History of Research on Pharmacopuncture in Korea

Abstract

Objectives: This study introduces the history and types of Korean pharmacopuncture and reports trends of research on Korean pharmacopuncture.Methods:Pharmacopuncture studies were searched from the first year of each search engine to 2014 by using seven domestic and foreign search databases. Selected studies were divided into the history of pharmacopuncture, kinds and features of pharmacopuncture, research types, and experimental and clinic studies and were then classified by year of publication, type of pharmacopuncture, disease, and topic.Results:Pharmacopuncture can be classified into four large groups: meridian field pharmacopuncture (MFP), eight-principles pharmacopuncture (EPP), animal-based pharmacopuncture (ABP) and mountain- ginseng pharmacopuncture, which is a single-co mpound pharmacopuncture (SCP). The largest numbers of studies were reported from 1997 to 2006, after which the numbers decreased until 2014. Of experimental studies, 51.9%, 18.7%. 14.3%, 9% and 3.4% were on SCP, ABP, MFP, formula pharmacopuncture (FP), and EPP, respectively. Of clinical studies, 54.7%, 15.3%. 14.9% 10.0% and 1.5% were on ABP, MFP, EPP, SCP, and FP (1.5%), respectively. Among clinical studies, case reports and case series accounted for 76.5%, followed by randomized controlled trials (RCTs, 16.4%) and non-RCT (13.9%). Musculoskeletal diseases, toxicity and safety tests, anti-cancer effects, and nervous system diseases were mainly treated in experimental studies while musculoskeletal diseases, nervous system diseases, toxicity and safety tests, and autonomic nerve function tests were addressed in clinical studies. Bee venom (BV) was the most frequently-used pharmacopuncture in mechanism studies. Pharmacopuncture was mainly used to treat musculoskeletal diseases.Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture and studies of it have made great progress in Korea. Studies on BV pharmacopuncture and musculoskeletal diseases accounted for most of the studies reported during the review period. Research on the types of pharmacopuncture and diseases has to be expanded. Especially, studies on the use of MFP and EPP for treating patients with various diseases are needed.

Anticancer Effect of Mountain Ginseng on Human Breast Cancer: Comparison with Farm‐Cultivated Ginseng

“…As a result, many patients suffer pain from both the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and cancer recurrence with anticancer drug resistance. In Korea, some patients, including terminally ill patients, have received pharmacopuncture treatment with mountain ginseng extract (MGE) in combination with or without anticancer drugs for reduction of pain and side effects [ 10 ]. Nonetheless, preclinical scientific evidence related to the anticancer effect of MGE on breast cancer has not been reported.…”

Single-dose Intravenous Injection Toxicity of Water-soluble Danggui Pharmacopuncture (WDP) in Sprague-Dawley Rats

“…Pharmacopuncture is divided into an intramuscular injection into the acupuncture point and a vascular injection into the vein according to the insertion method. In general, the method of intramuscular injection takes up a large part (1). However, vascular injections are used to achieve difficult or rapid effects of oral administration of herbal medicines.…”

“…Pharmacopuncture is a new-typed acupuncture treatment to combine merits of acupuncture and herbal medicine and one of the most broadly used treatments in traditional Korean doctors (TKM) because of usefulness (1). The diverse types of pharmcopuncture have been developed such as eight principle pharmacopuncuture, meridian field pharmacopuncture, mountain ginseng pharmacopuncture (MGP), animal based pharmacopuncture, and pharmacopuncture for blood and qi recuperation and so on (1, 2).…”

“…The diverse types of pharmcopuncture have been developed such as eight principle pharmacopuncuture, meridian field pharmacopuncture, mountain ginseng pharmacopuncture (MGP), animal based pharmacopuncture, and pharmacopuncture for blood and qi recuperation and so on (1, 2). …”

Case Series Study on the Use of BU Pharmacopuncture Treatment in Patients with Acute Lumbar Sprain

“…The clinical trials and studies of pharmacopuncture therapy have made great progress in Korea. Research on the types of pharmacopuncture and which diseases can be dealt with pharmacopuncture has to be extended [9]. …”