• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To characterize the thermal properties of several Korean electric moxibustion apparatus and to suggest methods for improving their quality for related industry as well as the welfare of Korean. Methods : We reviewed previous literatures on traditional moxibustion to find necessary factors for electric moxibustion apparatus. We measured the thermal characteristics of electric moxibustion apparatus commercially available by using an automatic temperature acquisition system in a controlled environment. Uniformity and heat loss of the apparatus were also analysed. We followed the user's manuals of apparatus provided by manufacturers. Results : Temperature control of all apparatus could not be achieved by automatic manners. Most of them were dependent on user's discretion. Maximum temperatures obtained were barely in the therapeutic temperature of $40-45^{\circ}C$. Unnecessary heating of moxibustion parts was detected. Chemicals from moxa were not properly delivered to the human skin. Conclusions : Temperature control of all apparatus needs to be improved in terms of temperature setting, retention time and maximum temperature. Design should be altered to utilize pharmacological effects from moxa to obtain its maximum efficacy. User's manuals should be revised for its clarity.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-3
• /
• 2019

Objectives: "Exploring the origin of acupuncture medicine (針灸逢源)", a classical title of acupuncture medicine in the 19th century, has been reviewed with focus on its impact on the standardization of acupoint in the history of acupuncture medicine as an approach of yin-yang balancing medicine like the Temporomandibular joint Balancing Medicine. Methods: A narrative review of literature was performed with a focus on continuous development and revision of the knowledge system of acupuncture medicine in medical education and clinical application. Results: This title has provided a systematized knowledge on acupoint-acupuncutre including 361 acupoints, acupoint location, and acupoint-meridian association, which was adopted as a frame of core knowledge in modern acupuncture medicine. Critical review and rational reasoning on previously accepted but apparently incongruous strips of knowledge led to the accomplishment of this title. Conclusions: This title provided a revised and standard knowledge system in the field of medical education and clinical practice of acupuncture medicine, and also provided an exemplary model of unrelenting change and development of an approach based on the concept of yin-yang balance such as acupuncture medicine and the Temporomandibular joint Balancing Medicine.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2005

Objectives : This report intended to estimate effect taken by using Sacro-Occipital Technique on the patient with Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus(Central type). Method : From 11 May, 2005 to 30 June, 2005. The patient recived Sacro-Occipital Technique and Acupuncture therapy. Result : After being hospitalized for 50 days. the patient's Motor Grade, ODI, VAS, ROM were improved each from IV to IV+. from 26 to 20, from 10 to 2, and ROM with flexion/entension, rotation were improved each from 70'/0' to 90'/12', from 30'/40' to 45'/55'. Conclusion : We considered Sacro-Occipital Technique has an useful effect on Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 2008

Objective : Acupuncture, one of the Oriental medical treatment techniques in East Asia, is growing in popularity all over the world. Based on bibliographical and clinical data, the depth of needling, i.e. superficial or deep needling, has been considered to be a variable as potential modifiers of needling effects, such as localization, manipulation of the needle, or elicitation of DeQi. The purpose of this review is to summarize clinical trials using minimal acupuncture and to evaluate its appropriateness as a control. Methods : A survey of computerized literature searches for randomized controlled trials using minimal acupuncture revealed that a total of 10 studies were published until April 2008. Results : Results obtained from clinical trials showed that acupuncture were more effective than minimal acupuncture in 3 out of 10 trials, while others were no more effective than control. However, minimal acupuncture might neither be a inert placebo nor be indiscriminable. Conclusion : Minimal acupuncture as 'placebo' controls seems misleading and scientifically unacceptable.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.193-195
• /
• 2004

Objective : In March 2004, the second Informal Consultation Meeting on Development of International Standard of Acupuncture Point Locations was held in Beijing, China. Methods: Thirteen experts from WHO, Korea, China, and Japan attended the meeting, and they discussed the problems to establish an international standard of acupuncture point locations for education, research and quality of acupuncture treatment. Results and Conclusions : Based on the fundamental principles of respecting and reality, they recommended to determined the location of acupuncture points in the way of combining documentary analysis, clinical practices and factual measurements.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.187-203
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Korean director Bong Joon-ho's movie 'Mother' is a story about a woman who struggles to save her son from an indictment of murder. This movie premiered at the 2009 Cannes film festival. The present study aimed to investigate the various roles of acupuncture in the plot from the perspective of movie professionals, including critics, writers and producers. Methods : We investigated the meaning of acupuncture as a subject matter in this movie. Participants who work in the film industry or are studying film were included. Survey questions were organized in a two part open-ended questionnaire and in multiple-choice form. The questionnaires were distributed via e-mail or the subjects were contacted directly. Results: In this movie, acupuncture serves at least three roles. The first role it serves is as a symbol of the mother role in her son's life and in her community. Acupuncture also works as a conduit for communication and a means of earning a living for the mother. She strives to clear her son's name by discovering the real murderer through performing acupuncture. Finally, the acupuncture box is crucial in the son's understanding of the mother's role in the crime. Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed responded that acupuncture was an important motif in this movie. Conclusions : These findings, in addition to those of previous studies, suggest that acupuncture can serve as a useful context for mass communication in media. The understanding of the meaning of acupuncture in the movie provides useful information on the perception of acupuncture modality today.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.277-281
• /
• 2019

A patient with central post-stroke pain was treated for 4 weeks with scalp acupuncture and traditional Korean medicine (following a cerebral infarction in 2013). The patient presented at Chungju hospital in January 2019 with left side weakness and tingling, numbness in the left hemisphere, chronic pain and dysarthria. Initially, herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacupunture, indirect moxibustion, and physiotherapy were administered together with Western medicine, with no improvement in the patient's condition. On Day 5, scalp electroacupuncture (MS1, MS5, MS10, MS11) was introduced. The numbness feeling in the patient's head resolved, and the pain in his upper body decreased. Grip force difference between the left and right hand improved from 3 kg to 0-0.5 kg. Sleep disturbance was resolved after 4 weeks treatment, and his average numeric rating scale score for pain improved from an admission score of 10, to a discharge score of 5. The patient could walk unaided after treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.35-47
• /
• 2010

Objectives : To characterize the thermal properties of traditional warm needle and new warm needle with various air flows as an important environmental factor and to suggest the necessity of maintaining suitable environment of clinics to maximize their efficacy. Methods : We measured the temperature characteristics of traditional moxa warm needle and new moxa charcoal warm needle by applying an automatic temperature acquisition system with thermocouples while external various air flows were supplied. Temperatures of two positions at the needle body were measured while a moxa cone burned. Typical temperature characteristics like peak temperature, duration, curve shape and the efficiency of the heat stimuli by heat amount analysis were executed. Results : Both warm needles showed similar temperature curve with an increase in the air flow. Peak temperature and duration of effective heat decreased with the air flow, as shown in indirect moxibustion on garlic. The temperature change pattern by the air flow became more apparent when the total combustion heat was compared with the effective heat. The values from two positions on the needle body were significantly different, showing a distance dependency from the heat source of warm needle acupuncture. Conclusions : Thermal properties of warm needle acupuncture was observed variously with surrounding air flow of 0.0 - 0.7 m/s. It emphasized the importance of environmental control as well as the warm needle itself such as heat source and needle. The latter has already been known to deliver designated heat to subjects. It also indicated the importance of education and skill of the practitioners of warm needle acupuncture.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study is to show that there was a significant result in prescribing Herb remedy and Korean-Bee-Venom acupuncture and acupuncture & moxibustion therapy to Urinary incontinence patients due to Neurologic Bladder caused by Cauda equina syndrome after having an vertebrae lumbale operation. Method : The methods used in this study was observe the patient's subjective improvement, valuation of the bladder function and the change of the sensibility drop when Herb remedy and Korean-Bee-Venom acupuncture and acupuncture was applied. Results : When acupuncture and Korean-Bee-Venom acupuncture was both applied the function of Bladder changed from score 10 to 0 and the Grade of Urinary Incontinence changed from Grade III to 0 also with the sensibility drop. Conclusion : The results show that when using Umnungchon(SP9), Yangnungchon (GB34), Taedon(LR1), Kokkol(CV2) there was an effect to some degree to the Urinary incontinence patients but when Korean-Bee-Venom was acupunctured to Kwanwon(CV4) and Kihae(CV6) the effect increased. Further studies and examples for evidence are required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.312-319
• /
• 2021

Background: Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a frequently presented condition/disease in Korean medical institutions. In this study, the economics of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial comparing TEA with sham TEA (STEA). Methods: This economic evaluation was analyzed from a limited social perspective, and the per-protocol set was from a basic analysis perspective. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on the change in visual analog scale score, and the cost-utility analysis was based on the quality-adjusted life years. The final results were expressed as the average cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and furthermore sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the robustness of the results observed. Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the decrease in 100 mm visual analog scale score was 8.5 mm greater in the TEA group compared with the STEA group (p > 0.05). The cost-utility analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the quality-adjusted life years of TEA was 0.0026 years higher than STEA (p > 0.05). These results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In treating LHIVD, TEA appeared to have cost-effectiveness and cost-utility compared with STEA. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cost, effectiveness, and utility indicators. Therefore, results must be interpreted prudently; this study was the 1^st to conduct an economic evaluation of TEA for LHIVD.