• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.150-162
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• 2023

Meniere's disease is characterized by episodic vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. The main pathological finding is endolymphatic hydrops, but the etiology of disease and effective treatment methods are still disputed. Recently, Cervical spine disorders(CSD) and Temporomandibular disorders(TMD) have been attracting attention as one of the causes of Meniere's disease. A 65-year-old female Meniere patient with musculoskeletal problems in the cervical and mandible area was treated by Korean medical therapies including pharmacoacupuncture treatment. After 5 weeks of treatment, there was no meaningful change in hearing level evaluated with pure tone audiometry, but the subjective symptoms of Meniere improved significantly. Numerical rating scale (NRS) decreased from 10 to 0 for hearing loss, 10 to 3 for tinnitus and 8 to 3 for ear fullness. Also NRS of cervicalgia was reduced from 5 to 0 after treatment. The result suggests that the Korean medical therapy including pharmacoapuncture targeting CSD and TMD could be safe and effective method for patients with Meniere's disease.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.185-198
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a group of community dwelling elderly. Methods: Two-hundred and twenty-nine elderly living in a community and diagnosed with MCI were recruited. Participants were evaluated with various instruments such as the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and the Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). Korean medicine treatment consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacoacupuncture. The change in cognitive ability was assessed by using the MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 22.0 using the paired t-test, and the ANOVA. Results: The MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K score generally increased after six months of Korean medicine treatment and the differences in both instruments were statistically significant. Additionally, some consecutive participants maintained long-term cognitive improvement. When analyzed specifically by herbal medicine group based on syndrome differentiation and pharmacoacupuncture group, most showed improvement in the MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K but not all data were statistically significant. The satisfaction score was mostly high and most participants were willing to re-participate in the program. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment may contribute to the improvement and prevention of cognitive decline in the elderly. However, further systematic research based on large scale sample data and standardized protocols is needed to uplift the welfare and mental health of the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

The aim of this case report was to present the effects of intensive integrative Korean medicine treatment in a patient with lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain induced by adrenoleukodytrophy. A 49-year-old male patient was treated with Cheongpajeon-H, acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture (Shinbaro2), chuna therapy for total 50 days of hospitalization. Lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain were assessed with a Oswestry disability index (ODI), Vernon-Mior neck disability index (NDI), numeric rating scale (NRS) and EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D). With 50 days of treatment, the pain was relieved from NRS 6 to 2. EQ-5D score increased from 0.75 to 0.779, ODI decreased from 34 to 15.56, NDI decreased from 30 to 15.56. These results show that lower back pain, both under extremity numbness, neck pain can be relieved with intensive integrative Korean medicine treatment. However, further well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2024

Objectives: Frozen shoulder (FS) is one of the most challenging shoulder disorders for patients and clinicians. Its symptoms mainly include any combination of stiffness, nocturnal pain, and limitation of active and passive glenohumeral joint movement. Conventional treatment options for FS are physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injection therapy, and arthroscopic capsular release, but adverse and limited effects continue to present problems. As a result, pharmacoacupuncture (PA) is getting attention as an alternative therapy for patients with FS. PA is a new form of acupuncture treatment in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) that is mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases. It has similarity and specificity compared to corticosteroid injection and hydrodilatation, making it a potential alternative injection therapy for FS. However, no systematic reviews investigating the utilization of PA for FS have been published. Therefore, this review aims to standardize the clinical use of PA for FS and validate its therapeutic effect. Methods: The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD42023445708) on 18 July 2023. Until Aug. 31, 2023, seven electronic databases will be searched for randomized controlled trials of PA for FS. Authors will be contacted, and manual searches will also be performed. Two reviewers will independently screen and collect data from retrieved articles according to predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will be effective rate, Constant-Murley Score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, range of motion, quality of life, and adverse events. Bias and quality of the included trials will be assessed using the Cochrane handbook's risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Meta analyses will be conducted using Review Manager V.5.3 software. GRADE will be used to evaluate the level of evidence for each outcome. Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following PRISMA statement. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusion: This review will provide scientific evidence to support health insurance policy as well as the standardization of PA in clinical practice.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

■ Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of non-cardiac chest pain. ■ Methods The patient with non-cardiac chest pain was treated with herbal medicine, Insambaekhaokwanjung-tang, and Jungsongouhyul pharmacoacupuncture. The severity of symptom was assessed by daily chest pain frequency, Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) of chest pain. ■ Results After the treatment, the severity of chest pain was reduced from NRS 9 to NRS 0 and the palpitation intensity was reduced from 9 to 0. The chest pain frequency was reduced from 7 to 0. In addition, other symptoms such as anorexia, sleep disturbance, and fatigue have shown improvements. ■ Conclusion The findings of this study suggests that treatment with Korean medicine can be an effective option in treating non cardiac chest pain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.130-141
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on ocular motility disorders (ptosis, bilateral upward gaze palsy, adduction impairment, and strabismus) caused by thalamus, midbrain and pontine infarctions.Methods : The patient was treated by using acupuncture, hominis placenta pharmacoacupuncture, and electroacupuncture treatment. The change of ptosis was evaluated by measurement of palpebral fissure width. The change of gaze palsy and strabismus were evaluated by comparison the photographs of the extraocular movements of patient. Strabismus also was evaluated by corneal reflex test.Results : Gaze palsy and strabismus were improved. Ptosis disappeared after Korean medicine treatment.Conclusions : Korean medicine treatment should be effective for the ocular motility disorders caused by thalamus, midbrain and pontine infarctions.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2020

Objectives: This case report aims to report the clinical effectiveness of the combination treatment of Korean medicine on a post-laparoscopic myomectomy patient's lower urinary symptoms (LUTS). Methods: The patient who diagnosed with uterine myoma had Laparoscopic myomectomy. After the operation, the patient complained of dysuria, nocturia, frequent urination, urgent urination and urinary retention. The patient received combination treatment of Korean medicine during 14 days of hospitalization. The treatment included Ohrim-san, acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacoacupuncture. The effects were evaluated through the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Frequency-Volume chart, and 5-Level version of EuroQol-Five Dimension (EQ-5D-5L). Results: After the treatment, the clinical symptoms such as dysuria, nocturia, frequent urination, urgent urination, urinary retention were improved. Also, the quality of life was enhanced. Conclusions: This case report shows that the combination treatment of Korean Medicine with Ohrim-san may be effective for treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after laparoscopic myomectomy.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2018

Objectives : To verify Korean Medicinal Combination Treatments for patients who have Failed Back Surgery Syndrome along with scoliosis Methods : We used Acupuncture, Chuna manual therapy, Pharmacoacupuncture, Herbal medication. We measured Numeral Rating Sacle(NRS), Pain-Free walking distance(PFWD) and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) score to evaluate the treatment effects. Results : Patients' LBP & Rt.leg pain NRS, PFWD and ODI score were improved. Conclusions : Traditional Korean medicine can be effective for FBSS patients along with scoliosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report a case of patient with trigger thumb which improved by Meridian Tendino-musculature Acupuncture therapy, Moxubustion and Bee-Venom pharmacoacupuncture. Methods : In this study, we have conducted Meridian Tendi-musculature Acupuncture therapy, Bee-Venom Pharmacopuncture and Moxibustion treatment, on the basis of anatomical structure on the patient who was diagnosed of trigger thumb with pain, edema and motional restriction of the thumb. Furthermore, Electroacupuncture had been implemented with acupuncture therapy, and also passive exercise therapy had been conducted before and after the treatment to enhance the effect. The patient was assessed for trigger thumb-related symptoms by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Quinnell's Classification of triggering. Results : Quinnell's triggering grade & VAS score had decreased considerably after 18 sessions of treatment. Conclusions : It can be deducted that symptoms of Trigger thumb could be improved by Meridian Tendino-musculature Acupuncture therapy, Moxibustion and Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture treatment.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

This report is about a case of monocular partial oculomotor nerve palsy in a patient with midbrain hemorrhage. The patient developed diplopia while driving. The Brain MRI film demonstrated a hemorrhage in the right midbrain and left corona radiata and microbleedings in both cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, basal ganglia, midbrain, pons. We used Korean medicine treatment modalities including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture and herb medicines. As a result, limitation of upward gaze was recovered to about 90% of normal range.