• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Methods We searched 13 online databases (Kmbase, Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Koreanstudies, Koreantk, DBpia, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], J-stage) to find randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Efficacy rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) were mainly analyzed as a main evaluation criteria. Results Among 583 articles that were searched, 24 RCTs were finally selected and 18 RCTs were statistically analyzed. Electro-acupuncture was more effective than acupuncture in terms of efficacy rate (p<0.00001) and VAS (p<0.00001). Also, Electro-acupuncture was more effective than western medication in terms of efficacy rate (p=0.0005). However, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture was not identified compared to physical therapy (p=0.42). Electro-acupuncture significantly improved efficacy rate when combined with physical therapy than physical therapy alone (p<0.0001). In addition, electro-acupuncture plus Chuna manual therapy compared to Chuna manual therapy alone showed positive results for efficacy rate (p=0.05) and VAS (p<0.0001). Conclusions Based on results, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture for sciatica was identified. However, this study has limitations because the RCTs included in this study were small in number and published in a particular region. Although this study could be a groundwork for well designed research for sciatica.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.187-207
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• 2003

Objective: Recently, many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the acupuncture treatment through scientific methods. One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on Liv3 and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Methods: To see the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3. the experiment was carried out on 12 healthy volunteers. using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Liv3. 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds. repeated five times. with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation. and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results : 1. Group averaged brain activation induced by bilateral electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 31, 39, 44, 2. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by bilateral Electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 4, 6, 9, 19, 36, 37, 39. 3. Group averaged brain activation induced by unilateral(right side) electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 22, 40, 42, 43. 4. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by unilateral(right side) electro-acupuncture stimulation on Liv3 activates Brodman Area 6, 18, 19, 28, 30, 31, 35, 37. 5. Brain region activated by motor stimulation activates Brodman Area 4, 6, 13, 19, 42.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.105-116
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare the effect of acpuncture and electroacupuncture of low(EA(L)) and high(EA(H)) frequencies at San Yin Jiu($SP_6$) and sham point in rats. We made suppressed state of intestinal motility with loperamide in rat and carried out needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at ($SP_6$) in rat devided into pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. We fed charcoal to them after the treatment and measured the travel rate of charcoal in the gastrointestine track to analyze which treatment affected more in intestinal hypermotility Results : 1. Examining intestinal motility of normal rat treated with electro-acupuncture at $SP_6$, high frequency electro-acupuncture significantly increased intestinal motility. 2. Pre-treated with acupuncture at $SP_6$ significantly suppressed intestinal motility. 3. Post treatment with acupunture and low frequency electro-acupuncture at $SP_6$ showed significant increase of intestinal motility. Conclusions : As folowing study there were 21 groups to find out which treatment showed significant increase of intestinal motility and pre-treated acupuncture, post-treated with acupunture and low frequency electro-acupuncture at $SP_6$ was highly significant with control at the figure than any other groups.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.169-178
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture at LI4 and LR3, BL18 and BL25 on serum gastin level in rats. Methods : LI4 and LR3 which belong to Large Intestine Meridian and liver Meridian are acupuncture points frequently used for healing gastrointestinal disease in oriental medicine. BL18 and BL25 which belong to Bladder Meridian are acupuncture points used for healing hepatic disease and intestinal disease in oriental medicine. Serum gastrin level by radioimmnunoassay was measured at 3 days after acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture of those acupoints. Results & Conclusion : Moxibustion applied to the BL18 acupoint, BL25 acupoint decreased gastrin level of serum, but moxibustion applied to the BL18+BL25 acupoints did not produced significant effect. Acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint did not produced significant effect, but acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints increased gastrin level of serum, Electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint increased gastrin level of serum, and electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints also increased gastrin level of serum.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.27-44
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• 2004

Objective : To evaluate the pain improvement of the lumbago patients taken the electro-acupuncture therapy using Visual Analogue Scale. Methods : The 25 patients of 46 lumbago patients visited department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion in National Medical Center from 1st March to 20th August had taken the electro-acupucture therapy more than 5 times. We checked on their age, sex, onset, radiating pain, back pain past history and Straight Leg Raising test. And we evaluated their improvement of back pain using Visual Analog Scale(VAS) at each visit. Then we analyzed the pain improvement by their age, sex, onset, radiating pain, back pain past history, Straight Leg Raising test, visiting frequency and Visual Analog Scale on 1st visit(VAS1) Results : VAS of 24 patients has improved and VAS of one patient has not been changed. There's no patient getting worse. The women and the positive group at SLR Test had better result of pain improvement. Conclusion : The lumbago patients taken electro-acupuncture more than 5 times showed significantly different pattern of pain improvement according to the sex and the SLR test.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was carried out to determine the effects of Gamidokwalgisaeng-tang(GDS) oral administration and electro-acupuncture at $BL_{52}$ & $GB_{39}$ on the postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods: In order to study the effects of the Gamidokwalgisaeng-tang(GDS) oral administration and electro-acupuncture at $BL_{52}$, $GB_{39}$ on osteoporotic rats induced by ovariectomy, body weight, femur weight, uterine weight, serum level of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), cholesterol, triglyceride, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone and urinary excretions of calcium & phosphorus were measured. Results : 1. Body weight in all experimental group decreased significantly in comparison with ovariectomized group(OVX). 2. The weight of femur compared with body increased significantly in GDS oral administration and combination treatment group in comparison with ovariectomized group(OVX). 3. Uterine endometrial morphology is caused by ovariectomy and the weight of uterus decreased significantly in control and all experimental group in comparison with sham. 4. The serum level of osteocalcin decreased in all experimental group in comparison with OVX, but significantly in electro-acupuncture and combination treatment group. 5. The serum alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity decreased in electro-acupuncture and combination treatment group in comparison with OVX, but only significantly in electro-acupuncture group. 6. The serum level of cholesterol increased significantly in OVX in comparison with sham and decreased in all experimental group in comparison with OVX, not insignificantly. The serum level of triglyceride increased in all experimental group in comparison with OVX, not insignificantly. 7. Urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus decreased significantly in all experimental group in comparison with OVX. Conclusion : We suggest that GDS oral administration and electro-acupuncture at $BL_{52}$ & $GB_{39}$ are available for prevention and curing about the postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.133-150
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• 2003

Objective: Recently. many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the Electro-acupuncture treatment through scientific. Methods : One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on Zusanli(St36) and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Zusanli(St36) is located on the lateral side of the lower leg. 3 cun(寸) inferior to the Patella of the lower border. Theoretically and clinically. this point has been considered very important for gynecological disorders. spleen and stomach disorders. and psychological disorders. To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36). the experiment was carried out on twelve healthy volunteers. using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body fMRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Zusanli(St36). 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds. repeated five times. with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction. talairach transformation, and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results ad conclusion : The electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) activates Brodmann Area 6, 13, 2, 19, 21, 22, 39, 40, 38, 3which indicates the pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) and the possibility of the relationship of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) with autonomic nervous system, internal organic system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.114-133
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• 2003

Objective : The meridian theory in oriental medicine explains that Sp9(Yinlingquan) has been considered very important for gynecological disorders, spleen and stomach disorders, and water metabolic disorders. Functional MRI is the best method of showing the evidences of the effect of the Electro-acupuncture treatment through scientific methods. On this supposition, Electro-acupuncture stimulation on Sp9(Yinlingquan) was carried out on six healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). Methods : Electro-acupuncture stimulation on Sp9(Yinlingquan), the experiment was carried out on six healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Sp9(Yinlingquan), 2Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation, and smoothing was done using SPM99. Results : The electro-acupuncture stimulation on Sp9(Yinlingquan) activates Brodmann Area 13, 19, 22, 39, 40, 47 which may be the central pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Sp9(Yinlingquan). We also hypothesize that those brain areas may be directly or indirectly related with the mechanism of the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Sp9(Yinlingquan).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2017

Hemifacial spasm is a facial nerve disorder characterized by episodic involuntary facial muscle contraction. In this study, the effect of Acupuncture and Electro- acupuncture therapy for two patient with hemifascial spasm were evaluated. Two patients with hemifacial spasm were treated with Acupuncture and Electro-acupuncture and evaluated with Scott's scale and Treatment satisfaction grade. In Case 1, the grade of spasm intensity classified by Scott's description improved from 3 to 1. In Case 2, the grade improved from 4 to 2. Patients were satisfied with the treatment in both cases. Acupuncture and Electro-acupuncture seem to be effective in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 2008

Objectives : This study investigated the antioxidant effect of electro-acupuncture at $KI_6$ on rats treated with 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride(AAPH). Methods : After electro-acupuncture at $KI_6$ on 48 rats that were given AAPH(50mg/kg) every day, the author observed several changes in weight, liver index, albumin, total bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, LDH, glucose, GOT, GPT, SOD and catalase activity, and glutathione, NO, and MDA concentrations. Results : 1. In the $KI_6-EA$ group, the albumin level increased and LDL-cholesterol decreased compared with the control and holder groups. 2. In the $KI_6-EA$ group, SOD activity increased compared with the holder group, glutathione concentration increased compared with the control and holder groups, and catalase activity increased compared with the control group. 3. In the $KI_6-EA$ group, NO concentration decreased compared with the control and holder groups. Conclusions : This case shows that electro-acupuncture at $KI_6$ plays a significant antioxidant role by elevating defenses against cell toxicity caused by oxidative stress and suppressing oxidative injury.