Korean Medicine Treatment Research Articles

밀러피셔 증후군의 한의학적 치료에 대한 국내 연구 현황

Objectives This study aimed to analyze the Korean medical treatment methods for Miller-Fisher syndrome from January 01, 2000 to December 31, 2021. Methods Six online databases (KISS, SCIENCEON, DBpia, RISS, KMBASE, and KoreaMed) were searched for clinical studies related to Miller-Fisher syndrome. Results Thirteen case reports were selected out of the 85 studies, and a total of 13 cases were analyzed. There were five kinds of Korean medicine treatment that were used in these studies. Acupuncture and herbal medicine were the most used interventions. Conclusions Korean medical treatment is found to be effective for Miller-Fisher syndrome. Although several limits remain, we expect that further research will be conducted to provide a better level of evidence.

천장관절융합술 후 기능 회복에 대한 추나요법을 포함한 한의복합치료 증례보고 1례

Objectives This case study aimed to investigate the effect of complex Korean medicine treatment including Chuna manual therapy on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain status post SIJ fusion with sacroiliac screw fixation. Methods Complex Korean medicine treatments including Chuna manual therapy were provided to patients with SIJ widening due to a traffic accident trauma. Measurement of range of motion and manual muscle test to evaluate functional activities of daily living was conducted before and after treatment. Moreover, outcome estimates were performed using the numeric rating scale, pain disability index, and EuroQol 5-dimension five-level questionnaire. Results After complex treatment, functional activities of daily living improved. Sacroiliac joint pain decreased and the quality-of-life score improved. Conclusions This study suggests that treatment with complex Korean medicine treatment including Chuna manual therapy may improve traumatic SIJ widening status post SIJ fusion. A postoperative rehabilitation protocol based on accumulated research results considering a multidisciplinary approach should be prepared to ensure holistic treatment.

A Case of Psychogenic Tremor Improved by Complex Korean Medicine Treatment Including <italic>Cheongshimondam-tang-gamibang</italic> and Acupuncture Treatment - A Case Report

Objectives: A case study about the effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine treatment in a psychogenic tremor patient.Case presentation: A 36-year-old male diagnosed with psychogenic tremor with low back pain underwent 29 days of inpatient treatment and 4 weeks of outpatient treatment. His pattern identification was a psychogenic tremor of the weakness of the heart and gall bladder (SimDamHeoGup) type. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. He took Cheongshimondam-tang for 29 days and Chunwangbosim-dan for 6 weeks when he had symptoms. He also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at GB20 (Pungji), L14 (Hapgok), HT4 (Yeongdo), PC6 (Naegwan), HT7 (Sinmun), GB34 (Yangleungcheon), ST36 (Joksamni), SP6 (Sameumgyo), and LR3 (Taechung). After 8 weeks of treatment, the Fahn Tolosa Marin rating (FTM) scale of his tremor, at rest, dropped from Grade 4 on both upper extremities, trunk, and both lower extremities at the time of admission to Grade 2 in both upper extremities and trunk, and Grade 0 in both lower extremities at the time of discharge. His Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score decreased from 38 to 7, and his numerical rating scale (NRS) decreased from 8 to 1 for low back pain and from 9 to 2 for tremor. A follow-up visit to the hospital 2 months after the end of treatment confirmed continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects.Conclusions: This study suggests the possibility of treating psychogenic tremor using only Korean medicine treatments. Further studies with control groups and long-term follow-up are needed.

A Case Report of Korean Medicine Treatment of a Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis Patient with Jaundice

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report a clinical case of decompensated liver cirrhosis in a patient with jaundice who showed improvement with Korean medicine treatment.Methods: A patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis with jaundice was treated with herbal medicine (Injinoryung-tang, Galgeunjowi-tang), acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. Changes in jaundice, fatigue, and dysuria were measured with subjective parameters. Liver function was checked by performing a blood test 8 times. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TB), albumin, and platelets (Plt), prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio (INR) were recorded.Results: The Korean medicine treatment improved jaundice, fatigue, and dysuria and lowered the AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and TB levels.Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment containing Galgeunjowi-tang positively improves clinical symptoms and liver function.

A Case Report of Chronic Urticaria Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment

A Case Report of Chronic Urticaria Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment

The Effect of Korean Medicine Treatment for Hemorrhagic Transformation after Interventional Reperfusion Therapy of an Anterior Circulation Infarction in a Patient with Hemiplegia and Conscious and Cognitive Disorders: A Case Report

Objectives: The study investigated the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a hemiplegic patient with conscious and cognitive disorders due to hemorrhagic transformation after interventional reperfusion therapy of anterior circulation infarction.Case presentation: The patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and herbal medicine in combination with Western medicine and physical therapy. The effects on clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Korean Nu-DESC), and Modified Bathel Index (MBI). After the treatment, the MMT grade increased from Gr.0-1 to Gr.0-3, the GCS score increased from 10 to 15, the K-MMSE score increased from 8 to 15, the Korean Nu-DESC score decreased from 3 to 1, night delirium disappeared, and the MBI score increased from 13 to 26.Conclusions: Complex Korean medicine treatments were effective for improving the clinical symptoms of hemorrhagic transformation after interventional reperfusion therapy for anterior circulation infarction in a patient with hemiplegia and conscious and cognitive disorders. However, further studies are needed.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome-like Neurological Symptoms after COVID-19 Vaccination Treated with Traditional Korean Medicine: A Case Report

Objective: To report a clinical case of Guillain-Barré syndrome-like neurological symptoms, including limb weakness, phantosmia, and nausea/vomiting after COVID-19 vaccination (AstraZeneca) that was improved by traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment.Methods: A 73-year-old male complained of extreme limb weakness, severe phantosmia, and nausea/vomiting after COVID-19 vaccination. No abnormalities had appeared in various radiological and laboratory tests, but the symptoms had continued to worsen for three months before visiting our clinic.Results: The patient was diagnosed with neurological complications suspicious of Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination. The patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal drugs (Banhabakchulchunma-tang), and nasal inhalation therapy with Aquilariae Lignum. Three weeks after Korean medicine treatment, his neurological symptoms had improved. Nausea/vomiting and phantosmia continued to show improvement, and muscle strength was gradually recovered in both lower limbs.Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine could be a choice for the treatment of neurological complications after COVID-19 vaccination.

A Case Report of Postpartum Pruritus Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment: Focusing on the Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang

A Case Report of Postpartum Pruritus Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment: Focusing on the Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang

A Case Report of Reflux Esophagitis After Gastrectomy due to Gastric Ulcer

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of reflux esophagitis.Methods: A 62-year-old male patient had reflux esophagitis that occurred one year after a proximal gastrectomy for gastric ulcer in 2020. The patient underwent drug treatment in 2021 and inpatient treatment in 2022 at Mokpo Hankook Hospital, but he did not improve. We treated him with Korean medical treatments, including herbal medicines (Pyungjingunbi-tang-gami), acupuncture, and moxibustion. His symptom severity was assessed with a daily visual analog scale (VAS) for heartburn, upper abdomen pain, and acid reflux.Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The severity of heartburn and acid reflux was reduced from VAS 7 to VAS 1, and his upper abdomen pain was improved from VAS 6 to VAS 1. The symptom frequency was also reduced.Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment could be an effective and quick treatment for reflux esophagitis.

A Case Report of Yin-deficiency Related Symptoms Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment: Focusing on the Yijin Samul-tang Gagam (二陳四物湯加減)

A Case Report of Yin-deficiency Related Symptoms Improved with Korean Medicine Treatment: Focusing on the Yijin Samul-tang Gagam (二陳四物湯加減)

A Case Study of Korean Medical Treatment for Epigastric Pain and Insomnia after Gastrectomy

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to report the effects of Korean medicine treatment on a patient diagnosed with postgastrectomy syndrome (PGS).Methods: The patient was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion in combination with Western medicine for 3 months.Results: Though abdominal tenderness was maintained at a similar level, other clinical symptoms (epigastric pain, globus pharyngis, and epigastric pain) were improved after Korean medicine treatment.Conclusions: These results suggest that the need to promote practical research on PGS, should receive greater attention in the Korean medical community.

Case Report of Abnormal Spinal Curvature Improved by Acupotomy and Combined Korean Medicine Treatment

Case Report of Abnormal Spinal Curvature Improved by Acupotomy and Combined Korean Medicine Treatment

A Review of Clinical Studies for Chinese Medicine Treatment of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Using the CNKI Database

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the latest clinical studies on Korean medicine treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database.Methods: We searched the last 6 years of clinical studies discussing Oriental medicine-based treatments for ITP in the CNKI database. A meta-analysis of 13 RCTs was performed by synthesizing the outcomes, including the measured platelet count and total effective rate. The quality of the studies was assessed using Cochrane’s risk of bias (RoB) tool. RevMan 5.4.1 software was used for data analysis.Results: Of the 15 selected studies, 1 was a non-randomized controlled trial (nRCT), 2 were case series, and 12 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Treatments in all studies included oral herbal medicine. The most frequently used herbal decoction was the Liangxue Jiedu prescription (凉血解毒方), and the most commonly used herb was Agrimonia pilosa (仙鶴草), Astragali Radix (黃芪), Fossilia Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (甘草), and Rehmannia glutinosa Liboschitz ex Steudel (地黃). The meta-analysis showed significantly better improvement in platelet counts and total effective rate for ITP in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion: Treatment with herbal medicine was effective in treating ITP. However, the significance of this conclusion is somewhat limited due to the low quality of the available studies. Multifaceted and scientifically designed clinical studies are required to develop treatments for ITP based on Korean medicine. The results of this study could be used as basic data for further ITP studies.

A Case of Korean Medicine Treatment for a Patient with Acute Bacterial Prostatitis Who Did Not Improve with Antibiotics

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical effects of pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, and ohrimsan on prostatitis that was not improved by antibiotics.Methods: The patient underwent So-Yeom pharmacopuncture injection, acupuncture, and ohrimsan. A numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to obtain a sense of residual urine and the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was used to evaluate the treatment effects.Results: NRS for the sense of residual urine decreased from 70 before treatment to 0 after treatment. The NIH-CPSI was 19 on the first day of admission and decreased to 8 on the day of discharge. No side effects were observed after treatment.Conclusions: The traditional Korean medicine of pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, and ohrimsan is effective for treating prostatitis that is not improved by antibiotics.

Korean Medicine Treatment for Extension Teardrop Fracture of C2 with Post-operative State of Cervical Spine: A Case Report

Korean Medicine Treatment for Extension Teardrop Fracture of C2 with Post-operative State of Cervical Spine: A Case Report

A multicenter registry of neuropsychiatric outpatients in Korean medicine hospitals (KMental): Protocol of a prospective, multicenter, registry study.

Mental health is an important global health concern. In Korea, many people visit Korean medicine clinics due to Stagnation syndrome and Hwabyung (cultural idioms of distress). We established a research collaboration comprising of professionals from 8 Korean medicine hospitals and planned a prospective, multicenter registry study. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data will be collected from patients with mental disorders visiting the Korean medicine neuropsychiatric department of Korean medicine hospitals. We will include major psychiatric diagnoses related to neurosis and Korean traditional mental disorders such as Stagnation syndrome and Hwabyung.We expect to identify comprehensive characteristics of participants, measure the severity of their symptoms or distress, and investigate patterns of Korean medicine interventions and treatment responses for both the short-term and long-term (at least 4 years). Additionally, this study will include Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service data to analyze the medical use of registered patients before and after registration, in case the participant submits the consent form for personal information collection and use.To analyze the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for the participants, stratified or corrected analyses of age, sex, and diagnosis will be performed. The difference in the change in the psychometric measurements, quality of life measured by short form 36, and quality-adjusted life years will be calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Intensive Integrative Treatment including Motion Style Acupuncture Treatment (MSAT) in Hospitalized Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: An Observational Study.

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of and satisfaction with integrative Korean medicine treatment and motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). We retrospectively analyzed medical charts and prospectively surveyed adult patients aged between 19 and 64 years treated for lumbar disc herniation for at least 6 days at three Korean hospitals from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. The primary outcome was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for back pain. Secondary outcome measures included the NRS for radiating leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. The NRS scores for low back pain decreased from 5.40 ± 1.58 to 2.92 ± 2.09, NRS for radiating leg pain from 5.57 ± 1.56 to 1.78 ± 2.36, and ODI from 46.39 ± 16.72 to 16.47 ± 15.61 at baseline and survey, respectively. The EQ-5D-5L increased from 0.57 ± 0.19 to 0.82 ± 0.14. In conclusion, Korean medicine and MSAT could be effective treatment methods for patients with LDH. The results of this study can be used as helpful information for clinicians who treat patients with LDH in real clinical settings.

A Web-based Survey Research on Clinical Practice Patterns of Korean Medicine Treatment for Degenerative arthritis of hip and finger joints

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the current status of clinical practice patterns of Korean medicine in the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the hip and finger joints using web-based survey.Methods: An e-mail questionnaire survey was conducted with the Korean Medicine Doctor(K.M.D) registered in the Korean Medicine Association. The survey data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.Results: Although the response rate of the survey was low, the characteristics of the respondents generally reflected the characteristics of the study population. A total of 35.2% of the respondents had heard of the guidelines; however, they did not use them for medical treatment. The reason as answered by 32.8% of the respondents was “not enough treatment time to check the manual and apply it.” More than half (78.80%) answered that they were treating patients with both degenerative hip and finger arthritis; however, the average monthly number of first-time patients was ≤5. A total of 379 (60.9%) respondents answered that “acupuncture is very important,” which was the only one that exceeded the majority compared to other treatments. As a result of the safety investigation, “Acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping” were considered high in safety, while “Pharmacopuncture and Bee venom acupuncture” were considered low in safety.Conclusions: This survey helped to determine the current clinical practice patterns of Korean medicine treatments, further providing basic data for CPGs for degenerative arthritis of the hip and finger joints.

A Review of Rat Models of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Treated with Natural Extracts

To determine the effect of Korean medicine treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) this study reviewed both single ingredients and bioactive compounds in the treatment of ANFH in a rat model. Literature was retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords “femur head necrosis,” “natural extract,” and “rat.” The data from studies analyzed included: rats’ characteristics, development methods of ANFH, natural extracts administration, observation methods, and outcome indicators. Two independent researchers screened all articles retrieved and 26 studies were chosen. The most used rat species was the Sprague Dawley rat (76.9%). To induce ANFH, steroid injections (46.2%), and oral gavage (53.8%) were typically used. Studies focused mainly on factors affecting bone formation (65.3%), and apoptosis (53.8%). Research on ANFH focused on using traditional natural substances mentioned in classical literature to confirm its effectiveness against anti-inflammation, osteogenesis, and cell death. ANFH has a diverse etiology, therefore research models such as genetic analysis of human-derived samples from ANFH patients may shed more light on the condition. Moreover, research into herbal medicines and pharmacoacupuncture treatment of ANFH should precede.

Supraspinatus Tendon Full-Thickness Tear Patient’s Pain and Range of Motion Improved by Korean Medicine Treatment with Aconitum ciliare Decaisne Pharmacopuncture: A Case Report

Supraspinatus Tendon Full-Thickness Tear Patient’s Pain and Range of Motion Improved by Korean Medicine Treatment with Aconitum ciliare Decaisne Pharmacopuncture: A Case Report