• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.97-106
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• 2018

Objectives : Recently, Thread Embedding Acupucnture (TEA) targeting under dermis became known to be effective for facial wrinkles and folds; its practice has begun in clinics. The introduction of a new form of TEA is continuing, and 'Volume TEA' is introduced recently. Therefore, we would like to report on the improvement of facial wrinkles by using the recently introduced 'volume TEA'. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of three patients who received 'Volume TEA' treatment at a Korean medical clinic, the photographs taken before and after the procedure were corrected using a Photoshop program and the length of the each wrinkles and folds were measured. Results : The length of wrinkles measured in all three cases decreased. Especially, the decrease of the length of the nasolabial folds was obvious. In case 1, the length of the nasolabial folds of 177mm and 97mm were reduced to 94mm and 63mm, respectively. In the case 2, the length of the nasolabial folds of 155mm and 155mm were reduced to 0mm and 70mm, respectively, after the procedure. In case 3, the length of the nasolabial folds of 170mm and 50mm decreased to 38mm and 37mm after the procedure, respectively. Conclusions : At present, it seems that the ongoing accumulation of relevant studies on the efficacy and safety of wrinkle and folds of TEA seems necessary. This study also has some significance in the level of case report.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.131-144
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to review clinical studies on thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) for the treatment of patients with post-stroke spasticity (PSS) Methods: Clinical studies related to TEA treatment for PSS were searched for in several electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, OASIS, and CNKI. After the selection/exclusion process, information on study design, disease, experimental/control group, intervention, outcome measurement, between-group differences, and adverse events was extracted. Results: A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. The usual frequency of TEA treatment was once every 1-2 weeks, and the treatment most commonly included 4 sessions. In the dorsal area, EX-B2 and the acupoints in governing vessel meridian were commonly used. Acupoints in the meridian of the large intestine were most frequently used in the treatment of upper limb spasticity. Except for HT1, PC6, and PC8, all TEA points for treating PSS of the upper limb were on the Yang meridians. For the lower limb spasticity, the most frequently used acupoints were ST36, GB34, GB30, BL60, and BL57 on Yang meridians, and LR3, SP6, SP9, and SP10 on Yin meridians. TEA treatment showed better effects than conventional treatment for PSS in terms of spasticity, motor dysfunction, and activities of daily livings. Nevertheless, the absence of the follow-up observation, lack of sham TEA treatment, and low quality of the included studies necessitated caution in interpreting the results. Conclusions: The results of this review are expected to provide basic data on the modalities of TEA treatment for PSS and provide insights to facilitate well-designed studies in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.227-233
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of catgut-embedding acupuncture therapy on plantar fasciitis. Methods : Two patients were treated mainly with catgut-embedding acupuncture therapy and partly with other Korean medicine modalities. Catgut-embedding acupuncture therapy was applied once a week for three weeks, and follow-up observation was conducted by telephone survey two months after the first treatment. Results : In these two cases, the pain numerical rating scale(NRS) gradually decreased from 8 to 1, and the pain relief as well as the improvement in ambulatory function was maintained at two-month follow-up. Conclusions : Catgut-embedding acupuncture therapy could be effective for pain-reduction and functional improvement in plantar fasciitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medicine on a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Methods : We treated one patient with a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc with needle-embedding acupuncture therapy combined with Korean medical treatment. We checked the numeric rating scale(NRS), oswestry low back pain disability index(ODI) and straight leg raising test(SLRT). Results : In this case, the numeric rating scale decreased, while the straight leg raising test results improved. Conclusion : Needle-embedding acupuncture therapy could be effective for pain-reduction for a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

Objectives: Recently, thread-embedding therapy (TET) has been widely applied in Korean medicine for cosmetic purposes such as reducing skin wrinkles. An inserted thread was reported to have induced continuous stimulation, followed by support for connective tissue regeneration. However, the potential role of TET in hair-growth has not yet been reported. Methods: We designed this study to evaluate whether TET has a hair-growth-promoting effect. C57 black 6 (C57BL/6) mice were divided into three groups: normal saline-treated, minoxidil-treated, and thread-embedded groups. Normal saline or 5% minoxidil was topically sprayed on the dorsal skin of the mice once a day for 16 days. Medical threads were embedded into the dorsal skin of the mice in a single application. Hair growth activity was evaluated by using dermoscopic and microscopic observations. Sections of the dorsal skin were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Expressions of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), and fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was adopted to measure the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of FGF-7 and FGF-5. Results: TET enhanced anagen development in the hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. The expressions of BrdU and PCNA, both of which imply active cellular proliferation, were increased by using TET. Moreover, TET increased the expression of FGF-7, an anagen-inducing growth factor, while decreasing the expression of FGF-5, an anagen-cessation growth factor, both at the protein and the mRNA levels. Conclusion: TET enhanced hair re-growth in C57BL/6 mice. TET regulated the expressions of anagen-associated growth factors and activated the proliferation of hair follicular cells in depilated skin lesions. Considering its long-lasting effect, TET may be a good alternative therapeutic for the treatment of alopecia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.169-171
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• 2015

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of Embedding therapy on frozen shoulder. Methods: 57 patients with frozen shoulder were treated with Embedding therapy. It was performed once a day, once per a week. 15~20 Embedding thread were used in one time Embedding therapy. The total number of Embedding therapy was 10. Trapezius muscle including the Gyeonjeong ($GB_{21}$), Deltoid muscle including the Nosu ($SI_{10}$), Supraspinatus muscle including the Byeongpung ($SI_{12}$), Infraspinatus muscle including the Cheonjong ($SI_{11}$) and gokwon($SI_{13}$), Lavator scapular muscle including the Gyeonjunsu ($SI_{15}$), Rhomboides major muscle including the Pungmun ($BL_{12}$), Rhomboides minor muscle including the Daejeo ($BL_{11}$) and Teres major muscle including the Gyeonjeong ($SI_{19}$). VAS scale, SPADI scale and ROM were compared between before and after treatment to evaluate the effect of Embedding therapy. Results: VAS scale decreased significantly (p=0.003). SPADI Scale decreased significantly (pain (p=0.006), disability(p=0.005)). ROM angle range increased significantly(flexion (p=0.005), extension(p=0.005), abduction(p=0.003), adduction(p=0.003), external rotation (p=0.005), internalrotation(p=0.005)). 29.8% patients were very much satisfied, 62.0% patients were satisfied and 8.0% patients were answered so so about Embedding therapy. Conclusion: The Embedding therapy could be effective to improve symptoms of frozen shoulder.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.187-196
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• 2019

This study was performed to review clinical research studies involving acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders to provide a basic reference for future studies. Clinical studies of primary headache disorders treated with acupuncture were retrieved from 3 Korean electronic databases (NDSL, OASIS, and RISS). The studies were classified by year of publication, type of study, type of acupuncture, outlined acupoints, methods used for filiform needles, pharmacopuncture, auricular acupuncture, and thread-embedding acupuncture. Thirty-eight trials were reviewed, of which 33 used filiform needles, 6 pharmacopuncture, 1 auricular acupuncture, and 1used thread-embedding. Most of the studies reported that acupuncture treatment was effective in treating primary headache disorders. Some studies reported statistically significant effects, but the results overall were inconsistent. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support the treatment of acupuncture to resolve headaches. On the basis of these results, further studies should be performed to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary headache disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2021

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative spinal condition that can have unpredictable improvement and worsening of symptoms which include low back pain, radiating pain, claudication, and degenerative lumbar scoliosis affecting quality of life. In this study, thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was used as a conservative treatment for LSS in combination with complex Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicines, and physical therapy). The treatment was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, walking distance and duration, and inclination of radiological lumbar scoliosis according to antalgic posture. TEA was performed 27 times between June 8, 2020, and March 16, 2021. The patient showed improvement in numerical rating scale score from 7 to 2, pain-free walking distance from 10 m to 900 m, and scoliosis inclination following treatment. The findings of this study suggest that TEA may be helpful in the treatment of LSS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the status of adverse events (AEs) in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions/diseases using thread embedding acupuncture (TEA). Five electronic databases were searched to retrieve data on clinical studies published in the last 5 years (2016 to 2021). Of the 151 studies retrieved, 22 studies analyzed AEs and were selected for this review. There were no AEs reported in 6 studies (27.3%); of the remaining 16 studies, 4 studies (18.2%) reported AEs that were not related to TEA. The most common AEs reported in the Chinese studies were redness of skin with/without swelling and tingling sensation, and in the Korean studies they were stiffness, a foreign body sensation, and bruising. The percentage of patients with AE experience was 5.1% in the Chinese studies and 19.9% in the Korean studies. The discrepancies between the findings in the Chinese and Korean studies may be attribute to differences in the diameter of needles, thread materials, TEA treatment procedure, and evaluation methods for AEs. Most of the reported AEs were of a mild status and did not last for a long time. However, further research on the clinical course after TEA treatment is needed.