title: Pharmacopuncture in Korea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: Background. Pharmacopuncture is a new form of acupuncture combining acupuncture with herbal medicine, and it has been used under various conditions in Korea. The aim of this study is to establish clinical evidence for the safety and efficacy of pharmacopuncture in Korea. Methods. We searched 9 databases and two relevant journals up to December 2014 using keywords, such as pharmacopuncture. All randomized, controlled trials evaluating pharmacopuncture under any conditions in Korea were considered. Results. Twenty-nine studies involving 1,211 participants were included. A meta-analysis of two studies on obesity showed that 5 to 8 weeks of pharmacopuncture reduced weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) more than normal saline injections. In the 5 studies of musculoskeletal conditions, 7 to 30 days of pharmacopuncture had additional effects on the reduction of pain intensity, and this benefit was maintained by limiting analyses to studies with a low risk of bias for randomization and/or allocation concealment. Conclusions. This systematic review suggests the potential of pharmacopuncture for obesity and musculoskeletal diseases. However, it is difficult to recommend pharmacopuncture as an evidence-based treatment because of methodological flaws and small sample sizes of the included studies. Further well-designed trials are needed to draw a definitive conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jimin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyangsook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Cheul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Boryang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kim