• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2017

Objectives : Despite the applicability of Korean Medicine(KM) treatments for facial asymmetry, no relevant study has been reported. In this case report, we report the effect and safety of KM treatments on facial asymmetry by mandibular lateral displacement. Methods : Three patients suffering from facial asymmetry received twelve KM treatment sessions composed of Motion Style Treatment(MST), Yinyang Balance Appliance(YBA) of Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy(FCST), and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization(IASTM). The photos of each patient were taken before and after the treatment. And four primary reference lines were assessed before and after the treatment. Results : All subjects were improved after KM treatments on photos. However, no statistical significance was observed. Conclusions : This case report is the first to introduce the effect of KM treatments on facial asymmetry. Further well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to verify these results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2021

A burst fracture refers to the fracture of the anterior and middle vertebral columns which are moving into the spinal canal causing neurological impairments, generally requiring surgical treatment. We herein report a rare case of burst fracture with kissing spine in a 90-year-old man who had severe lower back pain that worsened during back extension. Considering the surgical treatment risk, he was hospitalized at a Korean medicine hospital for 85 days and underwent combined Korean medicine treatments including pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, chuna, deep-fascia meridian therapy, walking practice, and abdominal breathing. Based on patient-reported scales, his pain was alleviated, and his physical function improved. Furthermore, his range of motion and walking time increased. This case report suggests that combined Korean medicine treatments could be an effective alternative for patients with burst fracture who have surgery risks.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.920-928
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• 2019

Objectives: After epidural hemorrhage, sequelae may cause cognitive impairments, such as attention, memory, and performance disturbances. This case study reports on the use of traditional Korean medicine in a patient with cognitive impairments after a traumatic epidural hemorrhage. Methods: During the 46-day hospitalization period, traditional Korean medicine treatments, including Sunkihwalhyul-tang-gamibang, Ukgan-san-gajinpibanha Granule, Kyungohk-go, acupuncture, and cupping, were administered. The degree of cognitive impairment was measured based on the Mini Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and correct answer ratio. Results: After traditional Korean medicine treatment, the MMSE-K score increased from 13 to 19 and the MBI score increased from 63 to 71. The patient's conversations in daily life also proceeded more smoothly than before hospitalization, and the correct answer ratio rose. Conclusion: This case reports the improvement of cognitive impairment after traumatic epidural hemorrhage in response to traditional Korean medicine treatment; further study is needed.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Background : Integrative cancer treatment is a holistic approach embracing body, mind, and spirit incorporating conventional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and personalized complementary treatments. Wheel Balance Therapy (WBT) of East-West Cancer Center(EWCC), Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University was developed to balance out all factors involved in cancer care based on the traditional theories of oriental medicine. Objective : This work aims to analytically review literatures on WBT and its related components. Methods : Literatures published from January 1st, 1990 to April 30th, 2011 were reviewed focusing on 4 main components of WBT; herbal medicine, immune activation, anti-cancer diet, and breathing/meditation. Data were retrieved from medical search engines and electronic data bases including Pubmed, Research Information sharing Service (RISS), Korean-studies Information Service System (KISS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Korea's National Digital Library (KNDL). Results : In this review, EWCC's most commonly prescribed formulas are explored. The composition of the formulas, their use in clinical settings as well as the background studies and other therapeutic efficacies are explained. Information on incorporating anti-cancer dietary support and breathing and meditation techniques, other therapies practiced as part of the center's integrative cancer care are also covered. Conclusion : WBT based on holistic theories of oriental medicine embracing body, mind, and spirit is expected to further contribute in promotion of cancer patients' quality of life and prolonged survival time.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.201-211
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study is to summarize and compare acupuncture points used for dental disorder in the classics with those used in recent clinical trials. Methods : We searched the data for acupuncture points used and rationale of acupuncture in dentistry. Following two sources were searched: 1) seven Classics of traditional medicine and 2) clinical trials through Pubmed from January 2000 to March 2013 with no language restriction. Results : Dental pain was the most common disorder in the dentistry section of the Classics of traditional medicine. We found many similarities of acupuncture points used between literatures and clinical trials. From the meridian perspective, large intestine meridian(LI), stomach meridian(ST), triple energizer meridian(TE), and gallbladder meridian(GB) were frequently used in the Classics of traditional medicine and the clinical trials. From the acupuncture point perspective, acupuncture points were selected according to syndrome. The specific points such as five transport points, source points, and connecting points were also used. In the clinical trials, combination of acupuncture points usually consisted adjacent points and distant points. Among them, LI4 was used in all of the studies included in this review. Conclusions : For well-designed clinical trial, appropriate intervention is essential. To establish appropriate acupuncture treatment, we have to suggest reasoning for treatment based on literature and/or expert consensus. Our review only focused on pain relief in dentistry and had many limitations. Further studies based on the literatures such as the Classics of traditional medicine are required to ensure the rationale of acupuncture treatments in various dental disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2019

Background: This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of Galgeungyulpitang for whitening and elasticity treatment by examining its effect on melanoma cells. Methods: The effects of Galgeungyulpitang on B16/F10 melanoma cell viability, production of melanin, tyrosinase and elastase, were investigated. Cell viability was measured by colorimetric assay that assesses cell metabolic activity (MTT assay). Melanin was measured by Hosei's method, tyrosinase was measured by Yogi's method and elastase was measured by James's method. Results: At concentrations higher than $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, cell viability was significantly reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$). At concentrations of $500{\mu}g/mL$ and lower, morphological changes were not observed. The rate of melanin synthesis was significantly reduced to $73.49%{\pm}2.92%$ at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang compared with untreated cells (p < 0.05). Extracellular tyrosinase production was not significantly decreased in vitro, however, intracellular tyrosinase production was significantly reduced to $76.06%{\pm}2.17%$ when treated with Galgeungyulpitang at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$ compared with the control (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 1 production was significantly reduced to $74.98%{\pm}3.24%$ and $69.62%{\pm}4.66%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ Galgeungyulpitang, respectively (p < 0.05). Elastase Type 4 production was significantly reduced to $72.77%{\pm}3.52%$ at concentrations of 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results in this study showed that Galgeungyulpitang may inhibit melanin and tyrosinase synthesis, and inhibit elastase production, suggesting that Galgeungyulpitang may be potentially beneficial for skin whitening and loss of skin elasticity treatments.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the acupuncture treatment studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. Methods : We reviewed the 16 studies about acupuncture treatment of tic disorder which were published from 2005 through 2007. We selected those studies from CNKI(中國知識基礎設施工程 http://www.cnki.net). Results : Selected 16 studies were divided into 8 case reports and 8 control studies. CCMD(6 studies) and DSM(4 studies) were frequently used in the diagnosis of tic disorder. Acupuncture points frequently used were 百會(Baekhoe, $GV_{20}$), 太衝(Taechung, $LR_3$), 風池(Pungji, $GB_{20}$), 合谷(Hapgok, $LI_4$), 神門(Sinmun, $HT_7$), 三陰交(Sameumgyo, $SP_6$), 內關(Naegwan, $PC_6$) and so on. According to specific parts of symptom, some acupuncture points were added. Most of studies reported that acupuncture treatments of tic disorder were very effective. Conclusions : There have been reported many acupuncture treatment studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. We believe that these studies could be applied to the clinical practices in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.382-387
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• 2009

Enhanced formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated as a major pathogenesis process leading to diabetic complications, normal aging, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. In our ongoing project to discover novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural sources, we have investigated on the inhibitory activity of 67 ethanol extracts from 57 Korean herbal medicines against the formation of AGEs in vitro. Of these, 22 extracts were found to have a significant AGEs inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$<50 ${\mu}g$/ml) compared with aminoguanidine ($IC_{50}$=75.98 ${\mu}g$/ml). Particularly, 6 extracts from 3 herbal medicines, Castanea crenata (flower, leaf, bark-twig), Acer tatarium subsp. ginnala (fruit) and Sapium japonicum (leaf, twig) showed (approximately 8-17 fold) stronger inhibitory activity than that of aminoguanidine.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2011

Aldose reductase (AR) has been implicated in the development of the diabetic complications. To discover novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural sources, 65 Korean herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Of these, 23 herbal medicines exhibited a significant inhibitory activity compared with 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG). Particularly, 8 herbal medicines, Acer tataricum (twig, stem and leaf), Acer tataricum (fruit), Rhododendron schlippenbachii (twig, stem and leaf), Weigela subsessilis (twig, stem and leaf), Acer mono (branch and leaf), Ailanthus altissima (twig, stem and leaf), Lindera obtusiloba (branch and leaf), Solidago serotina (whole plant) showed three times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control, TMG.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.65-74
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this review is to analyze the trends of Korean medicine treatment for trigger finger. Methods Clinical papers using Korean medicine to treat trigger finger were searched in five online databases-Koreanstudies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceON, Research Information Sharing Service, and PubMed. Nine studies were selected, and we analyzed their characteristics according to the author, year, number/gender/age of patients, duration of disease, duration of treatment, intervention method, measurement methods, and results. Results Seven case report studies, one prospective observational study, and one randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected in online databases, and there were no review studies. The most frequently used therapies were pharmacopuncture and acupuncture treatment. visual analogue scale, Quinnell's classification of triggering, was frequently used for measurement methods. All nine studies had therapeutic effects. Conclusions We reviewed studies of Korean medicine treatments for trigger finger, in this study. However, there are limitations that seven of the nine selected papers were case papers, and the number of papers was small. This paper suggests that a higher level of research and more studies on Korean medicine treatments of trigger finger need to be conducted.