금맥한의원
Geummaek Research

Research Papers

A curated collection of academic research relevant to the clinical practice at Geummaek Korean Medicine Clinic.

Research Papers
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Total 53 papers

Meta-Analysis Knee Pain

Meta-Analysis of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation Program for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Moon TW, Choi TY, Park TY, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)

79% Pain Reduction Rate
1,876 subjects Participants

Korean medicine rehabilitation programs are effective for comprehensive management of degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

Meta-Analysis Knee Pain

Meta-Analysis of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation Program for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Moon TW, Choi TY, Park TY, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2024)
79% Pain Reduction Rate
1,876 subjects Participants

Summary

A meta-analysis of 18 RCTs evaluating the effect of multidisciplinary Korean medicine rehabilitation programs for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Korean medicine rehabilitation programs showed significant improvements over standard treatment in all areas of pain, function, and quality of life.

Key Conclusion

Korean medicine rehabilitation programs are effective for comprehensive management of degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

Cohort Study Knee Pain

Cohort Study of Combined Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Treatment for Knee Bursitis

Ryu JA, Kim HG, Choi SM, et al.

Journal of Korean Medicine (2025)

1.8 weeks Recovery Shortened
87 subjects Participants

The combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment is effective for rapid symptom resolution and recurrence prevention in knee bursitis.

Cohort Study Knee Pain

Cohort Study of Combined Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Treatment for Knee Bursitis

Ryu JA, Kim HG, Choi SM, et al. Journal of Korean Medicine (2025)
1.8 weeks Recovery Shortened
87 subjects Participants

Summary

Eighty-seven patients with knee bursitis were divided into a herbal medicine + acupuncture combined group and an acupuncture alone group and followed for 8 weeks. Joint edema resolution time was shortened by an average of 1.8 weeks in the combination group, and recurrence rates were also low.

Key Conclusion

The combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment is effective for rapid symptom resolution and recurrence prevention in knee bursitis.

Before-After Knee Pain

Central Nervous System Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis: An fMRI Study

Chae YB, Park HJ, Lee IS, et al.

Pain Medicine (2024)

Significant Brain Connectivity Change
35 subjects Participants

Acupuncture treatment regulates knee pain by activating descending pain inhibition pathways at the central nervous system level.

Before-After Knee Pain

Central Nervous System Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis: An fMRI Study

Chae YB, Park HJ, Lee IS, et al. Pain Medicine (2024)
Significant Brain Connectivity Change
35 subjects Participants

Summary

Acupuncture treatment was administered to 35 patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis, and pre- and post-treatment fMRI was performed. After acupuncture treatment, frontal-limbic connectivity changed significantly, which was related to activation of descending pain inhibition pathways.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture treatment regulates knee pain by activating descending pain inhibition pathways at the central nervous system level.

RCT Knee Pain

Randomized Controlled Trial of Herbal Medicine Treatment for Chondromalacia Patella

Song JM, Ahn CB, Lee SY, et al.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2023)

71% Pain Reduction Rate
84 subjects Participants

Modified Guibi-tang is an effective herbal medicine treatment for chondromalacia patella.

RCT Knee Pain

Randomized Controlled Trial of Herbal Medicine Treatment for Chondromalacia Patella

Song JM, Ahn CB, Lee SY, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2023)
71% Pain Reduction Rate
84 subjects Participants

Summary

Eighty-four patients with chondromalacia patella were randomly assigned to modified Guibi-tang and glucosamine groups and treated for 12 weeks. Anterior knee pain reduction and stair function were significantly more improved in the herbal medicine group.

Key Conclusion

Modified Guibi-tang is an effective herbal medicine treatment for chondromalacia patella.

Cross-Sectional Knee Pain

Survey on Patient Preferences for Korean Medicine Treatment of Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Cha WS, Oh JH, Sung WS, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021)

88% Acupuncture Preference
520 subjects Participants

Patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis show high preference for Korean medicine treatment and prioritize effectiveness and safety.

Cross-Sectional Knee Pain

Survey on Patient Preferences for Korean Medicine Treatment of Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Cha WS, Oh JH, Sung WS, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021)
88% Acupuncture Preference
520 subjects Participants

Summary

Preferences and satisfaction for Korean medicine treatment were surveyed in 520 patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Acupuncture treatment preference was highest at 88%, and the main factors affecting treatment selection were effectiveness, safety, and cost in that order.

Key Conclusion

Patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis show high preference for Korean medicine treatment and prioritize effectiveness and safety.

RCT Knee Pain

Comparative Study of Acupuncture Treatment and PRP Injection for Meniscal Injury

Byun SH, Lim KT, Hong GE, et al.

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy (2025)

Similar Effect vs. PRP
72 subjects Participants

Acupuncture treatment shows effects similar to PRP injection and can be a cost-effective alternative.

RCT Knee Pain

Comparative Study of Acupuncture Treatment and PRP Injection for Meniscal Injury

Byun SH, Lim KT, Hong GE, et al. Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy (2025)
Similar Effect vs. PRP
72 subjects Participants

Summary

Seventy-two patients with meniscal injury (Grade I-II) were assigned to acupuncture treatment and intra-articular PRP injection groups and followed for 12 weeks. Both groups showed significant pain reduction, with costs significantly lower in the acupuncture treatment group.

Key Conclusion

Acupuncture treatment shows effects similar to PRP injection and can be a cost-effective alternative.

Cohort Study Knee Pain

Cartilage Protective Effect of Herbal Medicine in Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Cohort Study

Woo HS, Lee EJ, Shin JC, et al.

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2023)

Cartilage protection Main Effect
178 subjects Participants

Banggihwanggi-tang shows disease-modifying effects of suppressing cartilage degeneration in degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

Cohort Study Knee Pain

Cartilage Protective Effect of Herbal Medicine in Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Cohort Study

Woo HS, Lee EJ, Shin JC, et al. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2023)
Cartilage protection Main Effect
178 subjects Participants

Summary

Banggihwanggi-tang was administered for 24 weeks to 178 patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis (K-L Grade II), and joint cartilage thickness changes were tracked by MRI. Cartilage thickness reduction was significantly suppressed in the herbal medicine group, and cartilage metabolism markers (COMP) also decreased.

Key Conclusion

Banggihwanggi-tang shows disease-modifying effects of suppressing cartilage degeneration in degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

RCT Knee Pain

Randomized Controlled Trial of Thread Embedding Therapy for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Jeong TY, Lee YC, Yuk DI, et al.

Acupuncture in Medicine (2023)

Equivalent Effect vs. Acupuncture
96 subjects Participants

Thread embedding therapy shows effects equivalent to regular acupuncture treatment with fewer treatment sessions, offering high patient convenience.

RCT Knee Pain

Randomized Controlled Trial of Thread Embedding Therapy for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Jeong TY, Lee YC, Yuk DI, et al. Acupuncture in Medicine (2023)
Equivalent Effect vs. Acupuncture
96 subjects Participants

Summary

Ninety-six patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to thread embedding therapy and regular acupuncture treatment groups and treated for 8 weeks. Despite fewer treatment sessions, the thread embedding therapy group showed equivalent pain reduction and functional improvement.

Key Conclusion

Thread embedding therapy shows effects equivalent to regular acupuncture treatment with fewer treatment sessions, offering high patient convenience.

Systematic Review Knee Pain

Systematic Review of Korean Medicine Treatment for Knee Ligament Injury

Park JB, Yoo JE, Lee HY, et al.

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy (2024)

22 studies Analyzed Studies
Increasing Evidence Trend

Korean medicine treatment shows promising evidence in both conservative treatment and post-surgical rehabilitation of knee ligament injuries.

Systematic Review Knee Pain

Systematic Review of Korean Medicine Treatment for Knee Ligament Injury

Park JB, Yoo JE, Lee HY, et al. Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy (2024)
22 studies Analyzed Studies
Increasing Evidence Trend

Summary

Twenty-two studies published between 2008 and 2024 were systematically analyzed to evaluate the effect of Korean medicine treatment for knee ligament injury. Evidence for acupuncture treatment and herbal medicine was most abundant, and utilization in post-surgical rehabilitation was increasing.

Key Conclusion

Korean medicine treatment shows promising evidence in both conservative treatment and post-surgical rehabilitation of knee ligament injuries.

RCT Knee Pain

Comparison of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and NSAIDs for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kang JW, Lee YS, Kwon CY, et al.

Pain Medicine (2022)

Non-inferior vs. NSAIDs
144 subjects Participants

Bee venom pharmacopuncture is a safer treatment alternative with effects similar to NSAIDs.

RCT Knee Pain

Comparison of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and NSAIDs for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kang JW, Lee YS, Kwon CY, et al. Pain Medicine (2022)
Non-inferior vs. NSAIDs
144 subjects Participants

Summary

One hundred forty-four patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to bee venom pharmacopuncture and celecoxib groups and treated for 8 weeks. The bee venom pharmacopuncture group showed pain reduction effects similar to celecoxib with significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

Key Conclusion

Bee venom pharmacopuncture is a safer treatment alternative with effects similar to NSAIDs.

Before-After Knee Pain

Pre-Post Comparison Study of Chuna Therapy for Chondromalacia Patella

Chung WS, Lim JH, Kim GH, et al.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024)

68% Pain Reduction Rate
55 subjects Participants

Patellar alignment correction through chuna therapy is effective for improving symptoms of chondromalacia.

Before-After Knee Pain

Pre-Post Comparison Study of Chuna Therapy for Chondromalacia Patella

Chung WS, Lim JH, Kim GH, et al. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024)
68% Pain Reduction Rate
55 subjects Participants

Summary

Chuna therapy for patellar tracking correction was administered for 6 weeks to 55 patients with chondromalacia patella. After treatment, patellar tilt angle improved, and anterior knee pain decreased significantly.

Key Conclusion

Patellar alignment correction through chuna therapy is effective for improving symptoms of chondromalacia.

Systematic Review Knee Pain

Systematic Review of Moxibustion Treatment for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Lee JA, Nam SS, Go HY, et al.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2022)

66% Pain Reduction Rate
1,534 subjects Participants

Moxibustion treatment is an effective complementary treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis, with direct moxibustion showing superior efficacy.

Systematic Review Knee Pain

Systematic Review of Moxibustion Treatment for Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis

Lee JA, Nam SS, Go HY, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2022)
66% Pain Reduction Rate
1,534 subjects Participants

Summary

Twenty-one RCTs evaluating the effect of moxibustion treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis were systematically analyzed. Moxibustion treatment showed significant effects on pain reduction and joint function improvement, with direct moxibustion being superior to indirect moxibustion.

Key Conclusion

Moxibustion treatment is an effective complementary treatment for degenerative knee osteoarthritis, with direct moxibustion showing superior efficacy.