[HEALTH IN NEWS] INCHEON, South Korea — A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Youn You Suk, Dr. Lee Sang Ho, and Dr. Choi Young Jin from Incheon Hi Hospital has garnered global attention for its innovative approach to treating neuropathic pain. The research team developed a novel pharmacopuncture treatment called ENU (Entrapment Neuropathy Unties), which has demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in alleviating chronic neuropathic pain, a condition often resistant to conventional treatments. Their findings, published in the SCI-indexed *Journal of Pain Research* (Impact Factor: 2.5, Volume 18, 2025), mark a milestone in validating Korean medicine on the global stage.

The peer-reviewed paper, titled “Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Entrapment Neuropathy Unties (ENU) Pharmacopuncture in Neuropathic Pain Caused by Sciatic Nerve Ligation in Mice,” is the first to scientifically evaluate ENU pharmacopuncture’s effects on neuropathic pain caused by nerve entrapment or dysfunction. The study underscores the potential of Korean medicine as a scientifically grounded alternative for managing a condition that affects millions worldwide and is notoriously difficult to treat.

Neuropathic pain, characterized by chronic discomfort due to nerve damage or dysfunction, often responds poorly to existing therapies, leaving patients with limited options. The Incheon Hi Hospital team’s research offers hope by demonstrating that ENU pharmacopuncture can effectively reduce pain through multiple biological pathways, providing both immediate and sustained relief.

Dr. Lee Sang Ho, director of the Seoul branch of Chamjalham Korean Medicine Hospital, is administering ENU pharmacopuncture to a patient. (Photo provided by Chamjalham Korean Medicine Hospital)
Dr. Lee Sang Ho, director of the Seoul branch of Chamjalham Korean Medicine Hospital, is administering ENU pharmacopuncture to a patient. (Photo provided by Chamjalham Korean Medicine Hospital)
The study utilized a sciatic nerve ligation (SNL) model to induce neuropathic pain in mice, dividing subjects into normal, control (SNL with saline injection), and ENU treatment groups receiving low, medium, or high doses. ENU pharmacopuncture was administered around the ligated nerve every two days for 14 days, totaling seven injections.
Results showed that all ENU-treated groups experienced significant pain reduction compared to the control group. A single injection began reducing pain within seven hours, with medium and high-dose groups exhibiting particularly pronounced analgesic effects. Repeated administrations further confirmed ENU’s efficacy, with the medium-dose group showing pain reduction on days 6, 8, 10, and 14, and the high-dose group as early as day 4. These findings indicate that ENU pharmacopuncture offers both acute pain relief and cumulative therapeutic benefits over time.

At the molecular level, the research team elucidated ENU’s mechanisms of action. They observed a significant reduction in C-FOS expression, a marker of pain signaling and neuronal activation, across all ENU-treated groups. Additionally, the treatment suppressed the activation of spinal glial cells (astrocytes and microglia), which play a critical role in neuropathic pain. The study also found decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), highlighting ENU’s ability to mitigate inflammation and modulate nervous system hypersensitivity.

“This study scientifically validates that ENU pharmacopuncture alleviates neuropathic pain through multiple mechanisms, including suppression of glial cell activation, reduction of C-FOS expression, and inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production,” said Dr. Youn You Suk and Dr. Lee Sang Ho, co-directors of Incheon Hi Hospital. “Composed of safe, natural herbal extracts with minimal toxicity or side effects, ENU pharmacopuncture is a promising long-term treatment option for patients who do not respond to conventional therapies.”

The ENU pharmacopuncture formulation has already secured patents in South Korea and the United States, affirming its technological and therapeutic value. Its publication in a prestigious international journal further solidifies its scientific credibility and is expected to contribute significantly to ongoing research into neuropathic pain mechanisms and treatment development.
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