title: Effects of Bee Venom Injections at Acupoints on Neurologic Dysfunction Induced by Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Disorders in Canines: A Randomized, Controlled Prospective Study.
abstract: Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) is a major spine disorder in canines that causes neurological dysfunction, particularly in the thoracolumbar area. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs are typically used to reduce nociceptive signals to decrease canine suffering. Bee venom (BV) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Injection of BV at acupoints has been widely used to treat clinical disorders including inflammation, pain, and arthritis. The current study was intended to determine whether BV injections at acupoints can enhance treatment of canine neurological dysfunction caused by IVDD. A single-blind controlled trial involving 40 adult canines with neurological dysfunction induced by IVDD subdivided into 2 groups was designed, and 36 canines finished the study. The myelopathy scoring system (MSS) grade and functional numeric scale (FNS) scores improved further after BV treatment than after control treatment. BV injection exerted a particularly strong effect on canines with moderate to severe IVDD and dramatically reduced clinical rehabilitation time. The results indicate that BV injections at acupoints are more effective at protecting canines from IVDD-induced neurological dysfunction and pain than is treatment alone.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chuan
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004285:Dogs; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000662:veterinary; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D001514:Bee Venoms