Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bee Venom Acupuncture Helps Treat Methamphetamine Addiction

Bee Venom Suppresses Methamphetamine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Neurological Research, Volume 32, Supplement 1, February 2010, pp. 101-106(6)

Objectives: Although acupuncture is most commonly used for its analgesic effect, it has also been used to treat various drug addictions including cocaine and morphine in humans. This study was designed to investigate the effect of bee venom injection on methamphetamine-induced addictive behaviors including conditioned place preference and hyperlocomotion in mice.

Methods: Methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) was subcutaneously treated on days 1, 3 and 5 and the acquisition of addictive behaviors was assessed on day 7. After confirming extinction of addictive behaviors on day 17, addictive behaviors reinstated by priming dose of methamphetamine (0.1 mg/kg) was evaluated on day 18. Bee venom (20 μl of 1 mg/ml in saline) was injected to the acupuncture point ST36 on days 1, 3 and 5.

Results: Repeated bee venom injections completely blocked development of methamphetamine-induced acquisition and subsequent reinstatement. Single bee venom acupuncture 30 minutes before acquisition and reinstatement test completely inhibited methamphetamine-induced acquisition and reinstatement. Repeated bee venom acupunctures from day 8 to day 12 after methamphetamine-induced acquisition partially but significantly suppressed reinstatement.

Discussion: These findings suggest that bee venom acupuncture has a preventive and therapeutic effect on methamphetamine-induced addiction.

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