Objective

Methamphetamine (METH) is one of the representative drugs abused world widely and the reinforcing effect is exerted by the increase of dopamine (DA) release in the mesolimbic system. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat diverse disease including neuropsychiatric problems and been shown to be effective in the suppression of intravenous METH self-administration. Ja-Geum-Jung, a kind of herbal formula of Korean medicine, was reported to be effective for the atopic dermatitis. The present investigated if the combination of acupuncture and Ja-Geum-Jung could be better than alone treatment.

Materials and methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and the locomotor activity and ultrasound vocalization (USV) expression were measured. Electrophysiological methods were used to investigate a possible neuronal mechanism in the brain.

Results

Ja-Geum-Jung attenuated METH induced increases in the locomotor activity and USV. Acupuncture enhanced these effects showing a synergistic effect in the combination with Ja-Geum-Jung. Also, amygdala was shown to be involved in these effects.

Conclusion

Combination of acupuncture and herbal formula has been demonstrated to make better effects than alone treatment on the METH, in parallel with the experience of thousands of years in the Eastern Asia.

Keywords: Acupuncture, SI5, Ja-Geum-Jung, Korean Medicine, Methamphetamine, Drug addiction