• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2021

A burst fracture refers to the fracture of the anterior and middle vertebral columns which are moving into the spinal canal causing neurological impairments, generally requiring surgical treatment. We herein report a rare case of burst fracture with kissing spine in a 90-year-old man who had severe lower back pain that worsened during back extension. Considering the surgical treatment risk, he was hospitalized at a Korean medicine hospital for 85 days and underwent combined Korean medicine treatments including pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, chuna, deep-fascia meridian therapy, walking practice, and abdominal breathing. Based on patient-reported scales, his pain was alleviated, and his physical function improved. Furthermore, his range of motion and walking time increased. This case report suggests that combined Korean medicine treatments could be an effective alternative for patients with burst fracture who have surgery risks.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.107-114
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze actual status of foreign patients who visited hospital of Korean medicine and suggest developmental direction of korean medical tourism. Methods : This study includes 675 foreign patients who visited spine-specialized hospital of Korean medicine from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Based on computerized medical records, patients' age, gender, country, date of initial and last visit, chief complaint, treatment period and species of treatment were collected. These data were used for analyzation of actual condition of medical tourism at hospital of Korean medicine. Results : A total of 675 foreign patients visited spine-specialized hospital of Korean medicine. 395 patients(59 %) were female and the forties was the most common by ages. Patients from Japan were the most common followed by Russia and United States of America. Patients visited hospital 5.1 times during 27.4 days in average. There were 526 cases of spinal pain and only 52 cases were non-musculoskeletal disease. The most frequently performed treatment was general acupuncture treatment while moxibustion and bee venom acupuncture were remarkably infrequently treated. Conclusions : The result of this study suggests potential possibility of development of Korean medical tourism focused on disease cure as well as current trend of beauty and Korean medical experience at the Korean medical tourism field.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a severe disease that usually needs surgical treatment. We have treated two CSM patients with Korean traditonal medicine, which includes acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and manual treatment (Chuna). For objective evaluation, we used Nurick's classification, JOA (Japanses Orthopedic Association) score, grip and release test and hand grasping power measurement. Post-treatment analysis has shown that grip and release test score and grasping power of two patients were both remarkably improved, along with the improvements on both Nurick's classification and JOA score. This study showed that Korean traditional medicine could be effective conservative treatment for CSM.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.875-884
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical improvement of aggravated functional dyspepsia due to COVID-19 with Korean medicine treatment. Methods: To assess treatment outcomes, we used the GIS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Score), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale, and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS). Results: After treatment, the patient's clinical symptoms improved, as indicated by GIS, EQ-5D, and NRS scores. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment improved late complications in COVID-19 patients. This finding suggests the possibility of Korean medicine treatment for long-term COVID infections.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.760-767
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• 2019

Objective: This study reports the efficacy of using integrative Korean medicine treatments for a patient with facial paralysis and accompanying trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: A 45-year-old male patient with left side facial palsy and facial pain due to Bell's palsy with trigeminal neuralgia was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping for 18 days. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the scores for the numerical rating scale (NRS) of facial pain, the House-Brackmann scale, and the Yanagihara scale. Results: After the hospital treatment, the patient's facial pain NRS score was decreased, and the House-Brackmann scale and Yanagihara scale scores improved after the administration of the Korean medicine treatments. Conclusions: The integrative Korean medicine treatments appeared to be effective in treating facial nerve palsy and associated trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2023

This study individually analyzed the effects of Korean Facial Chuna Manual Treatment (K-FCMT) combined with Korean medicine (KM) treatment (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine) on five patients with acute Bell's palsy who visited Dongsuwon Korean Medicine Hospital between August 1 and 31, 2022. During inpatient treatment, two of the five patients received K-FCMT 5-6 times a week, and the other three received the same frequency during outpatient treatment for approximately 2 weeks. Patients with a House-Brackmann grading scale (HBGS) score of ≤4 and Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score) ≥7-8 began to recover after the 2nd-3rd sessions of K-FCMT, which entered the recovery phase quickly. As patients entered the recovery phase (7-9th sessions of K-FCMT), symptoms improved to HBGS scores of 1-2 and Y-scores of 35-40 points. This study suggests the possibility of applying K-FCMT combined with KM treatment to patients in the acute stage of Bell's palsy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2022

This study examined the clinical effects of Korean medicine therapy in a patient with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with chemotherapy. A 53-year-old male patient suffering from hypopharyngeal cancer was treated with docetaxel as well as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Tumor size was measured by computed tomography (CT) and adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0. After two months of combined treatment, the size of the tumor mass was reduced at the left side of the neck, posterior to the CCA and at the lymph node in the left retropharyngeal area and medial aspect of the carotid sheath. The adverse events of chemotherapy also improved. This study indicates that Korean medicine therapy, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, may lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and may be effective in the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1142-1147
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical effect of Korean medicine on a patient who suffered from dizziness. Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine for about 2 weeks. Results: Clinical symptoms (dizziness) improved following treatment with Korean medicine. Conclusions: Korean medicine may be effective for improving clinical symptoms of dizziness.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 2013

Objectives This study is to evaluate the current situation of Russian tourists for medical tourism of Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital. Methods 133 Russian tourists visiting Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, were analysed in the statistics. Their data was sourced from the computerized medical records. And 87 of them answer a questionnaire about reasons for selection of Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital and satisfactory for medical service. Results A total of 133 Russian visited Spine Specialty Korean Medicine Hospital for medical service, consisting of 73 females (54.8%), the fourties to fifties 58.9% by age. They avoided visiting in the winter. The average number of visiting was 7.1 times. The average treatment period was 9.9days. Majority of the elapsed time from the onset to the arrival was more than 1 year (56.6%). Low back pain (56.4%) is the most in musculoskeletal disorders and obesity (21.7%) and gynecological diseases (30.4%) were the most in a non-musculoskeletal disorders. Medication and acupuncture was the major treatment. 89.2% of the prescribed medication was the efficacy of musculoskeletal. Russian medical tourists most visited by support of travel agent (58.6%). The main reason of their visiting was non-surgical treatment for spinal disorder (31%). 96.6% of them were satisfied because rapid pain relief and kindness. Conclusions For this study, we confirmed a possibility for the Korean medical treatment of Russian tourists for medical tourism. Still, more research and goverment support for the expansion of Korean medical tourism is needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2024

Objectives This study aims to report current status and strategies of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) on face through survey of Korean medicine doctors. Methods The survey was conducted online via e-mail to certified Korean medicine doctors. The questionnaire is developed by Korean medicine doctors in Kyung-Hee Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong. The survey mainly consisted with multiple-choice questions on the current status, cost, and adverse reactions. Results TEA was predominantly utilized for cosmetic purposes, and the billing cost was commonly determined based on the number of threads used. The reported incidence of adverse reactions during TEA was 69.9%. The most frequent self-resolving adverse reaction was bruising, while the most common adverse reaction requiring medical intervention or resulting in sequelae was the 'dimple phenomenon'. According to the questionnaire, the primary factor associated with adverse reactions was the treatment area. Conclusions This study provided insights into the practical use of TEA on face in Korean medical clinic.