Confirmed Therapeutic Effect of 'Bongdok Yakchim' Treatment for Gouty Arthritis

Professor Yeoncheol Park of Gangdong Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital and Professor Taeyoung Yoon's Team at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine

Professor Park Yeon-cheol, Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Kangdong Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A study has shown that 'bee venom pharmacopuncture' has therapeutic effects for patients with gouty arthritis.

Professor Park Yeon-cheol's team from the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, in collaboration with Professor Yoon Tae-young from Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, announced on the 24th that they confirmed the therapeutic effects of bee venom pharmacopuncture on gouty arthritis.

Gout is a disease caused by excessive accumulation of uric acid in the blood. When gouty arthritis progresses acutely with attacks, Western medicine manages it with drugs such as colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and steroids. After the gout attack subsides, xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI) and uricosuric agents are used for prevention.

However, in many patients, there are limited options for treatment to reach the target uric acid lowering level (6 mg/dl). Because of this, guidelines for gout patients have been presented, and since dietary habits, exercise routines, and constitutions differ, individualized treatment tailored to the patient's characteristics is necessary.

The research team explained that through molecular mechanism studies of bee venom, they identified that bee venom exhibits therapeutic effects on gouty arthritis due to its strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. To elucidate the mechanism of bee venom’s therapeutic action on gout, they conducted experiments by injecting MSU (monosodium urate) crystals, which induce gouty arthritis, into the ankle joints of experimental animals and compared the effects of bee venom and colchicine. The results showed that bee venom prevented neutrophil infiltration in acute gouty arthritis, suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, effectively reduced ankle swelling, minimized pain, and demonstrated rapid recovery effects.

Professor Park Yeon-cheol said, “This study is a positive result confirming that bee venom therapy can be an alternative for patients who are not suitable for existing gout treatments or who do not achieve the expected effects during treatment.”

The study results were published in the SCI(E)-level international journal 'Toxins' (IF=4.546).

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