• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.135-135
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• 2002

Nowadays a huge variety of products that aim to assist to quit smoking or reduce addictive symptoms are developed and manufactured with safety evaluation, but the safety of the most recent products of interest which do not contain tobacco and nicotine, and shape cigarettes is not evaluated and guaranteed relatively.(omitted)

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to confirm the efficacy and safety of the treatment of gastritis with 'Hwangryunhaedok-tang'. Methods : Total 20 people, between 19 and 65 years old, will be recruited to participate in a comparative clinical trial. All subjects will take 2 capsules of Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Redoxin Cap.), 3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals, for 8 weeks. Outcomes will be measured at the baseline, 4th week, and 8th week. Primary outcomes is the improvement rates of gastritis symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea/vomiting, abdominal bloating, anorexia, heartburn, and trim. Results : This trial was approved by institutional review board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital (registry number: 2018011), and registered in Clinical Research information Service, one of WHO. Recruitment opened in April 2019 and is supposed to be completed by December 2019. Conclusions : This trial will provide clinical information to determine the efficacy and safety of treatment of gastritis with 'Hwangryunhaedok-tang'.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.63-76
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to verify the clinical effects of herbal medicines on patients with depressive disorder. Methods: A prospective observational study on patients with depressive disorder was conducted. The patients were treated with herbal medicines for eight weeks. The Korean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) was evaluated as the primary outcome and the Korean Beck's Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Instrument on Pattern Identification for Depression, Korean Symptom Checklist-95 (KSCL-95), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Korean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-K), Korean State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-K), EuroQol five-dimensional Questionnaire (EQ-5D), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were measured as the secondary outcome. Adverse events were assessed for safety. Results: A total of 35 participants were observed for 12 weeks. The K-HDRS improved significantly in four, eight, and 12 weeks and the K-BDI showed significant differences in four, and eight weeks. There were no significant improvements in other evaluation scales. Gyejibongnyeong-hwan was the most frequently and continuously prescribed, showing significant improvements of K-HDRS after eight weeks of treatment. Conclusions: In our observational study, herbal medicine was effective for relieving the depression of patients with depressive disorder and Gyejibongnyeong-hwan showed the most significant effectiveness.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.25-40
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to assess whether herbal medicine and acupuncture before in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer (IVF-ET) is effective on clinical pregnancy. Methods: From May 2010 to January 2011, a prospective analysis study was performed in 38 patients planning to undergo IVF-ET after taking herb medicine and acupuncture treatment. This study investigated the pregnancy rate and analyzed the change of dysmenorrhea by visual analog scale (VAS), body heat and condition of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), vaginal discharge and menstruation status. Results: 1. During herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment, five patients (13.16%) naturally became pregnant and six patients (15.79%) withdrew. After treatment, 15 patients (39.47%) received IVF-ET, 12 patients (31.58%) did not. 2. The biochemical pregnancy rate was 26.67%, the clinical pregnancy rate 26.67%, miscarriage rate 25% and ectopic pregnancy rate was 0%. 3. After treatment, PMS, dysmenorrhea and dysmenorrhea VAS was significantly decreased and the overall menstrual status improved. 4. After treatment, temperature difference of CV17-CV12 and CV4-CV12 increased, but it was not a statistically significant difference. 5. After treatment, decrease of hemoglobin and protein and increase of total bilirubin and creatinine were statistically significant. All the blood test results were within normal levels which proves safety of treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment before IVF-ET shows similar pregnancy rates with existing rates, but contributes to increasing the possibility of natural pregnancy.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2010

A concern of safety issue for traditional herbal medicine is the possibility of some herbs containing heavy metals responsible for several cases of metal poisoning. In our previous study, the physiological levels of heavy metals, such as Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb, were examined to evaluate a potential risk in patients taking herbal medicine. In this study, the levels of 12 heavy metals, including non-metallic element, Se, were analyzed in hair and compared to the results from the previous study. In the previous study, the levels of Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb in hair showed a significantly lower odds ratio than 1. In this study, however, all metals did not show any significant odds ratio higher or lower than 1 even if 5 of 12 metals showed lower odds ratio than 1. In addition, the levels of metal concentrations, especially for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, exceeding the WHO reference values were observed in hair. However, any evidence for metal accumulation in hair caused by taking herbal medicines for long duration was not observed in analysis of multiple regression and odds ratio from case-control study. This result would show another possibility for a role of herbs as a non-enzymatic chelator inhibiting the gastrointestinal absorption of heavy metals.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2021

Objectives: To review and analyze clinical and preclinical evidence of effectiveness, safety, and underlying mechanisms of yokukansan (YKS), a herbal medicine, in alleviating aggression. Methods: Classical records on YKS were searched in the Korean Traditional Medicine Knowledge Database (KTMKD). By searching five electronic databases, prospective clinical studies and preclinical studies of YKS for alleviating aggression/agitation published up to March 30, 2021 were included. Results: Only two classical records on YKS were found from the KTMKD. A total of 11 clinical studies and 15 preclinical studies were found from the five electronic databases. Among 11 clinical studies, seven enrolled patients with dementia and four enrolled patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Most clinical studies reported significant improvement in one or more outcomes related to aggression in the YKS group after treatment. Among 15 preclinical studies, all studies except two reported a significant decrease in aggression/agitation-related behavior of YKS or yokukansankachimpihange. Suggested underlying mechanisms of YKS or yokukansankachimpihange for aggression/agitation in these studies included regulation of serotonin receptor, amelioration of abnormal glucocorticoid level related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, regulation of orexin secretion, amelioration of degeneration in brain cells including glia cells, and suppression of excessive glutamatergic or dopaminergic activity. Conclusions: There were some clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of YKS for alleviating aggression. Given that aggression is the most frequent and destructive symptoms of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, applicability of YKS as a herbal medicine should be further investigated in future high-quality research.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.571-581
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• 2009

Background : Early in November 2002, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began to spread throughout thirty-two countries around the world. A total of 5,327 cases were reported in China, including 1,755 cases in Hong Kong and 655 in Taiwan. The total number of cases reported from Canada and Singapore was more than 200. The total number of SARS cases world-wide reached 8,437 with incidences. Mortality from SARS is estimated at around 11%. Under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO), clinical studies on the use of integrated herbal medicine and western medicine for treating SARS were carried out in China and Hong Kong. The official report suggested that integrated treatment was more effective than western medicine alone in clinical symptoms, lung inflammation, blood oxygen saturation, immunological functions and others. Objective : To overview the treatment principle and the prescriptions according to the regimens and the stages for SARS of the reports, and further to broaden our knowledge of treatment of acute infectious diseases using natural herbal medicine. Methods : We reviewed nine of WHO SARS reports that comprehensively described the principles and methods of treatment and summarized them into eight treatment methods. We analyzed the herbal formulae on the basis of their treatment principles, evaluated them in accordance with warm disease study, listed frequently used herbs, and assessed patent prescriptions and herbal injections that were mentioned in the reports. Results and Conclusion : The reports divided the course of SARS into 3 to 6 stages such as high fever stage, fastigium stage, and convalescent stage. Frequently used herbs were Radix Scutellariae, Radix Paeoniae, Radix Astragali, Semen Armeniacae, Radix Pseudostellariae, Radix Ophiopogonis, and Fructus Schizandrae. Herbal decoctions were the primary method of treatment, while extracts or injections were secondary. Prescriptions were mainly based on the warm disease study. SARS is a viral disease caused by corona virus, and herbal medicine is proven to be effective against it. We believe that evidences and experiences from SARS cases can be a good reference to further researches on acute infectious diseases.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.26-32
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• 2010

Objectives: This study is to report a case of the paralytic strabismus with herbal medicine and acupuncture. Strabismus refers to the oculomotor muscles imbalance resulted from improper alignment of the visual axis of the two eyes. Our goal is to know the effectiveness and safety in children from oriental medicine. Methods: We treated the case by using herbal medicine, acupuncture, and etc. Results: We found that the case was recovered perfectly in short term(24days) without any side effects or complaints. Therefore, we try to apply this treatment in many children cases and to set as a guideline protocol to treat for children. Conclusions: The case showed proper oriental medical treatment is better choice for therapy than surgery or observation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.13-20
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the use experience of other medical institution of outpatients of Korean medical institution. Methods : Cross-sectional study using the 2017 Korean Medicine Utilization and Herbal Medicine Consumption Survey was conducted. Demographic variables and frequent diseases were analyzed according to the experience of using other medical institutions. The proportions of experience of using other medical institutions of patients with frequent diseases of Korean medical outpatient were analyzed. Results : Fifty-three percent of outpatient had experiencing using other medical institutions for the same symptoms. The frequent diseases of the two groups were similar. The proportion of single use of Korean medicine for injury of lumbar and pelvic, rhinitis, and menstrual disorders were relatively high. Conclusions : There was no notable difference in the frequent diseases according to use experience of other medical institution. Further studies on this topic are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of safety on liver functions when Korean herbal medicine was taken internally. Method: 101 inpatients who took Korean herbal medicine were enrolled and liver function test (aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase) was performed on admission and 1 month later. Results: In 101 patients, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly compared with the value taken on admission (p<0.05) but aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly changed (p>0.05). In the patients who took Scutellaria baicalensis (n=34), alkaline phosphatase decreased and albumin increased significantly (p<0.05). Among the patients who took Atractylodes macrocephala (n=29), alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (p<0.05). In the patients who took Glycyrrhiza uralensis or Paeonia lactiflora, liver function parameters were not significantly changed (p>0.05). On admission 11 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients had liver injury while 7 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients showed liver injury 1 month later. Conclusions: This study suggests that prescribed Korean herbal medicine does not injure liver function.