• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.88-94
• /
• 2002

Objective : This study was done to observe the effects on the themal changes of Hominis Placenta acupuncture therapy. The objectives are as follows; If there are remarkable local thermal changes between pre- and post- Hominis Placenta acupuncture therapy on D.I.T.I. or not. If there are those, we examine how long its changes are maintained, the adequate interval and clinical applications of therapy. Methods : To study the local thermal changes in therapy, D.I.T.I. was used. Thermal temperatures were measured pre- and post-therapy (1 hour, 1st day, 2nd day, and 7th day). The study group was divided into two groups. One was HP(Hominis Placenta) group(N=20), the other was NS(Normal Saline) group. The Hominis Placenta acupuncture was injected into 4 points (Fengmen(風門: $B_{12}$), Feishu(肺兪: $B_{13}$), Fufen(附分: $B_{41}$), Pohu(魄戶: $B_{42}$)) by 0.05ml. Results : The following results were obtained. 1. PLACENTA HOMINIS is the dried placenta of a healthy woman, used to warm the kidney for impotence, infertility, lack of lactation, and replenish Gi(氣), blood, vital essence for emaciation, hectic fever, night sweating in consumptive diseases. 2. Hominis Placenta acupuncture therapy has effects on invigoration of vital energy (補氣, 益氣), nourishing blood (養血), and tonifying the essence (補精). 3. Hominis Placenta acupuncture therapy is effective at tissue regeneration, antibody formation, increasing immunity, hormone-like effects. So, it is clinically used in osteoporosis and facial nerve paralysis. 4. There was no significant dermatothermal changes at NS group, but HP group had remarkable changes between operated and non-operated area in post-therapy 1hour. But there were not any change on 1, 2, and 7th day.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2018

Objectives : In Traditional Korean Medicine, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has diverse pharmacological activities to treat impotence, forgetfulness, cataract and exophthalmos. Present study investigated anti-fibrogenic effects of E. koreanum water extract (EKE) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods : To study anti-fibrogenic effects of EKE, LX-2 cells, a human immortalized HSCs, were pre-treated with $3-300{\mu}g/mL$ of EKE, and then subsequently exposed to 5 ng/mL of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$). Expression level of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin was determined by immunoblot analysis. Phosphorylation of Smad, transactivation of Smad, and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were monitored to investigate the effect of EKE on $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ signaling pathway. Results : Up to $100{\mu}g/mL$, EKE did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EKE ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin expression induced by $TGF-{\beta}1$. In addition, EKE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and PAI-1 expression by $TGF-{\beta}1$. Of three flavonoid compounds found in EKE, only quercertin ($30{\mu}M$) attenuated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ PAI-1 expression. Conclusion : These results suggest that EKE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in HSCs via inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.241-244
• /
• 2011

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection affecting various organs, including the central nervous system, especially the lumbar epidural space. This report describes the identification of disease and different strategies of treatments with preoperative information. A 42-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of urinary incontinence and impotence. He had a history of ingesting raw frogs 40 years ago. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed an intramedullary nodular mass at conus medullaris and severe inflammation in the cauda equina. A 51-year-old woman was admitted with acute pain in the left inguinal area. We observed a lesion which seemed to be a tumor of the lumbar epidural space on MR imaging. She also had a history of ingesting inadequately cooked snakes 10 years ago. In the first patient, mass removal was attempted through laminectomy and parasite infection was identified during intra-operative frozen biopsy. Total removal could not be performed because of severe arachnoiditis and adhesion. We therefore decided to terminate the operation and final histology confirmed dead sparganum infection. We also concluded further surgical trial for total removal of the dead worm and inflammatory grannulation totally. However, after seeing another physician at different hospital, he was operated again which resulted in worsening of pain and neurological deficit. In the second patient, we totally removed dorsal epidural mass. Final histology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed living sparganum infection and her pain disappeared. Although the treatment of choice is surgical resection of living sparganum with inflammation, the attempt to remove dead worm and adhesive granulation tissue may cause unwanted complications to the patients. Therefore, the result of preoperative ELISA, as well as the information from image and history, must be considered as important factors to decide whether a surgery is necessary or not.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.263-273
• /
• 2009

Taegeuk is the source and union of the two primary aspects of the cosmos, Eum(陰, Yin) and Yang(陽). The Neo-Confucian philosophers of Chinese Song(宋) dynasty associated Taegeuk with the supreme rational principle of the universe. Taegeuk is a powerful blend of self-discipline, self-defense and healing. It is an art which has grown over the millennia to include hundreds of forms and variations, and can easily take a lifetime to master. Taegeukgwon based on the Taoist philosophies of Eum(陰, Yin) and Yang(陽) is an ancient Eastern form of exercises, characterized by slow reversing movements. There is strong research evidence validating Taegeuk as a safe form of exercise having potential for health promotion and rehabilitation. Today, Taegeukgwon has spread worldwide. The Internal Training of Taegeuk is one of the exercises for regiment. As exercise, Taegeukgwon is designed to provide relaxation in the process of body-conditioning exercise and is drawn from the principles of Taegeuk, notably including the harmonizing of the Eum-yang(陰陽, Yin-yang), respectively the passive and the active principles. It employs flowing, rhythmic, deliberate movements, with carefully individually prescribed stances and positions. In practice, two masters teach the system exactly alike. As a mode of attack and defense, Taegeukgwon resembles Kungfu and is properly considered a martial art. It may be used with or without weapons. Freehand exercise to promote health was practiced in Korea. This training proved to have effect on hypertension, enervation, impotence, premature ejaculation, seminal emission, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and arteriosclerosis. There have been many schools of Taegeukgwon. Depending on school and master, the number of prescribed exercise forms varies from 24 to 108 or more. The objective of this paper is to reconsider Taegeukgwon and its effect on the body and mind-conditioning in Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經).

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.74-83
• /
• 2006

Ssanghwatang (SHT) has been known to prove effective in the treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), and its modified formula is widely used in clinical practice. However, its fundamental mechanism of action is not clearly known. It is well known that endothelial cells can achieve the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles by the release of nitric oxide (NO). NO is synthesized by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) from L-arginine and oxygen. It is widely accepted that NO plays an important role in the relaxation of corpus cavernous smooth muscle and vasculature. In addition, in terms of the penile erection, the NO/cGMP pathway is more potent than the PCE1/cAMP pathway. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the erectile effects of SHT by focusing on its direct effects on corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells. We investigated the NOS activity, nitrite concentration and cGMP levels in rat corpus cavernous smooth muscle cell lines activated by SHT extracts. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of SHT extracts on penile smooth muscle relaxation following oral administration of SHT extract powder to rats by the dosage of 1 g/kg over fifteen days. As a result, we found that SHT stimulated NO release. NOS activity and cGMP levels were increased by SHT respectively. Furthermore, SHT relaxed the corpus cavernous smooth muscle. These results are consistent with the concept that penile erection by SHT is carried out through the NO/cGMP pathway. In conclusion, the present study shows that SHT increases the NOS activity, synthesizes NO and augments the cGMP, which mediates penile erection. Further determination of the SHT mechanism related with the NO/cGMP pathway strongly indicates that SHT can be used as a remedy for erectile impotence.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2013

Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating male impotence and sexual dysfunction. We investigated the effects of aqueous CS extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic capacity is active in summer and inactive in winter. The animals were divided into 5 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control, and SP animals treated with low, middle, or high concentrations of CS. The animals were orally ingested with low (0.5 g/kg), middle (1.0 g/kg), or high (2.5 g/kg) concentrations of the aqueous extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control animals received the vehicle. As results, the LP control animals showed active testicular function but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testicular weights. The outcomes of the reproductive activity from low and middle concentrations of CS treatments were identical and marked as low dose. The consequences were a partial blocking of regressing activity by SP. On the other hand, the animals treated with high dose of CS extract showed remarkable significance in comparison to the SP control, indicative of a complete blocking effect of the CS on the regressing testes by SP. There were a dose-dependent effects of the CS on the sexual function. These results suggest that the CS extract promotes the male fertility by strengthening the spermatogenesis in the golden hamsters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
• /
• 1999.03a
• /
• pp.201-201
• /
• 1999

감성(sensitibility)은 반사적이며 직관적으로 발생하고, 인위적인 조정이 불가능하며 명확한 표현이 어렵고 모호하다고 한다. 또 감정(emotion)이 주어진 대상에 따라 동일한 반응을 보이는 공통성을 갖지만, 감성은 동일한 대상에도 개인에 따라 다양한 반응을 보이며, 시간과 환경에 따라 변한다고 본다. 이는 반응 형성의 두 가지 요소인 외부의 자극이나 대상과 반응하는 주체의 양자에서, 감정이 감성에 비해 외부의 자극이나 대상의 영향을 더 받고, 감성은 상대적으로 외부 상황보다는 반응 주체의 다양한 내부 상황에 따라 결정된다는 것을 의미할 수 있다. 이러한 감성의 특징들은 Freud가 말한 무의식의 특징과 비슷한 점이 많다. 따라서 무의식의 작용양상을 살펴보는 것이 감성의 연구에 도움이 될 수 있다고 생각한다. 무의식이란 우리의 마음에 항상 작용하고 있지만, 일상적인 상태에서는 분명하게 알아 볼수가 없고 확실하게 드러나지도 않는 어떤 힘을 말한다. 이는 개인의 다양한 과거 경험이 포함되어 있어서 사람에 따라 각기 다르게 나타나게 된다. 우리가 항상 경험하고 있는 의식은 확실하게 서로 구분되는 대상과 확인율(the principle of identity), 구분논리(bivalent logic), 모순율(the principle of formal contradiction), 상반율(the principle of incompatibility), 가감율(the operation of substraction)을 수용하여 작용한다. 무의식은 의식활동의 이러한 명료함과 정연함을 벗어나 활동한다. 대상간의 구분이 모호해지고 정연한 논리가 흐트러진다. 일상에서는 꿈의 내용과 어린이의 생각, 감정에 치우칠 때 무의식의 특징이 나타난다. Freud는 꿈을 관찰하여 무의식의 작용양상을 다음과 같이 설명하였다. 서로 상반되는 것들이 다음과 같이 설명하였다. 서로 상반되는 것들이 부딛힘이 없이 공존하고 일상의 논리가 무시된다. 부정, 의심이 없고 확실한 것이 없다. 한 대상에 가졌던 생각이 다른 대상에 옮겨간다(displacement). 한 대상이 여러 대상이 갖고 있는 의미를 함축하고 있다(condensation). 시각적인 순서가 무시된다. 마음속의 생각과 외부의 실제적인 일을 구분하지 못한다. 시간 상의 순서가 있다가 없다가 한다. 차례로 일어나야 할 일이 동시에 한꺼번에 일어난다. 대상들이 서로 비슷해지고 동시에 있을 수 없는 대상들이 함께 나타난다. 사고의 정상적인 구조가 와해된다. Matte-Blance는 무의식에서는 여러 독립된 대상들간의 구분을 없애며, 주체와 객체를 하나로 보려는 대칭화(symmetrization)의 경향이 있기 때문에 이런 변화가 생긴다고 하였다. 또 대칭화가 진행되면 무한대의 느낌을 갖게 되어, 전지(moniscience), 전능(omnipotence), 무력감(impotence), 이상화(idealization)가 나타난다. 그러나 무의식에 대칭화만 있는 것은 아니며, 의식의 사고양식인 비대칭도 어느 정도 나타나며, 대칭화의 정도에 따라, 대상들이 잘 구분되어 있는 단계, 의식수준의 감정단계, 집단 내에서의 대칭화 단계, 집단간에서의 대칭화 단계, 구분이 없어지는 단계로 구분하였다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.247-256
• /
• 1999

Ginseng has been used in maintaining physical vitality throughout the far-eastern countries and recently its metabolism and actions on neurologic, cardiovascular, and endocrinologic systems are studied. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been used in various ailments, and to prove its efficacy for erectile dysfunction an international study on Asians other than Korean was performed. Patients with borderline organic and psychogenic erectile dysfunction were included. KRG were given daily, and placebo were given as controls. Treatment lasted a total of 3 months. Surveys including libido, erection, ejaculation, sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction were given. Serum testosterone and erectile function study were taken. Among the 64 patients, 37 patients were followed with KRG. Five had diabetes, 5 hypertension, 5 hypercholesterolemia, 6 low testosterone, 6 psychogenic, and 11 idiopathic. The improvement after KRG administration was $70.2\%$ on objective questionnaire and $75.7\%$ on subjective analysis. When KRG were given, all parameters surveyed have shown improvements compared to the placebo. The effects of KRG in Chinese and Singapores were similar to the Koreans. Serum testosterone levels were nonnalized in 6 patients with KRG, who's serum testosterone levels were reduced from pre-study. Two patient reported constipation, and 2 gastric upsets in the KRG group. In conclusion, KRG has beneficiary action on male erectile capabilities with little side effects. KRG is effective in Koreans and also Asians. The exact action mechanism and the active ingredients in KRG need to be studied.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.85-110
• /
• 2011

As Gangwon-do Province needs an environmental-friendly alternative tourism according to low carbon green growth, this study analyzes specialized fields in green health industry, selects seven specialized fields in green health industry that is fit to Gangwon-do Province, and suggests a development strategy by conducting recognition surveys on preference and impotence of the specialized fields. Surveys and interviews are conducted of 106 students at Green Health Industry Education Center which is operating by Kwandong University and 84 persons who work at medical institutions and tourism related companies in Ganwondo. The surveys and interviews were completed from November 5 to November 19 in 2010, determined factors through a factor analysis when they have many questions, and analyzed by using SPSS 14.0. Out of the seven specialized fields, rest & recuperation field is highly recognized. In order to have competitive edge compared to other self-governing provinces, Ganwon-do Province should prioritize rest and recuperation field. A healthcare program in the green health industry specific to Ganwon-do Province includes hot springs and spa programs as a priority. Gangwon-do's hot springs are deemed to be competitive resources as global medical tourists prefer spa and sauna healthcare programs, while the province promotes its spring resources and builds medical tourism infrastructures. Gangwon-do Province can promote a medical tourism industry that is well suitable for the strength and characteristics of the province. It might pursue oriental medicine therapy tourism, which is related to a recuperating medical service that uses both oriental and western medicine. It can also run such programs as forest bathing (oxygen road), spring and spa, and sea water treatment, which are the specialized fields in green health industry with respect to recreation and healthcare.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.143-153
• /
• 2023

Objective: Men's sexual health plays an important role in male fertility and childbearing, as it is associated with factors such as sexual desire, healthy spermatogenesis, and erectile function. In various cultures, medicinal plants have been utilized to address male sexual issues, including infertility and erectile dysfunction. Despite recent advancements in medical science for treating male impotence, some men opt for herbal supplements as an alternative, given that numerous herbs have the potential to enhance male sexual performance. The Apiaceae family is one of the oldest plant families used for medicinal purposes. Ferula, a genus within this family, comprises approximately 170 different species worldwide. Members of this genus possess numerous therapeutic properties due to the presence of various compounds. This article aims to explore the potential impacts of Ferula plants on the male reproductive system. Methods: This review article was prepared by searching for terms including Ferula and "aphrodisiac," Ferula and "spermatogenesis," and Ferula and "male reproductive system." Relevant information was gathered through electronic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Results: The findings indicated that relatively comprehensive studies have been conducted in this area, revealing that certain Ferula species have been employed in folk medicine to boost fertility and libido. Recent research has corroborated these effects. Conclusion: It is hoped that new aphrodisiac compounds with fewer side effects can be isolated from Ferula plants in the future.