• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.29-36
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of fire needling therapy and general acupuncture for the patient with lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Methods : We observed 20 lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients from March, 2014 to October, 2015. This study was randomized and assessor blinded. The patients were divided into two groups: one group(group A) was treated by general acupuncture only, and the other group(group B) was treated by fire needling therapy and general acupuncture. We evaluated the treatment effect experienced by each group using the visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI). Results : 1. In group A, VAS and ODI from before treatment to treatment 4, 8, 12, 16 were significantly improved in statistics. 2. In group B, VAS from before treatment to treatment 4, 8, 12, 16 was significantly improved, but ODI was significantly improved in statistics only from before treatment to treatment 12, not in treatment 4, 8, 16. 3. As a result of comparisons between group A and B, there were no statistical significance in VAS and ODI. Conclusions : This study was not able to determine statistical significance between the group treated by general acupuncture only and the group treated by fire needling therapy and general acupuncture, so further studies are required in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.247-252
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• 2018

A 58-year-old woman came into our clinic with headache, dizziness, and malaise after an electrical injury. Even though she received conventional treatment about five weeks after the injury, the symptoms did not improve, and she decided to undergo traditional Korean medicine treatment. During a 20-day hospital stay with acupuncture and herbal medicine, the symptoms were reduced to about half, and after six months of further treatment in the outpatient clinic, there was no pain during the day and only moderate headaches occurred intermittently after intense physical activity. As far as we know, this is the first report to treat the aftereffects of electrical injury with traditional Korean medicine treatment. Hence, here we tried to fully describe and announce the detailed progress of the patient through this report.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as damage to the spinal cord that temporarily or permanently changes its function. There is no definite treatment established for neurological complete injury patients. This study investigated the effect of ginseng extract and ginsenosides on neurological recovery and antioxidant efficacies in rat models following SCI and explore the appropriate dosage. Searches were done on PubMed, Embase, and Chinese databases, and animal studies matches the inclusion criteria were selected. Pair-wise meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were performed. Ten studies were included, and the overall methodological qualities were low quality. The result showed ginseng extract and ginsenosides significantly improve neurological function, through the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale (pooled MD = 4.40; 95% CI = 3.92 to 4.88; p < 0.00001), significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) (n = 290; pooled MD = -2.19; 95% CI = -3.16 to 1.22; p < 0.0001) and increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (n = 290; pooled MD = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.45 to 2.83; p < 0.00001). Both low (<25 mg/kg) and high dosage (25 mg/kg) showed significant improvement in the motor function recovery in SCI rats. Collectively, this review suggests ginseng extract and ginsenosides has a protective effect on SCI, with good safety and a clear mechanism of action and may be suitable for future clinical trials and applications.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.902-910
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• 2020

Medial medullary infarction, with representing symptoms of hemiparesis, lingual palsy, and sensory defect, usually has a bad prognosis. The present case is unusual as the patient had a bilateral infarction, and little information is available for bilateral cases. We treated a patient diagnosed with bilateral medial medullary infarction with the symptoms of quadriplegia, lingual palsy, dyspnea, dysphagia, spastic pain, and loss of proprioception. After 126 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, the patient showed increased muscle power, sensory recovery, reduced spastic pain, and alleviation of dysphagia and dyspnea. This report indicates that traditional Korean medicine could be an effective treatment of the sequelae of medullary infarctions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of traditional Korean medical treatment and auricular acupuncture on the patient suffered from epiphora. Methods : One patient suffering from epiphora was treated with traditional Korean medical treatment including auricular acupuncture. HRQL(Health-related quality of life) and VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) were measured and compared to evaluate its treatment effectiveness. Results : We attained results which show recovery from watery eye, pain, eye strain in symptoms and improvement on quality of life. Conclusions : In this study, traditional Korean medical treatment can be effective in obtunding symtoms and improving quaility of life for patients suffering from epiphora.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

Object : Traditional Korean Medicine Diagnostic Support System(TKMDSS) is the diagnostic prescribing system based on ontology developed by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. We monitored and assessed its usefulness and searched for improvements. Methods : We collected 10 cases of stroke inpatients of Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Hospital. They were diagnosed by primary care physician and another researcher who monitored using "TKMDSS" respectively. We compared the process and results of two diagnosis. Results : The diagnostic concordance rate between primary care physician and researcher were pretty high. Most of the problems were caused by expressions on symptoms inappropriate use of terminology. The severity of symptoms and vague symptoms which is hard to be diagnosed should be reflected and measured in this system. Conclusions : The problems were about terminology and definition. The terminology should be defined accurately and in-depth detail so that anyone can get the right information. If the problems were modified, "TKMMSS" could be utilized as supportive measures for oriental medicine doctors and students.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2016

Objective: This clinical study reports on a case of generalized edema with hypoalbuminemia and pleural effusion improved by combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatments in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia medicated with dasatinib.Method: Combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatment was carried out, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and albumin injection. We examined the serum albumin, measured the circumference of both thighs and ankles to estimate the volume of the edema, and evaluated the pleural effusion symptoms.Results: The serum albumin increased, and generalized edema and pleural effusion improved significantly after the administration of Bojungchiseub-tang-gami.Conclusion: These results showed that complications of generalized edema and pleural effusion associated with dasatinib medication have the potential to be improved via combined traditional Korean and Western medical treatments.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.797-805
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this clinical case is to evaluate the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for fibromyalgia. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean medicine therapy (herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and Chu-na therapy). We measured the status and progress of this patient using a numerical rating scale (NRS), EuroQol-5D, range of movement (ROM), and a special test. Results: After the treatments, the patient's pain was controlled and the NRS score decreased. The overall symptoms of the patient and the EQ-5D score were both improved. The ROM and special test score were also improved. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine may have positive effects as a treatment for fibromyalgia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1015-1022
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the effects of traditional Korean medicine treatment on a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at the left basal ganglia. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine (Gamicheongsim-tang, Hwangryunhaedok-tang-tablet), acupuncture, moxibustion, and rehabilitative therapy. The effects of these treatments were evaluated using the manual muscle test (MMT), sensory scale, Korean version of the modified Barthel index (K-MBI), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: After treatment, the MMT grade improved from 3+/3+ to 4+/4+, and the sensory scale increased from 40%/40%/40% to 80%/80%/80%. In addition, the K-MBI score improved from 56 to 100, and the NIHSS score decreased from 7 to 1. Conclusion: The results suggest that traditional Korean medicine can be effective in the treatment of patients with ICH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.367-378
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• 2024

In this study we sought to elucidate the therapeutic effects of fenchone on constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) and the underlying mechanisms. An IBS-C model was established in rats by administration of ice water by gavage for 14 days. Fenchone increased the reduced body weight, number of fecal pellets, fecal moisture, and intestinal transit rate, and decreased the enhanced visceral hypersensitivity in the rat model of IBS-C. In addition, fenchone increased the serum content of excitatory neurotransmitters and decreased the serum content of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the IBS-C rat model. Meanwhile, western blot and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that fenchone increased the expressions of SCF and c-Kit. Furthermore, compared with the IBS-C model group, fenchone increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Blautia, Allobaculum, Subdoligranulum, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-008, and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Alistipes, and Escherichia-Shigella on the genus level. Overall, fenchone ameliorates IBS-C via modulation of the SCF/c-Kit pathway and gut microbiota, and could therefore serve as a novel drug candidate against IBS-C.