• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2022

Objectives: This toxicological study was performed to assess for potential toxicity and to determine the approximate lethal dose of SU-Eohyeol pharmacopuncture (SUEP) following a single intramuscular injection of SUEP into male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: The groups in our experiment consisted of an experimental group treated with SUEP at a dose of 1.0 mL/animal and a control group injected with a normal saline solution, and five male and female rats were placed in each group. Each animal was administered a single intramuscular injection. We monitored all rats for clinical signs and body weight changes for 14 days after administration. At the end of the observation period, the rats were euthanized and autopsied, and localized tolerance examinations were conducted at the site of administration of the test substance. Results: There were no deaths in either sex in the SUEP-treated group. There was no significant difference between the SUEP-treated group and the control group in the clinical signs and weight changes among the rats. In addition, no significant SUEP-related changes were observed on autopsy findings or local tolerance examinations at the injection site by histopathological examination. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the approximate lethal dose of a single intramuscular administration of SUEP in female and male rats under the conditions of this study is greater than 1.0 mL/animal. To determine the safety of the use of SUEP in Korean medical clinical practice, additional toxicity studies will be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.91-100
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• 2009

Objectives : The objective of this study is to investigate Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Clematidis Radix (CR) herbal-acupuncture on the test rats with induced acute pain. Methods : The effects of Clematidis Radix (CR)-distillates were investigated in three types of models with three different pain. Highly purified distillate of CR called CR herbal-acupuncture was injected to Zusanli ($ST_{36}$) acupoint. In the tail flick test, the CR herbal-acupuncture treatment did not show a significant effect of relieving acute pain. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of CR herbal-acupuncture, the second testing model'pain was induced by injecting formalin to its planter. For the last model, carrageenan was injected into tarsal joint. the medicinal effect of CR herbal-acupuncture was evaluated through the behavioral analyses such as licking time, weight distribution ratio and ankle circumference. Results : In the formalin test, the analgesic effect of CR herbal-acupuncture was more pronounced in the late phase (for 20 min after the early phase) than in the early phase (for the first 10 min post formalin injection). It was proven by weight distribution ratio testing and ankle edema testing that herbal-acupuncture of CR inhibited arthritis caused by the carrageenan. Conclusions : These results revealed that CR herbal-acupuncture was effective to alleviate the inflammatory pain and could be used as an analgesic treatment with an anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Objectives : For evaluation of preventive and anti-diabetic activities of Cinnamomi ramulus(CR) herbal acupuncture on pancreatic islet damage in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Methods : CR herbal acupuncture was performed at Bisu($BL_{20}$) for 3 weeks subcutaneously starting1 week before STZ i.p. injection. SD rats were divided into four groups(n=10 for each group); 1) NC group, non-treated normal control group, 2) STZ group, STZ administered control group, 3) CR125 group, CR(125mg/kg) + STZ administered group, and 4) CR250 group, CR(250mg/kg) + STZ administered group. Results : Both of CR250 and CR125 groups showed increase in insulin secretion and decrease in the level of serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in a dose-dependent manner compared to the STZ group. Only CR250 group showed decrease in the levels of glucose and total cholesterol compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture prevents $\beta$-cell damage of pancreatic islet, showing round figure on the sections of the pancreas. In the pancreatic cells, expressions of iNOS, JNK-2, P-JNK-1/2 and ERK-1/2 were decreased compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture solution did not show any cytotoxicity by MTS assay and inhibited expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Conclusions : Therefore, we suggest that CR herbal acupuncture may act as a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic modality for diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : We investigated the Type II collagen-induced arthritis test, vascular permeability test, phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, hot plate test, carbon clearance test, determination of prostaglandin $E_2$ content and cyclooxygenase-2 activity test. Results : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture suppressed Type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice and vascular permeability with 10.2% inhibition in ICR mice. We see the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test and the hot plate test in the analgesic activity test. In the phenyl benzoquinone-induced writhing test, Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture showed that it increased its analgesic effect more than the control(test?) by 85.5%. In the hot plate test, it was also shown that the analgesic effect increased more than the control(test) by 32.1%. In the carbon clearance test, the immuno-stimulatory effect showed more than the control(test) by 8.0%. The formation of prostaglandin $E_2$ was also reduced more than the control(test) by 10.1%. Finally, cyclooxygenase-2 activity was inhibitedwith 36.3%. Conclusions : Hominis placenta Herbal acupuncture may be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis after injection.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.13-24
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom acupuncture at Shinsu($BL_{23}$) and Daejangsu($BL_{25}$) on neuropathic pain induced by tibial and sural nerve injury in rats. Methods : Neuropathic pain model was made by partial resection of tibial and sural nerve. Three weeks after the neuropathic surgery, bee venom acupuncture was firstly injected at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$, then we measured withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation. Bee venom acupunctures were injected 6times on every 2days. Measurement of withdrawal responses were conducted on the same days. After bee venom acupuncture injection, expression levels of c-Fos, nocieptin and KOR-3 were observed through using immunohistochemistry. Results : In this experiment, bee venom acupunctures at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$ decreased levels of withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation respectively. In addtion, expression levels of c-Fos, nociceptin and KOR-3 in central gray part of brain in rats were decreased by bee venom acupuncture. Conclusions : These results imply that bee venom acupuncture was useful to treat patients with neuropathic pain, and related mechanisms were involved in opioid and their receptors such as nociceptin and KOR-3.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.111-128
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• 2023

Trigger finger is a common cause of hand disability that results in finger catching, clicking, or locking. Conventional treatment options such as medication, injection, and surgery have limitations. Studies have indicated that acupuncture and acupotomy can be effective in treating trigger finger. However, no review regarding these treatment modalities has been published yet. This review included randomized controlled trials published until January 2023, investigating acupuncture-related interventions. The primary outcomes of interest included the effectiveness rate (ER) and pain intensity, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and secondary outcomes were the Quinnell grade (QG) and recurrence rate (RR). Adverse events (AEs) have also been reported wherever available. Overall, 19 studies were included, and results demonstrated that arcedge acupuncture improved the ER and QG and reduced NRS, and acupuncture was effective in reducing VAS. Compared with conventional surgery, acupotomy alone improved the ER and QG and lowered VAS and RR, with relatively fewer AEs. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than conventional treatment; however, careful interpretation is needed for VAS. Acupotomy add-on treatment was more effective than acupotomy alone. However, the overall results must be interpreted with caution because of study quality, small sample size, and heterogeneity of the results.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2006

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome that is characterized by pain, numbness, sensory disturbance along the distribution of the median nerve in hand. Diagnosis mainly depends upon careful examination and symptomatology. Treatments have included wrist immobilization, anti-inflammatory drug, local injection of steroid, nerve block and surgical decompression. This is a clinical report about 2 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome patients who undergo oriental medical treatment. Both of two cases, Symptoms were disappeared and physical examinations were improved. The results of this study demonstrate that oriental medicine treatment that including acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy can have noticeable effects in treating the carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.93-97
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• 2012

Complex regional pain syndrome type 1(CRPS 1) is a neuropathic pain disorder that accompanies severe pain and motor deficit as well as changes in the skin in the extremities. The pathophysiology of CRPS 1 is still not exactly elucidated. However, the general consensus of involvement of inflammatory mediators in the development of CRPS 1 is amply made. On the basis that placental extract successfully inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in several experimental models, we have tried a long-term weekly injection of placental extract into acupuncture points to a CRPS 1 patient suffering pain and immobilization of shoulder joint. The results say that placental extract effectively resolved pain, restored skin color and improved immobilization of shoulder joint in the CRPS 1 patient.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

Object : This study was to investigate the clinical effect of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture on two patients suffering from Wrist Ganglion. Methods : We treated two patients suffering from Wrist Ganglion with both acupuncture and injection of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture. Then we measured the sizes of Wrist Ganglion and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Results and Conclusions : We found that the sizes of Wrist Ganglion of the two patients were significantly reduced. Moreover, the pain and discomfort of the wrists of the patients were reported to be reduced. So, we concluded that Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture has an excellent effect on Wrist Ganglion. However, further studies are needed to investigate its exact effects.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2022

Objectives : To get to know the effects of placental extract and laser theraphy for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, we have tried a injection of placental extract and laser theraphy into 聽宮(SI19), 聽會(GB02) for patient with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Methods : In this case clinical assessment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction is assessed by the VAS score and the Korean Version of Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders(RDC/TMD). Results : The VAS score was significantly decreased after Placental extract herbal acupuncture and laser theraphy Conclusion : Placental extract herbal acupuncture and laser theraphy effectively resolved pain for Temporomandibular Disorders.