• 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 Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.68-76
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• 2003

Objective : In the pain control, Bee Venom Acupuncture therapy is highly effective but cause allergic side-effects frequently. This study was performed to compare Bee Venom(BV) with BV Partner(BVP) in decreasing side-effects of BV. Methods : BV partner(BVP) which dilutes the Morus bombycis Koiduzumi Herbal Acupuncture was developed to decrease the side effects of the Bee Venom. We used D.I.T.I. to verify the effectiveness of BVP in decreasing side-effect of BV. We injected BV to Group I (n=18) at 4 points of body [Fengmen(風門 : B12), Feishu(肺兪 : B13), Fufen(附分 : B41), Pohu(魄戶 : B42)], and BVP to group II (N=18) at the same points. We observed the chages of temperature at beginning, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, 2days and 7days after injection. Results : The following results were obtained; 1. The difference of temperature had been continued until 2days in BV group, but 1day in BVP group. 2. The difference of temperature was significantly greater than time at 1hour in BV and at 5 minutes in BVP. 3. Other side-effects(the local pain, redness, angioedema and pruritus) were less appeared in BVP than BV group, too.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2001

Objective : This study was performed to examine the Herbal Acupuncture decrease the side effect of Bee Venom. Methods: We treated Bee Venom and various Herbal Acupuncture mixed Bee Venom using double blind test to 70th health youth, and checked pain, edema size, CBC, Serum biochemistry and Thermography. Results: 1. Herbal Acupuncture made by Morus bombycis Koidzumi showed good results to decrease the side effect of Bee Venom than any other Herbal Acupuncture. 2. We examined CBC, ESR and Serum biochemistry before and after treated. Special change was not showed. 3. We observed the pain and edema after treated Bee Venom and Morus bombycis Koidzumi Herbal Acupuncture mixed Bee Venom. We knew that Morus bombycis Koidzumi Herbal Acupuncture was decrease the pain and edema due to Bee Venom. 4. According to these clinical studies, Morns bombycis Koidzumi Herbal Acupuncture has a possibility to be a good partner of Bee Venom.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-168
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• 2000

This study was designed to study on major components of various Bee Venom(Bee Venom by electrical stimulation in Korea; K-BV I, Bee Venom by Microwave stimulation in Korea; K -BV II, 0.5rng/ml, Fu Yu Pharmaceutical Factory, China; C-BV, 1mg /ml, Monmouth Pain Institute, Inc., U.S.A.; A-BV) using Electrophoresis. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In 1:4000 Bee Venom solution rate, the band was not displayed distinctly usmg Electrophoresis. But in 1: 1000, the band showed clearly. 2. The results of Electrophoresis at solution rate 1:1000, K-BV I and K-BVII showed similar band. 3. The molecular weight of Phospholipase $A_2$ was known as 19,000 but its band was seen at 17,000 in Electrophoresis. 4. Protein concentration of Bee Venom by Lowry method was different at solution rate 1:4000 ; C-BV was $250{wmu}g/ml,\;K-BV\;I\;was\;190{wmu}g/ml,\;K-BVII\;was\;160{wmu}/ml\;and\;C-BV\;was\;45{wmu}/ml5$. Electrophoresis method was unuseful for analysis of Bee Venom when solution rate is above 1:4000 but Protein concentration of Bee Venom by Lowry method was possible. These data from the study can be applied to establish the standard measurement of Bee Venom and prevent pure bee venom from mixing of another components. I think it is desirable to study more about safety of Bee Venom as time goes by.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2002

Objective : This study is aimed to investigate the effects of bee venom and purified bee venom on cell death in synovial cell line. Methods : It was evaluated by using MTT assay, morphological method, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry analysis, RT-PCR. Results : The result obtained is as follows. 1. The MTT assay demonstrated that synovial cell viability was significantly inhibitted dose-dependently by treatment with BV and PBV in comparison with control. And the inhibitory effect of BV and PBV was almost same. 2. The morphologic study demonstrated that synovial cell showed apoptotic body resulted from apoptosis after treatment with BV and PBV for 6 hours using microscope. 3. The Flow cytometry demonstrated that apoptosis of synovial cell treated with BV and PBV was related with stop of cell cycle in stage of G0/G1. 4. Immunocytochemistry assay demonstrated that COX-II and iNOS were slightly expressed by treatment with BV and PBV in comparison with control group. 5. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that COX-II were almost down-regulated by high dose treatment with BV and PBV in comparison with control group. iNOS were well down-regulated by treatment with $5{\mu}g/ml$ BV and PBV whereas it was well expressed in control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that bee venom and purified bee venom have significant effect on cell death in synovial cell line and further study is needed in vivo.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effects on Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(KWOMAC), 36-ltems Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36), Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Nine Point Scale between 'Intramuscular Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' and 'Intracutaneous Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' in knee osteoarthritis patients for 4weeks. Methods : All the voluntary subject were diagnosed as knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly assigned either to two groups : Intramuscular bee venom herbal acupuncture treatment group(IM-BV group) or Intracutaneous bee venom herbal acupuncture treatment group(IC-BV group). The IM-BV group received bee venom herbal acupuncture intramuscularly on muscles closest to the pathologic site on ultrasonography. The IC-BV group received bee venom herbal acupuncture intracutaneously on $LE_{110}$, $LE_{201}$, $ST_{35}$, $ST_{36}$ and $LR_8$. Bee venom herbal acupuncture was applied twice a week for 4 weeks by an oriental medical doctor at Kyung-hee Oriental Medical Hospital. Both groups were checked of pathologic site by ultrasonography before treatment and follow up after four-week treatment. The patients were assessed by KWOMAC and SF-36 before and after four-week treatment. The changes in patients' pain was measured by VAS before treatment and after one-, two-, three- and four-week treatment. The patients' overall treatment outcome assesment was measured by Nine Point Scale after four-week treatment. Results : The results were as follows ; 1. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on total, pain, stiffness and physical function in KWOMAC, and the IC-BV group showed significant improvement on total and physical function in KWOMAC after 4weeks compared to the pre-treatment. In KWOMAC, the IM-BV group showed more improvement on average compared to the IC-BV group, but there were no significant difference between two groups. 2. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on VAS after one-week treatment. The IC-BV group showed significant improvement on VAS after two-week treatment. But there were no significant difference between two groups. 3. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on physical functioning(PF) and bodily pain(BP) in SF-36, and the IC-BV group showed significant improvement on vitality(VT) and bodily pain(BP) in SF-36 after 4weeks compared to the pre-treatment. But there were no significant difference between two groups. 4. 88.2% of IM-BV group and 93.3% of IC-BV group graded their improvement as 'Fair' or better on Nine Point Scale. But there were no significant difference between two groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that in the treatment of knee osteoarthtitis patients, effects of 'Intramuscular Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' were not different from 'Intracutaneous Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' statistically. But both treatment showed effects on pain and physical function in knee osteoarthtitis patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.120-129
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• 2000

This study was designed to study on major components of various Bee Venom(Bee Venom by electrical stimulation in Korea; K-BV I, Bee Venom by Microwave stimulation in Korea; K-BV II, 0.5mg/ml, Fu Yu Pharmaceutical Factory, China; C-BV, 1mg/ml, Monmouth Pain Institute, Inc., U.S.A.; A-BV) using HPLC(High performance liquid chromatography). The results were summarized as follows : 1. HPLC method is useful for analysis of Bee Venom when solution rate is above 1:4000. 2. Analysis of Apamin using HPLC, the Retention time was 8.7min, and standard measurement curve was a function of y=4E+06x+21245. 3. Analysis of Melittin using HPLC, the Retention time was 29.0 min, and standard measurement curve was a function of y=4E+06x+23015. 4. Concentration of Melittin was about 297times than Apamin in K-BV I, and about 329times in K-BV II at same 1:500 solution rate, abnormally about 12 times in C-BV at 1:4000 solution rate. 5. Chinese Bee Venom using HPLC, the point from 5 to 7min(Retention time) showed a big extraordinary peak. These data from the study can be applied to establish the standard measurement of Bee Venom and prevent pure bee venom from mixing of another components. I think it is desirable to study more about safety of Bee Venom as time goes by.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2008

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effects of Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) and Bee Venom(BV) at a acupoint, HT7(Shinmun) on the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in the healthy man. And we tried to observe how Sweet Bee Venom and Bee Venom affects on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 22 heathy volunteers consisted of 10 subjects in SBV group and 12 subjects in BV group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. 22 subjects of each group were injected SBV and BV at HT7(Shinmun). And we measured HRV by QECG-3:LXC3203 (LAXTHA Inc. Korea) on 7 times : before and after injection per 5minutes during 30minutes. Results : 1. After SBV injection, Mean-RR was significantly high from 0 to 10 minutes, Mean-HRV was significantly low from to 10 minutes, SDNN was significantly high after 25minutes, Complexity was significantly high from 5 to 10 minutes and RMSSD was significantly high from 5 to 10minutes. 2. Complexity of SBV Group significantly decreased from 20 to 25minutes, RMSSD of SBV Group significantly increased from 10 to 15minute and from $20{\sim}25$minutes, SDSD of SBV Group significantly increased from 10 to 15 minute and from $20{\sim}25$minutes compared with that of BV group. 3. After SBV injection, Ln(VLF) was significantly from 25 to 30minutes. Conclusions : The results suggest that SBV in heathy adult man tend to activate the autonomic nervous system compared to BV within normal range.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

Objectives : To verify pain relief effects and allergy inhibitory action for the osteoarthritis of the knee joint in Sweet Bee Venom in which allergy causing enzyme is removed. Methods : We randomly allocated 30 participants to treatment group Sweet Bee Venom and Bee Venom. Outcomes on pain reduction were measured by 100mm VAS(Visual Analog Scale). And we recorded into details allergic responses during Pharmacopuncture treatment. Results : Whole body condition and pain rate through VAS measurement were improved significantly in 2 weeks. We could get difference in pain score of two Pharmacopuncture groups significantly in 2 weeks. Sweet BV group($0.1{\beta}mg/m{\ell}$) showed superior reduction in pain compared to the BV group($0.1{\beta}mg/m{\ell}$) significantly. And other allergic responses such as edema, itchiness, pain were significantly lower in the Sweet BV group.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.15-24
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• 2008

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate if Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) Therapy has the equal effect in comparison with Bee Venom (BV) Therapy on Chronic Lower Back Pain. Methods Clinical studies were conducted to 39 patients who were treated Chronic Lower Back Pain in Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongeui University from March 1 to June 30, 2008. Subjects were randomly devided into 2 groups : BV treated group(Group A, n=19), SBV treated group(Group B, n=20) In BV treated group(Group A), we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and BV Therapy. In SBV treated group(Group B), we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and SBV Therapy. All process of treatment were performed by double blinding method. 1. To estimate the efficacy of venom in controlling pain, we have checked Visual Analog Scale(VAS). 2. For evaluating functional changes of patients, we have checked Oswestry Lower Back Disability Questionnaire(ODI). 3. To estimate Itching which is the most prominent symptom of allergic reaction, we have checked Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results 1. In controlling pain, the results of BV treated group(Group A) is more effective than that of SBV treated group(Group B). 2. In promoting function, the results of BV treated group (Group A) is more effective than that of SBV treated group(Group B). 3. In controlling itching, the results of SBV treated group(Group B) is more effective than that of BV treated group(Group A). Conclusions According to the study, SBV Therapy shows more effective result than BV Therapy in controlling itching. But BV Therapy is more effective than SBV Therapy in controlling pain and promoting function.