• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2016

This short review article presents a current overview of existing publications and scientific results regarding liquid (ear) acupuncture. The injection of liquids into defined acupuncture points of the ear is not a method commonly used in the Western world. The term liquid acupuncture has different definitions, which makes understanding each definition and differentiating one from the other difficult. General terms like pharmacopuncture, homeosiniatry, and liquid acupuncture, which all describe the method of injecting different kinds of drugs into a defined body acupuncture point, are used. This article presents the history of liquid acupuncture, as well as the current scientific state of the art, from the point of view of two European researchers. Some articles are discussed and a few practical examples are presented.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.318-328
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• 1998

The aqua-acupuncture blended with liquid medicine and acupuncture is known to be effective in treating various medical disorders. This study used gallbladders of bear (WoongDam, WD, Ursus arctos Linne) and pig(JeoDam, JD, Sus scrofa domestica Brisson) plus the stones from the ox gallbladder(WooHwang, WH, Bos taurus var, domesticus Gmelin) to produce the liquid medicine. For the acupuncture, acupoint of ST -36 which is located one finger breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia was selected. There were a couple of purposes in this experiment. First, the relationship between aqua-acupuncture and gastric activity was scrutinized. Secondly, the possibility of pig gallbladder as an alternative organ to bear gallbladder for making liquid medicine was evaluated. Thirdly, different injection concentration ratio of liquid medicine was tried to figure out the optimal dosage for the aqua-acupuncture. The data of the present results indicated that the mixtures of WD + WH and JD + WH have a similar hypotonic effect on the stomach. These findings illustrated that aqua-acupuncture or hydroacupuncture showed inhibitory effect on the stomach in addition to its well-known prophylactic value. Also the possible alternative medical organ of pig gallbladder was checked out since two mixtures illustrated very similar trends in suppressing the gastric activity. The injection concentration ratio was not very different between two mixtures in terms of gastric motility except a couple of ratio. In conclusion, the aqua-acupuncture is a promising way to control the gastric activity for better medical purposes and the gallbladder of pig was assessed as a prospective one for making a liquid medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.127-149
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• 2005

This study is designed to investigate the method of manufacturing herbal acupuncture through literature of oriental medicine. The findings of this study are as follows; 1. The methods of manufacturing herbal acupuncture go through the process of abstraction, purification, mixing, filtration, putting and tight sealing in the container, sterilization, quality control, printing and packing 2. There are many ways to manufacturing herbal acupuncture, for example water-alcohol precipitation, alcohol-water precipitation, liquid-liquid abstract, acid-base abstract, metal base precipitation, distillation, molecular structure, polyamide absorption, dialysis, and ion exchange, etc. And popular method is water-alcohol precipitation. This is through alcohol precipitate extracting the principal ingredients from water abstraction. This is very simple and efficient way using melting characteristics of compounds in herb to water and ethanol. 3. Sterilization of herbal acupuncture is through heating-pressure, boiling, steam flowing, low temperature, filtering, radiation, cooling, and microwaves. Nowadays filtering is commonly used. And sterilization is estimated by an examination of asepsis . 4. Herbal acupuncture must be undergo study and experiment to clinical use. The problems of herbal acupuncture are turbidity, instability, causing hemolysis, pain, and fever. So many provisions (addition, sterilization, and filtration etc.) must be prepared. 5. The theory of manufacturing herbal acupuncture is from oriental medicine, not western. So it must be corresponded to oriental medical theory, for example Gimi(氣味), Guigyung(歸經), Ingyung(引經), Bosa(補瀉), and Match of Herb. It is recommended that further study of many other sided investigations in the future.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2004

Objective : This experimental studies were performed in order to prove the effect of Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture by using rats that had neuronal damage due to the Middle Cerebral Artery Occulsion(MCAO). Method : We observed the change of extracellular concentrations(${\mu}M$) of dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, HIAA, glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glysine, taurine, alanine, and tyrosine as extracted by vivo microdialysis, in the Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture administrated rats($240{\sim}260g$, Sprague-Dawley) subjected to the MCAO. The dialysates were extracted three times before the MCAO and six times after the MCAO every 20 minutes, and analysed by highperformance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Results : Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture significantly inhibited glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine which are stimulant neurotransmitters at brain ischemia, and it significantly decreased glycine, GABA, taurine, and alanine which are inhibitory neurotransmitters at brain ischemia. Conclusion : Hirudin Herbal-acupuncture may prevent delayed neuronal death(DND) in selectively vulnerable focal areas of the brain effectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1322-1330
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• 2004

This experimental studies were performed in order to prove the effect of Phospholipase A₂(PLA₂) Herbal-acupuncture by using rats that had neuronal damage due to the Middle Cerebral Artery Occulsion(MCAO). We observed the change of extracellular concentrations(μM) Of dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, HIAA, glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glysine, taurine, alanine, and tyrosine as extracted by vivo microdialysis, in the PLA₂ Herbal-acupuncture administrated rats(240-260g, Sprague-Dawley) subjected to the MCAO. The dialysates were extracted three times before the MCAO and six times after the MCAO every 20 minutes, and ana lysed by highperformance liquid chromatography(HPLC). PLA₂ Herbal-acupuncture significantly inhibited glutamate and tyrosine which are stimulant neurotransmitters at brain ischemia, and it significantly decreased glycine, GABA, taurine, and alanine which are inhibitory neurotransmitters at brain ischemia. PLA₂ Herbal-acupuncture may prevent delayed neuronal death(DND) in selectively vulnerable focal areas of the brain effectively.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.97-102
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• 2011

Meridian Research Center, Division of Standard Research, Keora Institute of Oriental Medicine Objectives : Ear acupuncture needle is used to treat smoking, drug abusing, alcoholism frequently over time stability of ear acupuncture needle is important factor for safe acupuncture treatment. In spite of the importance, there has been few study about the quality of disposable acupuncture needle tip - using scanning electron microscope (SEM) in 2002, 2003. Moreover, there was no study about ear acupuncture needle. Methods : The three ear acupuncture needle, made in China, Japan, Korea was chosen. We used Hank's solution at the 38$^{\circ}C$ as a phantom tissue liquid. Except for the control group, five groups of needles are soused one to five days. Surface corrosion was observed using the SEM compared with control group. Results : There was no particular corrosion in all groups of ear acupuncture needles compared with the control group. Conclusions : All of the ear acupunctures used in this study are stable in body fluids at least 5 days.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.99-106
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• 2009

Objectives : The antidepressant effect of the subchronic administration of the methanolic extract of wild ginseng(WG) was investigated compared with that of cultivated ginseng(CG, panax ginseng) extract. Methods : To assess the antidepressant effect of the ginseng extracts, tail suspension test(TST) was executed in mice after daily administration of WG or CG extract for five consecutive days. Results : The WG extract at daily dose of 600mg/kg significantly reduced the total duration of immobility in the TST, whereas there was no significant reduction at daily dose of 300mg/kg WG and 600mg/kg CG. There were no individual differences between experimental groups in open field test (OFT) to evaluate psychostimulant effects of WG or CG extract. In the high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) analysis of the extracts, it was found that WG included four times more ginsenoside Rg1 and Re, three times more Rf, and six times more Rb1 and Rc than CG. Conclusions : It is suggested that WG extract has stronger antidepressant effect than CG extract, which means it includes more antidepressant compounds than CG.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities and mechanisms of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) herbal acupuncture. Methods : Anti-diabetic and anti-steatotic activity of the AS herbal acupuncture was investigated on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. After random grouping at the age of 9 weeks, the herbal acupuncture groups were injected subcutaneously at the left and right Gansu (BL18) corresponding acupuncture points alternately on exactly the same time every day with 0.1ml of either 400 mg/kg or 800 mg/kg of AS (AS400 and AS800) for 8-week period. As a positive control, metformin was administrated at a dose of 300 mg/kg (MT300). Body weights were measured weekly, and on every other week blood was collected for blood glucose analysis. At the end of study, blood was also collected for determination of plasma insulin and lipid levels, after which they were killed and periepidydimal fat, liver, muscle, and pancreas were immediately removed. The removed tissues were instantly soaked in liquid nitrogen and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ for morphological examination and mRNA analysis. Results : The AS herbal acupuncture significantly prevented weight gain on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The AS herbal acupuncture lowered blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The increase of insulin response during the OGTT was inhibited by the AS herbal acupuncture. Insulin sensitivity of skeletal tissue was enhanced. Plasma lipid levels were significantly improved in the AS herbal acupuncture groups. The AS herbal acupuncture decreased hepatic lipogenesis and hepatic triglyceride production, and increased fatty acid (FA) transporter that involves in FA uptake. The AS herbal acupuncture inhibited the increase of liver mass by prevention of the accumulation of TG but did not inhibit weight gain of fat tissue on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. Conclusion : In summary, we have demonstrated several unique properties of the AS herbal acupuncture in decreasing body weight, and reversing insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. This AS herbal acupuncture acts as an insulin sensitizer and specifically decreases circulating glucose and lipids, and suppresses hepatic lipogenesis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.161-177
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• 2001

Objective : We have studied the part, definition, diagnostic generaliztion and pathological viewpoint of Qi mouth and Renying by refering literatures Methods : I refered to records from anciant to modern. The results are followings : 1. Qi mouth and Renying is ancient diagnostic method and the origin of diagnostic method through the pulsation of radial artery. And Qi mouth is recognized as the right and left Qi mouth and Renying is located on pulsation points of both common carotid arteries. 2. The yin of five viscera, nutritional blood and viscous liquid are diagnosed by Qi mouth which is inclued lung meridian. And the yang of six organs, guarding Qi and the rise and fall of stomach energy are diagnosed by Renying which is inclued stomach meridian. 3. It is possible that the position, process and transformational condition of disease are decided by comparing and examining Qi mouth and Renying.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the components of the clinically used bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture. Methods : Two kinds of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BV-I and II), three kinds of separate purification BV (SPBV) pharmacopuncture (SPBV-I, II, and III), and apitoxin were investigated in this study. We performed a component analysis of melittin, apamin, and phospholipase $A_2$ using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results :1. BV-I contained approximately 40% more melittin than BV-II did. 2. In the three separate purification BV pharmacopuncture, SPBV-I, SPBV-II, and SPBV-III, phospholipase $A_2$ content decreased remarkably. 3. The melittin content in SPBV-I increased by 5% compared to that in BV-I. 4. The amount of melittin in apitoxin was similar to that in SPBV-I. Conclusion : The compositions of the BV pharmacopuncture and separate purification BV pharmacopuncture changed depending on the collection method and concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the most suitable BV for each specific medical treatment target. Furthermore, research into the composition of BV may be needed for its safe and effective use.