- P-ISSN 1010-0695
- E-ISSN 2288-3339
Objective : In this study we wanted to confirm if proper stimulation and de-Qi of traditional Korean medical acupuncture could increase hot flash relief efficacy. Design : A randomized controlled, single blind study. We used two modalities of acupuncture, one with optimal stimulation [Study group; Korean medical acupuncture (TKMA)] and one with minimal stimulation [Control group; Minimal acupuncture (MA)]. Same acupoints [PC6(內關), HT8(少府), HT7(神門), LI4(合谷), ST36(足三里), SP6(三陰交), Ren4(關元)] were used in both groups. Fifty-two patients were treated twice a week for 8 weeks, and follow-up was done after 4 weeks from the last treatment. Patients were checked hot flash VAS (visual analog scale), frequency and duration every time they visited. Results : Hot flash relief efficacy by 100mm hot flash VAS was obvious in both groups. Hot flash VAS scores of study group were smaller than the scores of control group at the early stage (3rd, 4th and 8th visit), but there wasn't a remarkable difference between study and control group at the end of the trial. Besides, diminution of hot flash VAS was faster and more even in the study group than control group by visualization using ‘Box plot’. We compared frequency and duration of hot flash, 100mm sweating, palpitation, sleep disturbance VAS, and Kupperman Index, MENQOL, Patient's global assessment score. Both groups showed definite decrease from the baseline, but the difference was not statistically significant. There wasn't any adverse event. Hot flash relief efficacy was kept in most patients after 4 weeks' follow-up. Conclusion : Acupoint combination by Traditional Korean medical theory is effective on hot flashes and hot flash relief efficacy was faster and more even in optimal stimulation than minimal stimulation.
(1996) Novak's Gynecology, Balti- more:Williams & Wilkins
(2004.6) Measuring Hot Flashes: Summary of a National Institutes of Health Workshop,
(2000) The management of climacteric syndrome clinic and the herbal medicine for that clinic,
(2004) After July 2002, what can we do for menopausal women? A review of recent research about HRT and a proposal of alternative therapies for treating climac- teric or menopausal syndrome,
(2005) World related trends in hormone replace therapy(HRT) for postm- enopausal women and traditional Korean medicine(TKM) research group's response,
(2002) Risk and Benefits of Estrogen plus Progestin in healthy postmenopausal women,
(2004) Women's Health Initiative Steering Committee. Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial,
(2004) A comparison of acupuncture and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women,
(1995) Effect of acupuncture on quality of life, and urinary excretion of neuropeptides among postmenopausal women,
(2003) Can acupuncture ease the symptoms of menopause?,
(2005) Vasomotor symptoms decrease in women with breast cancer randomized to treatment with applied relaxation or electro-acupuncture: a preliminary study,
(2002) Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion,
(2001) Standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture: the STRICTA recommendations,
(1996) A menopause specific quality of life question- naire: development and psychometric prop- erties,
Stanley KE. Statistics in Medical Research. New York,
Zeger SL. Analysis of Longitudinal Data. New York, Oxford University Press. 1994.
(1996) An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis, New York: John Wiley & Sons