• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate post-burn itching relevant characteristics in the rehabilitation phase. Methods: Ninety four burn patients who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation phase participated in the study. Self-reported Leuven itch scale-Korean was used to evaluate itching related characteristics. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, $x^2$ test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: All subjects except two had the itching. Itching frequency revealed that 68.1% of subjects experienced itching one or more episodes a day or always, and 18.7% had episode durations lasting more than 2 hours per incidence. Mean severity and distress of itching was $5.3{\pm}2.4$ and $5.2{\pm}2.5$, respectively. Itching sensation dimension of tickling was 56.4%. More than 25% of subjects "often" or "always" affected reduced quality of life, loss of concentration, bad mood, and difficulty in falling asleep. Satisfaction with itching treatment was intermediate level. Conclusion: Post-burn itching in the rehabilitation phase was a significant problem despite pruritus treatment. Based on the finding of this study, development of comprehensive and tailored nursing intervention programs for itching could be suggested.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.55-69
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the latest discussions on the mechanism of Itching. Methods : Articles that reviewed the mechanism of itching were searched from Pubmed (January 2016 to June 2021). In addition, review articles discussing the gastrointestinal tract and the mechanisms of pruritus were searched seperately. Results : The articles are classified into three categories. These categories are the classification according to the passage of time (acute, chronic), the immune factors involved (inflammatory, non-inflammatory), and the neurophysiological mechanism (pruritoceptive itching, neuropathic itching, neurogenic itching, psychogenic itching). In each category, the articles over the past five years are summarized and reviewed. Also, how the status of the gastrointestinal tract is reflected in itching was discussed in terms of leaky gut syndrome, neuro/gastrointestinal peptides, and gut microbiota. Conclusions : This review introduces the recently discussed mechanism of itching, and in particular, examines how the gastrointestinal tract is related to skin itching. Based on these considerations, it is expected that more diverse therapeutic approaches can be explored in the future.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2013

After studying the cause and mechanism of the itching with the perspective of chronic medical books including Neijing, and the annotators, the conclusions are as follows. 1. The itching, which has correlation with the heart, is the deficiency symptom(虛症). It is generated when the lung-metal(肺金) is infected by the fire pathogen(火邪) and developed to depression(鬱), because of the heart fire flaming upward of circuit year(歲火太過). The treatment is to make metal depression scatter(金鬱泄之). 2. The itching occurs between the dermis(膚) and the epidermis(皮). 3. The itching generates when the excess of yang exuberance(熱盛極) precede the transmission of the wind-heats(風熱), the wind-cold(風寒), and the wind-dampness(風濕). It causes the blood deficiency(血虛) and the blood stasis(血瘀) because of the skin dryness. 4. The itching usually generates during summer, causes the body fever(身熱) and the dermis pain(膚痛). When it becomes worse, it causes generalized itching and vesicles at the whole body(浸淫). 5. The itching is related to the spirit(魄), which works in unconsciousness and the movement of defense qi(衛氣) in night.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.600-610
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• 2017

It was common that the classification of itching was classified into four categories according to the neurophysiological mechanisms of pruritoceptive itching, neuropathic itching, neurogenic itching and psychogenic itching. Recently it was classified by clinical criteria. The neurotransmission pathway of itch is divided into histamine-dependent pathway and histamine-independent pathway. Different receptors and neuropeptides act on each itch mediator. Itch mediators such as histamine, BAM8-22, and chloroquine are transmitted through the histamine-dependent pathway. Cowhage spicule, protease, and TSLP (Thymic stromal lymphopoietin) have been reported to be related to the histamine-independent pathway. These itch mediators, receptors, and neuropeptides are the targets of treatment for itching. Although itching and pain are typical noxious stimuli, and in the past, it was argued that two senses were transmitted through one noxious stimulus receptor. It has recently been shown that itching and pain have an independent neurotransmitter system and both neuronal systems inhibit each other. In addition, the mutual antagonism between itching and pain is explained by various mechanisms. Recently, many new mediators and receptors are being studied. The studies on histamine 4 receptor (H4 receptor) have been actively conducted. And the H4 receptors are expressed in immune cells such as T cells. The therapeutic agent for blocking the H4 receptor can inhibit the inflammatory reaction itself, which is important for the itching and chronicization. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of itching and studying new itch mediators will lead to the development of effective therapies, and this is what I think the itching study will go on.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.547-554
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• 2018

Itching is a common clinical symptom of skin disease that significantly affects a patient's quality of life. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors of keratinocytes and peripheral nerve fibers in skin are involved in the regulation of itching as well as pain. In this study, we investigated whether curcumin, which acts on TRPV1 receptors, affects histamine-induced itching in mice, using behavioral tests and electrophysiological approaches. We found that histamine-induced itching was blocked by topical application of curcumin in a concentration-dependent manner. In ex-vivo recordings, histamine-induced discharges of peripheral nerves were reduced by the application of curcumin, indicating that curcumin acts directly on peripheral nerves. Additionally, curcumin blocked the histamine-induced inward current via activation of TRPV1 (curcumin $IC_{50}=523nM$). However, it did not alter chloroquine-induced itching behavior in mice, which is associated with transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). Taken together, our results suggest that histamine-induced itching can be blocked by topical application of curcumin through the inhibitory action of curcumin on TRPV1 receptors in peripheral nerves.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.211-217
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to prove the clinical safety of Sweet Bee Venom(BV) and observe the physical reaction(percentage of localized itching & pain) after Sweet BV treatment. Methods : This study was carried out on 130 patients who had been injected with Sweet BV in Koran Medicine Hospital of Woosuk University from March 20, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Patients were treated with Sweet BV daily and we checked the physical reaction. After that, we analyzed those according to treatment times and body parts of injection. Results : 37 patients(28.46 %) complained localized itching and 41 patients(31.54 %) complained localized pain after Sweet BV injection. In 37 patients who complained localized itching, 8 patients were experienced itching in the first treatment. And 27 patients were experienced itching in the 1st~5th treatment. Wrist, ankle and toe were the highest percentage of localized itching. Finger was the highest percentage of localized pain. Knee showed a relatively higher percentage of itching, pain, itching & pain than other body parts. Conclusions : This study suggested that Sweet BV treatment was relatively safe treatment and doctors should explain the physical reaction before treating patients. Further studies are needed to propose a guideline for safety and treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.103-108
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• 2010

Objectives : This study is to report the percentage of localized itching which occurred, when we injected to patients with Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV). Methods : We investigated 374 patients who had injected with Sweet BV in our clinic from February 15. 2009 to April 30, 2010. We checked the number and percentage of patients who occured localized itching on injection area. Then we analyzed those according to times in treatment, the body parts of injection and treatment dosage. Results and Conclusion : Localized itching was lower by 1.60% in the first treatment with Sweet BV. However localized itching was 12.83% in the whole course of treatment, which showed a similar incidence of 13% in Bee Venom. Therefore it can be interpreted that Sweet BV may help suppress the immune responses such as itching in the initial treatment, but the occurrence of local immune responses of Sweet BV may be similar to that of Bee Venom in continued treatment. We suppose that we should be careful of the occurrence of local immune responses as Bee Venom at least until the fourth treatment in clinical application with Sweet BV, although localized itching did not occur in the first treatment. Also we should be careful of treatment with Sweet BV in body parts, such as wrist, hand, chest and abdominal, because the percentage of localized itching was relatively high in those parts.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.175-197
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to review the acupuncture therapy and moxibustion on itching Method : We searched and reviewed chinese journals of and books of the acupuncture therapy and moxibustion on itching. Results & Conclusions : 1. Dermatopathy of itching is described as eczema, neurotic-dermititis, itching in orient medical text. 2. According to text, itching causes were wind symptom produced by deficiency of blood, deficiency syndrom of the spleen, and damp-heat. 3. Frequently used acupoints were LI10(41 frequency), SP10(29), ST36(27), SP6(22), GB20(19), Asi point(18), BL(17), back Su acupoints(13), LI4(13), SP9(10), PC6(7), HT7(7). etc 4. The practice of acupuncture was used by body acupuncture, auriculo-theraphy, loss of bleeding with needle, blum-blosson needle, dermal needle, fire needle. etc. 5. Moxibustions are mild moxibustion, non-scar producing moxibustion, herb- moxibustion. etc.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2005

Sho-Seiryu-To is known to be effective against allergic diseases, but its effect on skin itching has not been reported. We observed the effect of Sho-Seiryu-To on three elderly patients who, desoite using an anti-allergic drug, has severe chronic skin itching with peripheral eosinophilia. All three patients decreased their peripheral eosinophilia and improved their skin condition within eight weeks. We conclude that Sho-Seiryu-To could be capable of treating elderly patients with chronic skin itching and peripheral eosinophilia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.132-139
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• 2008

Objectives : There have been few studies on external treatment for itching. A clinical study was performed to evaluate the effect of a newly developed herbal ointment. Methods : A newly developed herbal ointment made from Rumex japonicus Houtt, Prunus persica(Linne) Batsch, Sesamum indicum L., and Sus scrota domestics Brisson., was given to 49 participants with itching to administer for approximately a month. Demographic characteristics, treatment experiences, symptom change, and other comments were self-reported on a pre-defined questionnaire. Results : Most frequent complaint was itching (24.01%), followed by sensitivity (19.60%), dryness(18.62%), frustration (13.72%) and insomnia (12.25%). Of 41 participants who had been given treatment for itching, around a half of them (n=21) have been treated with Korean Medicine, but all of them tried Western Medicine as well. The effect of the ointment was evaluated as excellent or good/fair (67.32%). Continuity was reported as excellent or good/fair (51.0%) and fragrance (73.44%) and color (75.48%) was reported as excellent or good/fair. Convenience, however, was assessed as good/fair (67.32%) and as inconvenient (22.4%). Conclusion : The newly developed herbal ointment seems promising for relieving itching and further research to standardize and develop this kind of ointment is warranted.