• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2008

"濟衆立效方" is the oldest Koryo dynasty medical document known to date. Despite its historical importance, due to the absence of its original copy, its true characters could not be understood. Through comparison of the many documents that cited 濟衆立效方, it could be found that 濟衆立效方 can be classified into two parts based on its contents and form. In Chinese medical texts, neither the name 交效散 nor any similar prescription is mentioned. 濟衆立效方 was the first in suggesting the usage of pine needles and salt for fomentation and not for internal use. Thus 交效散 can be thought of as the oldest indigenous prescription preserved in Korean history. 濟衆立效方 conveys records of the combination of the ancient origin pine needle fomentation and the creative addition of salt.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.10-22
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• 2017

Background: Asian ginseng and American ginseng are functional foods that share a close genetic relationship and are well-known worldwide. This article aims to investigate the correlation between morphological characteristics and the inherent quality of Asian and American ginsengs. Methods: In this study, an ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS) method was established for the quantitative analysis of 45 ginseng samples. The method developed for determination was precise and accurate. Results: The results showed that Asian ginseng samples with the same growing time (with the same or similar number of stem scars) that had a thinner main root, a longer rhizome and more branch roots contained greater amounts of ginsenosides. For American ginseng, two tendencies were observed in the relationship between the diameter of the main root and contents of ginsenosides. One tendency was that samples with thinner main roots tended to contain higher levels of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-shen. Another tendency was that samples with thicker main roots contained higher contents of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-mian, as well as in samples of American ginseng cultivated in Jilin, China. Conclusion: An approach using ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS was successfully established to link morphology and active components for evaluating the quality of Asian and American ginsengs. Clear correlation between visible morphological features and quality of Asian and American ginsengs was found. People can see the difference; this means consumers and vendors can evaluate ginseng by themselves.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.181-214
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• 2022

Pediatric epilepsy, a chronic, recurrent brain disorder, is the most common neurological disorder in children. Its prevalence is increasing. Early management is very important since 30~40% of cases persist into adulthood. To provide basic data for future clinical research on pediatric epilepsy using Korean medicine treatment and cooperation between Western medicine doctors and Korean medicine doctors, we reviewed recent clinical research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) using herbal medicine for pediatric epilepsy. A total of 23 articles (1 clinical practice guideline, 3 systematic reviews, 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 4 non-RCTs) were reviewed in this study. The authors summarized characteristics of included studies regarding study subjects, diagnostic tools, pattern identification tools, treatment period, evaluation tools, detail of herbal medicines, treatment effects, and adverse events. Combination therapy using both herbal medicine (HM) and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) was performed more frequently than herbal medicine alone. Liver-pacifying medicinal, water-draining medicine, and orifice-opening medicine were frequently used. The main single HMs were Cheonma, Boglyeong, Jogudeung, and Seogchangpo. Combined therapy using HM and AEDs had significant benefits in improving total effective rate. It also appeared to be safer than AEDs. However, since the quality of clinical trials was poor and only studies in the last 10 years were included, the clinical evidence was uncertain. Finally, the authors provided limitations of this study and several suggestions for future research based on our analysis results.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.383.2-383.2
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• 2002

Diabetic nephropathy is major chronic complication of diabetes mellitus. Advanced glycation endproducts(AGEs) are largely involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The irreversibly formed AGEs do not return to normal even if hyperglycemia is corrected and continue to accumulate over the lifetime of protein. The AGEs inhibitor. aminoguanidine(AG), is the only protein glycation inhibitor currently under development. its safety however is desirable. To find possible AGEs inhibitor in herbal medicines, bovine serum albumin was added to a mixture of sugars and some of processed. unprocessed herbal medicines or AG. Cyperi rhizoma was processed in four different methods according to chinese pharmacopoeia and traditional literatures. In comparision to the negative control with no inhibitor and positive control with AG. alcoholic extracts of these processed cyperi rhizoma proved to have more potent inhibitory activities than that of unprocessed cyperi rhizoma. These results revealed that some processed herbal medicines have a more potent in vitro inhibitory action on AGEs formation than AG. suggesting the possible candidate for diabetic nephropathy from the processed herbal medicines.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to collect and evaluate evidence of herbal medicine treatments for the residual effects of COVID-19. Methods: Nine electronic databases, namely PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang, J-STAGE, CiNii, OASIS, and Science ON, were searched with the following keywords: 'COVID-19'; 'sequelae'; 'Convalescence' for 'P (Population)' and 'Medicine, Chinese Traditional'; 'Korean medicine'; 'Herbal medicine' for 'I (Intervention)'. For the selected studies, various clinical data were extracted including patient symptoms, pattern identification, herbal medicines prescribed, and treatment results. Results: A total of nine clinical studies were identified (two case control trials; one case series; and six case reports). Various residual symptoms had been detected in the recovery stage of COVID-19 with the most commonly used pattern identifications being deficiency in both lung and spleen and in both qi and yin. Any herbal medicine prescriptions were written using these patterns. We found several reports of the positive effect of herbal medicines in that it improved symptoms, lung function, and lung inflammation. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The results indicate that treatment with herbal medicines has a possible therapeutic effect on the residual symptoms of COVID-19. Large-scale studies are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of these approaches.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-87
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• 2023

Objectives : This study collected and analyzed information related to preventive formulas from continuously published and revised COVID-19 treatment guidelines in various regions of China. Methods : We collected treatment guidelines published in different regions of China and categorized formulas for prevention and medical observation period listed in them according to the editions. The categorized preventive formulas were compared by type and target group. Results : Herbal medicines used for prevention included formulas derived from Korean medical classics, such as Okbyeongpungsan(玉屏風散) and Eunkyosan(銀翹散). The newly composed formulas, totaling over 100, were created by adding, subtracting, and combining formulas such as Sang-gukeum(桑菊飮), Eunkyosan(銀翹散), Sasammaekmundongtang(沙參麥門冬湯), Okbyeongpungsan(玉屏風散), Gwakhyangjeong-gisan(藿香正氣散), and Soshihotang(小柴胡湯). Patent medicines including Huoxiangzhengqi capsule(藿香正氣膠囊), Lianhuaqingwen capsule(連花淸瘟膠囊), Shufengjiedu capsule(疏風解毒膠囊), and Jinhuaqinggan granule(金花淸感顆粒) were frequently used, mainly targeting close contacts. These medicines were used differently depending on the specific population group, such as the general population, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and patients with underlying diseases, and were also applied differently according to the individual's constitution. Conclusion : We were able to identify various background factors contained in the guidelines for the use of preventive formulas presented by TCM group, and understand the social conditions that enabled the group to provide such guidelines. Through this, thorough preparation should be made so that the Korean Medicine can actively respond to another future pandemic.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-289
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• 2008

In the Oriental Medicine field the great three reference books are Hwantienaekyung(黃帝內徑, HJNK), Sihnnongbonchokyung(神農本草經, BCK) and Shanghanlun(SHR). HJNK has been a theory book regarded as a bible of the Oriental Medicine, BCK, a herbal book with 365 species of red letters noticed from Bonchokyungjipjoo(本草經集註) and SHR, very important clinical book with concrete prescriptions for the therapy of patients. Though these books were written by Chinese people ca. 2000 years ago, yet they are no doubt very important and effective ones in these days. Unfortunately they are handed down to all transmitted books for a long times because original ones were destroyed by fire and another troubles. In this study we have tried to extract three common terminological words and common theories from the prescription law by theoretical principles(理法方藥, clinical therapeutic mechanism) acquired through the comparative analysis of these three books. They are qi(氣), cold or heat(寒熱) and yin & yang(陰陽), and their practical basic theories have been evidenced through exterior & interior of body(表裏) and deficiency or exessiveness(虛實) by the heat of Sun. Also we would have realized that Oriental Medicine should be analyzed through various scientific techniques and clinical experiences, and necessarily unified to yin & yang monism from qi theory of the Sun in all human's life cycle(生老病死).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.483-489
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• 2002

APA-01, which is an aqueous extract of five Chinese herbs, is a modified formula of Huoxiang-Zhengqi-San. The effect of new herb extract on immune response was investigated. The parameter examined to assess apparent immune response of APA-01 in mice included changes of body weight, relative weight of immune organs, cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression. The body weight and relative weight of immune organs were not significantly changed among the tested groups. In the spleen cell prolijeration assay, APA-01 increased the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression, inhibited the spleen cell proliferation (IC/sub 50/: 800㎍/㎖). However, APA-01 significantly inhibited the suppression of mouse spleen cell proliferation. Therefore, it seems that APA-01 has a reducing effect of immune suppression. Immunomodulatory effect of APA-01 was further investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR test, APA-01 enhanced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. In spite of immune suppression by MTX, COX-2 mRNA was induced by co-treatment with APA-01. These results suggest that APA-01 stimulates the proliferation of spleen cells, regulates the expression of COX-2 mRNA, and accelerates the recovery of inhibition of spleen cell proliferation induced by MTX, thus providing the immunological basis for clinical benefit of APA-01.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5201-5205
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• 2014

Emodin, a natural anthraquinone isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Radix rhizoma Rhei, can induce apoptosis in many kinds of cancer cells. This study demonstrated that emodin induces apoptosis in human colon cancer HCT116 cells by provoking oxidative stress, which subsequently triggers a p53-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Emodin induced mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss, increase in Bax and decrease in Bcl-2 expression and mitochondrial translocation and release of cytochrome c to cytosol in HCT116 cells. In response to emodin-treatment, ROS increased rapidly, and subsequently p53 was overexpressed. Pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC diminished apoptosis and p53 overexpression induced by emodin. Transfecting p53 siRNA also attenuated apoptosis induced by emodin, Bax expression and mitochondrial translocation being reduced compared to treatment with emodin alone. Taken together, these results indicate that ROS is a trigger of emodin-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells, and p53 expression increases under oxidative stress, leading to Bax-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 1999

The result from the research on the disease classifications of the traditional medicine in China, Japan, Taiwan, and North Korea are followings: 1. It is remarkable that China has two different classifications. One is of the diseases named by western medicine and the other is of the syndromes compounded with parts, characters, and pathology of the diseases. The Traditional Chinese Medicine has 615 codes for diseases in 7 departments, and 1684 codes for syndromes. It seems that they have tried to match each disease named by the traditional chinese medicine to each one named by western medicine. But, they have left the diseases impossible to be equivalent to the ones in western medicine themselves and used the same codes of western medicine when the diseases are the same ones in western medicine. 2. In Taiwan, they try to connect the diseases named by the traditional medicine to the ones named by western medicine based on ICD-9. But, they did not attempt to classify the diseases of the traditional medicine by its own ways. The names of diseases in Taiwan medicine include both diseases and syndromes. It is limited to name syndromes by the traditional medicine. And, Taiwan medicine follows ICD in naming injuries. 3. Japan has not got the disease classification for the causes of death, but only the Japanese disease classification for the causes of death, a translation 'The international disease classification for the causes of death. Therefore, The diseases named by traditional medicines are excluded in the public medicine by some Japanese medicines which diagnose through the western medicine and treat by Wa Kang medicine. 4. I can't find out the data over the disease classification for the causes of death by traditional medicine in North Korea. Instead, I can refer to case histories in which differentiation of symptoms and signs and points about them by traditional medicine and the final diagnoses and report about examination by the western medicine has been recorded. In conclusion, It is a distinctive feature that they connect the diseases and the syndromes by the traditional medicine to the ones by the western medicine, and don't tell the diseases from the syndromes.