• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.61-74
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse: 1) the clinical effectiveness and safety of traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) and frequency of TKM therapies used and their relationship with conventional treatments. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6-78 months (n=126). The children who used herbal medication for >30 days or acupuncture treatment >12 sessions within 6 months were defined as the integrated rehabilitation (IR) group; the remaining participants were included in the conventional rehabilitation (CR) group. Results: Changes in the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) were greater in the IR group (6.4±6.1) than in the CR group (4.6±5.8). The reduction in the number of other health problems was greater in the IR group than in the CR group. The GMFM-66 improvement was greatest in gross motor function classification system level 1. There was no between-group difference in the frequency of rehabilitation therapy (10.9±6.6 and 12.0±9.9 in the IR and CR groups, respectively). Conclusion: TKM may offer additional benefits in terms of the GMFM-66 score and other health problems. However, there is a need for further randomized controlled trials involving a restricted CP type and a controlled treatment type and intensity to confirm these findings.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-43
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• 2016

The North Korean medical laws are consisted of 'People's Health Act' and 'Medical Act' in the peak of the North Korean constitutional law. Before the legislation of 'People's Health Act', a number of medical laws and regulations existed. But, at present, there is no information about its amendment and effectiveness. 'People's Health Act' legislated in 1980 declared fundamental principles and policies of the North Korean health care system. 'Medical Act' legislated in 1997 is the basic law among the North Korean medical laws. It presented the goals and fundamental principles of the North Korean health care, and then regulated the basics about 'Tests and Diagnosis', 'Medical Treatment', and 'Medical Appraisal'. 'Medical Act' of North Korea was established later than South Korea, and its provisions is smaller in number. And there are lots of abstract and declaratory provisions compare with South Korean 'Medical Act'. Especially there is no provision about the kind and requirements of medical personnel and medical institutions, so it is hard to grasp the North Korean health care system at once. Regarding the medical treatment, there are many similar contents between the North and South Korean 'Medical Act'. But, the provisions, such as regarding mixing the new medicine and the korean traditional medicine, encouraging natural therapies in medical treatment, and informing the patient's protector of bad diagnostic result if there is concern to have a bad influence on patient, are different from the South Korean 'Medical Act'.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2009

Objectives : The current treatment regimens for patients with nephrotic syndrome due to membranous nephropathy(MN) are based on steroids or immunosuppressive therapy with the aim of reducing proteinuria and improving outcome. Although these treatments attenuate the deterioration of renal function in MN patients, it has been suggested that all are burdened by significant toxicity. Therefore, more specific and less toxic therapies are needed. This study was to evaluate the effects of Coptidis Rhizoma Extract(CRE) on the MN induced by cBSA in mice. Methods : Mice were divided into 4 groups. One group named for 'Normal' was injected with a saline solution not to be immunized. The rest groups were treated as follows; After mice were immunized with 0.2 mg of cBSA and Freund's complete adjuvant one time every two weeks for 6 weeks, they received intra-peritoneal injection of 10 mg/kg of cBSA daily for 4 weeks. Also, they were divided into 3 groups. The first named for 'Control' was not given CRE. The second for 'CRE-250' was given oral administration of 250 mg/kg of CRE daily for 4 weeks. The third for 'CRE-500' was given 500 mg/kg of CRE. All of mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after the first immunization. We measured a body weight and 24hrs proteinuria as well as serological analysis. The morphologic changes of renal glomeruli were also observed with a light microscope and an electron microscope. Results : The levels of 24 hrs proteinuria, triglyceride, IgG, IL-6 were significantly decreased in both CRE groups. And the level of IgM was significantly decreased in CRE-250 group. In histological findings of kidney tissue, thickening of GBM and deposition of electron-density were consideraly decreased in both CRE groups. Conclusions : The present study suggests that CRE is highly effective when treating mice with MN induced by cBSA. More clinical data and studies are to be done for efficient application.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Chronic pain can cause disability, mild to severe suffering and high medical costs. Some unfortunate patient do not improve despite administering conservative treatment and then the various interventional therapies, including oriental medical treatment and/or surgery, and they find themselves in search of a more effective pain relief. Deep dry needling is one of the newer treatment modalities for these patients. The last 10 years have seen a lot of progress in understanding the neural pathways and the type and extent of tissue involvement during chronic pain. This in turn has stimulated the development of new treatment techniques, and deep dry needling is one of them. So, the authors of this paper discuss the individual theories, the characteristics and future directions of several deep dry needling techniques, and we examine the new dry needling technique that has been recently developed in Korea.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.66-85
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• 2002

Traditional herbal medicine is used extensively among the Korean populations, and other Asian countries employ similar therapies as well In recent years, extensive focus was laid on adulteration of the herbal medicine with heavy metals. This may be mainly due to a soil contamination by an environmental pollution. The objective of this study is to identify the contents of various heavy metals in the blood from OhJeokSan-Decoction (OD) treated-rats. For this study, 13 kinds of metals including essential and heavy metals, i.e. Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn were analyzed by a slight modification of EPA methods and the following results are obtained. ; 1. There is no significant difference between the OD-treated groups and control group in liver, kidney, bone, brain, weight, food intake. 2. The amount of each metal analyzed in the liver are as follows; Al ; $0.235{\sim}4.215mg／kg$, As ; $0.103{\sim}0.461mg／kg$, Cd ; $0.005{\sim}0.010mg／kg$, Co ; $0.017{\sim}0.046mg／kg$, Cr ; $0.137{\sim}0.403mg／kg$, Cu ; $1.736{\sim}4.827mg／kg$, Fe ; $54.472{\sim}381.447mg／kg$, Hg ; not detected, Mn ; $1.159{\sim}2.803mg／kg$, Ni ; $0.007{\sim}0.095mg／kg$, Pb ; not detected, Se ; $0.682{\sim}1.887mg／kg$, Zn ; $10.213{\sim}26.119mg／kg$, by groups, respectively. In control and other experimental group, several metal (Co, Cu, Mn, Zn, As, Cr) has a significant difference, but in experimental I and other experimental II, III, IV, V groups, there are no significant difference. 3. The amount of each metal analyzed in the kidney are as follows; Al ; $1.712{\sim}31.230mg／kg$, As ; $0.062{\sim}0.439mg／kg$, Cd ; $0.010{\sim}0.062mg／kg$, Co ; $0.000{\sim}0.101mg／kg$, Cr ; $0.125{\sim}0.636mg／kg$, Cu ; $3.385{\sim}12.502mg／kg$, Fe ; $41.148{\sim}99.709mg／kg$, Hg ; $0.000{\sim}0.270mg／kg$, Mn ; $0.433{\sim}2.301mg／kg$, Ni ; $0.000{\sim}0.221mg／kg$, Pb ; $0.000{\sim}0.584mg／kg$, Se ; $0.540{\sim}1.600mg／kg$, Zn ; $8.775{\sim}17.060mg／kg$, by groups, respectively. The concentration of Cu, Se, Cr, and Hg are variated significantly in control and other experimental group, and Cu, Se, Cd, Cr are variated significantly in experimental I and other experimental II, III, IV, V groups. 4. The amount of each metal analyzed in the bone(tibia and fibula) are as follows; Al ; $9.557{\sim}119.464mg／kg$, As ; $0.139{\sim}12.250mg／kg$, Cd ; $0.000{\sim}0.295mg／kg$, Co ; $0.022{\sim}0.243mg／kg$, Cr ; $0.239{\sim}1.999mg／kg$, Cu ; $0.000{\sim}2.291mg／kg$, Fe ; $240.249{\sim}841.956mg／kg$, Hg ; $0.000{\sim}0.983mg／kg$, Mn ; $0.214{\sim}7.353mg／kg$, Ni ; $5.473{\sim}11.453mg／kg$, Pb ; $0.000{\sim}8.502mg／kg$, Se ; $0.000{\sim}3.005mg／kg$, Zn ; $61.158{\sim}195.038mg／kg$, by groups, respectively. The concentration of Se, Cd are variated significantly in control and other experimental groups, and Se is variated significantly in experimental I and other experimental II, III, IV, V groups. 5. Exceptionally several metal concentration is increased or decreased. but there is no significant harmful difference of metal concentration in the liver, kidney and bone, from the OD-treated-rats compared to those of the control group even if higher dosage($1{\sim}8$ times dosage of person) of OD was administered. Thus, it is expected that the herbal decoction in the traditional herbal medicine would not lay any burden on the body and the heavy metal toxins would not affect our physiological system. However, other kinds of herbal treatment, such as i.v. and i.p. should be considered in terms of metal toxicity in the body since the level of certain metal.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2004

The primary purpose of this study was to describe psychological aspects of menopausal women who have experiences on alternative therapies, such as pomegranate tree fluid, life pack, evening primerose, zacro syrup, zacro pill, multi-vitamin, oriental medicine instead of estrogen. In order to have insights on the participants behaviors, this qualitative research was conducted. The participants in this study were six women who have been taking at least one of the alternative therapies to relieve the menopausal symptom. Data had been collected from November 2002 to May 2003. The interview questions were about motivations to seek the alternative therapy, menopausal symptoms, feelings or positive effects after the treatment. The interviews were recorded and transcribed into written documents. The method described by Giorgi was utilized for data analysis. The study results were as follows : 1. The participants sought the alternative therapy based on their own information or by friends' recommendations. The motivations of taking the therapy were to live younger and healthier by reliving menopausal symptoms including somatic symptoms, such as irregular menstruation, flushing sense, cold sweating, insomnia, dull headache, vagina dryness, cystitis after sexual intercourse, joint pain, nervousness, depression, skin dryness, and suppression of activity. 2. The participants expressed that they became more active and felt better with disappearing menopausal symptoms after about 2 to 3 weeks treatment. 3. The participants did not want to accept the fact that they had menopause, which caused avoidance of having medical diagnosis and medical treatment. They also did not want to let their spouses know about their symptoms. 4. The major reason of taking the alternative therapy was to avoid the side effects of estrogen therapy in spite of high costs of the alternative way. 5. The participants suggested that menopausal women needed to be educated about physical and psychological symptoms of menopause. They also needed to be informed about how to manage it. In conclusion, accurate information about foods and drugs utilized for the alternative therapy was needed. Medically proved methods to recognize positive effects and side effects were also necessary. These goals could be achieved by continuous medical observations and further research.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.186-199
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• 2001

Objectives : Sa-am Acupucture(舍岩鍼法), Taeguk Acupucture(太極鍼法), and 8 Constitution-Acupuncture(八體質鍼法) are largely used acupuncture therapies which utilize Yin and Yang, The Five Elements, Interpromoting and Counteracting Relation(相生 相克 關係). We are here to compare and study each acupuncture methods in order to understand their fundamental principle and theory. Conclusion : 1. When prescribing Herb to patients, we can use the Differentiation of Syndromes method(辨證論治). As there is Constitutional Medicine prescription(四象醫學處方) using constitutional Large & Small Relation of Jang and Bu organs(臟腑大小 關係), in acupuncture treatment we can use the Differentiation of Syndromes method of Sa-am acupucture, applying constitutional Large & Small feature of Jang and Bu organs(臟腑大小) in Taeguk Acupucture and 8 Constitution Acupuncture we can derive a suitable prescriptions. 2. Taeguk Acupucture and 8 Constitution Acupuncture is an acupunture method created upon the constitutional theory. Taeguk Acupucture lacks a theory and has problems with its practical use. 8 Constitution-Acupuncture has a theory, thus it can give us the chance to make derived diverse prescriptions for each diseases. 3. Sa-am Acupucture uses exclusively Manual technique(手技法), breathing Posa method(呼吸補瀉法), YoungSu Posa method(迎隨補瀉法) and also retaining method(留鍼法). Taeguk Acupunctune is directed related with WonBang Posa method(圓方補瀉法), twirling method(撚鍼法) and uses retaining method. 8 Constitution-Acupuncture works only with YoungSu Posa method and also One-insertion method(單刺法). 4. If we apply The Five Elements of five Su points and Interpromoting and Counteracting Relation(相生 相克 關係), we can control discords between Jang and Bu organs. Sa-am Acupucture, Taeguk Acupture and 8 Constitution Acupuncture which use five Su points can make better results in Jang and Bu organs disease. 5. Sa-am Acupunture needs diverse applications of Organ picture theory(臟象論), Pathogenesis theory(病機學說) and an proper prescription studies by Differentiation of Syndromes(辨證). Taeguk Acupuncture and 8 Constitution Acupuncture has a organized prescription methods by constitutional Large & Small relation of Jang and Bu organs(臟腑大小), thus we need to focus on objectification in constitutional differentiation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2013

Objectives : Medical treating with eating foods is one of important therapies in East Asian traditional medical knowledge and is referred as a therapy to treat diseases through foods. Since the food cannot be separated from ordinary people living, the medical treating with eating foods is a therapy with strong locality and contains many autogenous parts. Methods : Recently, the world is showing much interest for genetic resources, and the concept of intellectual property is rapidly expanding as the field of 'new knowledge property right' as well. Thus, the knowledge of medical treating with eating foods recently draws much attention in the economic aspect beyond the scholarly interest for traditional medicine. Here, I would like to summarize and report the contents related to medical treating with eating foods on "Yi, SeikKan experience prescriptions" which was discovered before. Results & Conclusions : First, medical treating with eating porridge on "Yi, SeikKan experience prescriptions" is classified into one with nonglutinous rice as the main ingredient and the other with other grains as the main ingredient. It is differently utilized depending on the nature of the grain. Second, medical treating with eating rice on "Yi, SeikKan experience prescriptions" was born from our nation's unique way of living and is classified into one way to eat rice mixed with ground medicinal herbs, another one to cook and eat rice with mixed grains and the other way to use as the external application. Medical treating with eating rice is assumed to replace the meal. Third, "food section" was given separately and discussed in this book. There were some parts different from existing medical knowledge due to the accumulation of experience using medicinal herbs. Fourth, we should pay attention to experience a book on medicine where vibrant medical information has been recorded in order to discover and process our traditional knowledge resources as a useful form.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.234-239
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report that acupuncture of Damjeonggyeok(tonifying GB in Sa-Am acupucture) can be effective on chronic insomnia. Methods : The patients were treated with Sa-Am acupucture(Damjeonggyeok) added with HT8 and KI6, once a week. Treatments were performed for 20 minutes. The effectiveness was evaluated using total sleep hours and subjective sleep quality based on the Insomnia Severity Index. Result and Conclusions : In all patients, the sleep quality evaluated with the Insomnia Severity Index has shown amelioration and sleeping time was increased. Also, they quit the insomnia pills. Acupuncture at Damjeonggyeok added with HT8 and KI6 seems to be able to one of useful therapies for the sleep disorder in chronic insomnia.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.112-124
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• 2021

Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the effects of Pediatric Tuina Massage (PTM) as a treatment of Chlidren's Epilepsy (CE) and to seek guidance for future follow-up studies and the use of Pediatric Tuina Massage (PTM) in clinical setting. Methods The articles were obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from 2000 to 2021 by key words 'epilepsy', '癲癎', '癲癎病', 'infantile spasm', '婴幼儿痉挛', '小儿发作', '婴幼儿痉挛' and '推拿', '按摩', 'Tuina', 'Chuna', 'massage' in cross combination way. Results Seven articles were selected and analyzed by authors, years published, characteristics, diagnostic criteria, treatment methods and contents, treatment periods, evaluation criteria and research results. Also, stability and side effects were reviewed, and the qualities of the randomized controlled trials (RCT) were evaluated according to Risks of Bias 2 (RoB 2). All studies using Pediatric Tuina Massage (PTM) treatment have achieved effective therapeutic results for treating Children's epilepsy (CE). Conclusion Pediatric Tuina Massage (PTM) is economical, safe without side effects and non-invasive, but still produce a good effect. Also, it is a good treatment option for children who feels anxious of ordinary Korean Medical treatment such as acupuncture, moxa, herbal medicine, which also results in good compliance with the treatment. In addition, it is possible to enhance therapeutic effect by combining it with pharmacological therapies in treating children's epilepsy (CE). Therefore, Pediatric Tuina Massage (PTM) provides an essential clinical basis in guiding further studies for the treatment of CE.