- By ChangShik Yin*§, Hi-Joon Park+, Younbyoung Chae+, Eunyoung Hat+, Hun-Kuk Park+, Hyang-Sook Lee++, HyeongCyun Koh§, SungKeel Kang§; SunMi Choi=, YeonHee Ryu= and Hyejung Lee+.
- *Department of Acupuncture, CHA Biomedical Center, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seoul 135-081, Korea
- +TKM Research Group, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea
- ++College of Oriental Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju 220-702, Korea
- §Department of Acupuncture, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Seoul 130-702, Korea
- =Department of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305-811, Korea
- Neurological Research, 2007, Volume 29, Supplement 1 S11
Herbal acupuncture, or pharmacopuncture, is one of the newest methods, combining acupuncture treatments and herbs to intensify the therapeutic effects in clinical settings. In herbal acupuncture treatments, a fixed amount of herbal extracts or bee venom is injected at specific acupoints on the body10,17, which have been empirically proven to be effective in specific disorders. In this way, medicinal benefits of both acupuncture and herbal therapy can be obtained by a single treatment of herbal acupuncture.
Herbal acupuncture originated from China in the early 1950s, where it was called the aqua-acupuncture or acupoint-injection technique. During the 1960s in Korea, herbal acupuncture was uniquely developed into ‘Gyungrakyakchim’ (meridian herbal acupuncture) and ‘Palgangyakchim’ (eight diagnostic herbal acupuncture) by Sang Cheon Nam and Jeong Un Kim, respectively10. They introduced the concept of ‘pattern identification in accordance with the theory of the six meridians’ and ‘pattern identification according t9_the eight principal symptoms’ to develop this therapy10.
Bee venom, a therapeutic modality since at least the second Century BC in Eastern Asia, has been extensively researched and practiced in Korea, focusing on clinical application as a meridian therapy18. Although bee venom has been researched worldwide in the context of allergic reactions19 or arthritis treatment20, bee venom acupuncture therapy is considered as a promising therapeutic method in TKM21. The focus on this application as a form of herbal acupuncture therapy is based on the possible variability of the effect of bee venom according to the acupoint stimulated22,23.
Herbal acupuncture therapies are divided into three categories according to the type of injected material. These methods include injecting herbal extract with repeated distillation into acupoints, injecting highly purified herbal extract into acupoints and injecting highly purified bee venom into acupoints. The former two types of herbal acupuncture are reported to relieve acute and chronic pain syndrome such as shoulder pain24, headache25, arthritic pain26, 27, back pain28, diabetes mellitus29, hypertension30,31 and obesity32. Studies of bee venom herbal acupuncture are worth noting, such as acupoint stimulation with bee venom, which showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in anima|s33, 34, and also clinical trials that showed its effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis35 and osteoarthritis22, 36.
DISCUSSION
Although TKM originated with TCM, it has developed into a unique medical system that reflects both contemporary needs and its own cultural characteristics. The person-centered perspective of TKM emphasizes the importance of the patient’s daily lifestyle factors, rather than simply the specific diseases contracted, as the focus of the medical approach to pathologic conditions. Practicality and creativity are expressed in me9i al applications and innovation throughout history5, 37.
In summary, Saam acupuncture categorizes ‘the big picture’ by breaking down the body’s physiology or pathology into a state of 12 energy (or Qi) traits corresponding to 12 meridians, and provides prescriptions for each energy trait. Taegeuk acupuncture applies the Sasang constitutional medicine_ nd regards the four constitutions as underlying entities38. Eight constitution acupuncture suggests eight constitutional traits as core determinants of physiologic or pathologic processes, and provides remedies based on these constitutional traits.
These three theories assume diverse physiologic or pathologic processes to be superficial phenomena that reflect whole-body energy, and treat the underlying imbalance of this energy. Individual differences in apparently similar physiologic or pathologic reactions are seen as a result of the influence of these constitutional energy traits. These theories summarize complex biologic phenomena into simple variations of under lying entities and individualize treatment strategies based on the underlying trait, not on the superficial signs or symptoms.
In the practice of herbal acupuncture, the biologic effects of ingested herbs and stimulated acupoints are integrated by injection of herbal extracts or bee venom into acupoints. Body energy then meets the two types of effect simultaneously and in this way, may result in a more efficient response to the treatment.
An individualized approach based on constitutional energy traits has always been a main theme in TKM. The integrated management of a patient from biologic, emotional, ethical and social perspectives has been emphasized through various traditions, including Saam, Taegeuk and eight constitution acupuncture. Herbal acupuncture and Korean Hand acupuncture have developed new therapeutic modalities using integrated and practical approaches.
Although there remains a lack of compelling scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of KA, continuing research is being carried out to fill this void, most recently that of on into management of amyotrophic sclerosis39. KA in its own way is making a contribution to the emerging need for individualized and integrated approaches in the field of medicine.
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