• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was designed to assess the general distribution, clinical effectiveness of Korean medical treatment on knee pain and the correlation between Korean medical therapy on knee pain and BMI. Methods : This is an observational study. 65 patients admitted to Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine with musculoskeletal disorders were observed from July, 2014 to July, 2015. They were analyzed according to sex, age, pain lesion, body mass index(BMI) and treatment efficacy. All patients received a combination of treatments during hospitalization, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicines and physical therapy. A zero to ten numerating rating scale (NRS) assessing pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC) index and Range of Motion(ROM) was used before and after treatments. Statistical correlations among assessment measurements were evaluated by examining the paired t-test and the Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results : The average BMI of all patients was $24.03{\pm}2.95kg/m^2$. According to clinical definition of obesity by Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 33.8% of all patients was within normal weight, 1.5% was underweight, 33.8% was overweight, 24.6% was obesity and 6.2% was morbid obesity. For knee pain patients, NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) decreased from $6.28{\pm}1.63$ to $3.94{\pm}2.03$(p<0.001). WOMAC index decreased from $48.14{\pm}17.63$ to $40.37{\pm}18.28$(p<0.001). But, there were no significant correlations in statistics among BMI, knee pain index and knee pain index improvement. Conclusions : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in reducing pain and improving functional disorders for patients with knee pain. This study further confirmed the efficacy of Korean medical treatment on knee pain. But, more studies on correlation between knee pain and obesity and development of assessment measurement are needed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.863-869
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• 2016

Objective: To describe the treatment of a 46-year-old female patient with supragastric belching using Korean medical treatment and Melonis Calyx vomiting therapy. Methods: The treatment included three administrations of Melonis Calyx vomiting therapy (day 2, day 9, and day 16), herbal decoction, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The severity of symptoms was evaluated daily with a numeric rating scale (NRS). Results: Korean medical treatment suppressed the belching and improved other symptoms. After using the Melonis Calyx, the severity of belching decreased from NRS 4 to NRS 1 (day 2), from NRS 3 to NRS 1 (day 9), and no further change from NRS 1 (day 13). Conclusions: Melonis Calyx vomiting therapy appears to be an effective treatment for patients with supragastric belching. Further study will be needed to confirm the effectiveness of Melonis Calyx vomiting therapy on supragastric belching.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.420-430
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• 2021

The survival time of breast cancer patients with lung metastasis has been prolonged as treatment methods have improved. However, there is yet no definitive therapy for the additional symptoms of lung metastasis to improve the quality of life of these patients. We report a patient who was suffering from pleural effusion due to metastasized breast cancer. She was treated with Korean medicine, including herbal medicine (Bojungikgi-tang-gami), combined with hormone therapy, for two months. We assessed her other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, generalized weakness, and lower extremity swelling, using a numeric rating scale (NRS). We also evaluated pleural effusion with chest X-rays. Shortness of breath was maintained at NRS 5, generalized weakness was slightly improved from NRS 6~7 to NRS 7~8 (10=healthy condition), and lower extremity edema was improved from NRS 3 to NRS 2 (10=highest score of discomfort). Malignant pleural effusion was maintained during the admission period. This report suggests that Korean medicine can help to maintain malignant pleural effusion and improve additional symptoms of lung metastasis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.177-186
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report a case of a 51-year-old patient with Herpes zoster, whose symptoms were relieved within five weeks after the East-west medical combined treatment. Methods : A Herpes zoster patient with extreme pain around the right lower ribs and lower back was admitted into the Korean medicine hospital. Bee venom acupuncture was applied directly onto the site of pain and electroacupuncture was applied on $GV_6-BL_{20}$, inferior site of spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra-$BL_{21}$, $GV_5-BL_{22}$, $GV_4-BL_{23}$ six times a week. Moxibustion was applied on $BL_{49}$, $BL_{50}$, $BL_{51}$, $BL_{52}$, $GB_{25}$, $LR_{13}$ six times a week, and the patient took daily doses of herbal medicine and western medicines such as anticonvulsants, analgesics, antiepileptics. The patient's symptoms were evaluated with numeric rating scale(NRS) and neuropathic pain scale(NPS). Results : The results were as follows: 1. After the East-west medical combined treatment, the NRS grade decreased from 8 to 1. 2. On the neuropathic pain scale, the patient's symptoms changed from deep sharp pain and burning sensation to superficial dull pain and coldness. Sensitivity to touch, discomfort, and itchiness also decreased. Sudden attacks of pain appeared 14 to 21 days after onset, but disappeared after final treatment. Conclusions : The results of the above patient suggests that the East-west medical combined treatment may be effective for total remission of herpes zoster. Further research is needed to confirm such effects.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this clinical case is to evaluate the efficacy of Harpagophytum radix. Pharmacopuncture on Degenerative diseases of knee joint. Methods : We used Korean Medicine treatment and Harpagophytum radix. pharmacopuncture, for this patients. This case is measured and assessed by Neumerical Rating Scale(NRS), Korea Western Ontario MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(KWOMAC) and Physical examination of knee joint. Results : The NRS decreased from 8 to 5(Left knee joint) & 5 to 4(Right knee joint) and KWOMAC total points decreased from 77 to 41. Also Physical examination of knee joint improved. Conclusions : Harpagophytum radix. pharmacopuncture with Korean Medicine treatment is proved to be helpful to the pain relief and function recovery of knee joint.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.264-274
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• 2024

Background: Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment modality in the symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Our aim was to compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation of the superomedial and inferomedial genicular nerves (2 branches) with the superolateral, superomedial, and inferomedial genicular nerves (3 branches) and to show whether the 2-branch procedure is inferior to the 3-branch procedure. Methods: This study is a prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical study. Eligible participants were randomized into 2 groups: group A, which applied the procedure to the superomedial and inferomedial genicular nerves, and group B, which applied it to the superomedial, superolateral and inferomedial genicular nerves. Pain was evaluated with the numerical rating scale, quality of life with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and disability with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index before, and at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Results: A total of 41 patients were included. There were no differences between the groups except for the SF-36 physical health sub-score at baseline. A significant improvement was seen in the numeric rating scale (NRS) score, SF-36 sub-scores, WOMAC Index total, as well as pain and physical function scores in both groups, though no significant difference was detected between the groups during follow-up. Conclusions: Although we were unable to establish the noninferiority of conventional radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) applied to 2 branches to CRFA applied to 3 branches, in this trial, significant and similar improvement was observed in NRS, WOMAC total, pain, and physical function and SF-36 scores in both groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2012

Objectives: This study explored the relationships between Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Body Mass Index(BMI), Age, pain duration outcomes of treatment for Low Back Pain(LBP) in 3 groups(normal,osteopenia,osteoporosis) of female patients. Methods: We evaluated 32 cases of normal, 30 cases of osteopenia and 38 cases of osteoporosis based on BMD, BMI, Age, pain duration among the female inpatients with LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, admitted at Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine from January 2010 to December 2011. And we measured VNRS(Verbal Numeric Rating Scale) to evaluate the conservative treatment effects. Results: In improvement of female LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, BMD(T-score), BMI had not proved correlation(P-value>0.05). Female patients' age was negatively correlated with T-score. In pain improvement, BMD normal group showed more reduction of NRS(numeric rating scale) than osteoporosis group, but that had not proved correlation(p-value=0.893). Conclusions: Statically, among the female inpatients with LBP caused by lumbar disc herniation, had no significant differences between the normal group, osteopenia group and osteoporosis group's improvement rate, depending on treating period.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.176-184
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• 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to report the effect of acupotomy for patients with headache. Methods: Four patients with headache were treated with acupotomy. The improvement of symptoms was evaluated by numeric rating scale(NRS), Headache impact test-6(HIT-6) and headache attack frequency. Results: The numeric rating scale score and headache attack frequency decreased throughout the treatment period. No side effects were observed during treatment. Conclusion: Acupotomy had shown a positive clinical effect in the treatment of a headache in this case series. Further studies are required for its application on various headache.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate efficacy and patient satisfaction of acupuncture or Chuna therapy for back pain. Methods: Amongst all the patients with back pain who had been treated at Sun-cheon korean medicine hospital, Dong-shin university, only patients that had received either acupuncture or Chuna manual therapy between September 1 and October 31, 2017 were selected and their medical charts retrospectively analyzed. A questionnaire was used in the investigation that consisted of a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Oswestry low-back pain disability index (ODI), general, emotional, conversational, and technical satisfaction. The questionnaire was completed before treatment and at weekly intervals (approximately). Treatment efficacy was analyzed using the first and last questionnaires. The last questionnaire was also used to establish patient satisfaction. The data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 21.0. Results: The NRS, Current degree of pain (ODI-1), and total ODI were significantly decreased in both the acupuncture and Chuna groups. The differences in NRS, ODI-1, and total ODI changes between treatment groups were not significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the acupuncture and Chuna groups in terms of general, emotional, conversational, and technical satisfaction. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment significantly reduces NRS and ODI in patients who have back pain without structural transformation, and Chuna therapy significantly reduces NRS and ODI-1 in patients who have back pain with structural transformation. These results indicate that further studies should be conducted in more patients and over a longer period.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of M-test (Meridian test) as an adjunctive evaluation and treatment in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods This study was a single arm pre-post comparison study. Thirty-six eligible subjects with chronic neck pain were recruited from August to September, 2015. M-test was used for evaluating the condition of meridian, which can induce the limitation of ROM and body discomfort. Subjects were offered intradermal acupuncture treatment on one-acupoint for 48 hours. Cervical numeric rating scale (NRS), cervical range of motion (ROM), neck disability index (NDI) and surface electromyography (SEMG) were measured before and after the treatment. Total NRS and the number of movement limitation of M-test were also measured before and after the treatment. Results Among the 36 participating subjects, 4 subjects were lost to follow-up or excluded in accordance with the criteria. Significant differences on Cervical NRS and NDI were found after the treatment (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in the range of left cervical rotation (p<0.05). Root mean square (RMS) of SEMG significantly decreased on the right sternocleidomastoid muscle (p<0.05), but significantly increased on the right trapezius muscle (p<0.05). Median frequency (MdF) of SEMG significantly increased on both sternocleidomastoid muscles. There appears to be significant differences after the treatment in total NRS and the number of movement limitation of M-test (p<0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that the evaluation and treatment of M-test based on the meridian and collateral theory were effective on cervical NRS and NDI, and also improved the movability of human body.