• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.35-45
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• 2010

Backgrounds : Recently, commercial indirect moxibustion has been widely used as a substitute for traditional indirect moxibustion by clinicians due to its convenience in using. But, there has been lack of studies about the similarity of thermal stimulation between commercial indirect moxibustion and traditional indirect moxibustion. Objectives : To demonstrate commercial indirect moxibustion can substitute for traditional indirect moxibustion by comparing thermal stimulation between the two. Methods : We measured bottom temperature of commercial indirect moxibustion and traditional indirect moxibustion with various thicknesses of ginger and garlic. A clinical trial was performed on 18 healthy subjects to evaluate thermal stimualtion. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, traditional indirect moxibustion with ginger and garlic. The skin temperature and heating time were measured. They received moxibustion therapy with commercial indirect moxibustion and traditional indirect moxibustion according to their groups. Acupoint Chogcoe($LU_6$), Zusanli($ST_{36}$) and Tianshu($ST_{25}$) were used in each group for 3 times. Results : There was no difference in bottom temperature among commercial indirect moxibustion, traditional indirect moxibustion with 2mm ginger and 3mm garlic. No major difference was detected in the subjects' baseline data. There was no difference in skin temperature and heating time among these 3 type of moxibustions. Also, No major difference was detected in VAS score of thermal stimulation and frequency of burns among these 3 type of moxibustions. But, most subjects regarded their sensation weren't identical because of its own distinct characteristics. Conclusions : Commercial indirect moxibustion, traditional indirect moxibustion with 2mm ginger and 3mm garlic have same thermal stimulation. Thus, commercial indirect moxibustion can substitute for traditional indirect moxibustion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 2014

Objectives : To observe the regenerative effects of indirect moxibustion, a traditional Korean medical treatment on skeletal muscles using mouse model of skeletal muscle adiposity. Methods : Twenty seven ICR male mice were randomly assigned into Intact control(n=3), glycerol treatment together without moxibustion(n=12), and glycerol treatment together with moxibustion (n=12) groups. Mice of glycerol treatment groups were injected with 50 ${\mu}l$ DW(distilled water) containing 50 % of glycerol into the two tibialis anterior. After injection, moxibustion was applied at 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) acupoints three times per each session, every days for twelve days(total 12 treatments). Phospho-Erk1/2, Myostatin protein levels were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluo-rescence staining techniques for tissues of the tibialis anterior muscle. Smad, phospho-Smad were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Results : 1. Histological analysis of sections from injected TA muscles showed that glycerol induced rapidly muscle necrosis, with a maximum at day 3. 6 days and 9 days after injection, muscle was regenerating. 2. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Erk1/2 protein signals in glycerol treatment with moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment without moxibustion group. 3. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, myostatin protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 4. According to immunofluorescence staining, Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 5. According to immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. Conclusions : These results confirm that indirect moxibustion of 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) influences muscle regeneration in mouse models of skeletal muscle adiposity. Further discussion, and the establishment of moxibustion mechanism will prompt clinical application of moxibustion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2019

A patient with central post-stroke pain was treated for 4 weeks with scalp acupuncture and traditional Korean medicine (following a cerebral infarction in 2013). The patient presented at Chungju hospital in January 2019 with left side weakness and tingling, numbness in the left hemisphere, chronic pain and dysarthria. Initially, herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacupunture, indirect moxibustion, and physiotherapy were administered together with Western medicine, with no improvement in the patient's condition. On Day 5, scalp electroacupuncture (MS1, MS5, MS10, MS11) was introduced. The numbness feeling in the patient's head resolved, and the pain in his upper body decreased. Grip force difference between the left and right hand improved from 3 kg to 0-0.5 kg. Sleep disturbance was resolved after 4 weeks treatment, and his average numeric rating scale score for pain improved from an admission score of 10, to a discharge score of 5. The patient could walk unaided after treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2020

A total of 1,235 studies were retrieved on June 23, 2019, from 3 databases. Selected 59 studies were evaluated by year of publication, study type, subject condition/disease, acupoint, standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of moxibustion (STRICTOM), Cochrane risk of bias (RoB), and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS). Most studies were conducted in 2011, after which the number of studies decreased. The most common study type was 25 case reports (CR), 16 uncontrolled clinical trials (UCT), 11 randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 7 controlled clinical trials (CCT). Moxibustion treatment was mainly used for musculoskeletal and circulatory diseases/conditions. A total of 83 acupoints were used, A-shi points being the most used. As for STRICTOM, an average of 7.4 items were satisfactory for UCT and CR without a control group, and an average of 9.4 items were satisfactory for RCT and CCT. RCT was assessed using the RoB, and many items were rated as uncertain. In this study, the need for RCT of moxibustion treatment in Korea was identified. The detailed description of study methods and results will provide evidence for the efficacy of moxibustion treatment in preventive and therapeutic aspects of Korean traditional medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2010

목적 : 본 연구는 간접구의 안전성에 대한 기초 데이터를 확보하기 위하여 수행되었다. 연구설계 : 50명의 건강한 성인을 무작위 배정으로 두 그룹으로 나누어 4주간 (일주일에 3회) 신궐혈과 관원혈에 뜸을 시술하였다. 시험군에 비하여 대조군은 열이 전달되지 않도록 단열제로 처리한 뜸으로 동일한 부위에 시술하였다. 첫 시술 1시간 전과 마지막 시술 1시간 후에 공복상태에서 채혈을 하여 혈액학적 검사를 시행하였다. 결과 : 혈액학적 검사에서 적혈구와 총 백혈구 및 백혈구의 종류별 절대수치와 상대수치에서 두 그룹 간에 특별한 차이가 없었다. 또한 혈청학적 검사에서 총 단백질, 알부민, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH, 요소질소, 크레아티닌, 총콜레스테롤 및 중성지방의 비교에서도 그룹 간에 차이가 없었다. 결론 : 본 연구는 건강한 사람에서 간접구의 시행 후 혈액학적 안전성을 처음으로 보고하는 것으로서, 향후 뜸의 연구를 수행시 중요한 비교 자료로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2024

This case report highlights the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine in treating chronic levator ani syndrome. A 47-year-old male suffered from chronic anorectal pain for 14 years. Over the last 5 months, the severity and frequency of the pain increased, and he was unresponsive to Western medicine and acupuncture outside Korea. The patient reported moderate anorectal pain from early morning until midday, affecting daily efficiency and concentration. The pain was triggered by defecation and alleviated by lying down. He was diagnosed with levator ani syndrome related to "cold symptoms of the liver and kidney - Yin", for which modified Nangan-jeon was prescribed. Indirect moxibustion (CV4, Ki1), Aconitum ciliare Decaisne pharmacopuncture (GV1, BL33), and acupuncture (HT7, ST36, SP6, LR3, LI4) were also administered weekly. After 8 weeks, the anorectal pain decreased by 2 points on a numeric rating scale, leading to patient satisfaction and return to his home country.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2010

Objectives : To characterize the thermal properties of traditional warm needle and new warm needle with various air flows as an important environmental factor and to suggest the necessity of maintaining suitable environment of clinics to maximize their efficacy. Methods : We measured the temperature characteristics of traditional moxa warm needle and new moxa charcoal warm needle by applying an automatic temperature acquisition system with thermocouples while external various air flows were supplied. Temperatures of two positions at the needle body were measured while a moxa cone burned. Typical temperature characteristics like peak temperature, duration, curve shape and the efficiency of the heat stimuli by heat amount analysis were executed. Results : Both warm needles showed similar temperature curve with an increase in the air flow. Peak temperature and duration of effective heat decreased with the air flow, as shown in indirect moxibustion on garlic. The temperature change pattern by the air flow became more apparent when the total combustion heat was compared with the effective heat. The values from two positions on the needle body were significantly different, showing a distance dependency from the heat source of warm needle acupuncture. Conclusions : Thermal properties of warm needle acupuncture was observed variously with surrounding air flow of 0.0 - 0.7 m/s. It emphasized the importance of environmental control as well as the warm needle itself such as heat source and needle. The latter has already been known to deliver designated heat to subjects. It also indicated the importance of education and skill of the practitioners of warm needle acupuncture.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2015

Objectives : To evaluate the long-term survival effects of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) on refractory metastatic lung cancer and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which have historically poor survival rates. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of two patients in Daejeon University hospital. The first patient, with SCLC, was treated from January 2000 to December 2009 and the other, with metastatic pulmonary cancer from primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), was treated from September 2004 to February 2014. The patients were treated with herbal medicines at one-month intervals. During hospitalization, acupuncture and indirect moxibustion were performed concurrent with the administration of Western therapy. Treatment efficacy was assessed monthly using chest radiography, chest computed tomography, and laboratory examination data, and by measuring patient performance status. Results : Both patients exhibited a stable disease course for more than 9 years after the initial diagnosis of intractable lung cancer, suggesting that their disease status was controlled by TKM. Conclusions : We suggest that a combination of TKM with conventional Western therapy for refractory lung cancer patients is effective in controlling various symptoms related to lung cancer and improving quality of life, and may potentially prolong overall survival.