• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권2호
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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.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.141-155
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• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the analgesic effect of bee venom (BV) Acupuncture into different treatment points, Chok-samni (ST36) and blank loci of the gluteal muscle and back. We investigated neuronal activity in the spinal cord using the Fos immunohistochemical technique according to the pretreatment with different concentrations of BV, thirty minutes before the formalin injection. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The number of Fos-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) neurons in L2 segment of the saline-formalin treated group was significantly increased in NECK and VENT of the spinal cord as compared with that of the room control group. However, there was no significant change in the number of the Fos-LI neurons in L2 segment of the BV-formalin treated group as compared with that of the room control group. 2. The number of Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment of the saline-formalin group was significantly increased in all the regions of 142 the spinal cord as compared with that of the room control group. However, the Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment of the BV-formalin treated group was dramatically decreased in all the regions of the spinal cord as compared with that of the saline-formalin group. Therefore, these results indicated that the BV acupuncture suppressed the nociceptive neuronal activities in L3-5 of the spinal cord induced by formalin injection. 3. There was a strong positive correlation between the formalin-induced pain behavior and the number of the Fos-LI neurons in L3-5 segment.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.65-87
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• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the bee venom(BV) aqua-acupuncture on the neuronal activities of catecholaminergic(tyrosine hydroxylase : TH, dopamine ${\beta}$ hydroxylase : D${\beta}$H) system in the brainstem. After the BV aqua-acupuncture was applied on Chok-Samni(ST36) and the gluteal part(Blank locus) in rats. Also, the number of colocalization between catecholamine containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons were analyzed by using the double immunohistochemical technique. The results of the experiments were summarized as follows : 1. In DR and LC, Chok-Samni group and the Blank locus group showed more significant increase in the number of colocalization between TH containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons than the control group. Furthermore, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. Also, in Arc, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group and the control group. 2. In LC, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase in the number of colocalization between D${\beta}$H containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons than the Blank locus group and the control group. Also, in A5, Chok-Samni group and the Blank locus group showed more significant increase than the control group. Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. However, there was no significant change in A7. Consequently, the BV aqua-acupuncture increased more potent the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons and the activity of catecholaminergic neurons. Furthermore, the BV aqua-acupuncture was more effective on Chok-Samni than Blank locus group. These results indicate that the BV aqua-acupuncture is very effective therapy to control pain. The therapeutic effect of BV aqua-acupunture may associated with the endogenous modulatory system such as catecholamine. Those data from the study can be applied to establish the effective treatment of the BV for pain control in the clinical field.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.251-262
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• 2004

Objective: Ths research was to investigate the efficacy of bee venom theraphy on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods: Thirty patients were deyided into two groups with fifteen patients each. Group A and B were both treated with basic oriental medicine treatment, and also group A was treated with bee venom aqua-acupunture additionaly. The groups were evaluated by Yanagihara's unweighted grading system before treatment, and at every one week till four weeks after treatment. Results: The Yanagihara's scores of group B were higher than those of group A before treatment, after one week and two weeks, but not statistically significant. After three and four weeks, the Yanagihara's scores of group A were higher than those of group B, but not statistically significant. The improvement indexes of group A were higher than those of group B from the first week and statistically significant after three and four weeks. Conclusion: Combinding bee venom aqua-acupunture theraphy on peripheral facial paralysis was more efficacious than the only use of basic oriental medicine treatment.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.139-154
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• 2006

Objective : This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Acupuncture, Bee Venom Acupuncture (BVA) and Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture (BVHA) on post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods : 30 patients were randomly allocated into Acupuncture group, BVA group and BVHA group and was monitored weekly for 4 weeks; initial($T_0$), 1 week($T_1$), 2 weeks($T_2$), 3 weeks($T_3$) and 4 weeks($T_4$). Results : Visual analogue scale of shoulder pain showed significant decrease in BVA and BVHA groups compared to the Acupuncture group at T4 evaluation. Painless passive ROM of shoulder external rotation and Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment of Upper Limb motor function showed significant increase in all groups. Modified Ashworth scale of the spasticity of upper limb showed no differences between the three groups. Conclusion : BVA & BVHA appears to be an effective in treating post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Further clinical studies must be done to obtain more concrete findings.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.27-35
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• 2004

Beevenom immunotherapy(BVIT) in allergic patients is a well-established treatment modality for the prevention of systemic anaphylactic reactions caused by insect stings. BVIT is accompanied by increases in allergen-specific IgG, particularly the IgG4 isotype, which blocks not only IgE-dependent histamine release from basophils but also IgE-mediated antigen presentation to T cells. Inhibition of T cells after BVIT also involves decreased induction of the costimulatory molecule ICOS, which, in turn, seems to be dependent on the presence of IL-10, also associated with the inhibited status of T cells after BVIT. Suppression of T cells by IL-10 is an active process, which depends on the expression and participation of CD28. Immune tolerance in specific allergen immunotherapy might be a consequence of decreased Th2 or increased Th1 response of allergen specific T lymphocytes. BVIT shifted cytokine responses to allergen from a TH-2 to a TH-1 dominant pattern, suggesting direct effects on T cells. Many studies showed that severe side effects due to venom immunotherapy are rare. These results suggest that immunological changes after BVIT may be applied to be therapeutic alternative of general allergic diseases including beevenom allergy.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.247-259
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• 2020

Objectives: This review aims to investigate clinical studies related to bee venom pharmacopuncture for cancer patients and to analyze the research trend for further study. Methods: We searched for clinical studies using bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy on patients with cancer through the electronic databases including Pubmed, Cochrane library, OASIS, KISS, NDSL, and KMBASE. There was no restriction on language and publication date, and after selection/exclusion process, the study design, target disease, intervention details including acupoints, treatment frequency and period, outcomes, study results and adverse events were extracted. Results: Thirteen clinical studies were finally selected. There were a randomized controlled trial RCT about the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on cancer-related pain, and three case series about chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. In case reports, there were nine studies about oligodendroglioma, plexiform neurofibroma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, urachal adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. The bee venom therapy affected the improvement of outcomes such as symptoms, quality of life, tumor response, and lab findings. Conclusions: The present study found that bee venom therapy is applicable to the treatment of cancer patients, and showed some effect on various symptoms. However, due to insufficient number and quality of studies, well designed and high-quality clinical trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness and safety of bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in patients with cancer.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 1998

Purpose: In order to study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Bee Venom Therapy, writhing syndrome, carrageenin induced edema, and complete adjuvant induced arthritis were experimented. Methods: 1. We used rats of writhing syndrom induced by acetic acid injection. Group I was treated with Acupuncture therapy. Group II was treated with Bee Venom thearpy. we compared with Group I, II and the control group. 2. We used rats of paw edema induced by carrageenin injection. Group I Was treated with Acupuncture therapy, Group II was treated with Bee Venom thearpy we compared with Group I, II and the control group. 3. We used rats of arthritis induced by Freud's complete adjuvant injection. Group I was treated with Acupuncture therapy, Group II was treated with Bee Venom thearpy we compared with GroupI,II and the control group. Results: 1. Analgesic effects on writhing syndrome induced by acetic acid injection showed statistical significance in Bee Venom treated group as compared with the control group. 2. The paw edema induced by carrageenin injection was decreased with statistical significance in Bee Venom treated group as compared with the control group. 3. The arthritis induced by Freud's complete adjuvant injection wasn't significant. Conclusion: Bee Venom Therapy was effective on inflammatory disease.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

Bee venom has been clinically used to control the pain of inflammation disease etc. in general. Although the effect of bee venom herbal acupuncture has been reported, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. Free radical metabolism seems to occupy a remarkably common position in the mechanisms of inflammation and ageing related disease. Oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, proteins and other molecules may contribute to the development inflammation disease. NO or DPPH is one of the free radicals and a mediator in inflammation diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the scavenging effect of bee venom herbal acupuncture against NO and DPPH. The followings are the summary of the results: (1) There is no significant scavenging effect of bee venom herbal acupuncture on NO in BVS and BVP group. (2) There is a significant scavenging effect of bee venom herbal acupuncture on DPPH in BVS-1 and BVP-1 group. These results suggest that bee venom herbal acupuncture can be used for inflammation diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This study would provide important basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment of bee venom herbal acupuncture. Further studies are required to investigate the antioxidative effects of it.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.267-276
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of Bee-Venom Therapy and common acupuncture therapy for the lateral epicondylitis. Methods : This study has been carried out for 24 cases of ankle sprain patients who have visited Dr. An Keun Hyeong's Oriental Clinic from april 1, 2004 to august 30, 2004. We have treated 12 cases of them by Bee-Venom therapy(group I) and the other 12 cases by common acupuncture therapy(group II). And we have compared those two group. Results : 1. There were statistical significance on the pain and grip strength with bee-venom therapy group. 2. There were statistical significance on the pain and grip strength with common acupuncture therapy group. 3. Bee-venom therapy group was more statistical significance than common acupuncture therapy group on the pain. 4. There were no statistical significance between bee-venom therapy group and common acupuncture therapy group on the grip strength.