• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 2018

Objectives : Electroacupuncture is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin. Since the 1970s, electroacupuncture has been widely used for treating various diseases including pain, inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative diseases and electroacupuncture research has also been actively conducted in Korea. This study was designed to assess the tendencies and research performances in Korea. Methods : Articles referring to electroacupuncture in Korea were searched in Korean Studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DBpia, Pubmed and Scopus, and assessed by distribution of document types, published articles, source institutes, journals, and subject categories. Results : Total 677 articles were included in this study. Among them, basic researches were 395, clinical researches were 210, reviews were 68 and others were 4. Kyung Hee university published the most articles, followed by Wonkwang univresity, Daejeon university and Pusan national university in Korean institutes. Journal of Acupuncture Research published the most articles, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture, Journal of Korean medicine rehabilitation and Journal of physiology & pathology in Korean medicine among journals. Animals were used in the most articles, followed by human, literatures and protocol in subject categories. The number of articles per year was related to the increase of research fund and the number per institution was related to the number of professors and researchers. Conclusions : In order to carry out better electroacupuncture researches, it is necessary to cultivate electroacupuncture researchers and increase in research funds.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 1981

Experiments were conducted in ischemic decerebrate cats to study the effects of electroacupuncture and electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve on pain reaction. Flexion reflex was used as an index of pain. The reflex was elicited by stimulating the sural nerve(20 V, 0.5 msec duration) and recorded as a compound action potential from the nerve innervated to the semitendinosus muscle. Electroacupuncture was performed, using a 23-gauge hyperdermic needle, on the tsusanli point in the lateral upper tibia of the ipsilateral hindlimb. The common peroneal nerve was selected as a peripheral nerve which may be associated with electroacupuncture action, as it runs through the tissue portion under the tsusanli point. Both for electroacupuncture and the stimulation of common peroneal nerve a stimulus of 20 V-intensity, 2 msec-duration and 2 Hz-frequency was applied for 60 min. The results are summerized as follows: 1) The electroacupuncture markedly depressed the flexion reflex; this effect was eliminated by systemic application of naloxone $(0.02{\sim}0.12\;mg/kg)$, a specific narcotic antagonist. 2) Similarly, the electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve significantly depressed the flexion reflex, the effect being reversed by naloxone. 3) When most of the afferent nerves excluding sural nerve in the ipsilateral hindlimb were cut, the effect of electroacupuncture on the flexion reflex was not observed. Whereas direct stimulation of the common peroneal nerve at the proximal end from the cut resulted in a significant reduction of the flexion reflex, again the effect was reversible by naloxone application. 4) Transection of the spinal cord at the thoracic 12 did not eliminate the effect of peripheral nerve stimulation on the flexion reflex and its reversal by naloxone, although the effect was significantly less than that in the animal with spinal cord intact. These results suggest that: 1) the analgesic effect of an electroacupuncture is directly mediated by the nervous system and involves morphine-like substances in CNS, 2) the site of analgesic action of electroacupuncture resides mainly in the brainstem and in part in the spinal cord.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-127
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the electroacupuncture therapy on abdominal fat deposit without diet, exercise and herbal medication. It was also designed to check the changes of free fatty acid in blood and catecholamine in urine to observe the mechanism of the electroacupuncture efficacy. Methods : 10 volunteers over 85 cm(male, 90 cm) in waist circumferences were recruited, and 10 electroacupuncture treatments were applied on their abdominal subcutaneous fat area for 4-5 weeks. We measured anthropometric factors, abdominal fat area with CT scanning, and the changes of free fatty acid in blood and catecholamine in urine before treatment and after the last treatment. Results : In this study, significant changes were shown in weight, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, body mass index and body fat percent after the electroacupuncture therapy. There were also significant decreases of visceral fat area, visceral/subcutaneous fat area ratio in CT scanning. The blood level of free fatty acid and the urine level of catecholamine were increased after treatments, but the changes were not statistically significant. Conclusions : This study showed the efficacy of the electroacupuncture therapy on the abdominal fat deposit. But significant changes couldn't be found out in free fatty acid and catecholamine. Further studies that compensate for the limitations of this study are required to confirm the mechanism of the electroacupuncture efficacy.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

Background : Prevalence of spasticity because of stroke are 40% patients after 12 month. Spasticity caused decrease of range of motor, motor function, and active daily living. Electroacupuncture widely used stroke. But it is been studied by systematic review between spasticity and electroacupuncture. This study is aimed to efficacy of electroacupuncture for spasticity because of stroke. Methods : We had used pubmed(www.pubmed.com) and cochrane library(www.thecochranelibrary.com) database. Limits are'human','randomized controlled trial'and'all adult 19+ years'in pubmed. The period was until 15, september, 2011. We used MeSH(Medical Subject Headings terms. The search words were'stroke'[mesh],'muscle spasticity'[mesh and 'electroacupuncture'[mesh]. In cochrane library, we used spasticity and electroacupuncture in cochrane library. We found 19 studies. But only 3 studies were included for inclusion criteria. Results : The appropriate 3 studies were different from subject, acupoint, duration of treatment, endpoint and etc. But these studies were effective for spasticity because of stroke. Conclusion : These studies were not meta analysis because of heterogeneity. But the above results might explain the electroacupuncture were effective for spasticity and further study needed to verify and standard electroacupuncture study for spasticity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.67-78
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• 2023

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods We searched eight electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Academic Journals, Research Information Sharing Service, ScienceOn, KMBASE, DBpia) and related two journals up to March 2023. We included randomized controlled trials of testing electroacupuncture for lumbar spinal stenosis patients. The methodological quality of relevant randomized controlled trials assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results Among 90 articles that were searched, seven randomized controlled trials involving 474 participants were finally selected in this systematic review. Electroacupuncture was more effective on lumbar spinal stenosis compared with other treatments including analgesics, acupuncture, bed rest and exercise therapy, but showed ambiguous effect compared with physical therapy. Most of the side effects and adverse reactions were reported as minor and temporary. Conclusions Electroacupuncture for lumbar spinal stenosis was more effective than analgesics, acupuncture, bed rest and exercise therapy. In terms of safety, it was limited because there are many papers that do not mention side effects and adverse reactions related to electroacupuncture. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of electroacupuncture on lumbar spinal stenosis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2007

This study aims to examine the effects on nociceptive neuron excitability by application of electroacupuncture in rat with inflammation. It used 20 rats for experiment, divided them into control group, electroacupuncture group (EA group), caused hyperalgesia by injecting ${\lambda}$-carrageenan into hindpaw and conducted treatment three times for experimental period. Change of NFR(reaction time, RMS) showed no significant differences among EA group showed significant differences compared to control group from 48 hours. This study showed that EA group had an effect on nociceptive neurone excitability. Therefore, it is considered that electroacupuncture for pain control will be very desirable.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.863-868
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• 1995

Electroacupuncture therapy was performed in 2 dogs with thoracolumbar disc disease. Case was a 3-year-old female chihuahua with a calcified disc between the 13th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae. Treatment was done by electroacupuncture at San sho yu, Shen yu, Huan tiao and Fu yang-San yin jiao with the current of 0.5~8 volts, 30 Hz for 30 min. She could pass feces and urine 2 days, and walk 9 days after the beginning of the therapy. Case 2 Was a 6-year-old male cocker spaniel with 4 calcified discs(T12-T13, T13-L1, L2-L3 and L6-L7) and spondylosis(lumbosacral junction). Treatment was done by electroacupuncture at Tian ping, Bai hui and Pung kung yu with the current of 2~4 volts, 30 Hz for 20 min. He could pass feces 6 days, urine 8 days, and stand 21 days, after the beginning of the therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2002

The effects of electroacupuncture on gastric motility in dogs were investigated in this study. The acupoints used in this experiment were Zu San Li (ST-36), Feng Long (ST-40), Jie Xi (ST-41), and Li Dui (ST-45) which belong to stomach meridian, Wei Shu (BL-21) which belongs to urinary bladder meridian, and Zhong Wan (CV-12) which belongs to conception vessel meridian. The animals were stimulated with 2-4 volt and 5 Hz for 20 min. Electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoint increased the gastric motility, but Zhong Wan decreased the motility. There were no change in gastric movement after electrostimulation at Feng Long, Jie Xi and Li Dui acupoints. It was considered that electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoints to promote the gastric movement, and at Zhong Wan acupoint to depress the movement might be effective in veterinary practice.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.204-206
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• 2002

The effects of electroacupuncture on small intestinal motility in dogs were investigated. The acupoints used in the experiment were Shao Ze (SI-1), Hou Xi. (SI-3), Yang Lao (SI-6), Zhi Zheng (SI-7) and Xiao Hai (SI-8) which belong to small intestine meridian, Xiao Chang Shu (BL-27) which belongs to urinary bladder meridian, and Guan Yuan (CV-4) which belongs to conception vessel meridian. The anupoints were stimulated with 2-4 volt and 5 Hz for 20 minutes Electroacupuncture at Shao Ze, Yang Lao, and Xiao Hai acupoints increased the intestinal motility, but at Guan Yuan decreased the motility. The acupuncture at Hou Xi, Zhi Zheng and Xiao Chang Shu acupoints showed an increase or decrease of the intestinal movement. The results indicate that the electroacupuncture at Guan Yuan acupoint may depress intestinal motility in cases such as vomiting or diarrhea, and the acupuncture at Shao Ze, Yang Lao, and Xiao Hai acupoints to promote the motility in cases of digestive disturbance may be effective in veterinary practice.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.241-251
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture at GB14, on brain activity assessed on an electroencephalogram(EEG). Methods : (1) Thirty-four healthy participants were randomly divided into two groups, receiving either real acupuncture or non-penetrating sham acupuncture at GB14. (2) EEG measurements were conducted simultaneously before and after a 5-minute electroacupuncture stimulation, and the differences in the resulting EEG parameters were compared between the test and control groups. Results : (1) Absolute power increased significantly in the theta-wave channel of the occipital region and in the entire alpha-wave channel. (2) Relative power decreased significantly in the theta-wave channels of the frontal and occipital regions. (3) Coherence decreased significantly in the theta- and beta-wave channels of the parietal and occipital regions, and increased significantly in the alpha-wave channels of most areas. Conclusions : This study shows that electroacupuncture stimulation at GB14 activates the alpha frequency band in particular.