Korean healthcare service is divided into conventional medicine and traditional Korean medicine (TKM). This cross-sectional study compared the older population (65 years and older) with two groups of the general population (19–50 years and 51–64 years) to understand the current patterns in the use of TKM services by the older population. Using data from the 2017 National Survey of TKM Usage, we analyzed the main purpose and diseases or symptoms for TKM use, the reason for choosing TKM over other types of medicine, and the treatments provided. Both age groups sought TKM services to “[treat] a disease”. The top five diseases and symptoms in the older adult (65 and older) group were musculoskeletal and are as follows: arthritis and joint diseases (37.8%, n = 166), disc-related diseases (25.5%, n = 112), back pain (8.4%, n = 37), frozen shoulder and shoulder pain (7.7%, n = 34), and sprain (5.9%, n = 26). The most frequently used treatments for these diseases were acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and physiotherapy. The present study suggests that older adults primarily used TKM clinics for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Further studies are necessary to assess the clinical effectiveness of conventional medicine versus TKM versus a combination of both in treating musculoskeletal disorders.

Hee-Jae Yoon, Si-Yoon Cho, Hyeong-Geug Kim, Ji-Yeon Lee. J Pharmacopuncture 2024;27:131-41. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2024.27.2.131

This study aimed to identify all of the characteristics of bee venom acupuncture (BVA) for the treatment of lower back pain (LBP) that are described in the Korean literature, and to provide English-speaking researchers with bibliometrics. Six Korean electronic databases and sixteen Korean journals on BVA treatment for back pain were searched up to February 2022. This report included and analyzed 64 clinical studies on BVA interventions for back pain and 1297 patients with LBP. The most common disease in patients with back pain was lumbar herniated intervertebral discs (HIVD) of the lumbar spine (L-spine). All studies used bee venom (BV) diluted with distilled water. The concentration of BVA for HIVD of L-spine patients with LBP ranged from 0.01 to 5.0 mg/mL; the dosage per treatment was 0.02–2.0 mL, and for a total session was 0.3–40.0 mL. The most used outcome measure was the visual analogue scale for back pain (n = 45, 70.3%), and most of the papers reported that each outcome measure had a positive effect. Korean clinical studies were typically omitted from the review research, resulting in potential language bias. This study provides clinical cases in Korea for future development and standardization of BVA treatment for back pain.

Background: Menopausal insomnia significantly impacts the quality of life in women. East Asian herbal medicines (EAHMs) have been traditionally used in Asian countries, but their efficacy and safety require systematic evaluation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EAHM for treating menopausal insomnia.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across 10 electronic databases from inception until 19 July 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating EAHM for menopausal insomnia were included. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome was sleep quality, insomnia severity, and sleep architecture. Secondary outcomes included total effective rate (TER), menopausal symptoms, and adverse effects. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, and the results were calculated as mean differences (MDs) or risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Also, the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.Results: A total of 70 RCTs involving 6,035 participants met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently used EAHMs were modified Suan Zao Ren Tang, and the most frequently used herbal component was Zizyphus jujuba Miller var. spinosa Hu ex H. F. Chou [Rhamnaceae; Zizyphi Semen]. Compared with sedative-hypnotics, EAHM significantly improved sleep quality, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (MD –2.18, 95% CI –2.56 to −1.80), and reduced menopausal symptoms, as assessed by the Kupperman Index (MD –4.92, 95% CI –6.03 to −3.80). Similar results were seen when EAHM was added to sedative-hypnotics. When EAHM was additionally used in sedative-hypnotics, similar benefits were shown for PSQI (MD –2.46, 95% CI –3.09 to −1.82) and the Kupperman Index (MD –4.64, 95% CI –5.07 to −4.21). EAHM was generally safer than sedative-hypnotics, with significantly fewer adverse reactions (RR 0.15, 95% CI 0.07–0.34). However, the certainty of evidence was moderate to low.Conclusion: EAHMs, alone or with sedative-hypnotics, may be effective and safe for improving sleep quality and managing menopausal symptoms. Future studies should include diverse populations, rigorous methodologies, and explore mechanisms of action to confirm these findings.Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?], identifier [CRD42023446708].

Ji-Eun Han, Jihye Kim, Kyeong Han Kim, Ji-Yeon Lee, Soo-Hyun Sung. J Pharmacopuncture 2022;25:24-36. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.1.24

Objectives: We aimed to explore the use of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, in clinical practice education for Korean Medicine (KM) students. We focused on enhancing their ability to provide personalized lifestyle guidance and analog-type symptom-tracking tools for managing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Methods: The class was part of a clinical practice course for third-year KM students. The course included role-playing and PBL combined with CBL in four modules: cardiology and neurology I, cardiology and neurology II, gynecology, and acupuncture and moxibustion medicine. In each session, students used ChatGPT 4o to create tailored patient educational materials and symptom diaries based on patient case scenarios. These results were shared and discussed throughout the presentations. After completing all modules, students took a survey to assess their satisfaction with ChatGPT and its potential for future applications.Results: Students effectively used ChatGPT in all four modules to provide individualized lifestyle advice and symptom records, tailoring the outputs to suit patient needs. When ChatGPT became momentarily unavailable, Claude was utilized as a replacement. Student feedback indicated that generative AI could enhance their understanding of disease-specific lifestyle management and improve their efficiency in creating patient-centered educational materials.Conclusions: Integrating generative AI into clinical education allows KM students to gain real experience in tailored healthcare delivery. As generative artificial intelligence becomes more extensively employed, various Korean medical college education programs utilizing it should be implemented in the future.