Bibliometric analysis of auriculotherapy research trends over the past 20 years.

OBJECTIVES: Auriculotherapy has long been used to treat various diseases. We analyzed and visualized auriculotherapy's geographical distribution, key contributors, and thematic trends over the past 20 years to provide current trends in auriculotherapy field and to offer recommendations for future research directions. DESIGN/SETTING: We searched for relevant studies in the Web of Science between January 10, 2003, and December 31, 2022. A bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer for annual publications, journals, countries, institutions, authors, and keywords. RESULTS: A total of 800 studies were included in the analysis, and the number of studies steadily increased over the 20 examined years. In 2018, there was a noteworthy rise in publications, nearly twice as many as the preceding year. Integrative & complementary medicine was the most researched area, with most articles published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. China was the country with the most published research, and the most active organization was Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China, followed by Kyung Hee University in South Korea. The most prolific author was Yeh Mei-ling, who reported the effects of auriculotherapy on dysmenorrhea and smoking cessation. Keyword analysis revealed four clusters: pain, mental health, obesity, and smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: Auriculotherapy research primarily focused on clinical studies related to pain, obesity, smoking cessation, and depression. Future research should place greater emphasis on verifying the mechanisms of auriculotherapy for specific ailments and may require efforts to enhance the robustness of clinical trials. Through visual analysis, our study may serve as a foundational resource, offering valuable insights into the trajectory of auriculotherapy research.

Effects of electroacupuncture on obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of obesity. METHODS: We searched 8 electronic databases for articles published between 2005 and 2021, including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the review. The intervention groups received either electroacupuncture alone or electroacupuncture with standard care, whereas the control groups received sham electroacupuncture, standard care, or no treatment. The primary outcome was the body mass index (BMI), and the secondary outcomes were the body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass, body fat percentage, and adverse effects. Continuous outcome data are presented as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis included 13 RCTs involving 779 participants. Results revealed that the BMI (MD: -0.98; 95% CI: -1.35 to -0.61), BW (MD: -1.89; 95% CI: -2.97 to -0.80), WC (MD: -2.67; 95% CI: -4.52 to -0.82), and WHR (MD: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.06 to -0.01) were significantly improved in the intervention groups compared with those in the control groups. Adverse effects were reported in 5 studies. The most commonly used acupoint in the abdomen was ST25, whereas the most commonly used acupoints in other regions were ST36 and SP6 for the treatment of obesity. ST25 was the most commonly used acupoint connected by electroacupuncture. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that electroacupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for simple obesity. To increase the reliability of this study, further detailed, long-term studies should be conducted on the effects of electroacupuncture on obesity.

Effect of Moxibustion Combined with Other Interventions on Body Weight Reduction in the Treatment of Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Moxibustion has been used in the treatment and prevention of obesity. However, there has been no systematic review or meta-analysis conducted on the use of moxibustion on obesity treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the role of moxibustion in the treatment of obesity. Methods: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and MEDLINE/PubMed databases were searched to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of moxibustion on obesity. The primary outcome was body weight. The secondary outcomes were the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The risk of bias assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Results: Eleven RCTs involving 761 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Other interventions that were included in the analyses were manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, embedding therapy, herbal medicine, and diet control. Moxibustion combined with other interventions resulted in a significant improvement in body weight reduction (mean difference [MD] -3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI: -4.25 to -2.38]; I2 = 17%), BMI (MD -1.51, 95% CI [-1.88 to -1.14]; I2 = 76%), and WC (MD -2.82, 95% CI [-3.50 to -2.13]; I2 = 75%), but did not improve HC (MD -2.05, 95% CI [-4.21 to 0.11]; I2 = 0%) or WHR (MD -0.01, 95% CI [-0.03 to 0.01]; I2 = 57%). Conclusions: Moxibustion can be used with other interventions to improve body weight, BMI, and WC in people with obesity. However, the conclusions of this review should be cautiously applied to clinical practice because most of the included studies had a high or unclear risk of bias.

Traditional Chinese medicine for foot pain in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by pain as well as sensory, motor, and sudomotor disorders. Generally, it is classified into two types CRPS-I and CRPS-II. There is no single diagnostic test or treatment approach for CRPS, and a multidisciplinary approach is gaining attention to improve patients' symptoms and their quality of life. CASE SUMMARY: A 35-year-old woman with an unremarkable medical history sought treatment for CRPS at a hospital of Korean medicine. During her first visit, she was wheelchair-bound due to severe pain in her left lower extremity. She had edema and discoloration of the left foot. She was treated with a combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches, including acupuncture, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and herbal decoction, for approximately 20 sessions. The foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS) and visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain were evaluated, along with general signs and functions. Her symptoms, signs, FAOS, and VAS scores improved after treatment, with a significant 7-degree decrease in the VAS score and a 62-point increase in the FAOS score. Additionally, the foot swelling and discoloration gradually resolved. During the phone follow-up, 5 mo after the last visit, additional improvements in outcomes were observed. CONCLUSION: Combined TCM treatment may be a reasonable and safe option for alleviating symptoms and improving function in patients with CRPS.

Visual bibliometric analysis of electroacupuncture research in stroke treatment: a 20-year overview.

Background: Electroacupuncture has been used as a treatment; however, a visual bibliometric analysis has not yet been performed in this field. In this study, we aimed to suggest future research topics and directions related to the field by examining the last 20 years of research trends and hotspots of electroacupuncture in stroke. Methods: We searched the Web of Science database on electroacupuncture as a treatment for stroke published from 2003 to 2022. We analyzed the papers by annual publication, research fields, nations, affiliations, authors, journals, and keywords. VOSviewer software was used to visualize the bibliometric analysis and results. A total of 440 papers were included in the analysis. Results: The number of publications has gradually increased every year, and neuroscience has become the most actively studied field. Neural Regeneration Research journal and China had the most publications. Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as an affiliated institute, published the most articles. Chen Lidian and Tao Jing presented the largest number of papers, making them the leading contributors in this field. Four clusters were created by analyzing keywords, such as "neuroprotection," "clinical rehabilitation," "neuroplasticity," and "pretreatment-induced tolerance". Conclusion: This study is the first to analyze the research trends in electroacupuncture as a treatment for stroke using the VOSviewer. It shows the current state of research in the field by visualizing research trends and hotspots. This will help offer reference data for future studies.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the anti-obesity effect of cupping therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cupping therapy is a common practice in Korean medicine. Despite developments in this clinical and research area, the current knowledge is insufficient to identify the effects of cupping therapy on obesity. We aimed to assess the effects and safety of cupping therapy on obesity by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of cupping therapy. METHODS: A systematic search of databases was conducted, including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Citation Information by the National Institute of Informatics, KoreaMed, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and ScienceON, for full-text randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through January 14, 2023, with no language restrictions. The experimental groups received cupping therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and conventional therapy. The control groups received no treatment, conventional therapy, or TCM treatments alone. The experimental and control groups were compared in terms of body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference (HC), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BFP). We evaluated the risk of bias using the 7 domains stipulated by the Cochrane Collaboration Group and performed a meta-analysis using Cochrane Collaboration software (Review Manager Software Version 5.3). RESULTS: A total of 21 RCTs were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The analysis revealed improvements in BW (P < .001), BMI (P < .001), HC (P = .03), and WC (P < .001). However, there were no clinically significant changes in WHR (P = .65) or BFP (P = .90), both of which had very low certainty of evidence. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results show that cupping therapy can be used to treat obesity in terms of BW, BMI, HC, and WC and is a safe intervention for the treatment of obesity. However, the conclusions of this review should be interpreted with caution in clinical practice because of the uncertain quality of the included studies.

Multiple traditional Chinese medicinal approaches in collaboration with conservative conventional medicine for lumbar herniated intervertebral discs: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This review aimed to verify the clinical effects of traditional Chinese medicine in collaboration with conservative conventional medicine for lumbar herniated intervertebral discs (LHIVD). METHODS: The CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed, JMAS, CNKI, and seven Korean databases were searched using pre-planned strategies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and a meta-analysis was conducted accordingly. RESULTS: Twenty-eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All RCTs included 2746 participants. The experimental group showed more significant improvements in VAS (Mean differences (MD) -1.61, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) [-2.44, -0.79]; I2 = 98%), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (MD -8.52, 95% CI [-11.71, -5.34]; I2 = 96%), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores (MD 4.83, 95% CI [3.49, 6.17]; I2 = 85%) than the control group. However, the difference in the incidence of adverse events between the experimental and control groups was not significant (Relative Risk (RR) 0.05, 95% CI [0.23, 1.10]; I2 = 46%). CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese medicine in collaboration with conservative conventional medicine can be used to relieve pain and facilitate better function of the lumbar spine in lumbar herniated intervertebral disc cases. However, this conclusion should be applied with caution in clinical practice owing to the low quality of the included studies.

Effects of acupuncture on anthropometric and serum metabolic parameters in premenopausal overweight and obese women: a randomized, patient- and assessor-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture on obesity-related parameters with regard to metabolomics. METHODS: This two-arm parallel, patient- and assessor-blind, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial included 120 obese participants. Participants were randomized into two groups. The treatment group received a combined intervention of manual acupuncture (MA) plus electroacupuncture (EA), while the control group received a combination of sham acupuncture interventions consisting of sham MA plus sham EA for 6 weeks. The serum lipid levels were measured as the primary outcome measure and anthropometric parameters and serum metabolic profiles including amino acids and carnitines were measured as secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: The serum lipid levels and anthropometric measurements did not significantly differ between groups, while body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were improved within each group and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased over time in the treatment group. There were no significant differences in amino acid levels between groups, while certain carnitine (C2, C4, C6, and l-carnitine) levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the treatment group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In summary, 6 weeks of acupuncture treatment did not affect anthropometric and serum metabolic parameters, with the exception of certain carnitines, when compared to sham acupuncture. The observation of increased carnitine levels in the acupuncture group could result in potential long-term benefits to obese individuals. Additional studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of acupuncture on lipid metabolism and the underlying mechanism of action. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02066090).

Effect and neurophysiological mechanism of acupuncture in patients with chronic sciatica: protocol for a randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Sciatica is a relatively frequent illness that easily becomes a chronic and relapsing condition. Although numerous systematic reviews have analyzed various therapies for sciatica, the validity of their included studies is limited. Considering the limitations of conventional treatment options for sciatica, acupuncture is a possible option; however, evidence supporting its efficacy and mechanism in patients with sciatica is lacking. The aim of this proposed protocol is to investigate the effect and neurophysiological mechanism of acupuncture in patients with chronic sciatica. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a randomized, patient-assessor blind, two-arm, parallel, non-penetrating, sham-controlled clinical trial. Eligible participants will include adults (aged 19-70 years old) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic sciatica (40 mm or more of a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) for bothersomeness) blinded to the treatment received. Patients will be randomly allocated into the acupuncture treatment group (manual acupuncture plus electroacupuncture (EA), n = 34) or the sham acupuncture control group (sham acupuncture plus placebo EA without electrical stimulation, n = 34). Groups will receive treatment twice a week for a total of eight sessions over 4 weeks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging will be implemented at baseline and endpoint to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture. The primary outcome measure is the VAS for bothersomeness and secondary outcomes include the VAS for pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol 5-Dimension, Coping Strategy Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Adverse events will be assessed at every visit. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial (which will be available in 2020) should provide important clinical evidence for the effect of acupuncture and demonstrate how acupuncture can be helpful for the treatment of chronic sciatica. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03350789 . Registered on 15 November 2017.

Haptic simulation for acupuncture needle manipulation.

BACKGROUND: Stimulation degree, biomechanical force, and de qi sensation are the three major components of needle manipulation. To date, it has been difficult to measure all three components quantitatively. OBJECTIVES: To (1) measure and compare biomechanical forces of six human acupoints in vivo during haptic manipulation, (2) develop phantom acupoints with biomechanical forces similar to those of human acupoints, and (3) validate the newly developed phantom acupoints based on assessment by doctors of Korean medicine. METHODS: The biomechanical force and needle grasp sensation (i.e., the practitioner's de qi sensation) of six human acupoints (LI4, LI11, LR3, ST36, ST25, and BL25) were assessed in 16 participants upon stimulation with the twisting manipulation technique. On the basis of biomechanical data from these human acupoints, phantom acupoints that generated similar biomechanical forces were developed by using 1%-7% agarose gel. RESULTS: In humans, the mean torque amplitudes of the six acupoints differed significantly. In the phantom, the biomechanical force was dose-dependently greater in higher-concentration agarose gel phantom acupoints. Biomechanical force and the needle grasp sensation were significantly correlated in both human and phantom acupoints. Importantly, practitioners could not discriminate between human and phantom acupoints, suggesting that the validity and credibility of the phantom acupoints are sufficient for applications in education and research. CONCLUSIONS: Application of force-validated phantom acupoints based on human data will be a helpful tool for training and will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of acupuncture manipulation.