• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.17-27
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between HbA1c and pain intensity in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients, and to compare the difference between two groups divided by the risk of complications. Methods : The participants were 46 men and women suffering from neuropathic pain diagnosed with diabetes mellitus who visited the Hospital of Traditional Korean Medicine, Semyung University from June, 2014 to August, 2015. Age, duration of diabetes mellitus, numeric rating scale(NRS), and Michigan neuropathy screening instrument(MNSI) were used as evaluation tools. Results : 1. In all 46 cases, there were no significant correlations between HbA1c and age, duration of diabetes mellitus, NRS, MNSIQ, or MNSIE. 2. Among 23 cases with a high risk of complications (more than 7.0 % of HbA1c, group A), there were no significant correlations between HbA1c and age, duration of diabetes mellitus, NRS, MNSIQ, or MNSIE. 3. Among 23 cases with a low risk of complications(less than 7.0 % of HbA1c, group B), there were no significant correlations between HbA1c and age, duration of diabetes mellitus, NRS, MNSIQ, or MNSIE. 4. Means of duration of diabetes mellitus, NRS, MNSIQ, and MNSIE were higher in group A than group B, but there were no significant correlations in statistics. Conclusions : This study could not find statistically significant correlations between pain intensity and HbA1c in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients, so more studies are required in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.892-901
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• 2020

Objective: This study reports the effect of Korean traditional medicine on persistent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: The patient was treated with Korean traditional medicine that included acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), the Quality of Life Questionnaire Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20), the Medicinae Doctor Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), and a numeral rating scale (NRS). We also used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to evaluate the patient's mood change after relieving the paresthesia. Results: After treatment, the symptoms were improved. Paresthesia decreased 80%p after Korean medicine treatment. Conclusions: According to this study, Korean traditional medicine can be an effective treatment for paresthesia in patients suffering from CIPN over 2 years.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1321-1328
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• 2018

Objective: This study was performed to report on the effects of traditional Korean Medicine as a treatment for a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, with lower limb pain as the chief complaint. Methods: We treated this patient with traditional Korean medicine and measured symptom severity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) as well as measuring the length of the patient's self-exercising time. Results: After about 7 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. There was a gradual decline in the VAS and a gradual increase in the length of the self-exercising time. Although there was an increase in the ODI scale during the first 2 weeks, it eventually showed a decline in the rest of the period. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for the patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease suffering from peripheral neurological symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.56-63
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• 2012

Objectives: To undertake manpower-related improvements based on a comparison between specialists in the traditional Korean medicine hospitals(TKMH) and their counterparts in Western medicine Methods: A survey of the TKMH based on questionnaire sheets dispatched to them by mail(57 of 142 responded) in the June December, 2008 period, and on almanac statistics provided by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs of Korean Government. Results: Overall, the workforce engaged in the traditional Korean medicine hospitals comprises traditional Korean medical doctors(28%), nurses(23%), administrative staffs(19%), assistant nurses(9%), medical record keepers(2%), nutritionists(2%), herbal pharmacists(1%), and others(16%). Each hospital has 16.5 traditional Korean medical doctors on average, which can be broken down into 6.2 specialists, 1.3 generalists, and 9.3 residents/interns. Only 10.7% of whole of traditional Korean medical doctors work in the hospitals, compared to 54.5% of Western medicine doctors. The ratio of traditional Korean medical doctors to the entirety of employees in the TKMH is 2.5 times higher than their Western medicine counterparts, while the ratio of medical technicians to the entire employees in the TKMH is 20 times lower than in the Western medicine counterparts. Conclusions: To provide more qualified medical service in the TKMH, they will be required to increase the proportion of non medical doctor employees, like Western medicine counterparts.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.130-143
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• 2022

Objective: This case report presents the effects of traditional Korean medical treatment for a patient with symptoms of the upper burner due to Beçhet's disease. Methods: A 42-year-old male patient was treated with traditional Korean herbal medicine (herbal formulas and patent medicines), acupuncture, and cupping therapy. Neck, ocular, and right wrist pain and xerostomia were assessed daily with a numeric rating scale (NRS) and grading assessment tool for subjective symptoms. Results: For a total of 20 days over two hospitalizations, the patient's neck pain was relieved from NRS 4 to 1, the ocular pain from NRS 5 to 1, the right wrist pain from NRS 7 to 1, and the xerostomia from grade 8 to 1. Conclusion: These results show that Beçhet's disease symptoms of the upper burner can be relieved with traditional Korean medical treatment, although additional well-designed studies are required to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2015

Objectives : Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPS) is a rare solid tumor and has a high recurrence rate after surgery. New complementary and alternative medicine is required to manage symptoms of RPS and side effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The purpose of this case report is to report two cases of reduction of side effects of surgery and radiation therapy in RPS treated with Wheel Balanced Therapy (WBT) which is a traditional Korean medicine treatment program for patients with cancer. Methods : Two patients with RPS were treated with WBT. Each of patients received personalized WBT schedule including acupuncture. The changes in clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated. Results : The symptoms of patients were improved after about 2 weeks hospitalization. Conclusions : This case report suggests that WBT has a potential to treat side effects of surgery and radiation therapy in patients with RPS. Further rigorous studies are necessary to investigate the therapeutic effects of WBT on RPS.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.938-947
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to report the changes in symptoms and radiological consequences of a patient diagnosed with spinal neurofibroma and complaining of lower back pain. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with a spinal neurofibroma after MRI examination and was treated with traditional Korean medicine, including traditional Korean medication and acupuncture. We measured the change in symptom severity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also used the EQ-5D (EuroQoL-5D) scale to assess the patient's quality of life. In addition, we examined the change in the size of the cyst by MRI twice after discharge: at about 3 months after discharge and at about 8 months after discharge. Results: After about 6 weeks of treatment, most pathological symptoms had decreased. The patient showed a decline in NRS and ODI scores and showed an increase in quality of life. The two MRI examinations after the discharge revealed a decrease in the size of the cyst. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with spinal neurofibroma causing neurological pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.901-911
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this case report is to describe three clinical cases that indicate positive effects of traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of acute headache attributed to whiplash injury. Method: Three patients were treated with a series of Korean medicine treatment, including Chuna treatment, acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, and herbal medicine, during the inpatient treatment period. Results: All patients showed decreases in the numerical rating scale (NRS) and headache impact test (HIT) scores. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine has potential benefits for the treatment of acute headache attributed to whiplash injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.335-347
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• 2015

Objectives This study aims to overview traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment guidelines for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in order to facilitate the use of Korean medicine (KM) treatment in pandemic diseases. Methods We compared the characteristics between SARS and MERS, and overviewed the Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment guidelines for SARS and MERS. We assessed the efficacy of simultaneous administration of herbal medicine and Western medicine on SARS by studying Cochranes 2012's Systematic Review Studies. Results and Conclusions Based on wen bing (warm diseases) of KM as well as TCM, KM treatment can be an alternative for pandemic diseases such as SARS and MERS considering the Korean's characteristic environment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a severe disease that usually needs surgical treatment. We have treated two CSM patients with Korean traditonal medicine, which includes acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and manual treatment (Chuna). For objective evaluation, we used Nurick's classification, JOA (Japanses Orthopedic Association) score, grip and release test and hand grasping power measurement. Post-treatment analysis has shown that grip and release test score and grasping power of two patients were both remarkably improved, along with the improvements on both Nurick's classification and JOA score. This study showed that Korean traditional medicine could be effective conservative treatment for CSM.