• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, with a lifetime prevalence of up to 80%. Among nonsurgical treatments for chronic LBP, Korean medicine treatments are highly preferred, and pharmacopuncture therapy combining acupuncture and herbal medicine is widely used. However, no evidence-based study has focused on the use of various types of pharmacopuncture. Methods: The pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial will include 44 participants; recruitment will start in July 2023. All participants will receive integrated Korean medicine treatment including acupuncture, cupping, and infrared therapy, and the intervention group will also receive pharmacopuncture. After 16 treatment sessions, twice a week for 8 weeks, follow-up assessments will be performed at week 9. As a pragmatic randomized controlled clinical protocol, the type, dose, and acupoints of acupuncture and pharmacopuncture are not determined in advance but are selected and recorded according to the clinical judgment of the Korean medicine doctor. Results: The primary outcome will be measured using a visual analog scale score, and the secondary outcomes include the Oswestry disability index, patient global impression of change, no worse than mild pain, and range of motion. Safety will be assessed by examining participants' self-reported adverse events and vital signs and conducting blood tests before and after the test. Conclusion: This study aims to provide clinical evidence of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for chronic LBP.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 2021

Low-level laser therapy including laser acupuncture has been widely used for non-specific chronic low back pain in primary Korean medical clinics. However, there is no critically appraised data regarding which treatment conditions are most effective. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine effective treatment conditions using 12 databases (PubMed, Ovid, CENTRAL, KoreaMed, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, OASIS, CNKI, CiNII, and J-STAGE). There were 1,019 studies retrieved and 13 studies included in this review. It was determined that when the power output was ≥ 50 mW, the beam size was increased to ≥ cm², the energy dose was increased to ≥ 4 J per point, the treatment interval was increased to ≥ 3 times a week, and the number of treatment sessions was increased to ≥ 10 treatments, these conditions appeared to increased treatment effectiveness.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-146
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• 2002

Huh-Im(許任, 1570~1647) was an acupuncture doctor of Chosun(朝鮮) era through the late 16th century and early 17th century. Even though he was a person of low birth, he participated in the loyal medication through three loyal generations, Sunjo(宣祖), Kwanghaegun(光海君) and Injo(仁祖). He was recognized of his services and became an official, 'Dangsanggwan'(堂上官) and Kyunggi(京畿) district official several times. In the early Chosun era, acupuncture medicine was focused. During the late 16th century, Imjin(壬辰) war aroused more needs about acupuncture medicine, and acupuncture doctors showed remarkable work. Under these circumstances, Huh-Im(許任)'s fame spread throughout the country. Huh-Im(許任) wrote ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") in 1644 based on his lifetime clinical acupuncture & moxibustion experience. It was the first specialized book of acupuncture in Chosun era. This event took place 30 years after DongEuiBoGam - Acupuncture Chapter("東醫寶鑑-鍼灸篇") was published. But it was not influenced much by DongEuiBoGam - Acupuncture Chapter("東醫寶 鑑-鍼灸篇") in the form or contents. ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") and Huh-Jun(許浚)'s DongEuiBo- Gam - Acupuncture Chapter("東醫寶鑑-鍼灸篇") were the fruits of the middle Chosun, and they are complementary to each other in theory and practice. The chief distinctions of ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") are in it's compact and practical edition and a lot of his clinical acupuncture prescriptions mentioned in the book. Huh-Im(許任) not only accepted the existing books such as NaeKyung("內經"), DongInSuHyulChimGuDoKyung and Shin- Eung Kyung("神應經") with his point of view and clinical experience, but also showed creative operation of studies. Indicating incorrect acupuncture points(訛穴), acupuncture remedy based on the visceral pathogenesis(臟腑病機) and the channel pathogenesis, research on new acupuncture points, sorting out plenty of outer meridian acupuncture points(經外奇穴), creating supplementary and purging acupuncture method(鍼補瀉法) which is a change of hand treatment of KiHyoYangBang("奇效良方"), operating variety of acupuncture and moxibustion treatments, and application of acupuncture treatments on surgery field such as intumescences and emergency cases are the examples. Huh-Im(許任)'s ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") influenced on the folk remedy books(民間經驗方書) in the late Chosun era. Compact and practical characteristics of the book let acupuncture treatment be freindly to the people. It can be confirmed in JeungBoSanRimKyungJe-Emergency Chapter("增補山林經濟-救急篇") or the formation of SaAmChimBob(舍巖鍼法). ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") was introduced to Japan in 18th century and published twice. ChimGuJibSung("鍼灸集成"), known as an acupuncture medical book of late Qing dynasty(淸末, 1874), is confirmed to be an plagiarization of DongEuiBoGam-Acupuncture Chapter("東醫寶鑑-鍼灸篇") and ChimGuKyungHum- Bang("鍼灸經驗方") of 17th century Chosun. Confusions and errors arouse from mistaken editional trend of ChimGuJIbSung("鍼灸集成") which had not disclosed it's original author and the title of the book must be reformed. In this way, fruits of acupuncture of the middle Chosun era including Huh-Im(許任)'s ChimGuKyungHumBang("鍼灸經驗方") will take a right place in acupuncture medicine history.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

Objectives: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is caused by a circulatory disorder. If symptoms are not present, the patient's progress is observed, but if symptoms are present, non-surgical methods or total hip replacement are performed. Several case reports have described the effects of Korean Medicine treatment on ONFH, but the number of cases is still small, and few studies have used blood stasis-based herbal medicines like Hwaeo-jeon (HEJ). This study reports the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatments, including HEJ, on a case of ONFH. Methods: A patient diagnosed with ONFH by CT and MRI was treated with Korean Medicine treatments consisting of herbal medicine including HEJ, bee venom pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, cupping, and physical therapy. The improvement of pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale. Inflammation levels were determined by blood tests conducted during hospitalization. Results: Korean Medicine treatment, including herbal medicine, resulted in good clinical improvement responses, including reduced pain, improved mobility, and reduced inflammatory levels in the blood tests. Conclusions: Korean Medicine treatments, including HEJ, may be effective for ONFH patients. Further studies are needed to determine the recovery of osteonecrosis and the improvement of post-operative aftereffects using Korean Medicine treatments, as well as the reduction of pre-operative pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.222-234
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of fire needling and warm needling for De Quervain Syndrome by reviewing clinical studies for recent 10 years. Methods : Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and case series containing more than 20 cases about fire needling and warm needling for De Quervain Syndrome published since 2011 were searched through four foreign online databases (CNKI, Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) and five Korean online databases (OASIS, Science ON, DBPIA, KISS, RISS). The number and characteristics of participants, treatment points and main treatment methods involving other combination treatments, treatment cycle or total periods of treatments, evaluation indices, efficacy, and adverse events were analyzed. Risk of bias of included randomized clinical trials was assessed using a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials (RoB 2). Results : A total of 6 randomized clinical trials and 2 case series involving 471 participants were included. Tender point or 'Ashi point' was the most commonly used treatment point, followed by LU4. Treatment frequency ranged from once a day to once a week. One to three outcome measures were used to evaluate the results of the studies, with the efficacy rate the most frequently used, followed by visual analogue scale. Overall risk of bias of all included randomized clinical trials was judged to have some concerns. Conclusions : All selected studies showed that fire needling and warm needling treatments for De Quervain syndrome were more effective than other clinical methods or acupuncture treatments. However, as the number of clinical studies is still too small and the risk of bias of the studies is not low, it is believed that more systematic and objective studies should be conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.69-84
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to reflect the public's perspective when developing Korean Medicine (KM) Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). Methods: 317 respondents who had experienced nausea and vomiting during current or past pregnancy completed the questionnaire online, and we analyzed their answers. Results: 1. 24% of all respondents had received KM treatment. The most common reason for choosing KM treatment was "it would be relatively safe for pregnant women and fetuses", and the reason for not choosing KM treatment was "they did not know much about it". 2. Respondents who had experienced KM treatment for NVP had felt the effects of KM treatment (79%), and chose herbal medicine as the most effective and preferred treatment. 3. 64.1% of respondents who had not experienced KM treatment for NVP preferred cooperative treatment with Western medicine. They answered that herbal medicine would be the most effective treatment, but preferred acupuncture. 4. The most important factor when treating NVP was "the safety of treatments". 59% of all respondents perceived KM treatment is safe for NVP. The treatments perceived as safest were herbal medicine and acupuncture, while the treatments with the least safety information were pharmacopuncture and electro-acupuncture. 5. Treatments that medical consumers were comprehensively interested in were acupuncture, KM treatment & Fluid, herbal medicine, moxibustion, and acupressure, in order. Conclusions: This study revealed the public's experience of using medical care, preference and perception of KM treatment for NVP. Therefore we would reflect the patients' clinical needs in the CPG.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1068-1075
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• 2017

Objectives: This report describes the case of a patient suffering alcoholic liver disease with lower limb weakness, which was improved by Korean medical treatments. Methods: For relieving symptoms, Korean medical treatments, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herb medication, were performed. To evaluate the effects of the treatments, a liver function test (LFT), the Hughes grading scale, and weight were used. Results: After treatments for 29 days, symptoms were improved, and the LFT value was decreased. Conclusions: This report suggests that Korean medical treatments may be one solution for alcoholic liver disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treating low back pain patients with Foot acupuncture. Methods : Clinical study was conducted to 40 patients who were treated in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusion, Woosuk University Hospital from March 1 to December 31, 2010. Subject were randomly divided into two groups. In one group(test group), patients were treated with both acupuncture and Foot acupuncture. And in the other group(control group), patients were treated with acupuncture. To estimate the efficacy of treatments, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were checked. 12 patients were excluded and we investigated 14 patients of control group and 14 patients of test group entirely. Results : 1. In both two groups, VAS and ODI of patients were decreased significantly. 2. ODI of patients in test group were decreased more significantly than ODI of patients in control group. Conclusions : We suggest that cotreatment of acupuncture and foot acupuncture on low back pain patients can be recommended as a useful therapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.392-400
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• 2017

Objective: To report the case of a patient suffering from cervical vertigo who was treated with a combination of Korean medicine treatments (including acupuncture, pharmaco-acupuncture, and Chuna manual therapy). Method: An outpatient with cervical vertigo was given a combination of Korean medicine treatments five times, from December 5 to 16, 2016. All of the treatments, acupuncture with electric stimulation and pharmaco-acupuncture, were applied on the trigger points (TP) of the cervical muscles and the upper trapezoid muscles. Chuna manual therapy was then applied on the cervical area. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) - according to outpatient's statement on vertigo, neck pain and headache - and the Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), which is a self-evaluating scale of dizziness in daily life, were used to evaluate the effects of this treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment, the vertigo and the headache disappeared. The NRS decreased from 9 to 0 for vertigo and from 5 to 0 for headache. Although the neck pain also decreased, it did not disappear; this NRS decreased from 7 to 1. The DHI score also decreased significantly, from 64 to 4. Conclusion: Since the symptoms of the patient with cervical vertigo improved after the very first treatment and the improvement of the symptoms was observed as the treatment progressed, this case report is worth supporting the efficacy of combined Korean medical treatments. However, because there was only one subject, it is hard to say that this efficacy can be generalized. Moreover, this report cannot prove the individual efficacy since various treatments were combined. While there are many researches related to cervical vertigo in Western medicine, the studies in Korean medicine are comparably insufficient; therefore, follow-up research on more subjects is needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.76-94
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• 2003

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate Acute$\cdot$Subacute Toxicity and Anti-cancer Effect of K-Herbal-acupuncture in mice and rats. Methods : Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for subacute toxicity test. K-Herbal-acupuncture was injected on abdomen of mice with S-180 cancer cell line. Result : 1. $LD_{50}$ of K-Herbal-acupuncture was limited $4{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg~$2{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg by the test. 2. In acute toxicity test, all of mice were down to the moving reflex, but the weight of mice was increased in treatment group, compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 3. In acute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of mice, glucose was increased in treatment II group, total cholesterol was increased both treatments.(P<0.05) 4. In subacute toxicity test, the clinical signs of toxication was down to the moving reflex, but it is not severe like acute toxicity test, and observed weight loss at the treatments. 5. In subacute toxicity test, liver weight was decreased compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 6. In subacute toxicity test of complete blood count test (CBC) of rat, HCT was decreased in treatments, compared with the normal group.(P<0.05) 7. In subacute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of rat, uric acid and triglyceride were decreased, and glucose was increased in treatment groups compared with the control group. (P<0.05) 8. Median survival time was increased about $45\%$ in treatment groups compared with the control group.(P<0.05) 9. Natural killer cell activity was increased in B16F10 lung cancer model, but it was not in sarcoma-180 abdomen cancer. 10. In interleukin-2 productivity test, treatment groups didn't show significant change in lung cancer and abdomen cancer, compared with the normal group.(P<0.005) 11. In making an examination of metastatic cancer with the naked eye, melanoma metastasized in the Lung of C57BL/6 mice. The treated group showed more Melanoma than the control in the numbers and volume. Conclusion : According to the result, K-herbal-acupuncture need further study to know the function and effect in cancer.