Aims and Scope
The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (JAMS) is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed and open access journal. JAMS aims to disseminate evidence-based scientific findings on the acupuncture and meridian to to researchers, clinicians, and engineers in the complementary and alternative medicine, and other health-related fields. JAMS publish scientific and technological studies on the biomedical, clinical, and humanities and social science aspects of acupuncture and meridians.
The journal welcomes the original articles on the acupuncture and related approaches including manual acupuncture, acupressure, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping, pharmacopuncture and veterinary acupuncture. Articles on general health science and other modalities, such as anthroposophy, ayurveda, bioelectromagnetic therapy, chiropractic, herbology (herbal medicine), homeopathy, neural therapy and meditation, are also eligible for consideration if the articles are related to acupuncture and meridian studies.
The journal is indexed in MedLine/PubMed/Index Medicus, Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Google Scholar, DOAJ, Korea Citation Index (KCI), SHERPA/RoMEO, EZB, and Research Bible. Its abbreviated title is J Acupunct Meridian Stud. This journal was supported by the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST) grant funded by the Korean Government (Ministry of Education).
JAMS is an open access journal: JAMS is supported by Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute for Article Publishing Charge (APC). There is no charge to publish in this journal. Therefore, all articles will be immediately and permanently free for everyone to read and download. All articles published by Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies are made freely and permanently accessible online immediately upon publication, without registration barriers.
Scope
| Acupuncture and Related Approaches (Acupressure, Electroacupuncture, Laser Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Cupping, Veterinary Acupuncture) |
| Meridian |
| Pharmacopuncture |
JAMS Classification
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10 Biomedical Science
10 Biomedical Science 10.1 Meridian (general) 10.2 Acupuncture 10.2.1 Acupressure
10.2.2 Auricular acupuncture/acupressure
10.2.3 Electroacupuncture
10.2.4 Laser acupuncture
10.2.5 Pharmacopuncture
10.2.6 TENS
10.2.99 Other acupuncture-related techniques10.3 Moxibustion 10.4 Anatomy 10.5 Pathology 10.6 Pharmacology 10.7 Physiology 10.8 Molecular and cell biology 10.9 Biotechnology 10.10 Biochemistry 10.11 Herbal medicine 10.12 Toxicology 10.13 Brain and neuroscience 10.14 Liver and hepatology 10.15 Heart and cardiovascular system 10.16 Stomach, intestine and digestive system 10.17 Lung and pulmonary system 10.18 Kidney and urinary system 10.19 Imaging 10.20 Animal disease model 10.99 Others -
20 Clinical Science
20 Clinical Science 20.1 Accident and emergency medicine 20.2 Acupuncture 20.2.1 Acupressure
20.2.2 Auricular acupuncture/acupressure
20.2.3 Manual acupuncture
20.2.4 Electroacupuncture
20.2.5 Laser acupuncture
20.2.6 TENS
20.2.7 Pharmacopuncture
20.2.99 Other acupuncture-related techniques20.3 Anaesthetics 20.4 Autoimmune disease 20.5 Cancer 20.6 Cardiovascular disease 20.7 Cerebrovascular disease 20.8 Dermatological disease 20.9 Diabetes 20.10 Endocrinology 20.11 Epidemiology 20.12 Gastroenterology 20.13 Genetourinary medicine 20.14 Genetics 20.15 Geriatric medicine 20.16 Haematology 20.17 Health economics 20.18 Health services research 20.19 Hepatology 20.20 Herbal medicine 20.21 HIV and AIDS 20.22 Immunology 20.23 Infectious diseases 20.24 Intentive and critical care 20.25 Internal medicine 20.26 Moxibustion 20.27 Myofascial pain 20.28 Neonatology 20.29 Nephrology 20.30 Neurology 20.30.1 Dementia
20.30.2 Epilepsy
20.30.3 Migraine
20.30.4 Multiple sclerosis
20.30.5 Neurological pain
20.30.6 Neuromuscular disease
20.30.7 Neuroradiology
20.30.8 Parkinson's disease
20.30.9 Stroke20.31 Nursing 20.32 Obstetrics and gynaecology 20.33 Ophthalmology 20.34 Orthopaedics 20.34.1 Back pain
20.34.2 Bone diseases
20.34.3 Joints
20.34.4 Musculoskeletal disorders
20.34.5 Orthopaedic sports trauma
20.34.6 Paediatric orthopaedics
20.34.7 Spine20.35 Otolaryngology 20.36 Paediatrics 20.37 Pain medicine 20.38 Primary care 20.39 Palliative care 20.40 Psychiatry 20.40.1 Anxiety disorders
20.40.2 Depression and mood disorders
20.40.3 Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
20.40.4 Substance misuse20.41 Psychology 20.42 Public health 20.43 Radiology and imaging 20.44 Rehabilitation medicine 20.45 Respiratory disease 20.46 Rheumatology 20.47 Sexual medicine 20.48 Sleep medicine 20.49 Social medicine 20.50 Sports medicine 20.51 Statistics and research methods 20.52 Systematic reviews and meta-analyses 20.53 Toxicology 20.54 Transplant medicine and surgery 20.55 Trauma management 20.56 Tropical medicine 20.57 Ultrasonography 20.58 Urology 20.59 Wound management 20.99 Others -
30 Veterinary Medical Science
30 Veterinary Medical Science 30.1 Acupressure 30.2 Acupuncture 30.3 Animal diseases 30.4 Electroacupuncture 30.5 Food therapy 30.6 Herbal medicine 30.7 Laser acupuncture 30.8 Moxibustion 30.9 Palliative care 30.10 Pharmacopuncture 30.11 Rehabiliation 30.99 Others -
40 Humanities and Social Science
40 Humanities and Social Science 40.1 History, society and culture 40.2 Regulations 40.3 Education 40.4 Theory 40.99 Others -
90 Others (Miscellaneous)
90 Others (Miscellaneous) 90.1 Anthroposophy 90.2 Aromatherapy 90.3 Ayurveda 90.4 Bioelectricomagnetic therapy 90.5 Biophoton 90.6 Chiropractic 90.7 Meditation 90.8 Neural therapy 90.99 Others
Journal Info
Editorial Office
Tel.+82-2-2658-9051~3
Fax.+82-2-2658-9136
E-mail.journalams@gmail.com
Society.http://www.mapi.or.kr/
Most Read / Downloaded
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Case Report2021-10-31
Role of Acupuncture and Fire Cupping in Reducing the Thyroxine Dose and Improving the Thyroid Function in Hypothyroidism Patients: A Case Series
Pradeep M. K. Nair1,*, Naga Jyothi2J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2021; 14(5): 200-205 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.5.200Abstract : Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders linked to various systemic diseases ranging from obesity to cancers. The present line of management is insufficient as reports suggest that there is persistence of symptoms and poor adherence that makes the management of said disease challenging. Acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies are proven to alleviate endocrine dysfunctions. However, reports on acupuncture and cupping therapy on hypothyroidism are very scarce. Here, we report 5 cases of hypothyroid patients aged between 38-44 yrs who were treated with acupuncture and fire cupping for a period of three months. At the baseline, the patients presented with either a weak, wiry or vacuum pulse which represents spleen Qi deficiency. Further, they presented with elevated levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), and higher Body Mass Index (BMI). Acupuncture treatment at ST36, LI4, SP6, and BL20 was given bilaterally whilst CV4, LR3, LR4, SP9, ST40, SP10, GV4, KI3, ST12, and SI17 were punctured unilaterally. At the end of the time period of three months, patients progressed to normal levels of TSH, reduction in BMI and had succeeded in tapering their medication doses. Supplementing this, the patients reported marked improvement in other symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, and cold feet post-treatment. The effects were consistent even during the three month follow-up period post-interventions. The results encourage the utilization of acupuncture and fire cupping in the management of hypothyroidism. However, large scale studies are warranted to strengthen this recommendation.
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Research Article2021-02-28
Effect of Remote and Local Acupuncture Points on Periarthritis of Shoulder: A Comparative Study
Kumaresan Poorna Chandran1,*, Prabu Poorna Chandran2, Naveena Arumugam3, Sendhilkumar Muthappan42021; 14(1): 13-20 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.1.13Abstract : Background: Periarthritis of shoulder is a painful condition of the shoulder, affecting 2-3% of the general population and 20% of diabetic patients. Acupuncture is a widely practiced traditional Chinese medicine. Recent evidence shows that it alleviates shoulder pain with different needling techniques. Objectives: The present study is to compare the efficacy of remote and local points on PAS. Methods: 60 subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, remote acupuncture group (n = 30) and local acupuncture group (n = 30). Both groups were assessed at baseline and at the end of 12 sessions. Shoulder pain and its disability index (SPADI) and (ROM) were measured using goniometer. The intervention was given weekly thrice on alternate days for four weeks with 20 min for each session. Results: The result shows that both remote and local acupuncture points were beneficial in the pain management and rage of motion when compared within the group. The effects of acupuncture at remote acupoints were better than those at local acupoints in SPADI and ROM when compared between two groups. Conclusion: In treatment of periarthritis of shoulder remote acupuncture points may have higher therapeutic value when compared to local points.
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Case Report2021-02-28
Acupuncture in Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain Syndrome with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Study
Jia Hui Gan1,*, Lorenzo A. Santorelli22021; 14(1): 27-31 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.1.27Abstract : The present case study illustrates the case of a 47-year-old female (Ms X) with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who presented with central post-stroke pain (CPSP) over her left shoulder and underwent acupuncture treatment (AT) since she appeared irresponsive to conventional treatment. The aim of this case study is to explore the effectiveness of acupuncture as a complimentary treatment in improving central neurogenic pain in MS patients affected by CPSP. AT lasted six weeks, some modification of the conventional AT points was required to ensure continuity and safety of the treatment plan. In fact, Ms X suffered from gingivitis that led to hypersensitivity of her left upper limb (UL) to acupuncture needling; moreover, she experienced sensation loss in her legs as a result of post-stroke complications. The outcome showed that the subject’s shoulder range of motion (ROM), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and pain improved remarkably, enabling Ms X to resume post-stroke rehabilitation and reduce her analgesic intake.
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Research Article2021-04-30
Comparison between the Effectiveness of Manual Acupuncture and Laser Acupuncture at EX-B3 Weiwanxiashu in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Ahmad Aulia Jusuf1, Yoshua Viventius2,3, Wahyuningsih Djaali2,4,*2021; 14(2): 75-81 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.2.75Abstract : Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by increased blood sugar levels. The current management of DM to date has a target of controlling blood glucose, but the therapy cannot be separated from long-term drug side effects. Acupuncture can be an option as an adjunct therapy for DM. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness between manual acupuncture and laser acupuncture. Methods: This study was a randomized control experimental study with a pretest and posttest design using 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 4 groups: a normal group, a diabetes group, an acupuncture group, and a laser group. Manual acupuncture and laser acupuncture were performed 6 times in two weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, the cell density of Langerhans islets, and side effects were assessed and compared among the 4 groups. Results: The highest mean cell density of Langerhans islets was found in the laser and acupuncture group, and the lowest was found in the diabetes group. In the post hoc analysis, the normal, acupuncture, and the laser groups had a significantly higher mean cell density than the diabetes group. The lowest mean FBG level was in the laser group, followed by the acupuncture group, and the highest was in the diabetes group, but this difference was not significant. There were no serious side effects from the use of manual acupuncture or laser acupuncture. Conclusion: Both manual acupuncture and laser acupuncture can improve the histological findings of Langerhans islets in type 2 diabetic rats, and both are safe to use.
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Research Article2021-12-31
Effect of Dry Cupping Therapy on Pain and Functional Disability in Persistent Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Marianna de Melo Salemi1,*, Vanessa Maria da Silva Alves Gomes1, Laylla Marjorye Rebouças Bezerra1, Thania Maion de Souza Melo1, Geisa Guimarães de Alencar1, Iracema Hermes Pires de Mélo Montenegro2, Alessandra Paula de Melo Calado3, Eduardo José Nepomuceno Montenegro1, Gisela Rocha de Siqueira1J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2021; 14(6): 219-230 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.6.219Abstract : Background: Cupping therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain.Objectives: The study assessed the effects of dry cupping on pain and functional disability from persistent nonspecific low back pain. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial, where participants were allocated to a cupping therapy (n = 19) or sham (n = 18) group, for five 10-minute sessions of cupping therapy, twice a week, to stimulate the acupoints related to low back pain (GV4, BL23, BL24, BL25, and BL30, BL40 and BL58) and emotional aspects (HT3 and ST36). All participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment and follow up (a finalization period of four weeks) using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Groups were compared using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the effect size was calculated using Cohen̓s d. Results: The cupping therapy group presented a lower mean VAS when compared to the sham, at post-treatment (mean difference: –2.36; standard error [SE]: 0.58; p < 0.001; “large” effect size: –0.94) and follow up (mean difference: –1.71; SE: 0.81; p < 0.042; ‘large’ effect size: –0.83). The cupping therapy group presented a lower mean ODI when compared to the sham post-treatment (mean difference: –4.68; SE: 1.85; p: 0.017; ‘large’ effect size: –0.87), although in follow-up, there was no difference between the groups (mean difference: 4.16; SE: 2.97; p: 0.17; “medium” effect size: –0.70). Conclusion: Dry cupping was more effective in improving pain and functional disability in people with persistent nonspecific low back pain when compared to the sham.
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Research Article2021-02-28
The Effect of Electroacupuncture Therapy on Pain, Plasma β-Endorphin, and Quality of Life of Stage III Cervical Cancer Patients: A Randomized Control Trial
Wita Saraswati1,*, Ratih Wardani1, Suhatno Suhatno1, Pudjo Hartono1, Ario Imandiri22021; 14(1): 4-12 https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.1.4Abstract : Background: Pain is a major complaint in cancer patients and a global problem that requires medical attention, including pain in cervical cancer. Although pharmacotherapy has been used for the treatment of cancer pain, there are still around 40% cannot be treated only with pharmacotherapy. Objectives: To determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on pain in stage III cervical cancer patients. Methods: Twenty-eight stage III cervical cancer patients were divided into two groups (14 treatments and 14 controls) with randomized control trial design. The treatment group received EA with a frequency of 2/20-25 Hz at points of ST36, SP6, LI4 and LR3 for 30 minutes, while the control group did not receive EA. Both groups were given paracetamol and codeine at the same dose. Assessment was carried out by measuring pain scale (VAS), plasma β-endorphin levels, and quality of life/QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30) before and after therapy. Results: The average reduction in VAS in the treatment group (2.71 ± 1.14) compared to the control group (0.71 ± 1.33; p < 0.001), average increase in plasma β-endorphin levels in the treatment group (88.57 ± 52.46 pg/ml) compared to the control group (12.86 ± 56.76 pg/ml; p = 0.001), and in QoL, there were significant differences in symptom improvement between the treatment and control groups in the domain of fatigue, pain, insomnia and overall QoL (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Medical therapy combined with EA decreased pain scale, increased plasma β-endorphin levels, and improved the QoL for stage III cervical cancer patients.
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