• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2009

1. Objectives To evaluate effects of bee venom acupuncture on cardiovascular system and differences according to each constitution. 2. Methods Heart rate variability, pulse wave and the velocity of cerebral blood flow were measured before bee venom acupuncture(BVA), right after and after 30 minuets, had been applied to 20 subjects. 3. Results 1. BVA did not have effects on measurement variables of heart rate variability. 2. BVA had effects on pulse wave, showing total time, radial augmentation index up and height of percussion wave, time to percussion wave, sum of pulse pressure down. 3. BVA did not have effects on the cerebral blood flow velocity when considering not Sasang Constitution. 4. Considering Sasang Constitution, BVA demonstrates different responses in time to preincisura wave, mean blood flow velocity, peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity. 4.Conclusion From those results, the following conclusions are obtained. Cause BVA alters pulse wave and makes differences in the cerebral blood flow velocity according to Sasang Constitution. Various methods of BVA treatment are needed considering Sasang Constitution.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2015

Objectives This study was carried out to investigate the experimental effects of Lonicerae Caulis and Bee-venom Acupuncture in Yanglingquan (陽陵泉, GB34) that have clinical efficacy in the Rheumatoid Arthritis. Methods Materials of present study are Lonicerae Caulis Extracts (LCE), Bee-Venom Acupuncture (BVP), Sprague-dawley rats (250 g or so, ♂), and various kinds of needing experimental studies. We measured several experimental items of the rats with the arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (0.2 ml/kg), such as body weight, rate of paw edema, analgesic effect by hot plate method, WBC, TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine and IL-10 cytokine. Rats were divided into four groups; Normal group that was treated with normal saline 1.0 ml (o.p) and $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to normal rats, Control group that was treated with normal saline 1.0 ml (o.p) and $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg, Experimental group A that was treated with LCE 1.0 ml (o.p) and normal saline $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg and Experimental group B that was treated with LCE 1.0 ml (o.p) and BVP $15{\mu}l/kg$ (GB34) to pathologic model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 ml/kg, and the experiment took over after 28 days. The results were analysed using SPSS for windows 12.0. Results Experimental group A showed the increase in body weight, paw licking times and IL-10 cytokine compared to Control group. Also it was decreased in rate of paw edema, WBC, and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine compared with Control group. Experimental group B showed the increase in body weight, paw licking times, and IL-10 cytokine compared to Control group, and showed the decrease in rate of paw edema, WBC and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine compared to Control group. Especially TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokine and rate of paw edema were accepted statistical significance compared with Control group. Conclusions It is suggested that Lonicerae Caulis (o.p) and Bee-venom Acupuncture (GB34) can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.63-72
• /
• 2003

Objective : he purposes of this study are to evaluate the efficacy of Bee Venom therapy(BV) on HNP(Herniation of Nucleus Purposus) of Lumbar spine by use of Visual Analog Scale(VAS), Pain Rating Scale(PRS) and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI), and to investigate their correlation. Methods : We researched 20 patients who were diagnosed by MRI as having a HNP, and treated them by Oriental medical therapy(including BV) for 4 weeks. The evaluation was peformed twice(admission day and after treatment for 4 weeks), and we compared the results. Results : 1. VAS, PRS and ${\Delta}t$(by DITI) were decreased after BV for 4 weeks significantly(p<0.01). 2. There was significant correlation between VAS and PRS(p<0.05). 3. There was significant correlation between PRS and ${\Delta}t$(p<0.05). 4. There was no significant correlation between VAS and ${\Delta}t$. Conclusions : BV improved HNP subjectively and objectively, and correlation was found between VAS and PRS and between PRS and ${\Delta}t$. Further study is needed for investigating their correlation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.141-155
• /
• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the analgesic effect of bee venom (BV) Acupuncture into different treatment points, Chok-samni (ST36) and blank loci of the gluteal muscle and back. We investigated neuronal activity in the spinal cord using the Fos immunohistochemical technique according to the pretreatment with different concentrations of BV, thirty minutes before the formalin injection. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The number of Fos-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) neurons in L2 segment of the saline-formalin treated group was significantly increased in NECK and VENT of the spinal cord as compared with that of the room control group. However, there was no significant change in the number of the Fos-LI neurons in L2 segment of the BV-formalin treated group as compared with that of the room control group. 2. The number of Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment of the saline-formalin group was significantly increased in all the regions of 142 the spinal cord as compared with that of the room control group. However, the Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment of the BV-formalin treated group was dramatically decreased in all the regions of the spinal cord as compared with that of the saline-formalin group. Therefore, these results indicated that the BV acupuncture suppressed the nociceptive neuronal activities in L3-5 of the spinal cord induced by formalin injection. 3. There was a strong positive correlation between the formalin-induced pain behavior and the number of the Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.65-87
• /
• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the bee venom(BV) aqua-acupuncture on the neuronal activities of catecholaminergic(tyrosine hydroxylase : TH, dopamine ${\beta}$ hydroxylase : D${\beta}$H) system in the brainstem. After the BV aqua-acupuncture was applied on Chok-Samni(ST36) and the gluteal part(Blank locus) in rats. Also, the number of colocalization between catecholamine containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons were analyzed by using the double immunohistochemical technique. The results of the experiments were summarized as follows : 1. In DR and LC, Chok-Samni group and the Blank locus group showed more significant increase in the number of colocalization between TH containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons than the control group. Furthermore, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. Also, in Arc, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group and the control group. 2. In LC, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase in the number of colocalization between D${\beta}$H containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons than the Blank locus group and the control group. Also, in A5, Chok-Samni group and the Blank locus group showed more significant increase than the control group. Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. However, there was no significant change in A7. Consequently, the BV aqua-acupuncture increased more potent the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons and the activity of catecholaminergic neurons. Furthermore, the BV aqua-acupuncture was more effective on Chok-Samni than Blank locus group. These results indicate that the BV aqua-acupuncture is very effective therapy to control pain. The therapeutic effect of BV aqua-acupunture may associated with the endogenous modulatory system such as catecholamine. Those data from the study can be applied to establish the effective treatment of the BV for pain control in the clinical field.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.272-280
• /
• 2023

This report presents the clinical progress of a 50-year-old male diagnosed with a left acetabular fracture and left rib fracture after falling from a height of 3 m. The patient was treated nonsurgically and underwent complex traditional Korean medicine (TKM) treatment and rehabilitation, including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, bee venom, herbal medicine, physiotherapy, and moxibustion. Patient progress was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS), manual muscle test (MMT), and modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). During 113 days of hospitalization, the NRS score decreased from 7 to 3, and the MMT grade increased to normal in the hip, knee, and ankle joints. The mHHS score increased from 26 to 99 points. Radiographs and computed tomography scans of the left acetabulum were obtained periodically, and fracture union was successfully achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of complex TKM treatment and rehabilitation of acetabular fractures.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.69-75
• /
• 2005

Objective : This study is designed to find out the effect of Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy on the Post-stroke Pain. Methods : Bee venom solution was injected on Seven Points of CVA-GB2l(肩井), LI15(肩隅), Ll11(曲池), GB31(風市), ST36(足三里), GB39(絶骨), ect- every other day for 3 weeks, in twenty patients who were admitted in Dong-Seo Oriental Medical Hospital, as diagnosed by their typical pain characteristics of central pain from stroke. Result : After 3 weeks treatment, visual analogue scale of pain severity showed significant decrease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.103-115
• /
• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti -inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. The effect of BV through behavioral tests after memory impairment induced by Scopolamine. We examined the improving effect of BV on the Scopolamine (1 mg/Kg, i.p.)-induced memorial impairment using passive avoidance response and water maze tests in the mice. BV (0.84, $1.67\;{\mu}g/ml$) reversed the Scopolamine-induced memorial impairment in dose dependent manner. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.368-376
• /
• 2023

Background: Although bee venom (BV) has clinical benefits in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, it has not been tested as treatment for gouty arthritis. Moreover, in vitro, BV has been proven to exhibit anti-inflammatory and positive effects on osteoarthritis, but only limited evidence can confirm its beneficial effects on gout. Thus, this study aims to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of BV on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced THP-1 monocytes. Methods: THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into mature macrophages using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and pretreated for 6 hours with BV and a Caspase-1 inhibitor in a physiologically achievable range of concentrations (BV, 0.1-1 ㎍/mL; Caspase-1 inhibitor, 1-10 μM), followed by MSU crystal stimulation for 24 hours. The secretions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-8, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) were increased in the MSU crystal-stimulated THP-1 cells. Results: Caspase-1 inhibitors suppressed the production of all mediators in a dose-dependent manner. BV worked on equal terms with Caspase-1 inhibitors and showed more satisfactory effects on TNF-α, PGE2, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Moreover, the western blot analysis revealed that BV regulated the transcriptional levels of these mediators via the suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway activation. Conclusion: The results of the present study clearly suggest that BV inhibits MSU-induced inflammation in vitro, suggesting a possible role for BV in gout treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2006

Objective : The clinic study or report about Oriental Medical treatment about osteonecrosis is very insufficient. Therefore, we report a case about a sequela of operation of talus osteonecrosis treated by Oriental Medical treatments. Methods : The patient was managed by bee venom and Carthami Flos Herbal-Acupuncture, Sa-am and body acupucture, moxibustion, physical theraphy and herbal medicine. We evaluated the patient through Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Results : After 25 days of treatment, the patient showed that clinical symptoms was decreased and VAS changed from 10 to 2. Conclusion : In this case, Oriental Medical treatments for a sequela of operation of talus osteonecrosis was effective. But further studies are required to confirm the effect of these methods.