• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.305-312
• /
• 2017

Theory of visceral and meridian system is the most important part in traditional Korean medicine. In theory of visceral system, the aspect of function has been emphasized more than anatomical substance. In this research, the concept of visceral system would be attempted to be expanded from 'five viscera and six bowels' to whole body, and new analysis system composed of genesis, structure, function and operation. The theories of traditional Korean medicine remain at the organ system or organ level, therefore progressive research using the new analysis system is needed to approach tissue and cell levels.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.135-138
• /
• 2012

The pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorder(FGID) is not completely understood, but the importance of the 'Brain-Gut Axis(BGA)' model in FGID is being increasingly recognized. The BGA model is a bidirectional, hard-wired and homeostatic relationship between the central nervous system(CNS) and the enteric nervous system(ENS) via neural, neurohormonal and neuroimmunological pathways. In addition, the BGA model would provide a rationale for the use of psychotropics on FGID. The authors experienced two cases in which duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, was effective in relieving FGID symptoms as well as psychiatric symptoms such as depression and hypochondriacal anxiety. Therefore we discuss the vignettes from the perspective of BGA theory. Duloxetine showed efficacy in these two patients by reducing visceral hypersensivity (bottom-up regulation) and by relieving depression and anxiety(top-down regulation).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.259-277
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate two subjects: the diagnostic value of bilateral lowering of electrical activity at point H4,5,6 of Ryodoraku and the mechanism for Ryodoraku phenomena. Methods : Electrical activities of Ryodoraku test and electrogastrography recorded simultaneously and monitored continuously from 16 cases of functional dyspeptic patients were collected and their variations were grouped by the topics of discussion which were peculiarity, stability, lagging, alterability, and anomaly. Ryodoraku recordings obtained from 6 patients with different gastrointestinal diseases and 1 normal healthy person were used as control. The results are discussed with Nakatani's suggestion, theory of sympathetic nerve and Meridian Principle, respectively. Finely, coincidence of stomach arrangement between anatomy and meridian system in Ryodoraku was also evaluated. Results : Time-course variation showed a regular relationship between the typical pattern of Ryodoraku at point H4,5,6 and gastric myoelectrical activity. However, an irregular relationship and atypical pattern of Ryodoraku occasionally appeared. A literature search suggested that electrical response at the Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 may be dependent on an afferent sympathetic spinal reflex transmitted from the stomach. However, there was no evidence for making clear whether bilateral lowering of electrical activity at this point was induced by hypofunction of local sympathetic nerve in the skin itself or of signals transmitted from the gastric sympathetic nerve or not. The coincidence of 19% could not provide a visceral arrangement of the stomach between anatomy and meridian systems. Conclusions : Bilateral lowering of electrical activity at Ryodoraku point H4,5,6 has value as a diagnostic index for gastric dysmotility of functional dyspepsia. This phenomenon is associated with spinal reflex transmitted from the afferent sympathetic nerve in the stomach but not that of meridian function.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.373-390
• /
• 1998

35 theses conducted in Korea on the topic of senescence or anti-oxidant were classified on the basis of research methods, animals used for the experiments, and research items. Evaluating these research works with respect to the Free Radical Theory, the following conclusions were reached. 1. Of the 17 theses written in the Oriental medicine aspect, three theses used a single herb, nine theses used a complex prescription, four theses concentrated on the usage of the medicinal acupuncture, and one research paper focused on using scientific components. Common objection of these papers were on the verification of the efficacy of herbs. 2. Of the 18 these written in the Western medicine aspect, five theses used a single drug, seven theses conducted a research on the changes due to senescence, and 6 papers were on variety of topics. The main focus of these works were on the mechanism and pathology related to the senescence rather than on the suppression of senescence. 3. Among the theses written in the Oriental medicine perspective, a total of 48 herbs were utilized. 26 of these herbs has a tonification function on the Kidney. Six out of nine complex prescription mentioned above has a function of tonifying the Kidney. 4. With respect to the research subjects used on the experiments, 8 theses have used Senescence-Accelerated mice, 13 theses have used Sprague-Dawley mice, and remaining 7 papers have used human or other animals. 5. These are the categorization of the research items used: the weight (11) and weight changes of the visceral organs (9), the measurement of the content of peroxide-disease (9), the measurement of enzyme vitality (21), the blood and urine test (10), the experiment concerning immune system (3), the influence on the hepatic capability of metabolizing foreign substance (3), the effect on hepatic cell protection (3), the measurement of both the suppression of Free Radical and ability to create Free Radical (2), the measurement of effect of suppresing MDA(malondialdehyde) (4), the effect of eliminating DPPH Radical (2), and experiements about the functions (2). 6. The rate of vitalization of well known anti-oxidants such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Protein-bound SH, Nonprotein-bound SH, Glutathione(GSH), Catalase, and etc. were tested in 17 theses. Considering the conclusions mentioned above, the theses related to the senescence published in Korea elected different animals used for experiments, research items and the methods of research, the end result seems to be a lack of objectivity. Thus, I would argue that research methods to overcome such a deficiency need to be developed systematically.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.27-41
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to understand melanin with both Korean and Western medicine.Methods : We investigated the comprehension of melanin in both western and Korean medicine through literature review and studied relationships between melanin and five viscera(五臟), especially liver(肝), spleen(脾), kidney(腎). We Also studied representative pigmentary disorders(melasma, vitiligo) in western and Korean medicine to figure out how to understand pigmentary disorders in oriental medicine.Results : The results are as follows. 1. Melanin is associate with liver, because free coursing(疎泄) function of liver is the origin of transport melanin to keratinocyte from melanocyte. Also, melanogenesis factors like MITF and CREB are closely associated with liver and pigmentary disorders occur frequently after stress conditions or women. 2. Melanin is absorbed and scattered in keratinocytes by the function of spleen. Pigmentary disorders result from failure of spleen and formation of phlegm-retained fluid(痰飮). 3. Kidney essence(腎精) is the origin of melanin formation. In addition, corticosteroid, the major hormone of melanogenesis is secreted by adrenalin and adrenalin belongs to kidney(腎) in Korean medicine. 4. Melasma is created by disorder of melanin transport and absorbtion, so melasma is associated liver (肝) and spleen(脾). Therefore the treatment for melasma may focus on improvement function of liver and spleen. 5. The destruction of melanocyte or abnormal melanogenesis by disorder of the immune system, metabolic and affective disorders can make vitiligo, so vitiligo is associated with liver and kidney which are major part of melanin formation. Therefore the treatment of vitiligo can focus on improvement function of liver(肝) and kidney(腎).Conclusion : We compared Korean and western medicine to understand melanin. We also interpreted the mechanism of melanin and pigmantary disorders in western medicine and considered the relationship with visceral manifestation theory(臟象論) in traditional Korean medicine. Further studies are needed to apply comprehension of melanin to clinical stage.