• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.149-160
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• 2002

Objetive : To evaluate the effect of treatment for Heel Pain by using Bee-venom Acupuncture that is well known for anti-inflamatory effect and function of activating immunine system. Methods : We investigated 32 cases of patient with Heel Pain. From 1th November 2001 to 30th June 2002, 32 cases of patient with Heel Pain treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion of Kyung-won University Oriental Hospital were selected for two group. One group was treated by Bee-venom Acupuncture therapy (Bee-venom Acupuncture Group : BAG), the other group was treated by Common Acupuncture therapy (None Bee-venom Acupuncture Group : NBAG). Both group were composed of 16 patients. After treatment, we evaluated the effects per each group. Results : 1. In the distribution by sex & age : 5 cases were male, 11 cases were female in BAG. 10 cases were male, 6 cases were female in NBGA. Forty aged cases were the most in BAG. Thirty aged cases were the most in NBAG. 2. Assessment of treatment by therapeutic frequency : 14 cases(87.5%) were above "Fair" within 6 times in BAG, 7 cases(43.8%) were above "Fair" beyond 10 times. 3. Assessment of treatment : Excellent were 9 cases, Good 5 cases, Fair 2 cases in BAG, Excellent were 2 cases, Good 7 cases, Fair 2 cases, Poor 5 cases in NBAG. Therapeutic effect above "Fair" were 16 cases(100%) in BAG, 11 cases(68.8%) in NBAG. 4. Comparing BAG with NBAG by therapeutic frequency and assessment in Grade II state : 11 cases(91.7%) were above "Good" within 6 times in BGA, 3 cases (57.1%) above "Fair" beyond 10 times. 5. About average frequency of treatment in the distribution of Grade : Grade III was 5.3 times, Grade II 4.0 times in BGA, whereas Grade III 16.0 times, Grade II 8.4 times in NBGA. Conclusions : In the treatment of Heel Pain, the Bee-venom Acupuncture can be regarded as more useful method in the clinical practice, because it has comparatively shorter duration of treatment and is more effective.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effects of Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture treatment with bee venom pharmacopuncture treatment in hospitalized patients with peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : This study was done on a total of 41 patients with peripheral facial paralysis who were admitted into the Korean Medicine Hospital from February 1st, 2013 to April 30th, 2014. Wedivided patients into two groups. The Jungsongouhyul group was treated by Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture once a day and the bee venom group was treated by bee venom pharmacopuncture once a day. To compare the therapeutical effects of the two treatments, we used Yanagihara's unweighted grading system, House-Brachmann grading system, lip-length & snout indices and facial disablity index twice - before initial treatment and after final treatment. Results : Both Yanagihara's score and House-Brachmann grading system score improved in each group. However, there were no significant differences in improvement between the bee venom group and the Jungsongouhyul group. Conclusions : Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture treatment appears to be as effective as bee venom pharmacopuncture treatment to improve symptoms of peripheral facial paralysis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to investigate the analgesic effect and its mechanism of bee venom acupuncture on collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) rats. Methods : Bee venom (1 mg/kg) was subcutaneously punctured into Choksamni (ST36) of CIA Analgesic effect was evaluated by using the tail flick latency (TFL). Opioid and ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic neurotransmitter system were examined by naloxone as an opioid receptor antagonist and yohimbine as ${\alpha}2$-adrenoceptor antagonist prior to bee venom cupuncture. Results : The results were as follows; 1. The TFL for the CIA rat was decreased as time went by. 2. The TFL in CIA rat was increased in bee venom acupuncture group compared with control group (no treatment). 3. Analgesic effect of bee venom acupuncture was not abolished by naloxone pre-treatment in the CIA rat. 4. Analgesic effect of bee venom aqua-acupuncture was abolished by yohimbine pre-treatment in the CIA rat. 5. Two weeks bee venom acupuncture had the continous analgesic effect for 4 weeks. Conclusions : Bee venom acupuncture has an analgesic effect on the CIA rat and has an antinociception mediated by ${\alpha}2$-adrenergic system.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.166-176
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• 2010

Objective : Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. In BPH, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acts as a potent cellular androgen and promotes prostate growth. Many reports conclude the component melittin in bee venom has the potential to treat various diseases including prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Bee venom herbal acupuncture with BPH induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental BPH. A total of 24 rats were equally divided into four groups: Group 1 was the model group; Group 2 served as control (sham-operated group); Group 3 animals were treated with Bee venom herbal acupuncture as an experimental specimen; Group 4 served as a positive control group and was treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The drugs were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by prostatic weight, volume, histopathological changes and testosterone levels. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Bee venom herbal acupuncture showed a diminished range of tissue damage and showed significant decrease in their prostatic weights, volume and histopathological examination. Conclusions : These results suggest that Bee venom herbal acupuncture may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation. From theses results, we suggest that Bee venom herbal acupuncture could be a useful remedy agent for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bee Venom acupuncture therapy on sprain of C-spine by randomized controlled double blinding method. Methods : A randomized double blinding study of bee venom acupuncture therapy was conducted on sprain of C-spine. We divided sprain of C-spine patient into 2 groups: one group with both acupuncture and saline acupuncture therapy, and another group with both acupuncture and bee venom acupuncture therapy. To estimate the efficacy of treatment that applied for two groups, we used visual analog scale(VAS) and neck disability index(NDI). We compared the VAS and NDI score of two groups statistically. Results : STZ induced increase of serum creatinine, BUN and albumin secretion were lowered by AD-1 treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.43-48
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• 2013

Objectives: The current study was performed to compare the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin test reactions among groups with different sexes and Sasang constitutions. Methods: Between July 2012 and June 2013, all 76 patients who underwent bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests and Sasang constitution diagnoses at Oriental Medicine Hospital of Sangji University were included in this study. The skin test was performed on the patient's forearm intracutaneously with 0.05 ml of sweet bee venom (SBV) on their first visit. If the patients showed a positive response, the test was discontinued. On the other hand, if the patient showed a negative response, the test was performed on the opposite forearm intracutaneously with 0.05 ml of bee venom pharmacopuncture 25% on the next day or the next visit. Three groups were made to compare the differences in the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests according to sexual difference and Sasang constitution: group A showed a positive response to SBV, group B showed a positive response to bee venom pharmacopuncture 25%, and group C showed a negative response on all bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests. Fisher's exact test was performed to evaluate the differences statistically. Results: The results of the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests showed no significant differences according to Sasang constitution (P = 0.300) or sexual difference (P = 0.163). Conclusion: No significant differences on the results of bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests were observed according to two factors, Sasang constitution and the sexual difference.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.29-39
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• 2008

Methods : We investigated 28 cases of patients with thoracolumbar compression fracture. We divided patients into two groups : We treated one group with complex oriental medical treatment focusing on Bee Venom Acupuncture therapy, and did the other group with complex oriental medical treatment focusing on acupuncture therapy. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Oswestry Low-back Pain Disability Index(ODI). We compared the VAS score and ODI score of two groups statistically. Results : 1. Female is prominent in distribution of sex, the average age bracket is 70's, and the largest group was Faccidental fall in the distribution of cause. 2. In regard to level of injury, T12 was found to be most prominent, followed in turn by L1, L2. In regard to grade of clinical symptoms, Grade III was most prominent, followed by Grade IV, Grade II. 3. As a result of evaluation by using VAS score and ODI score, treatment score at final was significantly different from that at the baseline in each group. 4. After treatment, Bee Venom acupuncture therapy group showed significant difference on VAS score and ODI score compared with acupuncture therapy group. Conclusions : Bee Venom acupuncture therapy can be available for relieving symptoms related with thoracolumbar compression fracture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Purpose : This research was conducted to investigate the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture on paw edema, pain index, anti-inflammatory factor, AST, ALT and complete blood cell count of a rat model with Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced arthritis. Methods : Five experimental groups were formed with each consisting of six rats: normal group, control group, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture group, lower level laser acupuncture group, and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture, lower level laser acupuncture group. The experimental model of arthritis was induced by two injections of Freund's adjuvant into the left knee joint of Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. The second injection of Freund's adjuvant was given ten days after the first one. Ten days later, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture were administered separately or together by assigned groups at $GB_{34}$ and $GB_{39}$ of rats twice a week for a total of six times. Thereafter, edema rate, pain index, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, aspartate aminortansferase, alanine aminotransferase and complete blood cell count were measured. Results : We noticed synergic effects of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture according to the results of the paw edema and Von Frey pain index. The sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture(BVA) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture+ low level laser acupuncture(BVA+LLA) groups experienced a more significant effect when compared with the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture at GB34 and GB39 have a significant anti-inflammatory effect on Freund's adjuvant arthritis in rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.53-65
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• 2003

Although the effect of Bee Venom has been reported, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Nitric Oxide(NO) is one of the free radicals and mediates in inflammation diseases. Chemokines contribute to the pathogenesis of several disorders such as allergic rhinitis and rheumatoid arthritis and so on. The objective of this study was to investigate the scavenging effect of Bee Venom on NO and on expression of chemokine genes. There was no significant NO scavenging effect in Crude Bee Venom, Apamin, Melittin, and MCD-peptide. The expression of chemokines was examined by RT-PCR using the human mast cell line(HMC-1), which is known to secrete and express chemokines. In order to investigate the protective effect of Bee Venom, HMC-1 cells were incubated with pretreatment of Bee Venom for 24 hrs and stimulated with 1 uM calcium ionophore A23178 for 2 hrs. RT-PCR analyses of chemokine genes showed that expressions of RANTES and MCP-1 were increased compared to the calcium ionophore-only treated group. But IL-8 and MCP-3 did not express increasing effect compared to control group. This study may provide important basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment of Bee Venom in inflammation diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.47-60
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• 2017

Objectives The aim of this research is to assess the effects of bee venom acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. Methods For a systematic review, we constructed a key question as the effect of bee venom acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis and selected RCTs and nRCTs. We searched the following 15 databases without a language restriction: Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (CENTRAL), CINAHL, AMED, seven Korean medical databases (KoreaMed, Kmbase, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, Koreantk, OASIS) and three Chinese databases including CNKI, Wanfang and VIP database. Results A total of 300 potentially relevant studies were identified; only 13 studies were selected for systematic review. Almost studies showed that bee venom acupuncture has significant effect on knee osteoarthritis. 5 studies comparing bee venom acupuncture with acupuncture were included in the meta-analysis. The effect size of standardized mean difference (SMD) was analyzed as 'small effect' with 0.47 (95% CI: 0.10~0.83, Z=2.49, p=0.01). Conclusions The research showed that bee venom acupuncture can significantly reduce pain, stiffness and improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. This suggests that there is limitation applying this study. In the future, more Randomized Controlled trial should be actively conducted.