• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.313-353
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• 2023

Objectives: Heart failure is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence rates despite advancements in medical technology. Korean medicine utilizes herbal prescriptions to treat heart failure, but little is known about the specific herbal medicines comprising the network of herbal prescriptions for heart failure. This study proposes a novel methodology that can efficiently develop prescriptions and facilitate experimental research on heart failure by utilizing existing databases. Methods: Herbal medicine prescriptions for heart failure were identified through a PubMed search and compiled into a Google Sheet database. NetMiner 4 was used for network analysis, and the individual networks were classified according to the herbal medicine classification system to identify trends. K-HERB NETWORK was utilized to derive related prescriptions. Results: Network analysis of heart failure prescriptions and herbal medicines using NetMiner 4 produced 16 individual networks. Uhwangcheongsim-won (牛黃淸心元), Gamiondam-tang (加味溫膽湯), Bangpungtongseong-san (防風通聖散), and Bunsimgi-eum (分心氣飮) were identified as prescriptions with high similarity in the entire network. A total of 16 individual networks utilized K-HERB NETWORK to present prescriptions that were most similar to existing prescriptions. The results provide 1) an indication of existing prescriptions with potential for use to treat heart failure and 2) a basis for developing new prescriptions for heart failure treatment. Conclusion: The proposed methodology presents an efficient approach to developing new heart failure prescriptions and facilitating experimental research. This study highlights the potential of network pharmacology methodology and its possible applications in other diseases. Further studies on network pharmacology methodology are recommended.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.60-68
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the effects of Hominis placenta (Jahage, J) and wild ginseng (SanSam, S) pharmacopuncture drugs on muscle differentiation and energy metabolism regulation in C2C12 myotubes. Methods: The C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes for 5 days by replacing in medium containing 2% horse serum and then treated with J and S pharmacopuncture extract at different concentrations for 24 hr. The expression of myosin heavy chain and energy metabolism-regulating factors, myosin heavy chain (MHC), nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1), and proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) were determined in C2C12 myotubes by western blot. Additionally, the phosphorylation of AMPK and the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis, including sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) were determined in the myotubes. Results: As a result, treatment with J and S pharmacopuncture extract at 0.1 and 1 mg/mL increased the MHC expression in C2C12 myotubes compared with non-treated cells, but only S pharmacopuncture was shown a significant and distinct increase in the expression. Expression of TFAM and NRF-1 was also shown significant increases in S and J pharmacopuncture in C2C12 myotubes compared to non-treated cells. The phosphorylation of AMPK and the expression of PGC-1α and SIRT1 showed increased expression in S and J pharmacopuncture compared to non-treated cells. The effect of low-dose of J pharmacopuncture on the phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and PGC-1α expression was greater than that of S pharmacopuncture. Conclusions: In conclusion, both J and S pharmacopuncture promote muscle differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes and energy metabolism through the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This indicates that the pharmacopuncture with tonic herbal medicines can help to improve skeletal muscle function.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2013

Objectives Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reason for people in Korea to visit Korean medical institutions. To assess actual amounts of use in the treatment of LBP in Korean medicine and to provide objective base line data for policy decision making, research regarding the current state of LBP patients' treatment in Korean medical institutions are in need. Methods The current study was designed as a retrospective chart review to investigate descriptive characteristics of LBP patients. The clinical records of 304 patients who were hospitalized for the treatment of LBP in Korean rehabilitation medicine inpatient clinics of five different Korean medicine hospitals were analyzed. The percentage of patient characteristics such as sex, age, average duration of admission, insurance type, diagnosed LBP related disease code, and rates of interventions applied were assessed. Results 1. The female sex was significantly predominant among patients with LBP : 105 patients (34.5%) were male and 199 patients (65.5%) were female. Percentage of the patients' age appeared as followed : 76 people (25.0%) were in their 50s, 64 people (21.1%) were in their 40s, 51 people (16.8%) were in their 30s, 37 people (12.2%) were in their 60s, and 33 people (10.9%) were in their 70s. Approximately half of the total LBP patients investigated were older than 50. 2. The average duration of admission was 16.2 days. Approximately one third (30.3%) of the patients were hospitalized for 8 to 14 days. 3. Female patients tended to stay admitted in hospitals slightly longer than male patients. Elderly (age 60~79) patients stayed in hospitals longer (17.8 days) compared to younger (age 20~39) patients (13.5 days). 4. More than half of the patients (171 cases, 56.3%) had their hospital bills covered with automobile insurance. 40.1% (122 cases) of the patients had medical insurance to cover their hospital bills. The average duration of admission of patients who had automobile insurance was 14.2 days, while that of the patients who had medical insurance was 18.4 days. 5. "Sprain and strain of the lumbar spine and pelvis" was the most commonly used (195 cases, 64.1%) disease code in patients with LBP. Patients diagnosed as "lumbar and other intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy" required the longest admission duration (22.1 days). 6. Herbal medication was applied to all of the patients during admission. Acupuncture was applied to all of the patients except one case diagnosed as spinal stenosis. Physical therapy, cupping therapy, moxibustion therapy, chuna therapy, and pharmacopuncture therapy were applied to 94.7, 92.8, 85.2, 83.9, and 49.7% of the patients, respectively. 7. There were certain differences among Korean medicine hospitals in terms of the LBP patients' duration of admission, type of insurance, frequency of the disease code use, type of intervention applied. Conclusions It is thought that the current study can be used as reference data in assessing the current state of LBP treatment in Korean rehabilitation medicine and a basis for future research. Provided improvements of certain limitations of the current study in future researches, such data would act as better base line data in policy decision making.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.377-393
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• 1996

Lumbago is the common disease in the human, many people have been sicked the Lumbago. As the traditional methods of Lumbago treatment, acupuncture, moxibustion, herb medicines have been applied to a patient, nowadays, new methods have been applied physical remedy, Yakchim (Korean herb acupuncture) remedy, Chuna remedy to. This report was collected 73 Lumbago patients by name, sex, age, motive, symptoms, X-ray, CT, MRI, lRCT, Sasang constitution type, Sasang herb medicine, Yakchim, Chuna, period of remedy, satisfaction of remedy, at the "WooRee Korean Medical Clinic" during 21 months from Sep. 14, 1994 to May 25, 1996. And this report was studied about the distribution of the Sasang constitution type, the Sasang herb medicine, the effect, the period. The results were as follows: 1. Lumbago patients were distributed like that; Taeum-ln (太陰人) 47 (66.3 %), Soyang-In 16 (21.9 %), Soum-In (13.7 %), Taeyang-In (太陽人) 0. This was different from distribution of Donguisuseibowon (東醫壽世保元), Taeum-In (太陰人) 50%, Soyang-In (少陽人) 30 %, Soum-In (少陰人) 20 %, Taeyang-In (太陽人) little, this report shows that the number of Taeum-In (太陰人) is more than that of Donguisuseibowon and the number of Soum-In is less than that of Donguisuseibowon. 2. The average satisfaction of remedy was 60.3 %, Taeum-In's satisfaction was 66.0 %, Soum-In's satisfaction was 56.3 %, Soyang-In's satisfaction was 60.0 %. 3. The effective herb medicines were as follows, Soyang-In used the Hyong Bang Ji Hwang Tang (荊防地黃湯), Yuk Mi Ji Hwang Tang (六味地黃樓), Soum-In used the Sib Yi Mi Goan Jung Tang (十二味寬中湯), Taeum-In used the Chung Sim Yon Ja Tang (淸心蓮子陽), Chung Pae Sa Gan Tang (淸師爾肝湯), Yeol Da Han So Tang (熱多寒少湯). 4. The period of remedy was about 6 weeks. The period of remedy of each types was as follows, Taeum-In was about 5.7 weeks, Soum-In was about 6.8 weeks, Soyang-In was about 4.2 weeks. 5. The method of Lumbago remedy is divided three types, sprain Lumbago, Pyobyong (表病 : outside Syndromes) Libyong (裡病 : inside symdromes). Soum-In's methods are Pyobyong's ascending the Yang (陽), adding the Gi (氣) [升陽益氣], and Libyong's descending the inside Yim (裡陰) [裡陰降氣], Soyang-In's methods are Pyobyongs's decending the outside-Yim [表陰降氣], and Libyong's ascending the cool Yang (濟陽) [淸陽上升]. Taeum-In's methods are Pyobyong's ascending the Lung's Yang (肺陽升氣), and Libyong's colding the dried hot liver (淸肝燥熱). Taeyang's methods are strong the liver and making Yim. (補r肝生陰) 6. There are two methods for using the YakChim (Korean herb-acupuncture) by Sasang constitution medicine, one is to select the Yakchim, the other is to choice the point for appling the Yakchim. The first, to select the Yakchim, the other is follows; Soum-In can select the bee Venom, Soyang-In can select the H.O. (Hong Whoa 紅花), Taeum-In can select the I (Hodo 胡挑), V, O.K. (Ungdarn, 薦膽), Uwhang 牛黃, Sa-Hyang 麝香, etc., Palgang Yakchim (eight principles Korean herb-acupuncture (八剛藥鐵)) could made by abstracted Sasang herb medicine. The second, to choice the points for applying the Yakchim are used in the TaeGiuk Acupuncture method (太梗針法), Sacho (四焦, four warmer) by Sasang constritutional physiology and pathology.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.6
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• pp.252-305
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• 1993

I have studied the relation between a Taoist(道家) and the oriental medicine(韓醫學), it is summerized as following. 1. According to the relation between a Taoist(道家) and the oriental medicine, Lao-tzu(老子)' mathematical principle that had an influence on Three yin-three yang(三陰三陽) theory of the oriental medicine, idea of natural philosopy(自然無爲) and the freedom from avarace(無慾) on the oriental medicine. 2. Vital essence and energy theory(精氣設) in a Taoist not only can be seen in Lao-tzu' Do dug gyung(老子道德經), Maengza(孟子), Guanza(管子), but also its principle has something to do with Nei Ching's Vital essence and energy theory(精氣設). 3. Danjungpa(丹鼎派) can be divided into Naedansul(內丹術) which preserves through the breath and Oedansul(外丹術) which makes one a Taoist hermit. If he takes magic portions(金丹), they had a great effect on Yangsanghak(養生學) and was actually concerned with oriental doctors who was known to us. 4. If medicine of Taoism is classified, it can be divided into three categories. Boiled solution(渴液), Pharmacopea "Ben cao"(本草), Acupuncture & moxibustion(針灸), Magic portions(外丹) are used in the first category. Chinese setting-up and Therapeutic exercises(導引), Josik(調息), Naedan(內丹), Byugok(辟榖), Naeshi(內視), Banjung(房中) belong to second category. The religious contents such as Bu(符), Jeum(占), Cheum(籤), Ju(呪), Je(齊), Gido(祈禱), taboo are implied in third category. 5. In the history of the medicine of Taoism and oriental medicine, they are called animism, shamanism, Mu(巫) or Ye(毉), not separated at first period. In the end of junguk(戰國時代), Ye(醫) was clearly distinguished from Mu(巫) and then Mu(巫) was developed into medicine of Taoism and ye(毉) into the present form of oriental medicine. 6. The oriental medicine doctors that are concerned with Taoism are Bakgo(伯高), Geyugu(鬼臾區), Soyu(少兪), Noigong(雷公), Pyujak(篇鵲), Sunuyi(淳于意), Hwata(華陀), Hwangbomil(皇甫謐), Hangang(韓康), Dongbong(童奉), Heuson(許遜), Galhong(葛洪), Dohongyung(陶弘景), Damlan(曇鸞), uyjajang(葦慈藏), Sonsanak(孫思邈), Wanguing(王氷), Jegonghwalbul(濟公活佛), Yuwanso(劉完素), Judonge(朱丹溪), Leesijin(李時珍), Johakmin(趙學敏), Ougu1(吳杰) etc. 7. The view of a human body in the medicine of Taoism affected the oriental medicine on the ground that man was regarded as a microcosm(小宇宙), so he was compared to a nation or heaven and earth. 8. The anatomy of medicine of Taoism gave a detail description of five visceras and each organs, the heart, center of mental function, Mirie(尾閭) which has an relationship to the training of Naedan(內丹修練). In this resrect, as it is accord with the acupunture point of oriental medicine, therefore we can find that Taoism influenced oriental medicine, also explicit study was achieved. 9. Acient people believed that the goo in the human lxxIy, one of the characteristics of the medicine of Taoism cured the patients and then protected him from the disease. If a man was taken ill, they had him cured by making the god's name which corresponded to its disease, calling him communicating with him, and asking him to deprive him of illness. This treatment was used to live and be kept young eternally. In this respects, we can see that they emphasized on the attitude of Bulchiyibeung chimibeung(不治己病治末病) and psychological treatment. 10. Samsi thoery(三尸說) that one's fortune, disaster, health, and disease in the world are at the mercy of his good or bad conduct, is concerned with Taoism and treatment with the oriental medicine. 11. Guchung(九蟲) is more closly associated with the religious aspect rather than with the medical aspect. Because of the similarity of the mcdern parasitism, its study has an important meaning. 12. The respect for the human life is reflected in jeunsi(傳屍), with Samsi-guchung theory(三尸九蟲說), which is considered as mxIern tuberculosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.165-178
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• 2018

Objectives: To determine the current status of the treatment of breast cancer patients by Korean Medicine doctors (KMDs) and to examine the need for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the supportive care of these patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were asked about their experience in treating breast cancer patients; the number of breast cancer patients they currently treat; the main complaints expressed by, diagnoses of, and treatments used for such patients; and their opinions about Korean Medicine (KM) as the basis for providing supportive care for breast cancer. Results: The data for this study were collected from 322 respondents. 84 of whom reported having ever treated patients with breast cancer. Most breast cancer patients who visited the KM clinic were classified as stage I or II, and their major complaints were fatigue, general weakness and musculoskeletal pain. The major diagnostic strategies were syndrome differentiation and pulse diagnosis. The major treatments administered were herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. KMDs cited a need for medical information, such as CPGs, as their most important concern with regard to the treatment of breast cancer patients. Conclusions: This survey determined the prevalence of the use of KM for Korean breast cancer patients. Our results underscore the need for clinical practice guidelines for using of KM as the basis of supportive care for breast cancer and for informing clinicians and patients about this approach.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.27-54
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• 2021

Objectives : This review was conducted to validate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine combined with conventional therapy for rosacea. Methods : Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) reporting the effects of herbal medicine treatment on rosacea were searched through eight electronic databases from 2016 to March 17, 2020. This study collection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviews. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for the evaluation of the risk of bias in all included RCTs. Mean differences(MD) and Risk ratio(RR) of 95% Confidence intervals(Cls) were calculated and data synthesis was conducted using Review Manager(RevMan, ver.5.4) Results : Eighteen RCTs were included and all trials compared the combined therapy of herbal medicine with conventional western therapy to conventional therapy alone. The effective rate of the combination of herbal medicine with western medicine(RR 1.20, 95% CI : 1.13-1.28, p<0.00001, I²=0%), the effective rate of the combination of herbal medicine with laser-based therapy(RR 1.12, 95% CI : 1.04-1.21, p=0.004, I²=18%) and the effective rate of the combination treatment group using herbal medicine, western medicine and external drugs were all statistically higher that of the control group(RR 1.19, 95% CI : 1.11-1.28, p<0.00001, I²=0%). The score of non transient erythema(MD -0.36, 95% CI : -1.01 0.29, p=0.27, I²=93%), flushing(MD -0.69, 95% CI : -0.97, 0.41, p<0.00001, I²=32%), papules or pustules(MD 0.10, 95% CI : -0.15, 0.35 p=0.44, I²=0%) were also seen in the herbal medicine and western medicine combination group. The overall risk of bias of the included studies was some concerns. No serious adverse effects were observed. Conclusions : This review found the safety and effectiveness of the combined therapy of herbal medicine with conventional western therapy for rosacea.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.89-96
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• 2022

Objectives : This research was performed to analyze the components in the different parts of Lythrum salicaria L. and to compare which parts of L. salicaria L. are appropriate for food development. Methods : L. salicaria L. was extracted in 20% EtOH at 100 ℃ for 4 hours. Cytotoxicity was investigated in 3T3-L1 cells after treatment of 10-500 ㎍/ml L. salicaria L. for 24 hours. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was estimated using 1 N Folin-ciocateu reagent. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was estimated using DPPH reagent and gallic acid. The chemical composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 1) Results : The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the extracts of the whole plant, aerial parts, and root parts was 350 ㎍/ml, over 500 ㎍/ml, and 150 ㎍/ml, respectively. The TPC in the extracts of the whole plant, aerial parts, and root parts was 527.1 mg/g, 422.6 mg/g, and 781.1 mg/g, respectively. The averages of vitexin contents in the aerial parts, and root parts were 256.7 ± 154.9 ㎍/g and 266.1 ± 63.2 ㎍/g, respectively. The averages of TPC in the leaves, roots, flower stalks and stems were 224.0 ± 53.7 tannin acid (TA) mg/g, 221.8 ± 70.2 TA mg/g, 249.8 ± 34.4 TA mg/g, and 67.7±8.9 TA mg/g, respectively. The averages of DPPH radical scavenging activity in the leaves, roots, flower stalks, and stems were 282.01 ± 43.3 gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 𝜇mole/g, 260.16 ± 44.1 GAE 𝜇mole/g, 288.0 ± 9.3 GAE 𝜇mole/g, and 97.6 ± 10.7 GAE 𝜇mole/g, respectively. Conclusions : There were no significant differences in the content of components or antioxidant activity in the aerial parts compared to those in the whole plant of L. salicaria L. Furthermore, the root parts had low extract yield, cytotoxicity, and quality control problems, therefore our results suggest that the use of the aerial part of L. salicaria L. would be the most appropriate for food development.