• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to contribute on nursing practice for elderly people by identifying the effects of hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy on the alleviation of constipation. Methods: The data were collected from October to November, 2009, and the subjects included 39 elders (experimental group: 20, control group: 19) from a senior citizens center in B City who reported constipation. Experimental group received an intervention of hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy three times a week for six weeks (total: 18 times). Data about the number of defecations per week and constipation degree scores were collected one week after each treatment. Results: 1. The number of defecation in the experimental group were different from that of the control group (F=228.26, $p$ <.001). 2. The degree of reported constipation in the experimental group differed from the control group (F=170.59, $p$ <.001). Conclusion: Hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy was shown to be effective in alleviating the constipation of elderly people by increasing the number of defecation per week and reducing the constipation degree scores. These two interventions can thus be used for alleviating the constipation of elderly people, replacing the stool softener and enema.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to compare the effects of abdominal aroma massage and meridian massage on constipation and stress in college women with functional constipation. Methods: The participants were 38 college women, 18 were in the aroma group and 20 in the meridian group. The aroma massage was given using aroma oil which was a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosemary, and cyprus. The meridian massage was given at 9 accupoints which influence intestinal functions. The treatment was given 5 days a week for 4 weeks. A constipation severity score, weekly defecation frequency, and a stress response score were measured before and every week of 4 weeks of the experiment. Results: While there was no significant difference between two groups, there was a significant difference within the groups in the constipation severity (aroma group: 1st week, meridian group: except 4th week), defecation frequency (aroma group: 3rd week, meridian group: 2nd and 3rd week), and stress (aroma group: all weeks, meridian group: except 4th week) after different duration of experiment. Conclusion: Based on these results, both abdominal massages relieved constipation and stress. Resorting to either types of massage will contribute to the reduction of use of stool softeners, suppositories, or enemas.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

The emission of greenhouse gases mainly carbon dioxide and methane is the result of rapid industrialization to meet the demands of ever-growing population. This has resulted in an increase of global temperature which in turn is responsible for severe environmental, social, ecological and economic losses, commonly known as to as 'climate change'. This study attempts to highlight the impacts of climate change mainly focussing on water contamination, sanitation and open defecation in India. The requirement for the instantaneous employment of environment friendly technologies along with improved sanitary system has been discussed. Various other issues which are also linked to climate change that need further management like managing water resources, deterioration in human health, economic losses, modification and successful implementation of policies have been pointed out. Furthermore, stress has been made for the urgent adaptation and rethinking for making strategies along with the involvement of women in order to cop up challenges offered by climate change.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1052-1060
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• 2018

Objectives: This study reports the effect of herbal medicine to replace laxatives for patients with chronic constipation. Methods: The patients who took laxatives due to long-term constipation were prescribed herbal medicine instead. We assessed whether they could defecate without laxatives and if their bowel habits improved using only herbal medicine. Results: The use of herbal medicine instead of laxatives improved patients' defecation and reduced symptoms such as hard stool, difficulty during defecation, and sensation of incomplete evacuation. Conclusions: Through two cases, we found that herbal medicine is effective for patients who are dissatisfied with laxatives.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.25-33
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• 2004

1. Objectives Theoretically Healthy Condition of four constitution is based on intact state of four fundamental factors - digestion, urination, perspiration, defecation. Each one of these four factors is specifically related to its respective constitution. We made SHI(Sasangin Health Index) 10 items from four factors, and examined clinical efficacy of the four factors as index of health status in four constitution. 2. Methods and Procedures We offered QSCCII, SHI and SF-36 questionnaires to adults who had a periodic medical examination. 233 adults were classified to one of four constitution. We compared means of 8 scale scores of SF-36, and computed the correlation coefficient between 8 scale scores of SF-36 and 10 item scores of SHI in four constitution. 3. Results In Soyangin, stool volume and frequency are weakly correlated with health status(P<0.05). In Soeumin, appetite is weakly correlated with health status(P<0.05). In Taeumin, there is no correlation between perspiration and health status. 4. Conclusions 2 factors - digestion, defecation - had clinical efficacy as index of health status.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report a therapeutic effects of a Korean herbal prescription for antibiotics-associated diarrhea. Methods : Modified Hyangsayukgunja-tang was prescribed once or twice a day to a antibiotics-associated diarrhea patient. To observe the therapeutic effects, the frequency of defecation was counted and Bristol Stool Form Index was used. Laboratory tests were conducted periodically. Results : The frequency of defecation was decreased from 9 times a day to once a day. According to Bristol Stool Form Index, stool form was improved from Type 7 to Type 5. The level of red blood cell, hemoglobin and albumin increased slightly from the day of admission to discharge. Conclusions : Hyangsayukgunja-tang can be a choosable treatment option for a serious antibiotics-associated diarrhea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.260-268
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reported a clinical case of a chronic diarrhea patient who showed improvement with Korean medicine treatment. Methods: A patient with chronic diarrhea was treated with herbal medicine (Omae-hwan and Omae-hwan-ryo), acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. Changes in stool form were measured using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS). The frequency of defecation was checked every day. The Short Form 36-Item (SF-36) was used to compare patients' quality of life before and after treatment. Results: Korean medicine treatment improved the stool form, frequency of defecation, and quality of life. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment containing Omae-hwan and Omae-hwan-ryo improves clinical symptoms and quality of life.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2023

Purpose: Dyssynergic defecation (DSD) is one of the important causes of chronic constipation in children. We aimed to analyze the clinical features, diagnostic test results, and treatments for DSD in children. Methods: Children diagnosed with DSD using fluoroscopic defecography were enrolled in this study. Clinical data, including the results of colon transit time (CTT) test and biofeedback (BF) therapy, were collected from medical records retrospectively. Results: Nineteen children were enrolled. The median age was 9 years (6-18 years), the median frequency of bowel movement was 1/7 days (1-10 days), the median duration of constipation was 7.0 years (2-18 years), the median age of onset of constipation was 2.5 years (1-11 years). In the CTT test, outlet obstruction type was noted in 10/18 (55.6%), slow transit type in 5/18 (27.8%), and normal transit in 1/18 (5.6%). The median CTT was 52 hours (40-142 hours). Initial medical therapy was performed with the polyethylene glycol 4000, and the response was good in 9/19 (47.4%), fair in 9/19 (47.4%), and poor in 1/19 (5.0%). BF was performed in 8/19, with good results in 6/8 (75.0%) children and failure in 2/8 (25.0%) children. After long-term medical therapy (11/19), 3/5 showed good response with medication alone, 6/8 showed good response with BF and medication combined. Conclusion: DSD should be considered as a cause of chronic constipation in children, especially in those with abnormal CTT test results. BF combined with medical therapy is effective even with age-limited cooperation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives This study is designed to examine the relationship between healthy state (完實無病) of Sasang constitution and pulse wave (脈波). Methods The subjects were 100 patients who were diagnosed with Sasang constitution and underwent pulse analyzer test. The status of urination, defecation, perspiration, and digestion was classified as good, intermediate, and poor. The power, depth, speed, and roughness of pulse waves (脈波) were analyzed. Results Patients with poor digestion had relatively powerless pulse wave (無力脈). Soeumin patients had a higher rate of poor digestion compared to other constitutions. Soyangin patients had a higher rate of poor perspiration compared to other constitutions. Soyangin with poor defecation had relatively choppy pulse wave (澁脈), and poor perspiraton had relatively slippery (滑脈). Soeumin patients with poor digestion had relatively powerless pulse wave (無力脈). Conclusions The pulse wave of poor healthy state (完實無病) is an expression of a pathological syndromes (病證) caused by lack of or damage to healthy energy (保命之主). It was concluded that the pulse analyzer can be used to evaluate healthy state (完實無病).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the effects of the intake of xylooligosaccharide-sugar mixture (XOS) on defecation frequency and symptoms in 56 young women (mean age of 22.1 years old) with constipation. Methods: Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, a randomized double-blind study was performed to evaluate the effect of 6 weeks' intake of 10 g sucrose containing 7% xylooligosaccharide or 10 g sucrose on constipation. In experiment 2, 24 g coffee mixture containing 12.8 g plant cream and 11.2 g xylooligosaccharide-sugar mixture was consumed by the subjects. During the study, the clinical efficacy was assessed by using a daily diary. The subjects indicated the number of frequencies they defecated in a day and the clinical symptom scores. Results: In experiment 1, the mean frequency of defecations was 2.07 in the pretreatment week and increased significantly to 4.05, 4.42, 4.84, 4.84, and 4.05 in weeks 2 to 6 of XOS intake, in comparison with the 3-3.67 with sucrose intake (sucrose, SUC). In experiment 2, the mean frequency of defecations significantly increased from 2.47 in the pretreatment week to 4.11-5.67 in weeks 1-6 of XOS intake. The occurrence of very loose or loose stools in the XOS group was significantly increased in weeks 5 and 6, compared with the pretreatment week and SUC group. XOS intake significantly alleviated the abdominal displeasure and feeling of residual stool leftness in weeks 2, 3, 5, and 6, while SUC did so in weeks 4 and 6 (p < 0.05). The coffee mixture containing xylooligosaccharide-sugar mixture reduced the abdominal displeasure and feeling of residual stool leftness from week 3 until the end of the experiment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that xylooligosaccharide-sugar mixture intake was effective, without adverse effects, for the alleviation of constipation in the young women in this study.