Use Of Traditional Korean Medicine Research Articles

Analysis of Koryo medicine research: clinical medicine topics in <i>Koryo medicine</i>

Objectives: South Korea, the United States, and the United Nations have imposed extensive economic sanctions against North Korea, which increased the use of traditional Korean medicine in North Korea to maintain its national health care system. This study attempts to study the latest trends of traditional Korean medicine research through bibliographic analysis of one of the North Korean medical journals. It will then provide insights into how traditional Korean medicine is used in North Korea.Methods: This study is based on 611 clinical research articles out of 931 articles extracted from 13 volumes of <i>Koryo Medicine</i> (2016 ~ 2019). The articles were classified according to the researched treatment, diseases and use alongside conventional drugs.Results: Based on the analysis of <i>Koryo Medicine</i>, the proportion of clinical research articles investigating the treatment effects was very high (65.6%). Also, clinical research using herbal medicine as treatment was the most common, accounting for 17.69% of the total. Some of the clinical research in <i>Koryo Medicine</i> were conducted in tandem with conventional drug treatment, especially on acupuncture.Conclusion: This study conducted a bibliographic analysis of <i>Koryo Medicine</i> to understand the current status of traditional Korean medicine within North Korea. The analysis identified main diseases, treatment methods, and integration with conventional drugs in the clinical research of traditional Korean medicine. As a country actively seeking to use traditional Korean medicine, North Korea will become an interesting field of global traditional medicine and complementary medicine research.

Utilization of Traditional Korean Medicine Services by the Older Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Korean healthcare service is divided into conventional medicine and traditional Korean medicine (TKM). This cross-sectional study compared the older population (65 years and older) with two groups of the general population (19–50 years and 51–64 years) to understand the current patterns in the use of TKM services by the older population. Using data from the 2017 National Survey of TKM Usage, we analyzed the main purpose and diseases or symptoms for TKM use, the reason for choosing TKM over other types of medicine, and the treatments provided. Both age groups sought TKM services to “[treat] a disease”. The top five diseases and symptoms in the older adult (65 and older) group were musculoskeletal and are as follows: arthritis and joint diseases (37.8%, n = 166), disc-related diseases (25.5%, n = 112), back pain (8.4%, n = 37), frozen shoulder and shoulder pain (7.7%, n = 34), and sprain (5.9%, n = 26). The most frequently used treatments for these diseases were acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and physiotherapy. The present study suggests that older adults primarily used TKM clinics for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Further studies are necessary to assess the clinical effectiveness of conventional medicine versus TKM versus a combination of both in treating musculoskeletal disorders.

Integrative traditional Korean medicine treatment for children with idiopathic short stature: A STROBE-compliant case series.

Integrative traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment including herbal medicine and acupuncture has been used frequently by parents in South Korea for the treatment of children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). We aimed to report the TKM treatments currently being used for children with ISS and explore their therapeutic effects. The medical records of children who met the criteria for ISS and who had been treated with TKM for the management of ISS were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 116 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 8.07 [3.08] years; 52.6% girls) enrolled in the study. Their mean height percentile was 1.45 and body mass index was 16.19 kg/m2. During the study period of 5 years, participants visited the outpatient clinic an average of 2.93 times; the mean number of days to the next visit was 101 days. All patients received herbal medicine treatment, and the formulation was mainly decoction type. Additional treatments including ear acupuncture and moxibustion were also used. After treatment with TKM, the height percentile and standard deviation scores increased in both girls and boys (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively). Additionally, the predicted adult height, estimated based on bone age, increased in girls (P < .05). This study provided preliminary data for future research in TKM use in children with ISS.

The Use of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) by Children: A Correlational Study between Parent's Perception and Their Children's Use Reported by Parents.

This cross-sectional study investigated the correlation between parents’ perception and their children’s traditional Korean medicine (TKM) use reported by parents in order to discover policy intervention points and provide a reference for establishing generalized TKM policies. Participant data from a 2017 national survey on TKM usage was divided into two groups based on the children’s TKM use reported by parents. The female participants’ children had a higher rate of experience in using TKM (8.1%; p = 0.029). Additionally, 91.4% of the parent group with a child who used TKM turned out to have used TKM, which was higher than 71.9% of the parents whose children never used TKM (p < 0.001). As for the awareness on the use of TKM, 44.0% of the parents with a child who experienced TKM answered they were aware of it, while only 35.3% of the parent group whose child never experienced TKM did so (p = 0.033). The present study suggests that parental experience in using TKM could have an impact on the children’s TKM use reported by parents. Further study is necessary to assess which parental factor (awareness level, medical disorder to be treated, therapy, therapeutic efficacy, the purpose of visit, sex, age, etc.) has a close relationship with TKM usage experience of their children.

Factors affecting utilisation of traditional Korean medical services by privately insured persons: a retrospective study using Korean Health Panel Survey (KHPS)

ObjectiveThis study aimed to use the Korean Health Panel Survey (KHPS) data to identify the key factors that influence decisions regarding the use of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) by privately...

Korean Medical Treatment of Cognitive Impairments after Traumatic Epidural Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Objectives After epidural hemorrhage, sequelae may cause cognitive impairments, such as attention, memory, and performance disturbances. This case study reports on the use of traditional Korean medicine in a patient with cognitive impairments after a traumatic epidural hemorrhage. Methods During the 46-day hospitalization period, traditional Korean medicine treatments, including Sunkihwalhyul-tang-gamibang, Ukgan-san-gajinpibanha Granule, Kyungohk-go, acupuncture, and cupping, were administered. The degree of cognitive impairment was measured based on the Mini Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and correct answer ratio. Results After traditional Korean medicine treatment, the MMSE-K score increased from 13 to 19 and the MBI score increased from 63 to 71. The patient’s conversations in daily life also proceeded more smoothly than before hospitalization, and the correct answer ratio rose. Conclusion This case reports the improvement of cognitive impairment after traumatic epidural hemorrhage in response to traditional Korean medicine treatment; further study is needed. Keywords: traumatic epidural hemorrhage, cognitive impairments, Sunkihwalhyul-tang, Ukgan-san-gajinpibanha, case report

Relation between cancer development and the use of traditional Korean Medicine: using panel analysis

Relation between cancer development and the use of traditional Korean Medicine: using panel analysis

A cross-sectional survey of clinical factors that influence the use of traditional Korean medicine among children with cerebral palsy

BackgroundTraditional Korean medicine (TKM) is widely used to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea; however, studies investigating factors that influence the use of TKM are scarce. Thus, we investigated the clinical factors that might influence the use of TKM. MethodsA population-based, cross-sectional, multicenter survey was performed from August 2014 to May 2016. The history of TKM use, type and severity of CP, current treatment characteristics, presence of accompanying disabilities or other health problems not directly related to CP, and monthly cost for the treatment of CP were surveyed. ResultsIn total, 182 children were recruited, and 78 children (42.9%) had used TKM. Among these 78 children, 50 (64.1% of the TKM-use group) had used both acupuncture and herbal medication, 15 (19.2%) had used acupuncture only, and 13 (16.7%) had used herbal medication only. Children with non-typical CP, accompanying disabilities and general health problems tended to use TKM. The monthly cost of treatment for CP was significantly higher in the TKM-use group than that in the no-TKM-use group, suggesting that economically disadvantaged children may have difficulty in accessing TKM. Dietary supplements, conventional pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation therapies did not affect TKM use. ConclusionChildren with non-typical symptoms or those with poor overall health status are likely to use TKM. Additionally, TKM use leads to increased treatment costs. Studies investigating the motivation for starting or ceasing TKM therapy, socioeconomic factors and the attitude of parents towards complementary and alternative medicine should be performed.

Clinical practice guidelines for the use of traditional Korean medicine in the treatment of patients with traffic-related injuries: An evidence-based approach

IntroductionIn 2016, traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment for traffic-related injuries comprised 27.7% of Korea’s total car insurance medical coverage, and that proportion has been increasing annually. However, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that employ evidenced-based medicine (EBM) methodology for traffic-related injuries have not been established in TKM. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a CPG for the treatment of traffic-related injuries in TKM by conducting a systematic literature review following EBM. MethodsFirst, a network of experts was established to develop the CPG. Then, a systematic search of TKM treatments for traffic-related injuries was conducted using the Patients/Populations–Intervention–Comparison–Outcome method. To measure the methodological quality of the systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the assessment of multiple systematic reviews was used. The Cochrane collaboration’s risk of bias tool was used to assess the randomised controlled trials. ResultsThe CPG for the treatment of traffic-related injuries in TKM consisted of three parts: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. In total, 13 recommendations were developed, with two regarding diagnosis, 10 regarding treatment, and one regarding prognosis. ConclusionsThis CPG was developed by conducting a systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials. Therefore, this CPG can be adapted to different clinical status for traffic-related injuries. Specifically, it can be useful reference for traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo medicine practitioners using the same or similar interventions. In addition, the CPG can serve as an EBM model for countries unfamiliar with the complementary and alternative medicine treatment of traffic-related injuries.

A Case Report of an Ischemic Heart Disease Patient with Chest Discomfort and a Headache

Objective This case study describes the use of traditional Korean medicine to relieve chest pain and headaches in a patient with ischemic heart disease. Methods The patient was treated with a range of traditional Korean medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicines (Gamiondam-tang and Cheonmabanhwa-tang-gagambang). The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used to measure the patient’s status and improvements in the frequency of symptoms. Results After the treatment, the NRS score for chest pain and headaches decreased from 6 to 0. In addition, chest discomfort and palpitations almost subsided. Conclusion This clinical case study suggested that Gamiondam-tang and Cheonmabanhwa-tang-gagambang could be effective in relieving chest discomfort and headaches. Keywords: ischemic heart disease, chest discomfort, headache, Gamiondam-tang, Cheonmabanhwa-tang-gagambang

A Case Report of the Use of Traditional Korean Medicine to Treat a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis B Whose HBV-DNA Level Failed to Drop Below Undetectable Levels Following Long-term Treatment with Entecavir

The patient presented to the clinic with the complaint of severe fatigue. The patient had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B a number of years earlier. Although he had used entecavir, an antiviral agent, for over two years, his HBV-DNA level had not dropped below undetectable levels. The fatigue seemed to be associated with chronic hepatitis B. Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) therapy for chronic hepatitis B was administered in conjunction with entecavir and at the same dose. The excessive fatigue gradually decreased following the treatment. On the 28th day, laboratory tests revealed that the patient’s bilirubin level was slightly lower and that his HBV-DNA level had dropped below undetectable levels. The addition of TKM therapy may have contributed to the HBV-DNA clearance. No similar cases have been reported in Korea. Herein, we summarize the patient’s progress. Keywords: chronic hepatitis B, traditional Korean medicine, entecavir, HBV-DNA

Utilization of Western and Traditional Korean Medicine for Children and Adolescents with Mental Disorders: a Nationwide Population-based Study from 2010 to 2012.

When in need of medical treatment, Korean citizens have a choice of practitioners of western medicine (WM) or Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). However, the two branches frequently conflict with one another, particularly with regard to mental disorders. This study was designed to compare the utilization of WM and TKM, focusing on child/adolescent patients with mental disorders. We analyzed F-code (Mental and behavioral disorders) claims from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, including data from 0–18-year-old patients from 2010 to 2012. Slightly more men than women utilized WM, while TKM use was almost evenly balanced. WM claims increased with advancing age, whereas utilization of TKM was common for the 0-6 age group. In WM and TKM, the total number of claims relying on the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) was 331,154 (92.78%) and 73,282 (97.85%), respectively, and the number of claims relying on medical aid was 25,753 (7.22%) and 1,610 (2.15%), respectively. The most frequent F-coded claim in WM was F90 (Hyperkinetic disorders), with 64,088 claims (17.96%), and that in TKM was F45 (Somatoform disorders), with 28,852 claims (38.52%). The prevalence of a single disorder without comorbidities was 168,764 (47.29%) in WM and 52,615 (70.25%) in TKM. From these data, we conclude that WM takes prevalence over TKM in cases of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as in psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. On the other hand, patients utilizing TKM more commonly present with physical health problems including somatoform problems, sleep, and eating disorders.

Relationship between patient satisfaction with medical doctors and the use of traditional Korean medicine in Korea.

BackgroundSatisfaction with medical doctor (MD) has been studied as a possible motivation for trying complementary medicine. This study aimed to explore the relationship between Korean outpatients’ satisfaction with their MDs and their use of traditional Korean medicine (KM).MethodsData were drawn from the 2011 annual Korea Health Panel, a national representative sample. We analyzed the relationship between outpatients’ use of KM and outpatients’ satisfaction with MDs by using the responses of 9,753 outpatients, including 1,946 KM outpatients. The Andersen behavior model was applied to select the variables. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were tested by Factor Analysis and Cronbach’s alpha. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate five MD satisfaction indicators (patient’s trust in MD, MD’s careful listening, MD’s sufficient explanation, MD’s consultation time, and MD’s respect for patient) and the overall satisfaction with the MD.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the MD satisfaction of KM users and that of nonusers in any of the 5 indicators of MD satisfaction. When we controlled for all independent variables from the Anderson behavior model, however, the patients’ overall dissatisfaction with MDs was associated with their use of KM (OR = 0.87,0.76–0.99). In addition, the more a patient was dissatisfied with the consultation time of their MD, the more they used KM (OR = 0.82, 072–0.94).ConclusionsPatients who were dissatisfied with their MD were more likely to use KM; the main indicator affecting MD dissatisfaction was the relatively short time of MD consultations. This could be one reason why KM plays a complementary role with conventional medicine in Korea.

Disease-specific differences in the use of traditional Korean medicine in Korea

BackgroundThough traditional Korean medicine plays an important role in the Korean parallel health care system, there is limited information about the preference and usage of traditional Korean medicine compared to Western medicine because they have different disease classification systems. The aim of this study is to determine the relative preference for traditional Korean medicine using data acquired nationwide.MethodsData from the 2008 Korea Health Panel were analyzed to determine the preference of medical services by disease. The use of traditional Korean medicine use is defined by the type of medical institution they used. Disease types, number of visits and out of pocket expenditures were analyzed.ResultsTraditional Korean medicine was used in only a small number of cases that were emergencies or hospitalization. However, in terms of outpatient services, traditional Korean medicine was used in 7.8% of all cases and represented 9.9% of total medical costs. Among disease groups, traditional Korean medicine use was higher in patients with nervous system and musculoskeletal system diseases. And patients with musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases such as arthrosis were the most likely to use traditional Korean medicine particularly in an outpatient setting.ConclusionsKorean characteristics of service use resemble the complementary and alternative medicine use in other countries in terms of disease group, and the complementary and alternative medicine should be considered to estimate the burden of disease in countries with parallel health care systems, such as Korea. This is the first study determined the actual preference of traditional Korean medicine for specific chronic diseases.

Treatment of an Elderly Patient with Acute Abdominal Pain with Traditional Korean Medicine

Abdominal pain in elderly patients leads to challenge due to diagnostic difficulty and high incidence of complications. This case report presents an elderly patient with acute and severe abdominal pain, who did not respond to Western treatments. The patient was diagnosed to have abdominal pain by Yang deficiency of spleen (脾陽虛). Acupuncture (mainly at LI4 and LR3), indirect moxibustion (CV4 and CV8), and a herbal drug [DaehwangBuja-Tang (大黃附子湯)] were given to the patient; the abdominal pain and related symptoms disappeared completely within 3 days. This study proved the potential use of traditional Korean medicine for treating abdominal pain in elderly patients.

Usage patterns and adverse experiences in traditional Korean medicine: results of a survey in South Korea

BackgroundAlthough traditional medicine (TM) in South Korea is included in the national health care system, it is considered complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and not mainstream medicine. Therefore, the lack of statistical data regarding the usage and adverse experiences of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) makes difficult to understand the current status of TM. In this study, we aimed to report usage patterns and adverse experiences on TKM targeting consumers in South Korea.MethodsA total of 2000 consumers participated in the survey on usage and adverse experiences in 2008. Among the 2,000 participants, 915 (45.8%) had taken herbal medicine or received traditional medicinal therapies; these individuals were further surveyed on the internet or in an interview.ResultsThe usage rate was higher among women and among patients in their 30s. Of the total TKM usage, acupuncture accounted for 36.7%, and herbal medicine accounted for 13.4%. Regarding the frequency of use of TKM, 73.8% of patients reported using TM less than 5 times in 1 year. Of the 915 respondents, 8.2% of individuals had some type of adverse experience resulting from TKM. Adverse experiences were primarily caused by acupuncture and herbal medicines, and they primarily involved diseases of the digestive system and skin. The incidence of adverse experiences was less than 3.7% for acupuncture and 3.8% for herbal medicine. Overall, the incidence rate of adverse experiences for TKM for the entire population was 0.04 per 10,000 individuals.ConclusionsThe medical usage and occurrence of adverse events on TKM should be surveyed periodically, and the statistical trends should be analysed. The disparity between the survey results for traditional herbal medicines and medical practices, and those for the national pharmacovigilance system or academic reports of adverse experiences should be examined. The national pharmacovigilance system must be improved to compensate for the disparities. Policies and regulations are required to enhance the reporting of adverse experiences not only for herbal medicines but also for traditional medicinal therapies.

Preventive Effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus Bark Extract in OVX-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), has been used as a powerful tonic herb with an impressive range of health benefits. This medicinal herb has been commonly used to treat bone metabolism diseases due to its traditional Korean medicine use to strengthen muscle and bone. This study was conducted to investigate prevention of bone loss by a standardized extract of dried E. senticosus stem bark in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. The OVX groups were divided into five groups treated with distilled water, 17β-estradiol (E2 10 μg/kg, once daily, i.p) and dried stem bark of E. senticosus extracts (DES 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, once daily, p.o) for eight weeks, respectively. After eight weeks of treatments, the femur bone mineral density of the 100 mg/kg DES-treated group was significantly higher than that of the OVX-control group (16.7%, p < 0.01) without affecting the body, organs, and uterus weights, and serum estradiol levels. Additionally, bone markers such as serum ALP, CTx, and OC levels were significantly decreased in the DES 100 mg/kg treated group. These results show that DES is able to prevent OVX-induced in bone loss without the influence of hormones such as estrogen.

Use of traditional Korean medicine by patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

BackgroundSouth Korea has maintained a dual healthcare delivery system that incorporates both traditional Korean and Western medicine. In this research, we identified the determinants of the frequency of using traditional Korean medicine among musculoskeletal patients, who are known to be the most frequent users of complementary and alternative medicine.MethodsIn this research, we reviewed 2 consecutive years of nationally representative survey data from the 2008 and 2009 Korea Health Panel Survey. We analyzed the utilization of outpatient services by musculoskeletal patients within 12 months of the 2009 survey date. A two-part model was used because some patients did not use traditional Korean medicine and skewness was present in the data on traditional Korean medicine use. In the first part, logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the use of traditional Korean medicine. In the second part, multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage among the subjects who visited traditional Korean medical institutions.ResultsThe frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage was positively associated with ages of 40–49 years and over 60, restrictions on daily life, a greater number of chronic diseases, not being hospitalized, and more frequent visits (more than five times) to conventional hospitals or clinics for musculoskeletal disorders.ConclusionsThe important determinants of the frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage were age, activity restrictions, the number of chronic diseases, hospitalization history, and the number of visits to conventional hospitals for musculoskeletal disorders. The results contribute to our understanding of the characteristics of traditional Korean medicine users and may be used as a basic resource for related policymaking by government officials and medical professionals.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children with Brain Injury in the United Kingdom

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineVol. 13, No. 7 Letters to the EditorUse of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children with Brain Injury in the United KingdomAnna Cheshire, Lesley Powell, and Julie BarlowAnna CheshireSearch for more papers by this author, Lesley PowellSearch for more papers by this author, and Julie BarlowSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:11 Oct 2007https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7158AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail "Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children with Brain Injury in the United Kingdom." , 13(7), pp. 703–704FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByIntegrated Rehabilitation for Children with Cerebral palsy: A Prospective Observational Study1 December 2021 | Journal of Korean Medicine, Vol. 42, No. 4A cross-sectional survey of clinical factors that influence the use of traditional Korean medicine among children with cerebral palsyIntegrative Medicine Research, Vol. 7, No. 4Current utilization and influencing factors of complementary and alternative medicine among children with neuropsychiatric disease: a cross-sectional survey in Korea1 March 2016 | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 16, No. 1 Volume 13Issue 7Sep 2007 InformationMary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:Anna Cheshire, Lesley Powell, and Julie Barlow.Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children with Brain Injury in the United Kingdom.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Sep 2007.703-704.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7158Published in Volume: 13 Issue 7: October 11, 2007PDF download