• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.176-188
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• 2002

Objective : Sono-acupoint (SA) therapy is a new therapeutic technique that combined with acupuncture points, herbal medicine and ultrasound therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of sono-acupoint therapy. Methods : We performed the tail-flick test with normal rats to examine the tail-flick latency (TFL), and the Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model to examine the edema, skin temperature and serum concentration of c-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor (RF). Herbal SA (HSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the hanbang-gel made of several selected herbal drugs in Sprague-Dawley rats (male, $250{\pm}30g$). General SA (GSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the gel used in ultrasound therapy. In arthritis rat model, Freund's adjuvant (50mg/ml) was injected in dorsal part of right foot, and these treatments were performed after 15 days. Results : TFL was lengthened after SA treatments. Skin temperature and RF concentration that were the evidence of arthritis in rats were decreased by HSA treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that HSA has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rats, and further developments will produce the advance of this new therapeutic skill.