• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$ for reducing mental stress using power spectrum analysis of the heart rate variability(HRV). Methods : 30 healthy volunteers(control group: 15, experimental group: 15) participated in this study. After instrumentation and 5-minutes rest period, mental stress by operation was provided for 5-minutes. HRV was recorded before and after the mental stress. And then the control group rested for 15-minutes. The experimental group was injected Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$ and rested for 15-minutes. And then HRV was recorded. Results : In simple rest group, LF norm and HF norm showed a significant change after mental stress. In pharmacopuncture group, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after mental stress. But there were no significant difference between two groups(p>0.05). In pharmacopuncture group, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after pharmacopuncture injection. There were significant difference between two groups(p<0.01). Conclusions : The result suggests that Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$(Jeonjung) can regulate and prevent the alteration of autonomic nerve system due to mental stress.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study was undergone to determine whether Glycyrrhizae Radix pharmacopuncture intravenous injection exerts beneficial effect against the ischemia-induced acute renal failure in rabbits. Methods: Rabbits were treated with Glycyrrhizae Radix pharmacopuncture via i.v., followed by renal ischemia/reperfusion. The fractional excretion of glucose and phosphate were measured and the malondialdehyde content was also determined. The morphological changes of cortical part of kidney also observed with light microscope. Results: Renal ischemia/reperfusion caused increase of the fractional excretion of glucose and phosphate in ischemia-induced animals, which was prevented by Radix Glycyrrhizae extract treatment. Ischemia/reperfusion increased lipid peroxidation, which was prevented and morphological changes also altered by Radix Glycyrrhizae pharmacopuncture administration. Conclusions: These results indicate that lipid peroxidation plays a critical role in ischemia-induced acute renal failure and Glycyrrhizae Radix pharmacopuncture exerts the protective effect against acute renal failure induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.5-13
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• 2010

Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS) are continuously produced at a high rate as a by-product of aerobic metabolism. Since tissue damage by free radical increases with age, the reactive oxygen species(ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$), nitric oxide(NO). Several lines of evidence provided that ROS appears to cause to develop aging-related various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease. Our reserch objective was to examine the in vitro biological activity of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture, including the total poly-phenol content, DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, Superoxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity, Nitrite scavenging ability. The total poly-phenol contents of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture was 35.859mg/L. Elctron donation ability on DPPH was 36.82%. The 2,2'-azinobis-3-ehtlbezothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical decolorization (ABTS) was 84.7%. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture was 44.33%. The nitrite scavenging effects were pH dependent, and were highest at pH 1.5(45.2%) and lowest at pH 6.0(11.3%). We conclude that Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture may be useful as potential sources of antioxidant.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.70-73
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• 2014

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a health problem which occurs during any phase of the sexual response cycle that keeps the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity. SD covers a wide variety of symptoms like in men, erectile dysfunction and premature or delayed ejaculation, in women, spasms of the vagina and pain with sexual intercourse, in both sexes, sexual desire and response. And pharmacopuncture, i.e. injection of subclinical doses of drugs, mostly herb medicine, in acupoints, has been adopted with successful results. This case report showed the effect of bee venom on SD. A 51-year-old male patient with SD, who had a past history of taking Western medication to treat his SD and who had previously undergone surgery on his lower back due to a herniated disc, received treatments using pharmacopuncture of sweet bee venom (SBV) at Gwanwon (CV4), Hoeeum (CV1), Sinsu (BL23), and Gihaesu (BL24) for 20 days. Objectively, the patient showed improvement on most items on the International Index for Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) like 28 to 29 out of perfect score 30 for erectile function, 10 to 10 out of perfect score 10 for orgasmic function, 6 to 8 out of perfect score 10 for sexual desire, 10 to 13 out of perfect score 15 for satisfaction with intercourse, and 6 to 8 out of perfect score 10 for overall satisfaction; subjectively, his words, the tone of his voice and the look of confidence in his eyes all indicated improvement. Among the variety of effects of SBV pharmacopuncture, urogenital problems such as SD may be health problems that pharmacopuncture can treat effectively.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.180-184
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• 2017

Background: Recently, Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture has been widely used. But no studies on the indicator materials for Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture have been conducted. The aim of this study was to select indicator materials that would aid in the uniform preparation of standardized Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture. Methods: Three lots of Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture were analysed. Each lot was prepared using the same methods and materials. Chondroitin sulfate, alanine, and leucine were selected as the indicator materials for Cervi Parvum Cornu. For standardization, chondroitin sulfate analysis was performed using the colorimetric method, while alanine and leucine were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Results: Analysis of the three lots of Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture found chondroitin sulfate levels of $108.9{\pm}17.3ug/ml$, $118.8{\pm}5.0ug/ml$ and $112.3{\pm}11.9ug/ml$. Alanine levels were $44.9{\pm}2.8ug/ml$, $44.6{\pm}0.3ug/ml$, and $43.9{\pm}0.2ug/ml$. Leucine levels were $29.6{\pm}0.7ug/ml$, $29.0{\pm}0.1ug/ml$, and $29.4{\pm}0.1ug/ml$. Conclusion: These results suggest that chondroitin sulfate, alanine, and leucine may be useful for the standardization of Cervi Parvum Cornu pharmacopuncture.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to report Bell's palsy patients with postauricular pain treated by Calculus Bovis Fel Ursi Moschus(BUM) Pharmacopuncture. Methods : The 6 patients were treated by the Korean medica treatment including herbal medication, dry needle acupuncture and physical therapy. We performed BUM Pharmacopuncture in Yepung for the treatment of postauricular pain once or twice. We have evaluated the effect of BUM Pharmacopuncture by Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results : After BUM Pharmacopuncture for the treatment of postauricular pain, VAS were decreased in all cases. Conclusions : It was suggested that BUM Pharmacopuncture might have effect on control of auricular pain in Bell's palsy. Further, systemic studies will be needed to evaluate obvious effect of BUM pharmacopuncture on postauricular pain of Bell's palsy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.191-208
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of pharmacopuncture in Korean patent in order to establish database for patent technology. Methods : Electronic literature searches for Korean patents related to pharmacopuncture were performed in two electronic databases (Korea Intellectual Property Right Information Service and National Digital Science Library) to June 2017. Patents that were not Korean ones, did not use medicinal herb, only described method of manufacture, or had nothing to do with pharmacopuncture were excluded in this study. The status and application date of patents, Medicinal herb, target diseases, International Patent Classification (IPC), model of experiment and extracting methods were analyzed. Results : A total of 379 patents were retrieved. Based on our inclusion/exclusion criteria, 297 patents were excluded. Of 82 included patents, 27 patents did not include experiments using pharmacopuncture, and 9 patents were invented for treating animals such as pig or calf. In IPC analysis, Bee Venom, Panax (ginseng), Angelica, and Paeoniaceae were used frequently. Musculoskeletal diseases were the most targeted diseases followed by nervous diseases. For extracting, hot water extraction, distillation extraction, and solvent extraction using alcohol, ethanol, or methanol for solvent were commonly used. Conclusions : These data are useful for inventing new patent and extending range of pharmacopuncture in clinical use, however, more systematically analyzed patent studies and pharmacopuncture-related studies for new application on various diseases are needed in further studies.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.50-56
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• 2014

Objectives: Mountain ginseng pharmacopuncture (MGP) is an extract distilled from either mountain cultivated ginseng or mountain wild ginseng. This is the first intravenous injection of pharmacopuncture in Korea. The word intravenous does not discriminate between arteries, veins, and capillaries in Oriental Medicine, but only the vein is used for MGP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the intravenous injection toxicity of MGP through a single-dose test in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Male and female 6-week-old SD rats were injected intravenously with MGP (high dosage of 20 mL/kg or low dosage of 10 mL/kg). Normal saline was injected into the rats in the control group by using the same method. After the rats has treated, we conducted clinical observations, body-weight measurements and histological observations. Results: In this study, no mortalities were observed in any of the experimental groups. Also, no significant changes by the intravenous injection of MGP were observed in the body weights, or the histological observations in any of the experimental groups compared to the control group. The lethal dose for intravenous injection of MGP was found to be over 20 mL/kg in SD rats. Conclusion: Considering that the dosage of MGP generally used each time in clinical practice is about 0.3 mL/kg, we concluded with confidence that MGP is safe pharmacopuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.99-109
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• 2006

Objectives : To investigate whether cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 has any immune-enhancing effect in normal rats. Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 on blood cell counts, cell composition, cytokine and plasma protein levels were investigated in normal rats. Results : Red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin levels significantly increased in cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups compared with those of the normal group. There was, however, no significant difference in white blood cell (WBC) count and WBC differential count between the normal group and the pharmacopuncture groups. Cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than the normal group while no significant difference between groups was found in interleukin-$1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ level. Total protein and albumin levels were not different between groups. Conclusions : The results suggest that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV12 and/or ST25 may have no immune-enhancing effect in normal rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate immune regulatory effects of the pharmacopuncture with MOK on hyperthyroid rats. Methods : The experimental hyperthyroidism was prepared by the intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine(LT4, 0.5 mg/kg) once daily for 2 weeks in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. The pharmacopuncture with MOK extract(MOK pharmacopuncture) at doses of 0.3 or 3 mg/kg was injected on acupuncture points in the thyroid glands of hyperthyroid rats once a day for 2 weeks. Propylthiouracil(PTU, 10 mg/kg) as a reference group was subcutaneously injected into the dorsal neck. We measured the levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 in the sera of rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA) and determined the expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3 in spleen tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : The treatment of MOK pharmacopuncture in hyperthyroid rats significantly decreased the serum levels of Th1 cytokine, $IFN-{\gamma}$(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) and significantly increased the levels of Th2 cytokine, IL-4(p<0.05 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.001 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) compared to control group. Also, the MOK pharmacopuncture significantly increased IL-4 expression(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU), IL-10(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.01 for PTU), and Foxp3(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg and p<0.01 for PTU) in spleen tissues of hyperthyroid rats compared to control group. Conclusions : Our results suggest that MOK pharmacopuncture can help to ameliorate the pathological progression of hyperthyroidism by regulation of the Th1/Th2 imbalance.