• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.69-80
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• 2006

Objectives : The occurrence of shoulder pain after attack of stroke varies from 15% to about 80% in patients. Hemiplegic shoulder pain has been shown to affect stroke outcome in a negative way that it interferes with recovery after a stroke. These following processes have been all postulated as causes of a shoulder pain: glenohumeral subluxation, spasticity, impingement, soft tissue trauma, glenohumeral capsulitis, shoulder hand syndrome. And stroke patients may suffer from pain caused by stroke itself(central post-stroke pain). The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Bee venom therapy for shoulder pain in stroke patients. Methods : To evaluate the effectiveness of Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy, 40 patients were allocated into control and treatment group. They were monitored for 3 weeks and followed up with VAS score(with the interval of Initial(YAS1)), 1 week later(VAS2), 2 weeks later(VAS3), 3 weeks later(VAS4), Motor Grade and Passive ROM. Results : VAS score decrease in treatment group compared to control group. Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy seems to decrease hemiplegic shoulder pain and this effect was statistically significant after 3 weeks. Therefore this therapy could be recommended for the treatment of patients with shoulder pain after stroke and further extensive clinical studies are expected. Conclusion : We suggest that GDS oral administration and electro-acupuncture at $BL_{52}$ & $GB_{39}$ are available for prevention and curing about the postmenopausal osteoporosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.73-81
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• 2003

Objective : The study was performed to evaluate the effect of treatment for Osteoarthritis of knee joint by using Bee Venom Acupuncture that is well known for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Methods: We investigated 50 cases of patient with Osteoarthritis of knee joint from 1st July 2001 to 31st December 2002, 50 cases of patient with Osteoarthritis in knee joint treated at the department of acupuncture & moxibustion of Kyung-Won University Oriental Hospital were randomly selected for two group. One group was treated by Bee Venom Acupuncture therapy, the other group was treated by Filiform Acupuncture therapy. We studied nine-point scale and improvement degree of the grade of clinical symptoms. Results: 1. In the results of treatment, 88% were above "Good" of Bee Venom Acupuncture and 68% in Filiform Acupuncture . 2. In the nine-point scale. Bee Venom Acupuncture was more effective than Filiform Acupuncture. 3. In the improvement degree of the grade of clinical symptoms. Bee Venom Acupuncture was more effective than Filiform Acupuncture. Conclusions: In the treatment of Osteoarthritis of knee joint. Bee Venom Acupuncture can be regarded as more effective treatment than Filiform Acupuncture in the clinical practice. This is expected to be available for clinical use.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.21-31
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods : This clinical study was carried out on 119 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, who had been admitted from May, 2009 to March, 2011. Patients were sorted into two groups ; One group(bee venom pharmacopuncture group) was treated with bee venom pharmacopuncture and acupuncture therapy, the other(non-bee venom pharmacopuncture group) with acupuncture therapy only. Verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment in both groups. VNRS and ODI scores of the two groups were statistically compared. Results : The bee venom pharmacopuncture group demonstrated a more significant improvement than non-bee venom pharmacopuncture group when evaluated with VNRS and ODI. Conclusions : In the case of the patients with spinal stenosis, it was found that treatment with combination of bee venom pharmacopuncture and acupuncture was more effective in improving the conditions of the patients (subsidence of the symptoms) than the acupuncture treatment only.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.15-27
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of cotreatment with $Samgieum-gagam$, acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture on post-stroke shoulder pain. Methods : The subjects in this study were 43 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. These patients were randomly divided into four groups : the group treated with acupuncture, the group cotreated with acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture, the group cotreated with acupuncture and $Samgieum-gagam$, the group cotreated with acupuncture, sweet bee venom acupuncture and Samgieumgagam, They were treated for 4 weeks, and the effectiveness was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS), Fugl-Meyer motor assessment(FMMA), painless passive ROM of shoulder external rotation(PROM), Modified Ashworth sacle(MAS) and Satisfaction. Results : All groups showed significant change in VAS, FMMA and PROM. The group cotreated with acupuncture, sweet bee venom acupuncture and $Samgieum-gagam$ showed more effectiveness in VAS and FMMA than the group treated with acupuncture. There was no significant difference in MAS among groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that cotreatment with $Samgieum-gagam$, acupuncture and sweet bee venom acupuncture is more effective than acupuncture treatment only on post-stroke shoulder pain. Further study based on many other combination methods, larger population, and long term follow-up is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2005

Objective : This study is performed for the purpose of examining into the efficacy of the Bee Venom Acupuncture Treatment for Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint. Methods : We investigated 25 cases of patients with Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint from 1st June 2005 to 13th July 2005. The 25 patients were taken Bee Venom Acupuncture over three times irregularly. Treatment efficiency was monitored through VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and improvement degree of the grade of clinical symptoms. Conclusions : We brought to the conclusion that the Bee Venom Acupuncture has possibility to be efficient to cure the Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint patients. So we suggest the possibility to use this new remedy for the Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of BVA in the treatment of patients with acute ankle sprain. Design : A prospective randomized double-blind study of BVA was conducted. Setting : The study was done in the Kyungwon University Seoul Hospital from August 1st, 2004 to June 15th, 2005. Patients : 30 patients diagnosed with acute ankle sprain, especially 2nd degree on the Ankle grade pain chart(AGPC) participated in the study, who were divided into two groups (A and B) randomly by a coordinator flipping a coin. Group A and B were relevant to control and BVA group respectively, of which a coordinator never informed any other participant involved. Eventually 13 of 17 in group A and 11 of 13 in Group B finished all the process of the clinical trial. Intervention : In both group A and B, The Procedure of acupuncture treatment was made similar by appearance that four acupoints such as 坵墟(GB40), 中封(LR4), 商丘(SP5), 解谿(ST41) of the injured side were selected and Normal saline aqua-acupuncture(control, as a placebo) or BVA was done and then acupuncture at 坵墟(GB40), 中封(LR4), 商丘(SP5), 解谿(ST41), 足三里(ST36), 陽陵泉(G34) of the affected side was given again. the needles were retained for 20 minutes under the infrared rays. The treatment was given daily for a week. Outcome Measures : Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (AHS) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) were followed by three treatments. Statistical Analysis : Analysis regarding variations in AHS and VAS is carried out by applying Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed rank test sign test with level of significance at 5%. Results : At the end of the treatment, there was significant statistical differences between the two groups in VAS and AHS as well, while at the 3rd day only a VAS showed statistical significance. In each group, both VAS and AHS showed statistical significance along with duration of treatment. Conclusions : BVA was thought to be effective alternatives for relieving symptoms of acute ankle sprain, although further study was needed on the large scale.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.95-103
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of treatment Acute peripheral facial paralysis patient with postauricular pain by Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture Methods : This report have been observed among thirty patients with peripheral facial paralysis patient with postauricular pain who admitted to oriental medicine hospital with Daejeon university During 11-01-2008 to 08-31-2009. These patients were diveided into two groups; One was control group that was treated general oriental medical treatment(Group I) and The other was treated Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture in the posterior ear with general oriental medical treatment. (Group II) Results : 1. Group II was more effective than Group I in the VAS score after 1st, 2nd, 3rd Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture treatmenton posterior ear about postauricular pain. 2. In Group II compared with Group I, postauricular pain duration was reduced. 3. As a result of evaluation by using Yanagihara score, they were not significant score within two groups after final treament. Conclusions : Bee Venom Phannacopuncture on peripheral facial paralysis patient with postauricular pain in the posterior ear was more effective in reducing the pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.29-37
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effectiveness of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture complex therapy on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We investigated 30 cases of patients with Peripheral Facial Paralysis, and devided patients into two groups : We treated one group by complex oriental medical treatment with Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture therapy, and did the other group by complex oriental medical treatment without Bee Venom pharmacopuncture therapy. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used Gross Grading System of House-Brackmann, Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System at baseline, 3 weeks and final. Results : 1. Male, Female is same ratio in distribution of sex, the number of left side is more than that of right side in distribution of lesion, the average age is 49.33. 2. Pain back of the ear showed the highest frequency among Bell's palsy related symptoms at onset, the overwork was a major cause of Bell's palsy in distribution of cause. 3. As a result of evaluation by using Gross Grading System of House-Brackmann, Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System, treatment score after 3weeks was marked higher than that before treatment and treatment score after final treatment was also marked higher than that after 3weeks within each group. 4. After final treatment, Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture therapy group showed signficant difference on Gross Grading System of House-Brackmann, Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System compared with Acupuncture therapy group. Conclusions : Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture therapy can be available for relieving symptoms related with peripheral facial paralysis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2005

Objectives : To observe physiological anti-body effects of anti-BV, acute toxic response, measurement of $LD_{50}$, and the effects of anti-body were evaluated. Methods : $LD_{50}$ of Anti-Bee Venom were measured, and to analyze acute toxic responses, weight, and the anti-body effects various concentrations of Anti-BV were diluted and the survival rate was measured. Cell blood count (CBC), liver, spleen, and kidney pathologies were observed from the histological aspects. Results : Experiment was conducted to observe Anti-BV as the anti-body to the bee venom and the following results were obtained : 1.anti-BV was injected intraperitoneally and no toxic responses were witnessed. All of the experiment subjects stayed alive during the experiment, making $LD_{50}$ analysis impossible. 2.Anti-BV was injected intraperitoneally in mice and no significant weight changes were measured between the control group and the experiment groups. 3. Measuring the concentration dependent survival rate, the highest survival rate was at the concentration of $1.25{\times}10^2mg/kg$(1/2.000) for Anti-BV. 4. No particular results were shown in the CBC test. 5. Observation of changes in the organ tissues, Anti-BV was found to suppress blood stasis in the liver and inhibit necrosis of the cells. Conclusion : Above results suggest that Anti-BV doesn't cause any toxic responses in the body and works as an anti-body to the bee venom. Further studies must be followed to secure the findings.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.61-77
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• 2006

Objectives : Sweet bee venom is made by removing allergen from the bee venom through gel filtration chromatography and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The aim of this study was to verify allergy inhibitory action in Sweet Bee Venom in which the allergy causing enzyme is removed. Methods : 95 healthy adult men and women were selected through a survey whom had never received the bee venom therapy in the past. The concentration of bee venom pharmacopuncture and Sweet BV pharmacopuncture was equally at 0.1mg/ml and the experiment was conducted as the double blind test. Experiment groups were classified into low dosage groups(0.1ml for both bee venom pharmacopuncture and Sweet BV) and high dosage groups where 0.4ml of respective administrations were rendered made observations for allergic responses. Results : Participants of the study was comprised of 71 men and 24 women with the average age of 29.0 years. According to results of the low dosage groups, Sweet BV group showed significant reduction in pain after 4 hours and 24 hours compared to the bee venom pharmacopuncture group. Other allergic responses were insignificant between the groups. For the high dosage groups, Sweet bee venom group showed reduction in pain after 30 minutes and 4 hours. Other allergic responses such as edema, itchiness, dizziness from hypersensitivity, and fatigue were significantly lower in the Sweet bee venom administered group after 30 minutes. Conclusions : As a result of removed allergen, Sweet bee venom significantly inhibits allergic responses both locally and throughout the body. This indicates wider and easier application of Sweet bee venom for the symptoms applicable to the bee venom pharmacopuncture. Further comparative studies should be conducted to yield more objective verification.