PURPOSE
We analyzed climacteric symptoms, bone mineral density (BMD), serum estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to identify the health benefits of meridian massage in perimenopausal women.
METHODS
There were 16 women in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. Meridian massage was performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week for 20 minutes each session. The data were collected pre-treatment, posttreatment and 4 weeks after treatment. SPSS/WIN 11.5 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS
After meridian massage, there were significant differences in climacteric symptoms (U = 65.50, p = .011) and BMD (U = 65.50, p = .011) between the two groups. The E2 level showed a significant difference between the two groups pre- and posttreatment (U = 75.00, p = .028). FSH showed a significant increase when measured at 4 weeks after the treatment as compared with the amount when measured post-treatment within the control group (z = -2.249, p = .025), experimental group showed a stable change in FSH. but there was no significant difference between the groups.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we confirmed the effects of Meridian massage in decreasing climacteric symptoms, inhibiting the decrease of BMD and stabilizing serum hormone in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it can be considered for use as a nursing intervention for health management in perimenopausal women.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of Meridian pressure on the functions of upper extremities and discomfort of ADLs of hemiplegic patients. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group, non-synchronized design. Subjects were 35 hemiplegic patients who were hospitalized at L Oriental Medical Hospital; 18 for the experimental group and 17 for the control group. The experimental group was given meridian pressure for 10 minutes daily for 2 weeks. The data were analyzed by SPSS 12.0 program. The chi-square-test and t-test were used for the two groups' homogeneity, and t-test was used for the hypothesis test.
RESULTS
Manual muscle test, ROMs of wrist extension, elbow flexion, and shoulder extension of the experimental group increased compared to the control group. Shoulder pain and index finger circumference of the experimental group decreased compared to the control group. The experimental group showed to have less discomfort of ADLs than the control group.
CONCLUSION
The study results verified that meridian pressure is effective for improving the functions of hemiplegic patients' upper extremities as well as reducing discomfort of ADLs.

PURPOSE
It was investigated if abdominal meridian massage has effects on constipation in institutionalized psychiatric patients taking antipsychotic drugs.
METHODS
According to the constipation screening tests, 22 patients were selected as subjects. One group pre and post repeated measurement design was used. Constipation was operationalized as perceived constipation, frequency of defecation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken to relieve constipation. Abdominal meridian massage was given for two weeks, 10-15 minutes each time and 10 times in total.
RESULTS
Perceived constipation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken were significantly improved after massage. Except for number of medicine taken, the effects on perceived constipation and frequency of bowel sound were found to be persistent 2 weeks after massage.
CONCLUSION
Based upon these results, abdominal meridian massage was recommended as independent nursing intervention for the relief of constipation in psychiatric patients who taking anti-psychotic drugs. Further studies to investigate the maximal duration time of effects and whether the effects of intermittent application of this method is more beneficial than the continuous application of this method are necessary.

PURPOSE
This study was aimed at identifying the effect of meridian acupressure on decreasing the severity of constipation in stroke patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
METHOD
The data was collected from June 1 to July 30, 2005 at D Hospital in Busan. They were divided into two group: one experimental group of 18, and the another control group of 17. Meridian acupressure was given to the experimental group and no meridian acupressure was given to the control group. The data was analyzed using the t-test, chi-square-test, Fisher exact, and repeated measures ANCOVA.
RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in frequency of defecation and severity of constipation in the experimental group compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
Meridian acupressure can be considered an effective nursing method for the management of constipation among Cerebro-vascular Accident patients.

PURPOSE
This study aims at confirming the effects of the chest meridian massage on the post-anesthetic recovery of general anesthesia appendectomy patients. METHOD: The research was post-test designed as a nonequivalent control group among quasi-experiments tested. The data was collected from June 20, 2003 to October 14, 2003 at a hospital in P city. In the collected data, using SPSS Win 10.0 program, these general features were analyzed by real numbers and percentages; the homogeneity among variables by chi2-test and t-test and the research hypothesis by the t-test. RESULT: Hypothesis 1; The experimental group receiving the treatment of the chest meridian massage will have a much higher post-anesthetic recovery score than that of the control group not receiving it was supported(t=2.544, p=.014). Hypothesis 2; The experimental group receiving the treatment of the chest meridian massage will have a much shorter time of stay in the recovery room than that of the control group not receiving it was supported(t=-4.919, p=.000). CONCLUSION: According to these results, it may be concluded that Chest Meridian Massage is effective in producing a higher level of post-anesthetic recovery score and helps appendectomy patients reduce the time of stay in the recovery room. Therefore the chest meridian massage can be considered as an intervention therapy for directly nursing general anesthesia appendectomy patients.

PURPOSE
The objective of the study was to identify the effects of the meridian massage therapy on hand edema and hand functions in patients with hemiplegia. METHOD: The experiment was conducted in the Oriental Medical ward of "K" hospital during the period of 2000. 12. 15 - 2001. 03. 15. Fifty five subjects with hemiplegia following a stroke participated in the study. Volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger of each patient was measured and functional points were recorded for pre and post experiment. RESULT: 1. Apparent decrease in volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger(p=.022. p=.021), and higher functional points(p=.003) in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. 2.Volume of hands & their functions appeared to be irrelevant(r=-.195, p=.154). 3. Circumference of the index finger & their functions also turned out to be irrelevant (r=-.110, p=.424). CONCLUSION: Meridian massage is an effective nursing interventional therapy to relieve hand edema and improve hand functions in hemiplegic patients and has great potential for use in a wide range of medical fields as an efficient supplementary treatment for stroke rehabilitation.