• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.197-204
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• 2008

Objectives : This is a clinical report about the 47-year-old female patient with Trigeminal Neuralgia(TN) treated by oriental medicine treatment including Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture therapy(BVP), without any western medical treatment. Methods : The patient was treated by acupuncture, herb medication, and BVP. The improvement of the patient was judged by Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results : The pain was gradually reduced and VAS became 0 after 8 days of treatment. Since then the pain didn't reappeared for 6 months. Conclusions : Oriental medicine treatment including BVP was very effective to improve the TN patient's symptoms. It is necessary to have more observation and many cases of patients with TN.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2020

This study aimed to show the effects of Korean medicine treatment (particularly bee-venom pharmacopunture) on a patient with brachial plexus palsy. A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with brachial plexus palsy on the right upper extremity and was treated with Korean and Western medicine from September 30^th to November 6^th, 2019. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated using the Manual Muscle Test, Range of Motion and visual analogue scale. After treatment, the patient's Manual Muscle Test grade and Range of Motion were improved, and the Visual Analogue Scale score indicated the intensity of her right hand numbness had decreased. These results suggested that improper use of crutches can result in brachial plexus palsy and a Korean-Western medicine treatment regimen primarily focused on bee-venom pharmacopunture, may be effective in reducing the symptoms of brachial plexus palsy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2005

Objectives : To observe physiological anti-body effects of anti-BV, acute toxic response, measurement of $LD_{50}$, and the effects of anti-body were evaluated. Methods : $LD_{50}$ of Anti-Bee Venom were measured, and to analyze acute toxic responses, weight, and the anti-body effects various concentrations of Anti-BV were diluted and the survival rate was measured. Cell blood count (CBC), liver, spleen, and kidney pathologies were observed from the histological aspects. Results : Experiment was conducted to observe Anti-BV as the anti-body to the bee venom and the following results were obtained : 1.anti-BV was injected intraperitoneally and no toxic responses were witnessed. All of the experiment subjects stayed alive during the experiment, making $LD_{50}$ analysis impossible. 2.Anti-BV was injected intraperitoneally in mice and no significant weight changes were measured between the control group and the experiment groups. 3. Measuring the concentration dependent survival rate, the highest survival rate was at the concentration of $1.25{\times}10^2mg/kg$(1/2.000) for Anti-BV. 4. No particular results were shown in the CBC test. 5. Observation of changes in the organ tissues, Anti-BV was found to suppress blood stasis in the liver and inhibit necrosis of the cells. Conclusion : Above results suggest that Anti-BV doesn't cause any toxic responses in the body and works as an anti-body to the bee venom. Further studies must be followed to secure the findings.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.437-447
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• 2010

Obejectives : To investigate the clinical effect of electroacupuncture and bee venom acupuncture for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) symptoms. Methods : Among 39 outpatients who were treated at a BPH clinic, 8 were finally selected for analysis by charts-review, retrospectively. They were treated by electroacupuncture and bee venom acupuncture more than 3 times. We estimated the effectiveness of the treatments by using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire and checking their nocturia frequency. On the basis of these variables, we analyzed the statistical significations of symptom improvements. Results : Among 8 patients, the IPSS and nocturia frequency showed significant improvement after the final treatment compared with baseline (P = .0078, P = .0078). The IPSS significantly decreased even after the 1st treatment and also after the 2nd treatment compared with the baseline (P = .0078, P = .0078). The IPSS at post final-treatment, post 1st- and post 2nd treatment also showed significant improvement compared with IPSS at baseline in 6 severe symptomatic patients(P = .031, P = .031, P = .031). Nocturia frequency decreased after the 1st treatment compared with baseline and showed significant improvement between baseline and post 2nd treatment (P = .0078). Conclusions : In a retrospective and cross-sectional study investigating the clinical effects of electroacupuncture and bee venom acupuncture on BPH, these treatments proved to have significant therapeutic effects, particularly for various symptoms involving frequent nocturia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.220-229
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• 2019

Background: The therapeutic potential of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture (BVP) on acute ischemic cerebral infraction was determined in mice in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Analysis of acute ischemic cerebral infraction was performed using 7 week old male ICR mice (n = 20) and microglial BV-2 cells. Bee venom ($5{\mu}g/kg$) was injected into the caudal vein of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) mice (1 hour after reperfusion, 3 hours after MCAo probe insertion), and also used to treat LPS-stimulated microglial BV-2 cells (1, 2, $5{\mu}g/mL$). Markers of inflammation were monitored. Results: NO declined statistically significantly in BVP treated MCAo mice compared to the untreated MCAo group (p < 0.05). Compared to the MCAo group, the BVP-treated MCAo group showed a decreased production volume of malondialdehyde, but an increased glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. Compared to the untreated MCAo group, the BVP treated MCAo group showed a statistically significant decline in TNF and $IL-1{\beta}$ levels (p < 0.05). BVP inhibited the levels of p65, p50, $p-I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, and levels of p-ERK1/2, p-JNK2, p-P38 declined. Conclusion: BVP is effective at dampening the inflammatory response in vivo and in vitro and may supplement rt-PA treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.958-966
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• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for a diabetic neuropathy patient. Methods: A diabetic neuropathy patient received twenty-one bee venom acupuncture treatments for a total of 99 days. The Neuropathy Pain Scale (NPS) was used to evaluate the weekly peak pain during the treatment period. Results: After the treatments, the NPS scores improved, and the frequencies of peak pain decreased. Conclusions: This clinical case indicates that bee venom acupuncture combined with Korean medicine may be effective for treating diabetic neuropathy patients.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.45-56
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bee Venom on the lipopolysaccharide(LPS), sodium nitroprusside(SNP), hydrogen peroxide$(H_2O_2)$-induced expression inducilble nitric oxide synthetase(iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-kB) in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Method : The expressions of expression iNOS and TNF-${\alpha}$ were determined by western blotting with corresponding antibodies. The expressions of expression NF-kB was assayed by EMSA method. Results : 1. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on LPS-induced expression of iNOS, the $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on SNP-induced expression of iNOS and the $1{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on $H_2O_2$-induced expression of iNOS compared with control were inhibited significantly. 2. The 0.5, 1 and $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom inhibited significantly LPS and $H_2O_2$-induced expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ compared with control, respectively. The $0.5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom increased significantly SNP-induced expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ compared with control. 3. The $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on LPS-induced expression of NF-kB, the $0.5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on SNP-induced expression of NF-kB and the 0.5, $5{\mu}g/mg$ of bee venom on $H_2O_2$-induced expression of NF-kB were inhibited significantly compared with control, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe prevention of allergic reactions of Sweet Bee Venom (removing enzyme components from Bee Venom). Methods: Content analysis of Sweet Bee Venom and Bee Venom was rendered using HPLC method and characterization of Anti-Sweet Bee Venom in Rabbit Serum. Clinical observation was conducted for inducement of allergic responses to Sweet BV. Results : 1. Analyzing melittin content using HPLC, Sweet BV contained 34.9% more melittin than Bee venom pharmacopuncture at same concentration. 2. Observing chromatogram of HPLC, removal of the enzyme was successfully rendered on Sweet BV. 3. The anti-serum of Sweet BV showed high titers against melittin and bee venom and relatively low titer against phospholipase A2. 4. After conducting approximately 3,000 cases of Sweet BV administration, not a single case of generalized anaphylatic reaction occurred in clinical observation. 5. Mild compared to the bee venom pharmacopuncture, Sweet BV showed some acute hypersensitive reactions of edema, itchiness, and aching locally. 6. Sweet BV was administered on six patients with previous history of suffering from generalized acute hypersensitive reactions with the bee venom. None of the patients showed allergic reactions with Sweet BV, suggesting it can effectively prevent anaphylatic shock which may occur after the bee venom pharmacopuncture procedure. Conclusion : Summarizing above results, Sweet Bee Venom appears to be an effective measurement against allergic reactions from the bee venom pharmacopuncture especially against anaphylatic shock.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2014

Objectives : We investigated whether bee venom(BV) inhibit cell growth through enhancement of death receptor expressions in the human cervix cancer C33A cells. Methods : BV($1{\sim}5{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited the growth of cervix cancer C33A cells by the induction of apoptotic cell death in a dose dependent manner. Results : Consistent with apoptotic cell death, expression of Fas, death receptor(DR) 3, 4, 5 and 6 was increased concentration dependently in the cells. Moreover, Fas, DR3 and DR6 revealed more sensitivity to BV. Thus, We reconfirmed whether they actually play a critical role in anti-proliferation of cervix cancer C33A cells. Consecutively, expression of DR downstream pro-apoptotic proteins including caspase-8, -3, -9 was upregulated and Bax was concomitantly overwhelmed the expression of Bcl-2. NF-${\kappa}B$ were also inhibited by treatment with BV in C33A cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that BV could exert anti-tumor effect through induction of apoptotic cell death in human cervix cancer C33A cells via enhancement of death receptor expression, and that BV could be a promising agent for preventing and treating cervix cancer.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2014

Objectives : The Purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of Bee venom pharmacopuncture and conservative treatment for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement. Methods : Patient is hospitalized at Dept. of Oriental Internal Medicine, Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, diagnosed as lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement and treated by Bee venom pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. This study was measured by NRS(Numerical Rating Scale), ODI and EQ-5D. Results : After Bee venom pharmacopuncture and conservative oriental medical treatment, the patient's pain was controlled and NRS score was decreased. ODI and EQ-5D also were improved. Conclusions : As seen in this one case, Oriental conservative treatment and Bee venom pharmacopuncture have a positive effect to control pain with lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and Femoroacetabular Impingement.