• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.107-118
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate physiology, pathology and clinical applications for cosmetology in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We hope most clinicians practicing cosmetic acupuncture to understand theoretical background well and to treat cosmetic diseases more diversely by this paper. Methods : We collected useful informations from 35 papers in Chinese at website www.cnki.net about TCM treatments including acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine. And we could see important factors connected with physiology, pathology and clinical applications within this field. Conclusions : Liver, lung, stomach, mental disorders and yin-deficiency constitution were connected each other in cosmetic physiology. Blood stasis and congestion were thought highly in cosmetic pathology. In clinical applications, wet cupping therapy on the acupoints located in the back line of Governor Vessel(GV), ear-acupuncture, acupuncture using local facial acupoints, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion were used diversely for each case with cosmetic disorders. Especially, local acupoints and remote acupoints were selected at the same time for wrinkle care. And studies on plastic surgery sequelae, dark skin, acne and melasma were more published than those on wrinkle care.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2019

Objectives : TA, a polyherbal extract, typically is used for pharmacopuncture therapy on patients with traffic accident-related injuries and musculoskeletal diseases. This study was performed to evaluate the safety of the TA extract, using a micronucleus test. Methods : The dose range and sampling time were first established. An in vivo micronucleus test was then performed to determine the induction of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells after a single intramuscular administration of TA to 7-week-old ICR mice (0.2 ml/animal, at 24 hours post-dosing). Results : The incidence of micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) in PCEs in the TA group was similar to that in the negative-control group, while that in the positive-control group was significantly greater. The positive- and negative-control groups did not differ in the ratio of PCEs to total erythrocytes. Conclusions : Our toxicity study indicates that the TA extract does not induce micronucleus formation in mouse bone marrow cells.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2021

Foot drop due to lumbar disc herniation is perceived to be an indication for surgery. A 44-year-old male presented with motor deficit in left ankle dorsiflexion along with radiating pain and paraesthesia. Motion Style Acupuncture Therapy (MSAT) was administered on the left side every other day. Acupuncture and Chuna were performed daily. Herbal medicine was taken 3 times a day. His symptoms rapidly improved throughout treatment, verified by decreased Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), increased 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) scores, and improved motor grades. We suggest that a combination of MSAT with traditional Korean medicine could be a favorable option for foot drop in LDH patients in terms of rapid pain reduction and the improvement of quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2022

Fat pad syndrome is a knee joint condition/disease where acute or chronic inflammation occurs in the fat pad of the knee joint, and it is a cause of anterior knee pain. Fat pad syndrome usually occurs concurrently with other conditions/diseases to collectively cause anterior knee pain. No study to date has reported the treatment of anterior knee pain solely due to fat pad syndrome. Here, we report a case of fat pad syndrome of the knee joint as the sole cause of anterior knee pain in a 49-year-old woman who received integrated Korean medicine treatments (pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, herbal medicine, deep fascial meridian therapy, and chuna). Using patient-reported pain scale scores, the level of the patient's pain was relieved, and her mobility improved. Integrated Korean medicine treatments could be effective for patients who have fat pad syndrome of the knee joint.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 2023

This study reviewed clinical papers reported on hemifacial spasm (HFS). Six online databases were searched for clinical papers published between January 2000 and December 2022. This study reviewed 14 studies, including 13 case reports and 1 combination of case reports and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The most frequently used acupoints were ST7 and TE17, and the stomach meridian was the most frequently selected. Herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, thread embedding acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and physical therapy were combined with acupuncture. The most frequently used evaluation method is Scott's scale. Out of 95 cases, 82 reported improved HFS symptoms after treatment. Our findings indicated the effectiveness of Korean Medicine treatment in treating HFS. However, evidence of efficacy and safety remains insufficient. Large-scale and well-designed investigations will be required in the future to corroborate these results. We believe that this paper will serve as the foundation for future RCTs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.319-328
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• 2023

Facial nerve palsy refers to sudden, unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis. This study aimed to determine the importance of neck treatment in the treatment of facial paralysis. A literature search was performed on six online databases and other sources until January 15, 2023. A total of 426 papers were retrieved. After excluding duplicated and inconsistent papers, papers not including cervical treatment, and experimental papers on animals, two papers were finally selected. The type of treatment method, therapeutic effects, assessment of the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials, and non-randomized controlled trials and side effects were evaluated. Chiropractic, manual therapy, facial meridian massage, and acupotomy were applied to the face and cervical spine region. The results showed that each treatment had a significant therapeutic effect through evaluation index measurement methods, such as the visual analog scale and Yanagihara's unweighted regional grading system. This study demonstrated the importance of the cervical spine area in the treatment of facial paralysis. However, this study has many limitations. Thus, high-quality randomized controlled comparative studies on the treatment of the cervical spine area only or studies that include cervical spine area treatment as an interventional treatment while performing oriental or comprehensive treatment are needed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2024

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of applying acupuncture as intervention of peripheral facial paralysis in children. Methods We conducted searches on China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data using the keywords "facial paralysis", "children", and "acupuncture". Results Six randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis. The acupoints most frequently utilized were Hapgok (LI4), Jichang (ST4), Yangbaek (GB14), Sabaek (ST2), Hyeopgeo (ST6), Yeonghyang (LI20), Yepung (TE17), and Taeyang (EX-HN5). The Stomach Meridian (ST) was the most targeted. Acupuncture treatment was found to be as effective as or more effective than Western medicine treatment in certain cases. Conclusions Acupuncture therapy shows promise for treating pediatric peripheral facial paralysis. However, further clinical randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.74-94
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• 2024

Objectives : This study was conducted to analyze the trends of international clinical research on acupuncture treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : A total of 14 clinical researches were selected by using PubMed, an international online database, to search for clinical researches written in English and Chinese. Selected papers were analyzed according to study characteristics, study subjects, acupuncture treatment methods, treatment results, evaluation index, safety, and adverse event reports. Results : Acupuncture was mostly used in combination with other treatment methods. The most commonly used acupuncture point was the 'Xiaguan(ST7)', and 11 acupuncture points belonging to the 'Stomach meridian' were used. In most researches, selection of local points and distant points were taken simultaneously, with some researches taking acupuncture points according to trigeminal nerve branch. There were significant improvements in most outcome measures after treatment compared to pre-treatment, and most adverse events disappeared without treatment or decreased or disappeared after grand therapy. Conclusion : According to this study, acupuncture treatment for trigeminal neuralgia was performed in various ways and was found to be effective and safe. However, it is necessary to confirm more meaningful results by supplementing the limitations of existing researches in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2024

This case report aims to illustrate the diagnostic challenge and effective management of acute cervical radiculopathy presenting as shoulder pain, differentially diagnosed through physical examinations, and subsequently treated with acupotomy. A male patient in his late 20s with no significant medical history or comorbidities reported acute left shoulder pain upon awakening, rated at a severity of 7 on the numeric rating scale (NRS). Initial physical evaluations of the shoulder assembly revealed no abnormalities, but a positive Spurling test, relief with cervical distraction, and diminished sensation across the left C5~C8 dermatomes pointed towards a cervical spine origin. Immediate acupotomy at identified tender points significantly reduced pain, with additional therapies enhancing recovery. Pain was eliminated after the second treatment, and this resolution was sustained at the 4-week follow-up, confirming the treatment's effectiveness and verifying the absence of adverse effects. This case presents the critical need for precise diagnosis in cases of neck and shoulder pain. Additionally, the employment of acupotomy provided a swift and effective resolution of symptoms in acute cervical radiculopathy, showing its value in clinical practice.