• Perspectives in Nursing Science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.73-89
• /
• 2006

Complementary and alternative medicine has gained popularity and respectability in recent years in the United States. Since aging is often associated with chronic health conditions that commonly lead to physical and psychosocial disabilities (e.g., depression, functional and/or cognitive disabilities, and decreased quality of life), older adults often seek options to maintain health and treat chronic conditions as an adjunct to conventional medical care. Herbal products, the most commonly used among various complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), should be used with caution due to potential herbal-drug interactions (related to polypharmacy) and herbal-disease interactions (related to comorbidities). Five of the most common chronic conditions in older adults are chronic pain, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic lung problems. A high rate of falls or risk of falling is also a problem unique to this older population. For these conditions, only a few types of CAM (e.g., acupuncture, qi gong, tai chi) were tested, with promising results. However, in spite of evidence supporting the use of certain types of CAM to alleviate some common chronic conditions, findings are limited in terms of other types of CAM tested and both short and long-term effects. More rigorous clinical trials of various CAM types are thus warranted to advance scientific knowledge and establish evidence-based practices to care for the growing number of older adults who deserve to have a better quality of life.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To address suitable method for designing clinical trial intervening Traditional Korean Herbal Medicine on General anxiety disorder through the recent clinical research in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Methods : Randomized, controlled trials(RCTs) of treatment of general anxiety disorder intervening herbal medicine were searched through CNKI databases. We examined several item of studies and evaluated using Jadad scale. We searched articles in CNKI with the key word "General anxiety disorder or 廣範性焦慮症", among them we selected the clinical trial studies related with herbal medicine except for case reports, studies of acupuncture therapy or west medicines. Results : 11 RCT studies of herbal medicine met inclusion criteria. The Studies used CCMD-3, HAMA as inclusion tool and mainly HAMA as a evaluation tool. Studies were progressed for 2-8 weeks, mostly used various positive control. Experiment medicine were mainly 理氣劑, 安神劑. In most studies, experiment group made similar or higher efficacy in comparison with control group. Mean Jadad score of studies was $1.3{\pm}0.67$, and only one study was double-blinded among 11 studies. Conclusions : RCT studies on general anxiety disorder of chinese herbal medicine tend to focus on investigating effect of herbal medicine through setting positive control group with CCMD-3 and HAMA. But, most studies had low quality of trial, for lack of pattern identification, evaluation and inclusion tool of chinese medicine. Clinical trials of general anxiety disorder should provide good quality by randomization, double-blinding, and multi-site trial.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.605-611
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report a 118-case series demonstrating the treatment of hypertension in a Korean medicine clinic and to evaluate the effect of Korean medicine. Materials & Methods: From 2006 to 2018, patients who visited a Korean medicine clinic for hypertension were investigated by studying changes in blood pressure before and after treatment with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Uwhangchungsim-won. The average treatment period was 81.6 days. Results: After treatment with Korean medicine, the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all patients decreased significantly (p<0.001). The SBP decreased from $148.9{\pm}10.3$ to $133.8{\pm}13.9$, and the DBP decreased from $91.3{\pm}7.5$ to $82.5{\pm}9.0$. After treatment with acupuncture or Uwhangchungsim-won, the patient showed decreased blood pressure but the differences were not statistically significant when compared with the non-treated group. Conclusions: This study shows the real situation of hypertension treatment in Korean medicine and indicates that Korean medicine could be one of the primary treatment for hypertension. However, this study had limitations, such as variations in the treatment periods, the frequency of acupuncture treatments, and the type of antihypertensive drugs. For further evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment for hypertension using Korean medicine, a well-designed study should be undertaken.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.841-850
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for the pain of a compression fracture in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: A 60-year-old male patient with a compression fracture was treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for 25 days. His chief complaints were severe low back pain, pain and numbness in both legs, and right groin pain. The effect of treatment was evaluated by the numerical rating scale (NRS) score for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and blood test results (CBC-diff count, CRP, ESR, etc.). Results: After 25 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's pain was controlled. The NRS and ODI scores were lower and most pathological symptoms had decreased. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with compression fractures arising from metastasis of prostate cancer to the spine.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The prevalence of infertility is reported to be 23.3%, which is a serious social problem. Habitual abortion is one of the important complications during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to help the treatment of habitual abortion by observing and reporting the process in which four women who did not have children due to habitual abortion make healthy birth through treatment. Methods : We administered Jokyungjongok-tang gamibang as a herbal medicine treatment method and treated with acupuncture, moxibustion and uterine steam treatment. Treatment was done once or twice a week but it was also varied depending on the patient's circumstances. The herbal medicines were taken 30 minutes after meals and 3 times a day. While taking the Korean medicine, they were prohibited from eating flour, pork, liquor, tobacco and coffee. Patient status was assessed by consultation through pulse, tongue and abdomen. A detailed questionnaire was performed for each treatment. In some cases, they have tested hormone levels at the hospitals to know ovulation dates. The diagnosis of pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasonography at hospitals and the treatment for habitual abortion was judged based on healthy birth. Results : As a result of herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and uterine steam treatment, the coldness of the body became weak, the fatigue decreased and the digestive condition gradually began to improve. The bad condition of the uterus caused by the repeated administration of heritage has been improved with Boheosaenghwa-tang gamibang. After administration of Jokyungjongok-tang gamibang, they became pregnant and overcame the condition of addictive abortion and gave birth to healthy children. Conclusion : Jokyungjongok-tang gamibang is effective in overcoming the symptoms of habitual abortion and giving birth to a healthy child for a woman who had no children due to her habitual abortion

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.192-199
• /
• 2019

Objectives: KCHO-1(Mecasin), also called Gamijakyakgamchobuja-tang originally, is a combination of some traditional herbal medicines in East Asia. This medicine has been used mainly for alleviating neuropathic pains for centuries in Korean traditional medicine. KCHO-1 was developed to treat pain, joint contracture and muscular weakness in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic toxicity of KCHO-1 oral administration in rats for 26 weeks. Methods: Sprague-Dawely rats were divided into four groups and 10 rats were placed in the control group and the high-dose group, respectively. Group 1 was the control group and the remaining groups were the experimental groups. In the oral toxicity study, 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg of KCHO-1 were administered to the experimental group, and 10 ml/kg of sterile distilled water was administered to the control group. Survival rate, body weight, feed intake, clinical signs, and visual findings were examined. Urinalysis, ophthalmologic examination, necropsy, organ weight, hematologic examination, blood chemical examination and histopathologic examination were performed. Results: Mortality and toxicological lesions associated with the administration of test substance were not observed in all groups. Conclusion: NOAEL(No observed adverse effect level) of KCHO-1 is higher than 2000 mg/kg/day. And, the above findings suggest that treatment with KCHO-1 is relatively safe.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Lumbar disc herniations are common conditions which induce severe pain and disability. We assessed the clinical effectiveness of Korean medical combination treatment. Methods : This is an observational study. We reviewed the medical records of 46 patients with lumbar disc herniations, who attended intensive Korean medical combination treatments at Mokhuri Neck and Back Hospital, Korea during March, 2012 to October, 2012. All the patients took combination treatments of acupuncture, Chuna and herbal medicines during the hospitalization treatments. Zero to ten pain numerating rating scale(NRS) of pain and SF-36 were assessed before and after treatments. Results : During the period, 46 patients with lumbar disc herniation participated in the treatments, respectively. Average admission duration were 20.32 days(SD 9.67) in lumbar disc patients. For lumbar patients, low back pain NRS decreased from $5.84{\pm}2.58$ to $2.12{\pm}1.74$(p<0.001) and radiating pain from $6.25{\pm}2.30$ to $2.59{\pm}1.97$(p<0.001). Total SF-36 score increased significantly after treatment in lumbar disc patients(p<0.001). Conclusions : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in reducing pain and improving life quality of patients with lumbar disc herniation.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.361-371
• /
• 2023

Objectives : Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract that not only has a high mortality rate, but also affects quality of life. In Traditional Korean Medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicines can increase the survival rate for Gastric cancer and improve the quality of life. Traditional Korean Medicine treatment played an important role when used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. However, there is still insufficient evidence to support the efficacy and safety of Traditional Korean Medicine in patients undergoing chemotherapy after surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the effect of oriental medicine treatment on patients as a complementary therapy for Gastric cancer. Methods : 2 researchers will search using EMBASE, Pubmed, CNKI, Cochrane Library, CiNii, KMBASE, KISS, OASIS, RISS, ScienceON. The search period of the database is from inception until June 2022. This study will include a randomized controlled trial of GC for acupuncture and herbal treatment. Primary outcomes include anti-cancer effects. Secondary outcomes evaluate survival rates and improvements in quality of life. The data uses Review Manager Software 5.4. Results : This study will provide a systematic evaluation by synthesizing the anti-cancer effect, survival rate and quality of life of Gastric cancer when Traditional Korean Medicine is combined with chemotherapy. Conclusion : The conclusion of this study will provide a basis for determining whether Traditional Korean Medicine treatment for Gastric cancer treatment is an effective and safe treatment method in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.213-217
• /
• 2008

Since at least the late 12th century, medical herbs grown naturally or cultivated in Korea have been referred to as 'HyangYak'(鄕藥, $Xi\bar{a}ngY\grave{a}o$). Herbs from other countries are referred to as 'DangYak'(唐藥, $D\bar{a}ngY\grave{a}o$). Some senior historians claim medicines made solely from HyangYak are purely Korean, since they originated and were developed fully within Korea. However, these localized medicines became abundant as the result of exchanges between Korea and other countries. Originally published in 1433, 'HyangYakJipSungBang' is the authoritative result of earlier writings of medical books using HyangYak. Comprised of a total of 85 volumes, it was large in scale and divided into three main sections: 1) a detailed description of the 703 kinds of HyangYak, 2) explanations of the 10,706 different herbal formulae and 959 types of symptoms or diseases, and 3) descriptions of the 1,416 various acupuncture and moxibustion formulae. It's noted that 'HyangYakJipSungBang' was not written all at once. In the process of its writing, the number of formulae increased through medical exchanges between Korea and China during the 15th century.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2006

A man visited the Dept. of Oriental Medical Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology Hospital, Dong-eui University with the dermatitis exfoliativa by drug eruption. He was suffering from the whole body itching, rubefaction, edema, scale and the feeling a chill. The drug eruption's cause assumed antibiotics. We treated a patient with Oriental Medicines(the herbal medicine of internal use and external use), aroma oils and acupuncture. After four days or so, the itching, rubefaction, edema of the skin was recovered remarkably. After one weeks or so, the scale of the skin disease was improved remarkably, we think that these are good cases to treat with Oriental Medicine, Yeongyopaedog-san. We suggest that Oriental Herb medicines have an effect with the dermatitis exfoliativa and the drug eruption.