Strategic Approach to the Globalization of Sasang Constitutional Medicine

The workshop on “Strategic Approach to the Globalization of Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM)” was held in the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) on September 18, 2009. This workshop was designed to discuss and brainstorm the strategic approach to the globalization of SCM, one of the unique systems in Korean Traditional Medicine, with three topics and an extensive panel discussion. Professor Edwin Cooper, Editor-in-Chief of eCAM, gave a commemorative lecture for publication of the second supplement of eCAM entitled “Sasang Constitutional Medicine as a Holistic Tailored Medicine”. The other two presenters suggested some practical methods for globalization of SCM on the basis of their experiences. After the three main presentations, there was a panel discussion session for further development of workshop topics, extended by five other external experts. They discussed the benefits, limitations and essentials for globalization of Korean Traditional Medicine, specifically SCM, from bench to bedside

Eight species of whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) newly recorded from Korea

Aleuroclava magnoliae (Takahashi), Aleurotrachelus ishigakiensis (Takahashi), Aleyrodes lonicerae Walker, Asterobemisia carpini (Koch), Bemisia afer (Priesner and Hosny), Dialeurolobus pulcher Danzig, Pealius polygoni Takahashi, and Pealius rubi Takahashi are newly recorded from Korea

Effects of Aroma Massage on Home Blood Pressure, Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and Sleep Quality in Middle-Aged Women with Hypertension

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of aroma massage applied to middle-aged women with hypertension. The research study had a nonequivalent control group, nonsynchronized design to investigate the effect on home blood pressure (BP), ambulatory BP, and sleep. The hypertensive patients were allocated into the aroma massage group (n=28), the placebo group (n=28), and the no-treatment control group (n=27). To evaluate the effects of aroma massage, the experimental group received a massage with essential oils prescribed by an aromatherapist once a week and body cream once a day. The placebo group received a massage using artificial fragrance oil once a week and body cream once a day. BP, pulse rate, sleep conditions, and 24-hour ambulatory BP were monitored before and after the experiment. There was a significant difference in home systolic blood pressure (SBP) (F=6.71, P=0.002) between groups after intervention. There was also a significant difference in SBP (F=13.34, P=0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (F=8.46, P=0.005) in the laboratory between aroma massage and placebo groups. In sleep quality, there was a significant difference between groups (F=6.75, P=0.002). In conclusion, aroma massage may help improve patient quality of life and maintain health as a nursing intervention in daily life

Effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture for Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pharmacopuncture is a new needle therapy that integrates acupuncture and herbal therapies, and it has the potential to treat many diseases. A systematic review was performed to summarize and critically evaluate clinical trial evidence regarding the effectiveness of pharmacopuncture for asthma. Eight electronic databases and six journals were searched in this study. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in which human patients with asthma were treated with pharmacopuncture were included. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. Four RCTs met our inclusion criteria, and the evidence from all RCTs in this study was positive. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant effects of pharmacopuncture compared to conventional treatment (n = 341, Risk Ratio = 1.13, 95% CI of 1.05 to 1.23, P = .002, heterogeneity: χ2 = 3.55, P = .31, I2 = 16%). Two trials showed favorable effects of pharmacopuncture on peak expiratory flow (PEF). However, few rigorous trials have tested the effects of pharmacopuncture on asthma. The results of our systematic review point to the potential benefits of pharmacopuncture for adults with asthma, and we suggest further RCTs and the development of a standard method of pharmacopuncture therapy

Acupuncture in sham device controlled trials may not be as effective as acupuncture in the real world: a preliminary network meta-analysis of studies of acupuncture for hot flashes in menopausal women

Background: Randomised controlled trials of acupuncture performed using sham interventions to control for the placebo effect have mostly used two types of sham techniques: techniques with minimal insertion of acupuncture needles with no additional stimulation (shallow needling control) and techniques with sham acupuncture devices that do not penetrate the skin (sham device control). To achieve successful blinding, sham device controlled acupuncture trials also use the acupuncture base unit in the verum acupuncture group, but in the shallow needling control trials this is not necessary for the verum acupuncture treatment. Objective: In this study, we analysed the estimated comparative effectiveness of these two verum acupuncture modalities in studies of acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes that used two types of sham control treatments. Methods: We conducted a network meta-analysis that included randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for hot flashes. Electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and AMED, were searched through March 2017. Data were extracted using a predefined data extraction tool by two independent reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised controlled trials. A five-node network meta-analysis was conducted based on the frequentist framework. Results: Eight studies were included in this review. From the network meta-analysis, we found that verum acupuncture in the shallow needling controlled trials was more effective than verum acupuncture in the sham device controlled trials (SMD −7.27, 95% CI−9.11 to −5.43). Significant heterogeneity and inconsistency were not observed among the included studies or the comparisons. Conclusions: From this preliminary analysis, we found that different types of verum acupuncture may have different effect sizes with respect to the severity of menopausal hot flashes.publishedVersio

Historical perspectives on using sham acupuncture in acupuncture clinical trials

Background: Trials of acupuncture in the West began before textbooks about acupuncture were generally available. This placed trials at risk of possible faulty assumptions about the practice of acupuncture and adoption of problematic research assumptions and methods. Further, this lack of information has had an influence on the theories of developing a valid and reliable sham control treatment in clinical trials of acupuncture. This commentary explores these issues. Methods: Literature review focussing on the time line of developments in the field, developments of sham interventions and use thereof and knowledge of physiological effects of needling. Results: Early trials demonstrated a lack of knowledge about acupuncture. As the methodology of trials improved, new sham treatment methods were developed and adopted; however, the sham treatment methods were implemented without physiological studies exploring their potential physiological effects and without examining the broader practice of acupuncture internationally. Conclusions: Mistaken assumptions about the practice of acupuncture reinforced by paucity of physiological investigations are factors that led to use of inappropriate sham interventions for acupuncture trials. These not only lead to confusing or misleading trial results, they, as far as we can see underestimate the effects of acupuncture leading to bias against acupuncture. There are significant problems with sham interventions and how they are applied in trials of acupuncture. Further research is needed to explore the effects of this both for future trials and for interpreting existing evidence.publishedVersio

Aromatherapy Massage on the Abdomen for Alleviating Menstrual Pain in High School Girls: A Preliminary Controlled Clinical Study

This study investigated the alleviating effects of aromatherapy massage and acetaminophen on menstrual pain in Korean high school girls. Subjects were divided into two groups: the aromatherapy massage (treatment) group (n = 32) and the acetaminophen (control) group (n = 23). Aromatherapy massage was performed on subjects in the treatment group. The abdomen was massaged once using clary sage, marjoram, cinnamon, ginger, and geranium in a base of almond oil. The level of menstrual pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale at baseline and twenty-four hours afterward. The reduction of menstrual pain was significantly higher in the aromatherapy group than in the acetaminophen group. Using multiple regression, aromatherapy massage was found to be more highly associated with reduction in the level of menstrual pain than acetaminophen. These finding suggest that aromatherapy massage may be an effective treatment for menstrual pain in high school girls. However, it could not be verified whether the positive effects derived from the aromatherapy, the massage, or both. Further rigorous studies should be conducted using more objective measures

Descriptions of qi deficiency and qi stagnation in traditional East Asian medicine: A comparison of Asian and Western sources

Introduction - In a previous study, evidence was found of the variability of signs/symptoms (s/s) of blood stasis syndrome among texts of Chinese and Asian origin and English language texts including evidence of the differences between non-Asian and Asian patients. In the current study the diagnostic patterns of qi deficiency (QD) and qi stagnation (QS) were examined to see if similar results could be found. Methods - The study consisted of two phases – a search of libraries and a search of electronic databases, and searching for texts describing QD and QS s/s ensuring inclusion of Asian origin texts (principally Chinese) and Western origin texts. More commonly mentioned s/s were compared for each type of source and across all sources. Results - Study one: From the 21 included QD texts, six s/s were generally agreed upon with three more commonly mentioned in Western origin texts, three more commonly mentioned in Chinese origin texts. From the 17 included QS texts, three s/s were more generally agreed upon with three more commonly mentioned in Western origin texts. Study two: Comparing s/s in 13 QD studies, five were mentioned by more than half the studies. Comparing six QS studies, six s/s were more generally agreed upon. In a comparison of s/s for QD mentioned by Western and Chinese origin texts and the Asian studies, three were mentioned by >50% sources, one more often by Chinese texts, three more often by Western texts and one more often by Asian studies. In a comparison of s/s for QS mentioned by Western and Chinese origin texts and the Asian studies, two were mentioned by >75%, two more often by Western texts and two more often by Asian studies. Conclusion - English language texts and studies describing QD and QS s/s were examined. Evidence of agreement on a few s/s were identified. English origin texts showed differences in texts originating from Asia, which may support the hypothesis that QD and QS may manifest differently among Western and Asian patients