiency of spleen Eum, and Deficiency and Sinking of spleen Gi were found to coincide with serious Ki-depression.