Biopotential changes of acupuncture points by acupuncture stimulation

조성진,최광호,김민지,O Sang Kwon,강석윤,서수연,류연희 한국한의학연구원 2022 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.11 No.3

Background: The energy flow at acupuncture point is important for understanding the mechanism of acupuncture treatment. However, there are few studies on energy at acupuncture point, and related stud-ies have limitation in explaining the energy flow in all meridians. Thus, we aimed to understand the properties of electrical energy at acupuncture point in twelve meridians by measuring the biopotential at acupuncture and non-acupuncture points. Methods: For each meridian, twenty subjects were participated, and biopotential was measured at five transport points and their adjacent non-acupuncture points. In each subject, both ‘non-stimulation’ and ‘stimulation’ experiments were conducted in random order. The data were analyzed in two parts: biopo-tential variability and biopotential difference between acupuncture and non-acupuncture points. Results: The biopotential variability at acupuncture point was increased by acupuncture stimulation, and it was related to the activation of Qi flow by acupuncture stimulation. The biopotential difference between acupuncture and non-acupuncture points was formed in the direction related to the Qi flow theory, and this biopotential difference tended to decrease by acupuncture stimulation. Conclusion: The study on biopotential can provide a foundation for research on energy flow mechanism of acupuncture stimulation, and it is expected to overcome limitation of qualitative explanation in traditional medicine.

침 자극이 정상 성인의 전류감각역치에 미치는 영향: 단일 맹검, 무작위 대조군 연구

김상진 ( Sang Jin Kim ),김민수 ( Min Su Kim ),손대용 ( Dae Yong Son ),천승철 ( Seung Chul Chun ),서해경 ( Hae Gyoung Seo ),안희덕 ( Hee Duk An ),홍정애 ( Jung Ae Hong ),서정철 ( Jung Chul Seo ) 한방재활의학과학회 2003 한방재활의학과학회지 Vol.13 No.3

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncture stimulation on current perception threshold(CPT) in healthy adults, using Neurometerⓡ CPT/C device (Neurotron Inc., USA). Methods : We performed a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. 19 volunteers(named test group) were applied acupuncture stimulation on the right Chize(LU5), Kongzui(LU6) acupoints for 15 minutes. The other 20 volunteers(named control group) had no stimulation. CPTs were measured at both thenar aspect on the palm before and after acupuncture or non stimulation by using a Neurometerⓡ CPT/C device. This device can generate three different specific electrical stimuli(2000 ㎐, 250 ㎐, and 5 ㎐) for each large and small myelineated and unmyelineated nerve fibers selectively. Results : In CPT scores, there were no significant differences between two groups, before and after acupuncture stimulation(or non stimulation). Also there were no significant differences between before and after acupuncture stimulation(or non stimulation) in each groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture stimulation has no effect on CPT in healthy adults. Further study is needed for investigating the effects of acupuncture stimulation on CPT.

Modern acupuncture-like stimulation methods: a literature review

전민호,김영민,김재욱 한국한의학연구원 2015 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.4 No.4

Acupuncture therapy has been proved to be effective for diverse diseases, symptoms, and conditions in numerous clinical trials. The growing popularity of acupuncture therapy has triggered the development of modern acupuncture-like stimulation devices (ASDs), which are equivalent or superior to manual acupuncture with respect to safety, decreased risk of infection, and facilitation of clinical trials. Here, we aim to summarize the research on modern ASDs, with a focus on featured devices undergoing active research and their effectiveness and target symptoms, along with annual publication rates. We searched the popular electronic databases Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and analyzed English-language studies on humans. Thereby, a total of 728 studies were identified, of which 195 studies met our inclusion criteria. Electrical stimulators were found to be the earliest and most widely studied devices (133 articles), followed by laser (44 articles), magnetic (16 articles), and ultrasound (2 articles) stimulators. A total of 114 studies used randomized controlled trials, and 109 studies reported therapeutic benefits. The majority of the studies (32%) focused on analgesia and pain-relief effects, followed by effects on brain activity (16%). All types of the reviewed ASDs were associated with increasing annual publication trends; specifically, the annual growth in publications regarding noninvasive stimulation methods was more rapid than that regarding invasive methods. Based on this observation, we anticipate that the noninvasive or minimally invasive ASDs will become more popular in acupuncture therapy.

Attenuation of skeletal muscle atrophy via acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation

T. Brock Symons,Jinho Park,Joo Hyun Kim,Eun Hye Kwon,Jesse Delacruz,Junghoon Lee,Yoonjung Park,Eunhee Chung,이석호 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.2

Background: Accelerated skeletal muscle wasting is a shared trait among many pathologies and aging. Acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic intervention to control pain; however, little is known about its effects on skeletal muscle atrophy and function. The study's purpose was to compare the effects of acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation on cast-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Methods: Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups: Control, casted (CAST), CAST+Acupuncture (CAST-A), 4) CAST+Electro-acupuncture (CAST-EA), and CAST+Electrical stimulation (CAST-ES) (n = 8). Plaster casting material was wrapped around the left hind limb. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (10 Hz, 6.4 mA) treatments were applied by needling acupoints (stomach-36 and gallbladder-34). Electrical stimulation (10 Hz, 6.4 mA) was conducted by needling the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles. Treatments were conducted for 15 min, three times/week for 14 days. Muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1), and contractile properties were assessed. Results: Fourteen days of cast-immobilization decreased muscle fiber CSA by 56% in the CAST group (p = 0.00); whereas, all treatment groups demonstrated greater muscle fiber CSA than the CAST group (p = 0.00). Cast-immobilization increased MAFbx and MuRF1 protein expression in the CAST group (p<0.01) while the CAST-A, CAST-EA, and CAST-ES groups demonstrated lower levels of MAFbx and MuRF1 protein expression (p<0.02) compared to the CAST group. Following fourteen days of cast-immobilization, peak twitch tension did not differ between the CAST-A and CON groups (p = 0.12). Conclusion: Skeletal muscle atrophy, induced by 14 days of cast-immobilization, was significantly attenuated by acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, or electrical stimulation.

정신기능과 관련된 경혈에 대한 침 자극이 인체에 미치는 영향

이승기 ( Seung Gi Lee ),최우진 ( Woo Jin Choi ),심성윤 ( Seong Youn Shim ) 대한한방신경정신과학회 2009 동의신경정신과학회지 Vol.20 No.2

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the influence of acupuncture on the human body by comparing changes within human bodies before and after people in normal health are treated with acupuncture at the acupoints HT7 and PC9, which are related to mental functions. Methods: The study was performed from January 3, 2008 to March 5, 2008 on 60 healthy males and females in their 20s. HRV, EEG, skin conductance response, respiration and peripheral skin temperature were measured for 5 minutes before acupuncture simulation was applied to the acupoints HT7 and PC9. During 20 minutes of acupuncture treatment, the same items were continuously measured to determine whether there had been any changes, and they were then measured for 5 minutes after the removal of the acupuncture needles in order to implement a comparative analysis. Results: 1. The HRV measurement showed that in the course of before, during and after acupuncture stimulation, heart rate, HF and HF norm decreased significantly (P<0.05) at HT7. LF, LF norm, and LF/HF ratio increased significantly (P>0.05), while heart rate, HF and HF norm decreased significantly (P<0.05) at PC9. 2. Skin conductance response increased significantly (P<0.05) at PC9 during and after the acupuncture simulation periods, compared with the pre acupuncture period. 3. the peripheral skin temperature increased significantly (P<0.05) both at HT7 and PC9 in the course of before, during and after acupuncture stimulation. 4. Compared with the pre-acupuncture period, respiration rate increased both at HT7 and at PC9 during and after the acupuncture simulation periods, but not in a statistically significance. 5. In the EEG measurement, when compared with the pre-acupuncture period at HT7, mid β wave decreased significantly (P<0.05) during acupuncture treatment. Compared with the measurements during acupuncture treatment at PC9, low β wave increased significantly (P<0.05) after the acupuncture needles were removed. Conclusions: When acupuncture treatment is applied at the acupoints HT7 and PC9, the activation of parasympathetic nerves decreases and the activation of sympathetic nerves increases in the HRV measurement. It was determined that PC9 makes the sympathetic nerves become highly activated in a skin conduction response. The effect of stability in the brain wave seemed to bo shown at HT7 than PC9.

접속형 가변 전자계 자극에 대한 경락반응특성

이균정,조동국,김수병,권선민,신태민,이경중,이용흠,Lee, Gyoun-Jung,Cho, Dong-Guk,Kim, Soo-Byung,Kwon, Sun-Min,Shin, Tae-Min,Lee, Kyoung-Joung,Lee, Yong-Heum 한국정보통신학회 2009 한국정보통신학회논문지 Vol.13 No.7

통증을 치료하기 위한 방법으로 약물요법, 신경차단법, 외과적 수술 등이 있으며, 대체물리요법으로 침구치료, 초음파, 전기 치료, 자기장 치료 등이 응용되고 있다. 이중 전기치료 요법이 많이 이용되고 있으나, 피부나 피하조직의 임피던스에 큰 영향을 받으며, 주로 경피자극이 주된 방법으로 효과가 매우 확률론적이다. 본 연구에서는 집속형 자기장을 이용하여 경혈이나 치료점에 대한 국소 부위를 비침습적으로 자극 할 수 있는 새로운 시스템을 개발하였다. 수기자극과 유사한 자극을 유도할 수 있는 새로운 자기장 침 전극(자기장 자극의 효율성을 고려하여 새로운 형태)을 설계하였다. 개발된 시스템의 임상적 유효성 및 신뢰성을 평가하기 위하여 수기자극과 자기장 자극에 대한 경락전위변화를 측정하여 비교하였다. 실험 결과 자기장 자극 시 수기자극을 할 때 나타나는 충전 방전 형태의 전위변화와 유사한 경락전위변화가 측정되었으며, 자극방식, 세기, 빈도를 조절함에 따라 다양한 반응특성이 나타남을 확인하였다. 또한, 전자기장 자극에 의해 경락전위변화를 유도할 수 있어 이를 이용한 새로운 경혈자극 및 통증치료기로써의 가능성을 확인하였다. It is a method to treat pain using medication, neurotomy, and surgery. And acupuncture, ultrasound, electric treatment, and magnetic treatment are applied as a alternative physiotherapy. Electronic therapy is useful but it can be affected by impedance of skin or subcutaneous tissue. So, percutaneous stimulation is leading therapy, that is very randomly. We developed the system which can stimulate parts of acupuncture point noninvasively using the focused magnetic field. And we designed the magnetic stimulation electrode which is considered efficiency of the magnetic stimulation. It can make similar stimulation with manual acupuncture. To confirm the availability and reliability we compared Meridian Electronic Potential(MEP) change between manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation. From this result, we found out the MEP changes of manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation were similar. And there were various response properties as changes of stimulation method, intensity, and frequency. Also, the MEP change can be induced by electromagnetic stimulation. We confirmed that it is possible to use electromagnetic stimulation as a acupoint stimulation or pain treatment instrument.

Anatomical and Clinical Characteristics of Scalp Acupuncture Systems: a Scoping Review and Synthesis

Wise Svetlana,Lorenc Ava 사단법인약침학회 2023 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.16 No.5

Scalp acupuncture is a therapeutic procedure that involves inserting needles into the scalp to treat various medical conditions, including pain and neurological and psychological disorders. The inter-system variability of scalp acupuncture limits secondary analysis and evidence synthesis, delaying its inclusion into evidence-based healthcare policies and establishment as a treatment intervention recognized by Western medicine. This scoping review aimed to identify the range of scalp acupuncture systems, systematically collect and summarize information on their general, anatomical, and clinical characteristics, and build a framework for understanding scalp acupuncture systems. This review included all English-language publications on scalp acupuncture applied to treat any health condition in humans. Extensive searches were conducted across bibliographic databases, journals, trial registries, and supplementary sources. The detailed general, anatomical, and clinical application characteristics of 19 scalp acupuncture systems were extracted. Data were collected and analyzed using charting and image manipulation software. Framework synthesis was performed using the Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature Scalp Acupuncture as an a priori framework. The review revealed that the heterogeneity related to scalp acupuncture methods can be attributed to the high variability among the theoretical bases of different systems, intersystem mismatch in anatomical locations of treatment points and areas on the scalp, and inconsistencies in the methods used for locating them. These discrepancies in anatomical and clinical features have limited the synthesis and development of a framework for scalp acupuncture. Discussion and agreement on the anatomical locations of scalp stimulation areas, identification of methods for precise positioning of acupuncture areas on the scalp, and further exploration of theoretical bases will aid in the standardization of scalp acupuncture and improve the quality of research in this area.

腎兪穴의 鍼刺戟과 황기약침이 생쥐의 免疫活性物質인 TNF-α의 遺傳子發顯에 미치는 影響

金鍾洙,朴元煥,崔達永 대한동의병리학회 2000 동의생리병리학회지 Vol.14 No.2

생체는 邪氣의 침습에 대하여 내부환경을 항시적으로 유지하는 기구를 통하여 생체자신을 방어하고 있다고 볼 수 있다. 이에 대하여 조기에 대응하는 cytokine으로서 IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, 종양괴사인자(TNF)등이 있다. 한의학에서는 인체의 각종 질병에 대하여 침과 약침제재를 이용한 치료가 광범위하게 이루어져 오고 있으나, 침자극과 약침의 효과에 대한 기전은 기대하는 만큼 제시되지 못하고 있다. 이에 침자극과 약침에 대한 효과를 유전자반응을 통해 이해하고 그 활용을 위해, 腎兪穴(BL23)의 침자극과 황기약침을 이용하여 생·병태생체내에서 일어나는 TNT-α의 생물활성과 병태생리작용을 유전자 발현능을 통하여 연구한 결과, LPS처치후에는 LPS처치전보다 TNF-α의 발현능이 감소하였으나 신수혈의 침자극과 황기약침에 의한 유전자발현의 상태로 보아 면역촉진의 효과는 인정되었다. Aqua-acupuncture treatment is composed of acupuncture-treatment and herbal drugs' action. Acupuncture-treatment is known as using by the physiological function of the Channels and Collaterals, pathological changes, induction, transmission and regulation. The channels induce stimulation and transmit information. If some region of the human body is stimulated, such stimulation will be transmitted along the channel to the reated viscera or bowels in the body. As a result, the relevant physiological or pathological changes take place. These changes are reflected on the body surface through the channels. Expecially, indications of Synsu(BL23) are nephritis, impotence, irregular menstruation, chronic diarrhea, lumbago. Radix Astragali is used ⑴ to replenish the vital energy and to stop perspiration (anhidrotic) for the treatment of spontaneous perspiration, night sweat, prolapse of uterus and anus; ⑵ to dispel pus and accelerating the healing of wounds for the treatment of chronic ulcer; ⑶ as a diuretic for chronic nephritis with edema and proteinuria. Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have been used to cure human disease. However, it still remains to be unkown on its action mechanism, physiolosical and biochemical aspects. Thus, many attempts were made to show the scientific background covering the above mentioned mechanisms. Most recent studies show that these tests improve blood circulatory system and increase leucocyte counts. In this study, we have applied the acupuncture stimuli to mouse Sinsu(BL-23), which is a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see if cytokine such as TNF-α can be detected. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction, and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set was performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. In conclusion, the expression of TNF-α after treatment of LPS was decreased more than that of before treatment of LPS. However, the efficiency of increased immunity by acupuncture stimuli to mouse Sinsu(BL-23) and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli was increased. Based on the result, we suggested that the trace of TNF-α showed the basement of the efficiency by acupuncture stimuli and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli, and could be used to diagnose the processing of the disease by the immunoreaction of the body.

침자극이 불안 환자와 정상 성인의 피부전도도에 미치는 영향

정명숙 ( Myeong Suk Jeong ),최우진 ( Woo Jin Choi ),이경원 ( Kyung Won Lee ),이승기 ( Seung Gi Lee ),김지은 ( Ji Eun Kim ),이정찬 ( Jeong Chan Lee ),박경모 ( Kyung Mo Park ) 대한한방신경정신과학회 2009 동의신경정신과학회지 Vol.20 No.2

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture on autonomic nervous system in anxiety patients and normal subjects by using SCR(Skin Conductance Response). Methods: The study group consists of 15 anxiety patients as the experimental group stimulated by verum acupuncture, 15 anxiety patients as the control group stimulated by sharm acupuncture, and 15 normal subjects stimulated by verum acupuncture. We measured GSR of experimental and control group, normal subjects during Working Memory Test and acupuncture stimulation. Results: 1. Measured value of SCR during Working Memory Test was significant different in control group, but it was not significant different in experimental group. 2. SCR value of three groups was significantly decreased during acupuncture stimulated. There was only significantly SCR value change during 0min.-5min. of first acupuncture. The section of the other groups was no significantly different. 3. STAI scores of experimental group and control group were significantly decreased. Conclusions: The study results suggest that acupuncture stimulation and sham acupuncture also effective on activity in the sympathetic nervous system and STAI scores.

Potential role of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: A narrative review

Jaeyoung Park,Ju-Young Oh,Hi-Joon Park 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.2

Background: The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has grown rapidly compared to that of other neurological disorders. Acupuncture has been used to address the complex symptoms of PD. Recently, similarities in the mechanisms of action between acupuncture and neuromodulation have received considerable attention. This review aims to summarize the evidence regarding these similarities to suggest potential role of acupuncture in the treatment of PD. Methods: The literature from two electronic databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, was searched using the search terms 'Acupuncture', 'Parkinson's disease', 'Vagus nerve stimulation', and 'Brain functional connectivity'. We then explored the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in PD and evaluated the evidence for similarities in the mechanisms of action between acupuncture and neuromodulation. Results: Data suggests that acupuncture treatment is effective for PD symptoms by modulating inflammation and brain functional connectivity (BFC). These acupuncture effects have been shown to be similar to neuromodulation in controlling inflammation and BFC. Based on the shared mechanisms of action, potential acupuncture mechanisms that may ameliorate a wide range of PD symptoms include but are not limited to (1) vagal activation of the anti-inflammatory pathway and (2) BFC enhancement. Conclusion: The development of acupuncture strategies based on shared mechanisms with neuromodulation will provide new treatment options for patients with PD as personalized neuromodulating therapies. Further studies are needed to gather scientific evidence for optimizing parameters in PD patients.