Objectives: Pharmacopuncture is a Korean medicine treatment that combines acupuncture and herbal medicines. The aim of this study was to investigate the current usage status of pharmacopuncture for insomnia among Korean medicine doctors (KMDs).
Methods: We conducted a self-reporting online survey targeting KMDs from February 23 to March 15, 2021 with cooperation of the Association of Korean Medicine. Responses of 957 KMDs were analyzed.
Results: Types of pharmacopuncture mainly used in treatment for insomnia were placenta pharmacopuncture and Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture. Cephalic and facial region were preferred as the treatment site. For one treatment, total usage of pharmacopuncture was more than 0.5 cc but less than 1 cc. Among respondents, the largest number of respondents thought that clinical experience and patient symptoms were important as selection criteria of acupoints using Pharmacopuncture for insomnia. Average treatment duration of using Pharmacopuncture for insmonia was more than 4 weeks. Most KMDs preferred treatment for one to four times a week regarding the treatment cycle. The use of Pharmacopuncture for insomnia was recognized as having a good effect, although other KMDs were concerned about the insufficient evidence and the high cost due to non-reimbursement of pharmacopuncture therapy.
Conclusions: In order to activate pharmacopuncture treatment for insomnia, it is necessary to secure effectiveness and safety through basic research, create evidence through clinical research, and reduce costs for patients.

Objectives: To analyze correlation between CSEI-S and MMPI-2 subscales to provide evidence for clinical application of the CSEI-S.
Methods: Survey data of CSEI-S and MMPI-2 from 109 university students were analyzed. Demographic characteristics were subjected to descriptive analysis. Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed for CSEI-S and MMPI-2 scores.
Results: The CSEI-S scale Joy (喜) showed a negative correlation with MMPI-2 clinical scales Hs, D, Hy, Pd, Pa, Pt, Sc, and Si. Six negative emotion scales of the CSEI-S showed positive correlations with MMPI-2 clinical scales except Mf and Ma. The CSEI-S scale Joy (喜) showed negative correlations with MMPI-2 restructured clinical scales RCd, RC1, RC2, and RC7. Six negative emotion scales of the CSEI-S showed positive correlations with restructured MMPI-2 clinical scales. The 60T-and-over group of MMPI-2 clinical scales D, Pd, Pa, Pt, Sc, Si, and Si showed significantly higher negative emotions than other groups. The 60T-and-over group of MMPI-2 scales D, Pt, Sc, and Si showed significantly lower Joy (喜) score than other groups. The 60T-and-over group of MMPI-2 restructured clinical scales RCd, RC2, RC3, RC6, RC7, RC8, and RC9 showed significantly higher negative emotions than other groups. The 60T-and-over group of MMPI-2 scales RCd, RC6, and RC7 showed significantly lower Joy (喜) scores than others.
Conclusions: The CSEI-S showed consistent results with the original CSEI and MMPI-2 subscales. Thus, is a useful diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

Objectives: Operational definition and its validated measure of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are pivotal for research studies and reliable clinics. There have been ten years of clinical studies on Eum-Yang (Yin-Yang) and Sasang typology using Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) of integrative biopsychology. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on the use of SPQ to provide insights and foundation for its further studies and clinical application.
Methods: Clinical studies on SPQ were searched using five domestic and foreign research databases. Attained research articles were then subjected to predefined systematic reviews. Demographic characteristics of participants and research topics of articles were described. Psychological and physical features of SPQ and its subscales were reviewed and compiled to reveal biopsychological characteristics.
Results: There were 33 articles with 15,085 participants on Eum-Yang (n=19) and Sasang typology (n=14). The SPQ-total score was in an increasing order of So-Eum, Tae-Eum, and So-Yang. Eum-Yang groups were categorized at a 3:4:3 ratio using %ile score of SPQ-total. The SPQ-total showed a significant positive correlation with Novelty-Seeking and a negative correlation with Harm-Avoidance in psychological perspective, while it was not significantly correlated with Body Mass Index or Ponderal Index in physical perspective. The SPQ-total and subscales explained psychopathological characteristics of stress recognition, negative emotion, problem behavior, and depression.
Conclusions: The SPQ was found to be an objective biopsychological measure of TKM for Sasang typology and psychopathology. It would provide foundation for 'Korean Psychology' and multidisciplinary studies.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of pharmacopuncture treatment for insomnia disorder to derive clinical evidence and recommendation grades. Methods: Studies that verified effects of pharmacopuncture on primary insomnia were included. Characteristics and quality of included studies were assessed using Risk of Bias (RoB). Results: A total of 25 studies were selected. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and effective rate were primarily used for outcome measurement. Vitamin B12 was the most used pharmacopuncture material. The most frequently used acupuncture point was Anmian (Ex-HN). The volume of the acupuncture solution ranged from 0.25 mL to 2 mL. Acupuncture treatment depth was 0.5 cm to 2 cm. In three studies, the procedure was performed at 16:00. Meta-analysis of studies revealed that the effective rate of the pharmacopuncture group was significantly higher than the group using sleeping pills group (RR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.45, p=0.04, I2=69%). PSQI was decreased in the intervention group (MD=-2.19, 95% CI: -2.90 to -1.48, p<0.00001, I2=0%). Effective rates of pharmacopuncture and acupuncture groups were higher than that of the acupuncture group (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.17, p=0.0002, I2=0%). PSQI was decreased in the intervention group (MD=-1.87, 95% CI: -2.36 to -1.38, p<0.00001, I2=0%). Although the effectiveness rate of the pharmacopuncture group was not significantly higher than that of the acupuncture group (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.27, p=0.1, I2=9%), the PSQI was decreased in the pharmacopuncture group (MD=-2.10, 05% CI: -3.29 to -0.91, p=0.0005, I2=34%). The quality of clinical studies was poor. Conclusions: Based on results of this study, it is proper to use 0.5 to 2 mL of pharmacopuncture solution such as Danshen and Ciwujia with a depth of 0.5 to 2 cm at around 4 p.m. to treat insomnia disorder, focusing on Anmian (Ex-HN) and Sameumgyo (SP6).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a scoping review to describe clinical study trends on Qigong in order to identify further directions of Qigong in Korean medicine.
Methods: Under the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework, PubMed was searched to identify articles published from January 1, 2019 to June 28, 2021. A total of 224 articles were retrieved. Results were systematically filtered by two independent reviewers based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Publication information, disease, intervention and research results of a total of 153 articles were extracted and analyzed.
Results: Asia had the largest number of Qigong studies (82 studies, 65%). Most research studies were conducted in the academic field of Medicine (n=109, 86.5%), including Complementary and Alternative Medicine (n=35), Medicine (miscellaneous) (n=15), and Oncology (n=15). Based on ICD-10 classification, Mental and Behavioral Disorder (n=25, 19.8%) was the most frequently analyzed decease, followed by Neoplasm (n=24) and Disease of the Nervous system (n=12). Almost half of all studies were Systematic Reviews. RCTs only accounted for 25.4%. Interventions were very diverse and inconsistent. Sixty (47.6%) studies analyzed Qigong as a single intervention. In 66 cases, Qigong was analyzed as part of a large category such as Mind-Body intervention. Most studies designed a Donggong (動功) program. The age of the population was relatively high as 47.1% of all studies were conducted on middle aged or older adults.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that further standardized research on Qigong, especially Junggong (靜功), needs to be conducted by developing research protocols and practice programs to verify effects of Qigong and utilize Qigong as a medical intervention in Korean Medicine.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review and analyze domestic research trends of ear acupuncture and ear acupressure (EAs) in elderly population.
Methods: We searched five domestic databases to collect relevant original clinical studies up to July 2, 2021. Conditions of elderly participants and results reported in included studies were analyzed. Methods of EAs used were analyzed referring to STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture.
Results: A total of 17 studies including nine randomized controlled trials were analyzed. As for the target condition, sleep disorder was the most common (n=9), followed by pain condition (n=6). There were three studies on participants with specific Sasang constitution. Procedures of EAs used in nursing studies were generally similar to those of Korean medicine (KM).
Conclusions: Domestic studies have reported that EAs might be helpful in improving the health of the elderly. In the future, more research studies using EAs for the elderly are needed in KM field. Collaborative research with KM nurses is recommended. EAs should be further investigated as a promising KM intervention in terms of health and welfare for the elderly.

Objectives: To provide clinical evidence of pharmacopuncture treatment for post-stroke depression by reviewing randomized controlled trials on Traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopuncture for post-stroke depression.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials on pharmacopuncture treatment for post-stroke depression were searched from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Literature searches of English and Chinese databases were performed. Selected literature was assessed with the Jadad scale.
Results: Twelve papers were selected from 20 studies. The following results were obtained: 1) Pharmacopuncture was used for post-stroke depression; 2) Dengzhan-Xixin was the most used injection medicine for post-stroke depression; 3) BaiHui (GV20) was the most used in pharmacopuncture treatment; 4) Based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), it was confirmed that all studies using pharmacopunture had significant efficacy.
Conclusions: For the treatment of post-stroke depression, Dengzhans-Xixin was commonly used as an injectable medication. Additional research studies on pharmacopuncture including its practical use are needed.

Objectives: To review research trends in the treatment of epilepsy with Traditional Korean Medicine.
Methods: Thirteen studies were selected by searching OASIS, RISS, SIENCEON, KISS, KoreaMed, and KMBASE from 2000.01.01 to 2021.08.28.
Results: Studies were analyzed by year, format, publication site, age of patient, treatment method, follow-up study, herbal treatment, acupuncture, and limitations. Analysis confirmed that oriental medical treatment was sufficiently effective in relieving symptoms of epilepsy.
Conclusions: Acupuncture and herbal medicine could be considered to relieve symptoms of epilepsy. However, due to some limitations in those studies, more in-depth and broader research is needed in the future.

The purpose of this study was to introduce effects of Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting on knee pain, headaches, and acute stress disorder of a patient with a traffic accident. We treated a patient with Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting. Numerical rating scale (NRS), Range of Motion (ROM), Hyperextension Position (HEP), Effusion (Eff), Patella Compression Test (PCT), Frontal Flexion Position (FFP), McMurray (MCM), Lateral Joint Line Tenderness (LJLT), Medial Joint Line Tenderness (MJLT), Anterior Drawer Test (ADT), Lachman Test, Varus/Valgus stress, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Core Seven Emotions Inventory Short Form (CSEI-S), Subjective units of disturbance scale (SUDs), and Heart rate variability (HRV) were used to evaluate the patient. After the patient was treated by Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting, the patient showed improvement in NRS, physical examination, and psychological symptom assessment. These results indicate that Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting are effective on knee pain, headache, and acute stress disorder after a traffic accident.

Objectives: To propose Korean medicine treatments based on effects of Yanshimtang-Gamibang on three patients diagnosed with psychogenic dizziness.
Methods: Korean medicine treatments based on Yanshimtang-Gamibang were applied to three patients diagnosed with psychogenic dizziness after experiencing a traffic accident. Effects of Korean medicine treatments based on Yanshimtang-Gamibang were evaluated using DHI (Dizziness Handicap Inventory), BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory), NRS (Numerical rating scale), NDI (Neck Disability Index), ODI (Oswestry Disability Index), and EQ-5D (EuroQol-Five Dimensions). Quality of sleep was assessed with total sleep time and number of times waking up during sleep.
Results: After the treatment, there were significant decreases in DHI and BAI scores as well as values of NRS, NDI, ODI, EQ-5D. The sleep quality of three patients also showed improvement.
Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments based on Yanshimtang-Gamibang might be effective in people with psychogenic dizziness.