• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.88-91
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• 2019

Background: The intelligent tissue hypothesis on how acupuncture works, states that real-time organ states are reflected in the tissue at an organ's related acupuncture points (acupoints). Any such changes in the tissue would produce corresponding changes in the impedance at those locations. Methods: To test this hypothesis in relation to the lungs, the impedance at key lung-related acupoints was monitored in real time while the patient breathed normally, then breathed deeply, then quickly, then held his breath. Results: When breathing deeply this produced a notable decrease in the impedance at 1 acupoint, while breathing quickly produced a decrease at another acupoint, suggesting that these different functions taxed different aspects of the lungs, which was then reflected at different acupoints. The impedance at all the acupoints also contained low-amplitude waves that reflected the base rate of the respiration pacesetter, and the amplitude of these waves also varied to reflect different real-time states in the lungs. Conclusion: These real-time impedance patterns suggested that corresponding physical patterns were present in the tissue at these acupoints, and these physical patterns mirrored the real-time variations in function strength of the related organ (the lungs). These results were consistent with the hypothesis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.315-326
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• 2012

Objectives : The new health technology assessment system was introduced in April 2007. The purpose of new health technology assessment is assessing safety and efficacy in deciding a behavior of new health technology according to the Health Insurance Act. This study aims to understand the present status of new health technologies of Korean medicine. Methods : This research introduces new health technologies and their present status, and searches for a development direction for the new health technology of Korean medicine in the future. Results : Thirty seven cases(3%) of Korean medicine doctors who utilized new health technologies application were found. In the status about new health technologies application by technologies assortment, diagnostic test techniques were used more often than treatment skills. New medical technology that included korean medicine doctor as actual user was only one item, i.e. HCV antibody test. Conclusions : In order for the new health technology of korean medicine to settle down well, continuous interest and efforts of both government and medical community are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.51-60
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• 2009

Objectives : It is considered not easy to diagnose the condition of acupoints or meridians. Oriental Medical instruments have rarely complied with Oriental Medical diagnostic/therapeutic theories. The aim of this study was to develop a system which measures meridian electric potential(MEP) in proportion to bio-electric charge for the purpose of Oriental Medical diagnosis. Method : To evaluate a meridian energy measurement system(MEMS), we carried out a performance test. For significance test, we conducted a clinical trial which measured the MEP of ST36(Chok-samni) on Stomach Meridian(ST). Results & Conclusions : We could evaluate the balance or the imbalance of the MEPs on the left/right ST36. Also, through the comparison of MEPs before and after meals, we could identify the correlation between the MEP and the condition of internal organs. Namely, MEP reflects the condition of acupoints/meridians and internal organs, therefore, we propose this new method for measuring and analyzing the condition of meridians and acupoints for Oriental Medical diagnosis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how norepinephrine affects immunity in patients over age 65. Methods: We enrolled 25 male and female subjects age 65 or older. A low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) device was used to stimulate acupoint Hogu (L14). The 2 Hz frequency EA was applied to the acupoint for 20 minutes. Leukocyte subtypes-including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophil-were then measured. The immunoglobulins IgG and IgM were also quantified. The data were finally analyzed using Wilcoxon singed-rank test and regression test as part of the SPSS WIN v. 10.1 program. Results: As norepinephrine levels decreased after EA stimulation, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels increased, and eosinophil and neutrophils levels decreased. Neutrophil and monocyte levels did not change to a statistically significant degree, but eosinophil levels showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). Immunoglobulin IgG showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that norepinephrine does affect immunity in persons over the age of 65. This indicates that there is an interaction between the nervous system and the immune system, and interaction that plays a crucial roles in the body's immune resistance and homeostasis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.300-311
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• 2021

Background: So far there is no confidence in the basics of acupoint/meridian phenomena, specifically in spatial and temporal electrical manifestations in the skin. Methods: Using the skin electrodynamic introscopy, the skin areas of 32 × 64 mm² were monitored for spectral electrical impedance landscape with spatial resolution of 1 mm, at 2 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies. The detailed baseline and 2D test-induced 2 kHz-impedance phase dynamics and the 4-parameter time plots of dozens of individual points in the St32-34 regions were examined in a healthy participant and a patient with mild gastritis. Non-thermal stimuli were used: (1) (for the sick subject), microwaves and ultraviolet radiation applied alternately from opposite directions of the meridian; and (2) (for the healthy one) microwaves to St17, and cathodic/anodic stimulation of the outermost St45, alternately. Results: In both cases, the following phenomena have been observed: emergence of in-phase and/or antiphase coherent structures, exceeding the acupoint conditional size of 1 cm; collective movement along the meridian; reversible with a reversed stimulus; counter-directional dynamics of both whole structures and adjacent points; local abnormalities in sensitivity and dynamics of the 1 MHz and 2 kHz parameters indicating existence of different waveguide paths. Conclusion: It is assumed that these findings necessitate reconsideration of some basic methodological issues regarding neurogenic/acupuncture points as spatial and temporal phenomena; this requires development of an appropriate approach for identifying the acuzones patterns. These findings may be used for developing new approaches to personalized/controlled therapy/treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.188-199
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to find the desirable remaining time of needle in the acupuncture treatment. Methods : The 21 volunteers were given acupuncture at LU9 vertically and needles were remained for 2 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, respectively. The thermographic change induced by acupuncture was measured with Digital Infrared Thermographic Image at the following acupoints: LU11, LU10, LU9, LU8, LU5, LU1, and PC7. The statistical significance of thermographic change was evaluated using paired t-test and post hoc Wilcoxon test. Results : The most significant changes after acupuncture were produced when needles were remained for 10 min or 15 min. LU11, LU5, LU1, and PC7 were the point at which all of the remaining time produced significant change commonly. At LU11, the biggest change was produced when needle was remained for 15 min, while at LU5, LU1, and PC7, the biggest change was produced when needle was remained for 30 min, and the smallest change was produced when needle was remained for 10 min at all of acupoints of LU11, LU5, LU1, and PC7. The unbalance between left side and right was decreased the most largely in 15 min group. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that the desirable remaining time of acupuncture needle might be 15 min.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.947-952
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• 2012

This Study was conducted to investigate Muscle Test of Point Selection through CRA(Contact Reflex Analysis) Muscel Diagnosis. So this study used to compare and analyze the effects of Muscel(Deltoid Muscel of Posterior) RMS(Root Mean Squared) and MEF(Median Edge Frequency) Among Groups that do not respond to questionnaire, Tonguibogam Naegyeongpyeon Small Intestine Group, Small Intestine MeridianPathway Primary Symptom and Secondary Symptom Group and Kwanwon(CV4) meridian Principal action Group. The questionnaire is composed of 23 items. The questionnaire was intended to elicit information on assorting into 4 groups. After Survey, Subject had to Muscle test subjects. Muscle experimental methods are as follows: Holding the shoulder without contacting Kwanwon. Holding the shoulder contacting Kwanwon. The first iteration. Group 1,2,3 were increased sEMG RMS compared with First experiment and Second experiment. Group 4(Including Uterus and Intestinal Flora Problem) were decreased sEMG RMS compared with First experiment and Second experiment. This test means that it is similar to diagnosis CRA and Small intestine channel of hand taiyang muscle, not Small Intestine MeridianPathway. It is suggested that subjects with a Small Intestine problem(Uterus and Intestinal Flora Problem) shows the results of decreasing posterior Deltoid Muscular strength. It means that CRA muscle diagnosis is associated with Alarm points diagnosis. But it doesn't consider influence of fat on the surface EMG.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2010

Objectives : The bone proportional cun and body cun have been used widely for the location of acupoints in oriental medical clinic. The aim of this study is to compare the two location methods. Methods : 21 students were examined for the location of 6 acupoints (each 2 points in the 3 parts of upper limb, abdomen, and lower limb) using the twe methods. The data of location were analyzed with t-test. Results : In the upper limb, the data from bone proportional cun and body cun were proved to be different significantly. However, there was no significant difference between the data from the two methods in the abdomen and lower limb. Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that the oriental medical doctors should be more careful in the choice of appropriate method for the location of acupoints in the upper limb, while it is not important whether they use bone proportional cun and body cun in the abdomen and lower limb.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.81-90
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• 2003

Objectives : This experimental research has been done to study the effects of herbal-acupuncture with Juglandis Semen on the anti-allergic reaction. Methods : ICR mice were injected intraperioneally with compound 48/80 to induce the immediately type hypersensitivity (anaphylaxis). ICR mice were sensitized by PC and SRBC to induce the delayed type hypersensitivity. Sprage-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with egg albumin to measure the WBC. ICR mice and Sprage-Dawley rats were injected with Juglandis Semen herbal-acupuncture for the anti-allergic reaction test. Results : 1. In the restraint effect of systemic anaphylactic reaction, the mortality of mice decreased 20% each before 10 minutes and after 5 minutes. 2. In the contact dermatitis induced by PC, both Treat Ⅰand Treat Ⅱ group showed significant(p<0.01, p<0.05) decrease in comparison with the Control group, and also Treat Ⅲ group showed significance(p<0.005). 3. In the delayed type hypersensitivity in mice challenged by SRBC, Treat Ⅰ group showed significant(p<0.05) decrease in comparison with the Control group, and there was significance(p<0.05, p<0.05) in Treat Ⅲ and Treat Ⅳ group. 4. The change of the WBC in allergic rats induced by egg albumin showed significant(p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05) decrease in Treat Ⅰ, Treat Ⅱ and Treat Ⅲ group. Conclusions : The restraint effects of Juglandis Semen herbal-acupuncture on the anti-allergic reaction showed significance statistically. And also allergic group treated with $BL_{17}$ acupuncture (Treat Ⅲ group) showed same results.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.55-71
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was investigated the effect and pathway of heterotopic electroacupuncture (EA) on pain induced by formalin in rats. Methods : Acupoints in the right forepaws, $HT_7$ and $PC_7$, were stimulated with 3 mA, 2 ms, and 10 Hz before subcutaneously formalin injection (5%, $50{\mu}l$) to the left hind paw. Moreover, it was investigated whether the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), as known to the descending inhibition, mediates analgesia of the heterotopic EA, and an administration of naltrexone blocks the effect of EA. Results : In the immunohistochemistry of cFos-like protein (cFL), there were inhibitory effects of EA on the increased expression of cFL in the lumbar spinal dorsal horn neurons following formalin injection. Especially, EA inhibited the expression of cFL on the superficial laminae than that on the deep laminae at 1 hr after, but that on the deep laminae than that on the superficial laminae at 2 hr after. Also, EA suppressed the increased expression of nitric oxide (NO) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the lumbosacral spinal cord after formalin injection, but not Sham-EA. Suppressed expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS in the spinal cord were eliminated after transection of the ipsilateral DLF at $T_{10}{\sim}T_{11}$ levels. However, pretreatment of naltrexone could not prevent the suppressive expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS at the spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that the analgesia of heterotopic EA may be modulated through the DLF constituting the descending inhibition.