• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2008

Objectives : The objective of this study was to observe the positive effects of acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture treatment on lumbar hypolordosis. Methods : Acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture were performed twice a week for 30 days to treat patients with low back pain patients showing a Cobb's angle [L1-S1] of less than $35^{\circ}$(treatment group=20, control group=13). Lumbar lordosis(Cobb's angle [L1-S1], Centroid angle [L1-S1]) was measured using an L-spine Lat. X-ray before and after treatment. Pain scales(VAS scale, ODI) were also was measured before and after treatment. SPSS 12K for Windows was used for statistical analysis of the results. Results : 1. VAS and ODI decreased significantly in the treatment group. 2. Lumbar lordosis, presented by Cobb's angle, increased significantly from $25.00{\pm}7.06^{\circ}$ to $30.95{\pm}10.02^{\circ}$ (p = 0.006). The increase of Cobb's angle in the treatment group $5.95{\pm}8.60^{\circ}$, and that of the control group was $-3.08{\pm}8.41^{\circ}$(p = 0.006). The increase of the Centroid angle of the treatment group was $3.85{\pm}8.83^{\circ}$, and that of the control group was $-2.92{\pm}7.63^{\circ}$(p=0.031). 3. Cobb's angle and Vas scale showed a significant correlation coefficient of -0.250(p=0.043). Increase of Cobb's angle and decrease of Vas scale showed a significant correlation coefficient of 0.420(p=0.015). Conclusions : Acupuncture and bee-venom acupuncture were verified to have a positive effect on pain alleviation of lumbar lordosis decreased patients while also affecting lumbar lordosis to be increased as a result of structural changes. It was also shown that lumbar hypolordosis has significant correlation with pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.77-86
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• 2011

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in patients with FBSS(failed back surgery syndrome). Methods : We investigated 30 cases of patients with FBSS, who had been treated from October 2010 to July 2011. We divided patients into two groups : group I was treated by acupuncture therapy only, and group II was treated by bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy and general acupuncture. We measured the efficacy of treatments using the numerical rating scale(NRS) and grade and straight leg raising(SLR) test. Results : 1. The treatment method for group II was more effective than that of group I in reducing the NRS score on the fifteenth day after admission but there was no statistically significant difference between the results of two groups on the fifth day after admission and the tenth day after admission. 2. The treatment method for group II was more effective than that of group I in NRS improvement rate from its admission day to the fifth day after admission and from the tenth day after admission to the fifteenth day after admission but there was no statistically significant difference between the performance of two groups from the fifth day after admission to the tenth day after admission. 3. Group II had a higher grade improvement rate from the seventh day after admission to the fifteenth day after admission than group I but no statistically significant difference was observed between the results of two groups from its admission day to the seventh day after admission. 4. In SLR test improvement rate the treatments applied to group II was more effective than those applied to group I. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy is effective in reducing pain for patients with FBSS. Further clinical research is needed to verify these results and findings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.365-371
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• 2006

Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture (BVA) simultaneously exerts pharmacological effects of biologically active compounds, existed in the whole bee venom, and medicinal effect of the stimulation of acupuncture points. BVA has been considered as a promising therapeutic method for treating various chronic diseases, mainly accompanying severe pain and inflammation. As a painless injection device, jet injectors have been commercially marketed for various clinical applications including insulin injection and vaccination. Among them, a pressure-driven jet injector system could be used for intradermal delivery of a variety of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of the BVA using a needle-free injector (Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$, Bioject Inc., OR, USA), compared to the conventional BV aqua-acupuncture using a typical syringe. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with bee venom $(0.08mg/kg,\;50{\mu}l)$ using Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$ (BVA-B) or a syringe (BVA-5) into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, 30 minutes before plantar injection of 2% formalin. It was found that BVA-B-, or BVA-5-treated rats, compared to controls, exhibited significantly less licking behavior during the late phase in the rat formalin test, when compared to controls. During early phase, however, those effects were not significant but substantial. The analgesic effect of BVA-B was also compatible with that of the conventional BVA-5. In the immunohistochemical studies, BVA-B significantly suppressed the expression of formalin-evoked c-fos, a biomarker of neuronal activity, in the lumbar dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These results indicated that BVA-B waseffective in the modulation of pain in the rat formalin test, compared to BVA-5. Taken together, the needle-free jet injector system could be substituted for the conventional aqua- acupuncture with the advantage of little pain.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.496-502
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of bee venom acupuncture therapy on the hair follicle growth by macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical observation of skin 10 and 17 days after treatment. The results were as follows : Macroscopic hair follicle growth of 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group was more prominent than those of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Microscopic observation indicated that the hair follicle growth of control group reached anagen phase IV of hair growing cycle, and that of 0.1 ml and 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated groups reached anagen phase VI and catagen, respectively. Immunohistochemical observations of the expression of various cytokines, enzymes and receptors in association with hair follicle cycle after local treatment of S.B.V. acupuncture therapy are as follows: Expression of fibroblast growth factor was more intense in epidermis and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Expression of epidermal growth factor was more intense in bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Expression of c-kit receptor was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of control group. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of control group. Expression of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than control group. It is concluded that bee venom acupuncture therapy promoted the expression of various cytokines, enzymes and receptors related to the hair growth cycle for hair growth. This findings indicates that bee venom acupuncture therapy is applicable to the treatment of hair loss.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 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 Apiculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) venom is used for the treatment of various human diseases due to its known anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This study investigated the effect of purified bee venom (PBV) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. There was no cytotoxicity while cells were treated with PBV by various concentrations. In the PBV treated cells increases in fat storage were inhibited and also confirmed by oil red o staining. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by using real-time PCR. In this cell model, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ) and CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha(C/EBPα) were decreased by PAE treatment, comparing with those of control group. Theses results suggest that PBV inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as an efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Objectives: The effectiveness of acupuncture on cancer pain is relatively well established, while there have been few clinical studies on pharmacopuncture on that. This research was aimed to investigate a trend of pharmacopuncture treatment for cancer pain and to propose information for further research. Methods: Clinical studies on pharmacopuncture for cancer pain were collected from 5 Korean medical databases. And the studies were analyzed by classifications of cancer, chief complaints, interventions, treating skills, additional treatments, treatment session, outcome measures, results and adverse effects. Results: The literatures were 8 case reports and 1 randomized controlled trial. Interventions were pharmacopunctures of soyeom, mountain ginseng, Harpagophyti Radix, snake venom, Trionycis Carapax, bee venom, Aconitum Ciliare Decaisne. Treatment skills, procedures, and indications of each pharmacopuncture were different. An adverse effects of bruising, bleeding, mild chilling, sore throat and pain were mentioned on snake venom and bee venom treatment. Conclusions: An appropriate interventions and treatment skills should be selected according to the type of cancer pain. And treatment procedures to ensure safety must be developed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-65
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of Non-toxic bee venom (BV) and observe VAS change before and after Non-toxic BV treatment in pain patients. Methods We surveyed the clinical practitioners who treated with Non-toxic BV in pain patients who visited the Korean medical clinic. The questionnaire survey was conducted for clinical practitioners who agreed to participate after hearing the explanation for the purpose and characteristics of the questionnaire. Patients in the questionnaires were reviewed based on their medical records from July 1, 2016 to October 28, 2016. Results We received 445 cases and selected 403 cases finally. 2 cases, however, were not able to continue treatment for 3 weeks and were eliminated. Depending on when the pain occurred, we divided the 401 cases into three groups (Acute, Subacute, Chronic group). In all groups, VAS scores were significantly decreased after treatment. Adverse reactions following Non-toxic BV treatment had occurred was 16 cases (3.60%). Except for 3 cases with hives, most of adverse reactions were mild or moderate and were not in need of extra treatment. The total safety of treatment for 3 weeks was mostly safe. The number of cases discontinued treatment was 42 cases (9.44%). Most of these cases, treatment was stopped for personal reason unrelated to the Non-toxic BV treatment. Conclusions These results suggest that the Non-toxic BV treatment has no serious adverse reactions and is a relatively safe treatment. Further studies are needed to prove the efficacy and clinical safety of Non-toxic BV treatment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of honeybee venom, purified using bee venom collector, and feeding of probiotics on the body weight gain, growth rate and hematological characteristics of pigs. A total of 120 pigs were examined and divided into 4 groups 1) Control (basal diet), 2) BV (basal diet + bee venom), 3) PB (basal diet + probiotics), 4) BVPB (basal diet + BV + PB). Average daily weight gain improved significantly in all test groups, especially BVPB (P < 0.05) compared to the controls. There was a significant difference in the feed conversion rate (P < 0.05) and efficiency (P < 0.05) between BVPB and control pigs. Weight gain and survivability was higher in the tests than the controls, but white blood cell count was not. Serum total protein, albumin and IgG concentration of BVPB were slightly higher than those of controls. These results suggest that treated honeybee venom and probiotics should be used together to effectively increase the productivity of pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.150-154
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• 1999

This study was designed to examine the therapeutic effect of Italian honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom in piglets with bacterial diarrhea. Preweaning piglets were assigned to treated and nontreated control groups. In treated group, 47 piglets were given natural honeybee venom once a day for 3 consecutive days. The natural honeybees were stung acupoints of GV-1 (Jiao-Chao, at the indentation between the base of tail and the anus) and ST-25 (Hai-men, about 1 cm lateral to the umbilicus). In control group, 44 piglets were intramuscularly injected with a standard dosage of colistin sulfate (300,000 IU/kg of body weight) and antid-iarrheal drug (berberine, 2 ml/kg) once a day for 3 consecutive days. At post-treatment, 90.9% of control piglets and 93.6 % of piglets in treated group recovered from bacterial diarrhea. Bee acupuncture therapy did not show in piglets without any side effects such as allergy, intoxication, hemorrhage, or infection. It might be concluded that honeybee venom therapy was effective in controlling of piglets with bacterial diarrhea.