• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.230-242
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• 2013

Objectives : DongUiBoGam is a representative medical literature in Korea. This research intends to structurally grasp how DongUiBoGam understands the human body and review the methods of acupuncture and moxibustion in the NaeGyeong chapter of it using text mining. Methods : The structure of DongUiBoGam was analyzed with specific parts of the book that described contents, major premises of understanding the human body, and processes of treatment. We analyzed characteristics of each acupoints in a relationship with causes of diseases & symptoms in the NaeGyeong chapter using a Term Frequency - Inverse Document Frequency(TFIDF). Results : Three different categories of pattern identification(PI) were formed after structural analysis of DongUiBoGam. Every causes of diseases & symptoms were transformed according to the three categories of PI. After analyzing the relationship between acupoints and causes of diseases & symptoms, 114 acupoints were visualized with TFIDF values of three PI categories. Conclusions : The selection of acupoints in NaeGyeong chapter of DongUiBoGam were linked to causes of diseases & symptoms based on the three PI categories. Through visualization of bipartite relationships between acupoints and causes of diseases & symptoms, we could easily understand characteristics of each acupoint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2020

Objectives : Since there are complex associations between diseases/symptoms and acupoints, one-to-one correspondence may not be the proper approach. Pattern identification has been being used as a clinical framework to make treatment decisions by extracting and synthesizing clinical data including patients' signs and symptoms. In this article, we propose two different models explaining the relationships between diseases and acupoints based on the branch treatment [Zhibiaofa] and the root treatment [Zhibenfa]. Methods : We explained the relationships between diseases/symptoms and acupoints from the example data from our previous study on traditional acupuncture point selection patterns for pain control. Diseases include low back pain, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, ankle sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and dysmenorrhea, and acupoints included LI4, BL23, BL25, SP6, BL60, TE5, and CV4. Results : The relationships between diseases/symptoms and acupoints can be explained directly based on the branch treatment, and also can be explained indirectly through pattern identification based on the root treatment. Pattern identifications included both meridian-based pattern identification based on the spatial information of diseases and visceral organ-based pattern identification based on the characteristics of diseases. Conclusions : In the East Asian traditional medicine, Korean medicine doctors choose the most appropriate acupoints based either on the diseases/symptoms (i.e., branch treatment) or on the results of pattern identifications (i.e., root treatment). It is necessary to understand the two different approaches to choose specific acupoints for the targeted diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2021

The aim of this case report was to observe the effects of intra-articular hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP). Based on the medical records patients who received intra-articular treatment or received acupoint pharmacopuncture treatment, a comparison was made. There were 35 patients who were hospitalized for degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee joint from the 1st October 2019 to 26th September 2020. There were 14 patients who were treated with HPP in the intra-articular joint space (Group A), and 14 patients who were treated with HPP at specific acupoints (Group B). The outcome effects were measured using the Korean Western Ontario and Mc (KWOMAC) the visual analog scale (VAS) before the first treatment, and after the fifth treatment. The KWOMAC (p < 0.001) and the VAS scores (p < 0.001) in Groups A and B significantly improved after treatment compared with before treatment. When comparing Group A improvement with Group B improvement using the KWOMAC there was no statistically significant difference however, when using the VAS scores, Group A treatment was statistically more effective compared with Group B (p = 0.002). This study indicated that HPP may be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Moreover, intra-articular HPP may be more effective than acupoint HPP for knee osteoarthritis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.197-208
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• 2021

Objectives : The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review focusing on acupuncture points information applied in experimental studies using electroacupuncture for stroke. Methods : First, we set the research question of this study to identify which acupuncture points were studied for various symptoms of post-stroke sequelae in clinical and animal experiments. For this purpose, among the records searched through EMBASE, experimental studies including acupuncture points used in electroacupuncture treatment for stroke were selected as inclusion criteria for this study. The acupoints information used in each experiment was extracted from the included studies according to the type of study design and symptoms of stroke sequelae, and quantitative analysis was performed. Results : A total of 973 studies using acupuncture treatment, of which 429 papers including electroacupuncture were analyzed. Most of the animal experiments were conducted on general conditions instead of specific symptoms of stroke, and in clinical studies, electroacupuncture studies were conducted on symptoms such as hemiplegia and spasticity, cognitive and mental problems, dysphagia, shoulder problems, and depression that occur after stroke. Acupuncture points such as GV20, ST36, LI11, and LI4 were mainly used regardless of stroke symptoms. Except for these acupuncture points, GV26, GV14, GV16, and GV24 were frequently used in animal experiments, and TE5, LI15, LI10, and LR3 were widely used in clinical studies. Conclusions : Although this study extracted and analyzed only the frequent acupuncture points in the electroacupuncture study for stroke. However, in the future, it is necessary to be able to secure the evidence for acupuncture treatment elements through comparative studies between different acupuncture points or other elements constituting electroacupuncture.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.672-676
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• 2003

To investigate the effect of acupuncture on Zusanli (ST 36) in this study, gastrin level of serum by radioimmunoassay was measured at 1, 3, 6 weeks in rats. In other groups, 1 mg/day omeprazole was administered for 1, 3, 6 weeks. Omeprazole increased significantly gastrin level of serum at 1, 3, 6 weeks in a time dependent manner. Acupuncture applied to the ST 36 acupoint decreased at 1, 3, 6 weeks. Furthermore, acupuncture applied to other acupoint, Yanglinquan (GB 34) did not produced significant effect. When the common peroneal nerve was dissected, acupuncture of ST 36 produced the change of gastrin level. These data suggest that acupuncture decreased gastrin level of serum in point specific way and that effect was not related with surrounding nerve.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-109
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• 2006

Objectives : There has been a considerable debate about how to best control for placebo effects in clinical trials of acupuncture. Recently several sham needles were developed and validated. This study aimed at summarising the validation studies of these needles and evaluating the outcomes of the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using them. Methods : Computerised literature searches were performed using 'acupuncture' AND 'placebo OR sham' with a limitation of the results to RCTs in Medline via PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Only formally validated sham needle controlled studies were included. Data were extracted regarding study design, condition, sample size, credibility testing, intervention and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Jadad scale. Results : Three validated sham needles by Streitberger, Park, and Fink, were identified. Acupuncture's effectiveness for various conditions was tested using these needles in 12 RCTs. Real acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture for rotator cuff tendonitis and hypertension. No significant differences between real acupuncture and sham acupuncture emerged for chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, postoperative nausea and vomiting, menstrually related migraine, acute stroke rehabilitation, chronic/episodic tension-type headache, neutrophil respiratory burst in healthy volunteers, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and chronic poststroke leg spasticity. Conclusions : The new sham devices have been adequately validated and may be useful tools for investigating specific research question. In spite of the sham needle's limits, the results of RCTs using such devices tend to suggest that the clinical effects of acupuncture are largely due to a placebo response.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.129-142
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to show the rationale of point-selection for acupuncture and moxibustion in "the Urine"section(in the Naegyeong Chapter) of "the Dong-Ui-BO-Gam". Methods : First, We reviewed the causes of each disease in "the Urine" section of the "Dong-Ui-BO-Gam". Then, We explained the rationale of acupoint-selection for the treatment of those diseases referring to etiology and physiology of Oriental medicine, other applications of each acupoints in the "Dong-Ui-BO-Gam", characteristic of each acupoints, flow of Gi (Qi) through meridian pathways and specific acupoints etc. Results : There are comments on acupuncture and moxibustion for dysuria, urinary frequency, incontinence of urine, urethral pain, turbid urine, erythroid urine, cystitis of women, urethral pain of women in the Urine section of the "Dong-Ui-BO-Gam". Conclusions : Conception vessel and Kidney meridian are preferably used for acupuncture and moxibustion in "the Urine" section of the "Dong-Ui-BO-Gam". CV4(Kwanwon) is most frequently used and Sp9($\bar{U}$mn$\bar{u}$ngch'$\breve{o}$n), SP6(Sameumgyo), Liv1(Taedon) are also used often.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2000.06e
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• pp.99-102
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• 2000

This study analyze of reflection wave to Acoustic stimulation on acupoints and contrast parts for objectification of the meridian substance. In order to verify meridian pathway and channel theory of bio-energy in body. It was analyzed response characteristic of reflection waves after acoustic stimulation by sound wave of 5 specific tones. The response characteristics of reflection are measured by the average current magnitude of meridian. The current variation ratio are Live Meridian(gung) 33.2%, Heart Meridian(sang) 30.7%, Kidney Meridian (gak) 33.1%, Spleen Meridian(chi) 33.9%, Lung Meridian (wo) 30.7% compare with contrast parts (non-acupoint and meridian). Therefore meridian is distinguished to non-meridian and 5 vital meridians have relationship with sound wave of 5 specific tones.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2017

Objectives : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) applied to the brook point of the Liver meridian in the rat model of inflammatory pain and to investigate involvement of endogenouse opioid in the EA-induced analgesia. Methods : Knee arthritis was induced by injection of $125{\mu}l$ of complete Freund's adjuvant into the knee joint cavity unilaterally. To examine the level of pain, weight bearing forces(WBFs) of affected limb was measured. EA treatment was given at the LR2, LI4 or non-acupoint on the contralateral limb with frequency of 2 Hz and intensity of 2 mA under gaseous anesthesia. Results : After induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected hindlimb due to a painful knee. EA applied to the LR2 point on the contralateral hind limb produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the hind limb lasting for at least 2 h, and this effect was equivalent to that obtained by 5 mg/kg of oral indomethacin. The effect of EA was specific to the acupoint since it could not be mimicked by EA applied to the LI4 point or the arbitrary non-acupoint. The analgesic effect was blocked by pretreatment with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture applied to LR2, brook point of Liver meridian suppresses inflammatory pain in a rat model of knee arthritis and this effect seems to be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.125-135
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• 2014

Objectives : Warm needling is the method combining the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. In modern clinics, warm needling is only affected by treatment time or frequency. We need to study the physical characteristics of warm needles currently used in clinics in order to develop more efficient and economical treatments. Methods : We collected various warm needle specimens and analyzed chemical constitutions, measured heat transfer velocity, micro Vicker's hardness and specific resistance. We studied the relationship between heat transfer velocity and micro Vicker's hardness as well as that between heat transfer velocity and specific resistance. Results : The heat transfer velocity of the Silver_HL was 3.3 mm/sec, of the Au alloy group was 1.3~2.6 mm/sec, and Silver_IN, Silver_ZK and SS groups was less than 0.3 mm/sec. We therefore concluded that the needle composed of Ag has the best heat transfer velocity. In the Micro Vicker's hardness test, Vicker's hardness of the Au alloy group was 159~170 Hv, of Silver_HL was 181 Hv, and of the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK, SS group was 450.8~519 Hv. In the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK and SS groups, hardness was inversely proportial to thermal conductivity. In the specific resistance test, the specific resistance of Silver_HL was the lowest, that of the Au alloy group was the second lowest, and that of the Silver_IN, Silver_ZK, SS groups were the highest. Conclusions : We concluded that the needle composed of Ag has the best heat transfer velocity, highest electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, therefore the needle composed of Ag is suitable for warm needling.