• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2015

Objectives : Previous studies have shown that the amount of melittin, the main active ingredient in bee venom pharmacopuncture, tends to decrease substantially with time during pharmacopuncture manufacture. This study aimed to assess whether the stability of bee venom pharmacopuncture improved with pharmacopuncture additives. Methods : Components were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. Acute toxicity and antigenicity tests by subcutaneous and venous routes were conducted at Korea Pharmaceutical Test & Research Institute and mortality, adverse reactions, and body weight changes were assessed. Results : Stability tests using additives revealed that bee venom without additives was most stable. Bee venom pharmacopuncture without additives was further tested for toxicity in subcutaneous and venous administration in mice and no changes pertaining to toxicity were found over the testing period. Conclusions : Bee venom pharmacopuncture without additives was found to be most stable, and further, it did not show toxicity or antigenicity in subcutaneous and venous administration in mice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture therapy and sweet bee venom therapy on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : Clinical studies were done 36 patients who were treated peripheral facial paralysis to Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibusition, of Oriental Medicine Dong-Eui University from June 15, 2009 to January 5, 2010. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. : Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture treated group (group A, n=18), sweet bee venom treated group (group B, n=18). In group A, we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture therapy. In group B, we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and sweet bee venom therapy. All process of treatment were performed by double blinding method. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used Yanagihara's unweighed grading system at before treatment, after 1week, 2weeks, 3weeks and 4weeks of treatment. Results : The Yanagihara's scores of group B were higher than those of group A, but not statistically significant. The improvement indexs of group A and group B were different, but not statistically significant. Conclusions : There were no significant differences statistically between Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture therapy and sweet bee venom therapy on peripheral facial paralysis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2015

Objectives : The objective of this study was to report two cases that patients with external epicondylitis were improved by based on 'eight vacuity' theory bloodletting therapy, acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture. Methods : In this study, patients were treated with bloodletting therapy, then acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture to Ashi point on eight vacuity of elbow in the patients without retention of needles. Subsequently, electroacupuncture and Dong-qi acupuncture treatment were implemented in order to strengthen the effect of acupuncture. In terms of evaluation methods, visual analog scale(VAS) score, range of motion(ROM), grip strength and physical examination were used to assess external epicondylitis-related symptoms. Results : VAS score decreased, ROM and grip strength were increased and physical examination was improved in all cases. Conclusions : It was suggested that the symptoms of intractable external epicondylitis could be improved by eight vacuity theory adopted bloodletting therapy, acupuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.101-118
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• 2000

Introduction : In spite of the use of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture in the clinics, the scientific evaluation on effects is not enough. Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture is used according to the stimulation of acupuncture point and the chemical effects of Bee Venom. The aims of this study is to investigate the analgegic effects of the Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture, through the change of writhing reflex Materials and Methods : Pain animal model was used acetic acid method. The changes of writhing reflex of the mice which were derived pain by injecting acetic acid into the abdomen, after stimulating Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture on Chungwan($CV_{12}$) and non acupuncture point on the backside were measured. Results : 1. It showed that the writhing reflex were appeared on the groups which injected aceticacid only, and saline-acetic acid group(sample I), but not on the group bee venom-saline group(sample II). 2. The change of writhing reflex by Chungwan($CV_{12}$) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture showed significant decrease in the order of Chungwan($CV_{12}$) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture group III($2.5{\times}10^{-3}$g/kg), II($2.5{\times}10^{-4}$g/kg), and I($2.5{\times}10^{-5}$g/kg), compared with control group. There were significant decrease of number of writhing reflex in $5{\sim}10,\;10{\sim}15\;and\;15{\sim}20$ minutes intervals of Chung wan($CV_{12}$) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture group I, and in $0{\sim}5,\;5{\sim}10,\;10{\sim}15\;and\;15{\sim}20$ minutes intervals of II and III, compared with control group. 3. The change of writhing reflex by non acupuncture point Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture showed significant decrease in the $0{\sim}5\;and\;5{\sim}10$ minutes intervals and the total number of writhing reflex in $2.5{\times}10^{-4}$g/kg group, compared with control group 4. The effects of writhing reflex of Chungwan($CV_{12}$) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture group showed significant decrease, compared with non acupuncture point Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture group. Conclusion : This study shows that the Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture on Chungwan($CV_{12}$) decreases the numbers of writhing reflex. As the analgegic effects of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture is recognized. Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture treatment is expected for pain modulation. In order to use it in many ways, more researches are needed for the dose and stability of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a difference in acupuncture sensation depending on the bee venom pharmacopunctures. The study was designed to identify the intrinsic acupuncture sensation of the bee venom pharmacopunctures compared to saline. Methods Bee venom,(BV), Sweet bee venom(SBV), and normal saline were injected in order to the left of ST36 (Joksamni), ST37 (Sang-geoheo), right ST36 (Joksamni), ST37 (Sanggeoheo) each. The order of insertion of the BV, SBV, and normal saline was randomly assigned using a computerized random number table. The questionnaire used in this study was based on the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS). Results : BV and SBV was statistically significantly higher than saline in soreness, aching, distention, sharp pain and itchiness. Above this, BV was statistically significantly higher than saline in tingling and throbbing. And SBV was statistically significantly higher than saline in warmth. BV was statistically significantly higher than SBV in ichiness. Conclusion. BV and SBV were mainly strong, heavy, and gave a sharp feeling to the subjects. The results of the study can be used as references for future bee venom pharmacopunctures use. In addition, the results of the study can be used as basic data for clinical trials using bee venom pharmacopunctures.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2004

Objective : Alopecia areata is a common disease and the difficulty of its medical management is well known. This study was designed to investigate the effect of bee venom and Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture. Method : The patient was managed by bee venom, carthami-flos herbal acupuncture and General acupunture. Herbal acupuncture was injected subcutaneously into the lesion. We checked involvement in plaque, according to evaluation of the effect on alopecia areata. Results : After 5 month of treatment, the lesion had been replaced with new terminal hair. Evaluation of the effect on alopecia areata The score changed from 0 to 3 point. Conclusion : These result suggest that bee venom and Carthami Flos herbal acupuncture has good effect on alopecia areata. But further studies are required to concretely prove the effectiveness of bee venom and Carthmi Flos herbal acupuncture for treating alopecia areata.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2006

Objective : This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Acupuncture, Bee Venom Acupuncture (BVA) and Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture (BVHA) on post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods : 30 patients were randomly allocated into Acupuncture group, BVA group and BVHA group and was monitored weekly for 4 weeks; initial($T_0$), 1 week($T_1$), 2 weeks($T_2$), 3 weeks($T_3$) and 4 weeks($T_4$). Results : Visual analogue scale of shoulder pain showed significant decrease in BVA and BVHA groups compared to the Acupuncture group at T4 evaluation. Painless passive ROM of shoulder external rotation and Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment of Upper Limb motor function showed significant increase in all groups. Modified Ashworth scale of the spasticity of upper limb showed no differences between the three groups. Conclusion : BVA & BVHA appears to be an effective in treating post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Further clinical studies must be done to obtain more concrete findings.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.139-145
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this case in so report the patient with Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, who is improved by Bee venom. Method : We treated the patient with Bee venom who was suffering from Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, using Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging and Verbal Numerical Rating Scale(VNRS) to evaluate the therapeutic effects. We compared the temperature of the patient body before and after treatment. Result and Conclusion : We found that Bee venom had excellent outcome to relieve pain, atrophy and ankle joint ROM, and that Bee venom also had clinical effect on hypothermia on the Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Objective The purpose of this study was to report the efficiency of Bee Venom Pharmacopunture Therapy by managering of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia patients. Method Two patients were treated with Bee Venom Pharmacopunture and another Korean Medicine therapy for six weeks and compared with I-PSS(International Prostate Symptom Score) before and after. Results After treated with Bee Venom Pharmacopunture Therapy, 'I-PSS' values decreased significantly all the patients. Conclusions Bee Venom Pharmacopunture Therapy was shown fairly effective to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antifungal effect of bee venom (BV) and sweet bee venom (SBV) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) clinical isolates. Methods: In this study, BV and SBV were examined for antifungal activities against the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) strain and 10 clinical isolates of C. albicans. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays were performed by using a broth microdilution method. Also, a killing curve assay was conducted to investigate the kinetics of the anti-fungal action. Results: BV and SBV showed antifungal activity against 10 clinical isolates of C. albicans that were cultured from blood and the vagina by using disk diffusion method. The MIC values obtained for clinical isolates by using the broth microdilution method varied from $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ to $125{\mu}g/mL$ for BV and from $15.63{\mu}g/mL$ to $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ for SBV. In the killing-curve assay, SBV behaved as amphotericin B, which was used as positive control, did. The antifungal efficacy of SBV was much higher than that of BV. Conclusion: BV and SBV showed antifungal activity against C. albicans clinical strains that were isolated from blood and the vagina. Especially, SBV might be a candidate for a new antifungal agent against C. albicans clinical isolates.