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Journal articles on the topic 'Acupuncture'
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1
Kang, Ji-Eun, Hye-Jung Lee, Sabina Lim, Ee-Hwa Kim, Tae-Hee Lee, Mi-Hyeon Jang, Min-Chul Shin, Baek-Vin Lim, Youn-Jung Kim, and Chang-Ju Kim. "Acupuncture Modulates Expressions of Nitric Oxide Synthase and c-Fos in Hippocampus After Transient Global Ischemia in Gerbils." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 31, no. 04 (January 2003): 581–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x03001235.
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The effects of acupuncture on the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and c-Fos in the hippocampus of gerbils after transient ischemia were investigated via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry and Fos immunohistochemistry. In animals of the ischemia-induction groups, both common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 minutes. Animals of the acupunctued groups were given acupunctural treatment at Zusanli twice daily for 9 consecutive days. Acupuncture was shown to decrease NADPH-d and c-Fos levels in both the sham-operation group and the ischemia-induction group. These results suggest that acupuncture modulates the expressions of NOS and c-Fos in the hippocampus.
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Zhang, Jiarun, Weizhen Wu, Li Wan, Yunqing Zhang, Ruoqi Li, Ning Li, and Dongqing Guo. "Comparative Study of Najia and Nazi Acupunctures to Reduce Rat Gastric Ulcer." Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research 44, no. 3 (January 21, 2020): 191–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/036012920x15779969212937.
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Gastric ulcer is a common digestive system disease, which leads to the serious decline in the life quality and effective therapies are in urgent need. Midnightmidday ebb flow acupunctures including Najia and Nazi acupunctures have been applied in clinics in China for more than one thousand years and the acupoints are selected according to the time rhythm. Najia acupuncture, namely day-prescription of acupoints, divides ten days (one cycle) into 120 two-hour periods and each period is coordinated with a meridian. Meanwhile, Nazi acupuncture, namely hour-prescription of acupoints, divides a day(one cycle) into 12 two-hour periods and each period is coordinated with a meridian. When there is a disease in a certain meridian, the relevant acupoints are operated in the corresponding time. However, the comparative efficacies of Najia and Nazi acupunctures on promoting the healing of gastric ulcer are still unknown. In this study, gastric ulcer rats were induced by acetic acid and were randomly divided into four groups: non-acupuncture group, normal acupuncture group, Najia acupuncture group and Nazi acupuncture group. After different treatments for continuous 10 days, the gained weight, gastric ulcer area and the thickness of gastric mucosa were measured and analyzed. Decreased ulcer area, increased mucosa thickness and dense scar tissue occurred in the Najia group and Nazi group compared to that in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between Najia and Nazi acupuncture groups (P>0.05). Thickness of gastric mucosa in Nazi acupuncture group increased significantly compared to normal acupuncture group (P<0.05). Therefore, the findings in this study indicated that Najia and Nazi acupunctures had gastroprotective effects and accelerated the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats, but no significant differences between them. It may provide valuable information for development of acupuncture for the treatment of gastric ulcer in clinics.
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Cai, Wuying. "Acupuncture and the Nervous System." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 20, no. 03n04 (January 1992): 331–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x92000369.
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Acupuncture is based on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. At each acupuncture point, there are peripheral nerves and terminals. Acupuncture will be useful for further understanding of the nervous system. A conceptual view of acupuncture's physiology is presented.
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Yang, Chae Ha, Bong Hyo Lee, and Sung Hoon Sohn. "A Possible Mechanism Underlying the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Drug Addiction." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 5, no. 3 (2008): 257–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nem081.
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Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. While there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanisms of acupuncture, some evidence exists to suggest that acupuncture can play an important role in reducing reinforcing effects of abused drugs. The purpose of this article is to critically review these data. The neurochemical and behavioral evidence showed that acupuncture's role in suppressing the reinforcing effects of abused drugs takes place by modulating mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Also, several brain neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, opioid and amino acids including GABA have been implicated in the modulation of dopamine release by acupuncture. These results provided clear evidence for the biological effects of acupuncture that ultimately may help us to understand how acupuncture can be used to treat abused drugs. Additional research using animal models is of primary importance to understanding the basic mechanism underlying acupuncture's effectiveness in the treatment of drug addiction.
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Jang, Mi-Hyeon, Min-Chul Shin, Baek-Vin Lim, Hyun-Bae Kim, Young-Pyo Kim, Ee-Hwa Kim, Hong Kim, Mal-Soon Shin, Sung-Soo Kim, and Chang-Ju Kim. "Acupuncture Increases Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Hippocampus of Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 31, no. 02 (January 2003): 305–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x03000989.
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In the present study, the effect of acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. Animals were divided into four groups: the control group, the nondiabetic and acupunctured group, the STZ-induced diabetes group, and the STZ-induced diabetes and acupunctured group. From the results, NADPH-d-positive neurons in the hippocampus were decreased in STZ-induced diabetic rats, while acupuncture increased NOS expression significantly under diabetic conditions. In the present study, it can be suggested that acupuncture treatment may modulate NOS activity in the hippocampus under diabetic conditions.
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Hullender Rubin, Lee E., Belinda J. Anderson, and LaTasha B. Craig. "Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation research: Current and future directions." Acupuncture in Medicine 36, no. 2 (April 2018): 117–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2016-011352.
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Background Acupuncture is a common adjuvant treatment to support patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, the impact of acupuncture and the different roles it can play in IVF remain unclear. Objective In this paper, we present an overview and critique of the current evidence on acupuncture's impact on IVF-related stress, describe harms, and propose future directions for investigation. Conclusion Two to three acupuncture sessions performed on or around the day of embryo transfer are insufficient interventions to improve IVF birth outcomes but provide significant IVF-related stress reduction. Research investigating acupuncture to support IVF is heterogeneous and confounded by the lack of an appropriate comparator. However, evidence suggests several acupuncture sessions improve endometrial thickness, reduce stress, and improve patient satisfaction. Observational studies suggest more sessions are associated with increases in clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. An optimised acupuncture intervention with a reasonable comparator is necessary for future studies, with evidence-based guidance on technique and number of sessions. Acupuncture should not be rejected as an adjuvant therapy for IVF, but more studies are needed to clarify acupuncture's role in supporting IVF cycles.
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Langevin, Helene M., David L. Churchill, James R. Fox, Gary J. Badger, Brian S. Garra, and Martin H. Krag. "Biomechanical response to acupuncture needling in humans." Journal of Applied Physiology 91, no. 6 (December 1, 2001): 2471–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2001.91.6.2471.
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During acupuncture treatments, acupuncture needles are manipulated to elicit the characteristic “de qi” reaction widely viewed as essential to acupuncture's therapeutic effect. De qi has a biomechanical component, “needle grasp,” which we have quantified by measuring the force necessary to pull an acupuncture needle out of the skin (pullout force) in 60 human subjects. We hypothesized that pullout force is greater with both bidirectional needle rotation (BI) and unidirectional rotation (UNI) than no rotation (NO). Acupuncture needles were inserted, manipulated, and pulled out by using a computer-controlled acupuncture needling instrument at eight acupuncture points and eight control points. We found 167 and 52% increases in mean pullout force with UNI and BI, respectively, compared with NO (repeated-measures ANOVA, P < 0.001). Pullout force was on average 18% greater at acupuncture points than at control points ( P < 0.001). Needle grasp is therefore a measurable biomechanical phenomenon associated with acupuncture needle manipulation.
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Li, Boxuan, Shizhe Deng, Bomo Sang, Weiming Zhu, Bifang Zhuo, Menglong Zhang, Chenyang Qin, Yuanhao Lyu, Yuzheng Du, and Zhihong Meng. "Revealing the Neuroimaging Mechanism of Acupuncture for Poststroke Aphasia: A Systematic Review." Neural Plasticity 2022 (April 21, 2022): 1–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5635596.
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Background. Aphasia is a common symptom in stroke patients, presenting with the impairment of spontaneous speech, repetition, naming, auditory comprehension, reading, and writing function. Multiple rehabilitation methods have been suggested for the recovery of poststroke aphasia, including medication treatment, behavioral therapy, and stimulation approach. Acupuncture has been proven to have a beneficial effect on improving speech functions in repetition, oral speech, reading, comprehension, and writing ability. Neuroimaging technology provides a visualized way to explore cerebral neural activity, which helps reveal the therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy. In this systematic review, we aim to reveal and summarize the neuroimaging mechanism of acupuncture therapy on poststroke aphasia to provide the foundation for further study. Methods. Seven electronic databases were searched including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang databases, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database. After screening the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we summarized the neuroimaging mechanism of acupuncture on poststroke aphasia, as well as the utilization of acupuncture therapy and the methodological characteristics. Result. After searching, 885 articles were retrieved. After removing the literature studies, animal studies, and case reports, 16 studies were included in the final analysis. For the acupuncture type, 10 studies used manual acupuncture and 5 studies used electroacupuncture, while body acupuncture (10 studies), scalp acupuncture (7 studies), and tongue acupuncture (8 studies) were applied for poststroke aphasia patients. Based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technologies, 4 neuroimaging analysis methods were used including amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), seed-based analysis, and independent component analysis (ICA). Two studies reported the instant acupuncture effect, and 14 studies reported the constant acupuncture’s effect on poststroke aphasia patients. 5 studies analyzed the correlation between the neuroimaging outcomes and the clinical language scales. Conclusion. In this systematic review, we found that the mechanism of acupuncture’s effect might be associated with the activation and functional connectivity of language-related brain areas, such as brain areas around Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area in the left inferior temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. However, these studies were still in the preliminary stage. Multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCT) with large sample sizes were needed to verify current evidence, as well as to explore deeply the neuroimaging mechanisms of acupuncture’s effects.
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Farmer, Cecilia. "Bringing Holistic Treatments to the Attention of Medicine." Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 20, no. 2 (December 31, 2014): 120–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2156587214565459.
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This article reviews 3 studies that explore the effects of acupuncture on poststroke patients suffering from chronic stroke symptoms. The 3 studies selected strive to show how acupuncture can be a safe, noninvasive, and cost-effect rehabilitation tool useful in adjunct with traditional rehabilitation. Chou et al (2009), Hopwood et al (2008), and Wayne et al (2005) all studied acupuncture’s effects on quality of life. Additionally, both Hopwood et al and Wayne et al studied acupuncture’s effects on mobility and activities of daily living. While the frequency, duration, and length of the entire treatment varied by study, overall, the results of all 3 studies suggest that acupuncture increases quality of life and improves mobility and activities of daily living.
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Li, Yao. "A Corpus Study of Acupuncture from the Perspective of Mass Media Based on the Corpus of Contemporary American English." Journal of Contemporary Educational Research 8, no. 7 (July 29, 2024): 216–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.26689/jcer.v8i7.7418.
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Based on the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), this study examines acupuncture from the perspective of mass media. Acupuncture has been circulating throughout the Chinese Cultural Circle since the Qin and Han Dynasties, and has since spread directly or indirectly to the rest of the world. The United States boasts the world’s second-largest acupuncture market, with its laws, regulations, industry growth, research, and education all positively influencing the development of acupuncture in other nations. This study uses COCA to analyze the form and content of acupuncture’s dissemination in eight different types of media. The findings show that acupuncture appears in COCA a total of 1,788 times, with the highest frequency in magazines, followed by blogs, and the lowest frequency in fiction. These findings reveal the popularity of acupuncture in mass media in the United States and provide empirical data and insights for the future dissemination and development of acupuncture in the United States.
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Nurbani, Rina, and Dwi Rachma Helianthi. "Wrist Ankle Acupuncture (WAA) and Body Acupuncture Accelerates Neurorehabilitation in Bell's Palsy: A Case Report." Journal of Agromedicine and Medical Sciences 7, no. 3 (October 31, 2021): 136. http://dx.doi.org/10.19184/ams.v7i3.24818.
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Bell’s Palsy (BP) is an acute unilateral facial paralysis due to idiopathic inflammation of the peripheral facial nerve. Corticosteroids, antiviral drugs, and physical therapy could be useful to treat BP, however these treatments could not bring complete recovery. Acupuncture could be an alternative option for BP and to show its effectiveness, we present a case report, a patient with BP treated with acupuncture. A 48-year-old female patient, a kindergarden teacher, already treated with corticosteroid and antiviral agents as soon as BP was diagnosed. Six weeks later, patient didn’t recover, with House-Brackmann score stage 3. Acupuncture was perfomed at local and distance acupoints at ears, body and face. Wrist Ankle Acupuncture (WAA) L1,2; ear acupuncture at zero point; and body points were stimulated by electroacu-puncture. After acupuncture therapy, the House-Brackmann score was grade 2. Medical options for the sequelae of BP are limited. Acupuncture’s effectivity in Bell palsy patients’ should be shown with more clinical studies.
 
 Keywords: Acupuncture; Wrist Ankle Acupuncture; Bell’s Palsy; Recovery
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Cai, Wa, and Wei-Dong Shen. "Anti-Apoptotic Mechanisms of Acupuncture in Neurological Diseases: A Review." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 46, no. 03 (January 2018): 515–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x1850026x.
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Apoptosis, known as programmed cell death, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Most of these diseases can be obviously alleviated by means of acupuncture treatment. Current research studies have shown that the efficacy of acupuncture to these medical conditions is closely associated with the anti-apoptotic potentials. Mainly based on the acupuncture’s anti-apoptotic efficacy in prevalent neurological disorders, including cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, Alzheimer’s disease, depression or stress related-modes, spinal cord injuries, etc., this review comes to a conclusion that the anti-apoptotic effect of acupuncture treatment for neurological diseases, evidently reflected through Bcl-2, Bax or caspase expression change, results from regulating mitochondrial or autophagic dysfunction as well as reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The possible mechanisms of acupuncture’s anti-apoptotic effect are associated with a series of downstream signaling pathways and the up-regulated expression of neurotrophic factors. It is of great importance to illuminate the exact mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for neurological dysfunctions.
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Guo, Xinmeng, and Jiang Wang. "Low-Dimensional Dynamics of Brain Activity Associated with Manual Acupuncture in Healthy Subjects." Sensors 21, no. 22 (November 9, 2021): 7432. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s21227432.
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Acupuncture is one of the oldest traditional medical treatments in Asian countries. However, the scientific explanation regarding the therapeutic effect of acupuncture is still unknown. The much-discussed hypothesis it that acupuncture’s effects are mediated via autonomic neural networks; nevertheless, dynamic brain activity involved in the acupuncture response has still not been elicited. In this work, we hypothesized that there exists a lower-dimensional subspace of dynamic brain activity across subjects, underpinning the brain’s response to manual acupuncture stimulation. To this end, we employed a variational auto-encoder to probe the latent variables from multichannel EEG signals associated with acupuncture stimulation at the ST36 acupoint. The experimental results demonstrate that manual acupuncture stimuli can reduce the dimensionality of brain activity, which results from the enhancement of oscillatory activity in the delta and alpha frequency bands induced by acupuncture. Moreover, it was found that large-scale brain activity could be constrained within a low-dimensional neural subspace, which is spanned by the “acupuncture mode”. In each neural subspace, the steady dynamics of the brain in response to acupuncture stimuli converge to topologically similar elliptic-shaped attractors across different subjects. The attractor morphology is closely related to the frequency of the acupuncture stimulation. These results shed light on probing the large-scale brain response to manual acupuncture stimuli.
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Bivins, Roberta. "The Needle and the Lancet: Acupuncture in Britain, 1683–2000." Acupuncture in Medicine 19, no. 1 (June 2001): 2–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/aim.19.1.2.
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Although commonly regarded as a late twentieth century phenomenon, acupuncture use in Britain has a surprisingly long history, beginning with its seventeenth century transmission from China and Japan. Acupuncture was in use in the great hospitals of Paris before a second stage of transmission and translation brought it to nineteenth century Britain. Acupuncture's first wave of popularity and its results in British medical practice can be examined through examples drawn from the Lancet, the BMJ and other medical periodicals. This historical transmission of acupuncture to the UK can be fruitfully compared to its modern analogue, and historical patterns of acupuncture use can be compared with those displayed in contemporary Britain.
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Zatta, Laidilce Teles, Leonora Rezende Pacheco, Marcus Antônio de Souza, Juliano Ricardo Santana dos Santos, Karina Machado Siqueira, and Virginia Visconde Brasil. "Acupuncture in rheumatoid arthrit’s patients: advantages, disadvantages and reasons to use this therapy." Revista de Enfermagem UFPE on line 3, no. 4 (September 20, 2009): 1027. http://dx.doi.org/10.5205/reuol.581-3802-1-rv.0304200930.
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Objectives: to verify the main reasons that justify the acupuncture treatment’s search among Rheumatoid Arthrit’s patients; to identify advantages and disadvantages of this therapy. Methods: this is about a case study, performed in Hospital de Medicina Alternativa and a Private Clinic that use acupuncture as therapy, both in Goiânia. That were cases 18+, rheumatoid arthrit’s patients, acupuncture at least a month, self-evaluation and talking capables. This study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research of the Clinics Hospital of the Federal University of Goiás (028/2005). Results: four patients participate, and they were interviewed after the acupuncture session. Data were analyzed based on Content Analysis Technique. After interviews’ analysis, we identified two thematic categories: “Acupuncture’s attractives” and “Acupuncture: advantages and disadvantages”. Conclusions: it’s known that Acupuncture is an efficient Rheumatoid Arthrit’s therapy, so is necessary that Health Professionals does more divulgation and dedication. And so is necessary to study more this therapy, in case to describe their benefits, as an alternative therapy for Reumatoid Arthrit’s patients. Descriptors: acupuncture; rheumatoid arthritis; nursing.
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McTiernan, Sean. "The physiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia and its applications within veterinary practice." Veterinary Nurse 13, no. 6 (July 2, 2022): 272–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2022.13.6.272.
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The practice of acupuncture as a method of pain relief is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine. With recent advances in neuroimaging and molecular biology studies we now have measurable results to aid with our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of acupuncture-induced analgesia. Multiple body regions can be accessed through individual acupuncture points via the peripheral nervous system and its connection to the central nervous system. Acupuncture's analgesic effects can be conceptually divided into local, segmental (spinal), and suprasegmental (brain) effects and involve the enhanced release of analgesic endogenous substances (e.g. opioids) and reducing the release of pain-inducing substances such as inflammatory cytokines. Electroacupuncture is proving to be the most effective acupuncture delivery method through providing a more potent stimulus to the acupuncture point leading to greater substance release. The purpose of this review article is to summarise some of the mechanisms behind acupuncture analgesia and to highlight how many veterinary patients could benefit from its use.
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Laures-Gore, Jacqueline, and Rebecca Shisler Marshall. "Acupuncture as a Treatment Technique for Aphasia and Cognitive Impairments." Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders 18, no. 3 (October 2008): 107–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1044/nnsld18.3.107.
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Abstract Purpose: In response to the growing interest and use of acupuncture by Americans who are searching for effective treatments of aphasia and cognitive impairments, this paper serves to (a) briefly explain the technique of acupuncture, (b) describe its biologic mechanisms, and (c) summarize studies investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating cognitive impairment associated with vascular dementia and stroke-related language impairments. Methods: Published reports of the use and effectiveness of acupuncture in treating cognitive impairments related to vascular dementia and aphasia related to stroke are reviewed and reported. Results and Conclusions: Rigorously designed studies investigating acupuncture and vascular neuropathologies are too few in number to produce any definite conclusions about the efficacy of this technique in treating aphasia related to stroke or cognitive impairments related to vascular dementia. Although there is some empirical evidence indicating that acupuncture may be a valuable adjunct to conventional therapies, speech-language pathologists should remain cautious of acupuncture's promise until further, well-designed studies are conducted.
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Ots, Thomas, Asal Kandirian, Istvan Szilagyi, Susan M. DiGiacomo, and Andreas Sandner-Kiesling. "The selection of dermatomes for sham (placebo) acupuncture points is relevant for the outcome of acupuncture studies: a systematic review of sham (placebo)-controlled randomized acupuncture trials." Acupuncture in Medicine 38, no. 4 (February 6, 2020): 211–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0964528419889636.
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Background: Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture reveal no significant differences between acupuncture and so-called placebo acupuncture. There is a strong tendency to replace the term “placebo” by the term “sham,” because any needling stimulates a certain physiological response. However, neither concept accounts for the great diversity of results in RCTs comparing verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture. Some trials have shown little or no difference, while other studies have found statistically significant differences. Objective: Verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture may achieve similar results to the extent that they share active constituents. We identified these common active constituents as dermatomes: the segmental structure of the human body. In our study, we tested the hypothesis that the more verum and sham (placebo) acupuncture share the same dermatomes, the closer the clinical outcomes will be, and vice versa. Methods: All major databases were searched for RCTs that tested acupuncture versus sham (placebo) acupuncture. The dermatome charts of Hansen and Schliack were used to verify verum and sham (placebo) needling locations. Reported clinical outcomes were assessed in relation to the percentage of overlap between the dermatomes stimulated by acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture. Results: Our literature search yielded a total of 1738 references. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The effects of sham (placebo) acupuncture varied according to the dermatomes stimulated: high overlap with those stimulated by verum acupuncture resulted in almost identical efficacy, while low overlap resulted in significant differences in efficacy. Clinical outcomes were similar when verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture shared the same dermatomes (p < 0.01). Discussion: The findings of this review confirm our hypothesis. Acupuncture studies that employed verum and sham locations on overlapping dermatomes helped to create a mediocre to negative picture of acupuncture’s efficacy. The segmental structure of the body with its interconnected reflex system offers an additional neurophysiological explanation for the effectiveness of acupuncture applied to structures segmentally innervated by the spinal and visceral nervous system. Further comparative acupuncture studies should be based on knowledge of segmental anatomy. In testing verum acupuncture versus sham acupuncture, the chosen sham acupuncture needling locations should be situated on non-overlapping dermatomes.
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Ng, Hui-Ping, Chin-Ming Huang, Wen-Chao Ho, and Yu-Chen Lee. "Acupuncture Differentially Affects the High-Frequency Spectral Energy in Radial Pulse Positions Depending on Type of Lower Back Pain." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2019 (November 21, 2019): 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4024501.
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Acupuncture is a core discipline in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been practised in China for centuries. In traditional acupuncture, pulse palpation is an important clinical diagnostic technique that guides practitioners in their treatment strategies as they evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. This paper provides the findings of our investigation of acupuncture’s effect on specific radial pulse spectral energies in 41 individuals with lower back pain (LBP), in response to a single acupuncture treatment delivered bilaterally at acupoints BL23, BL25, and BL40. Baseline assessments (vital signs and radial pulse diagnoses), primary outcome measures (radial pulse diagnoses), and secondary outcome measures (the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and fingertip-to-floor (FTF) tests) were performed at specified intervals before and after the intervention. Our study provides novel information about the effects of acupuncture on the radial pulse spectral energy in individuals with different types of LBP. Our findings suggest that the right Chi pulse is an effective indicator to assess the effects of acupuncture in individuals with fixed, distended, or sharp pain, whereas the left Guan pulse is a potentially useful diagnostic technique to determine acupuncture’s effects in individuals with dull, aching pain. The acupoints BL23, BL25, and BL40 provide effective treatment for LBP. Study participants with dull, aching pain had a significant improvement in their lumbar ranges of motion, and their pain rating scores were markedly decreased after acupuncture treatment.
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McDonald, John L., Allan W. Cripps, Peter K. Smith, Caroline A. Smith, Charlie C. Xue, and Brenda Golianu. "The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture and Their Relevance to Allergic Rhinitis: A Narrative Review and Proposed Model." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013 (2013): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/591796.
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Classical literature indicates that acupuncture has been used for millennia to treat numerous inflammatory conditions, including allergic rhinitis. Recent research has examined some of the mechanisms underpinning acupuncture's anti-inflammatory effects which include mediation by sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been reported to mediate the antioedema effects of acupuncture, but not antihyperalgesic actions during inflammation. Other reported anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture include an antihistamine action and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10), proinflammatory neuropeptides (such as SP, CGRP, and VIP), and neurotrophins (such as NGF and BDNF) which can enhance and prolong inflammatory response. Acupuncture has been reported to suppress the expression of COX-1, COX-2, and iNOS during experimentally induced inflammation. Downregulation of the expression and sensitivity of the transient receptor potential vallinoid 1 (TRPV1) after acupuncture has been reported. In summary, acupuncture may exert anti-inflammatory effects through a complex neuro-endocrino-immunological network of actions. Many of these generic anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture are of direct relevance to allergic rhinitis; however, more research is needed to elucidate specifically how immune mechanisms might be modulated by acupuncture in allergic rhinitis, and to this end a proposed model is offered to guide further research.
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Islam, Dr S. M. Shahidul, Dr Boxu Lang, and Sabina Yasmin. "A Case Report on Ischemic Stroke and Acupuncture." Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences 10, no. 10 (October 9, 2022): 1676–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2022.v10i10.014.
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Acupuncture's impact on stroke recurrence was little understood. Ischemic stroke patients who received acupuncture therapy were studied to see whether their risk of stroke recurrence was reduced. Recurrence rates per 1000 person-years fell from 71.4 without acupuncture to 69.9 with acupuncture (P= 0.01). It was shown that patients who received acupuncture therapy were less likely to have another stroke (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.84-0.91). Acupuncture had a positive effect on stroke patients regardless of whether or not they received medical therapy for stroke prevention. The hazard ratios of stroke recurrence for patients who received medication therapy alone, acupuncture treatment alone, or both were 0.42 (95% CI 0.38-0.46), 0.50 (95% CI 0.43-0.57), and 0.39 (95% CI 0.35-0.43) when compared to stroke patients who did not receive either acupuncture treatment or medication therapy. SUXI Healthcare Limited in Shantinagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh was the site of this investigation. A 60-year-old male patient came to us complaining of having left sided weakness for 2 years and difficulty in speaking for the same years. After examine and testes, the patient were treated with acupuncture. Surprisingly after the 2nd session of acupuncture the weakness in left side and difficulty in speaking were seen improving. Later research revealed promising results. Patient's left side weakness improved for the first time in two years, and his speech issues improved as well. According to the results of this research, acupuncture may be therapeutic for those who have had an ischemic stroke.
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Niruthisard, Supranee, Qiufu Ma, and Vitaly Napadow. "Recent advances in acupuncture for pain relief." PAIN Reports 9, no. 5 (September 13, 2024): e1188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/pr9.0000000000001188.
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Abstract Introduction: Acupuncture therapy has achieved global expansion and shown promise for health promotion and treatment of acute/chronic pain. Objectives: To present an update on the existing evidence base for research and clinical practice supporting acupuncture analgesia. Methods: This Clinical Update elaborates on the 2023 International Association for the Study of Pain Global Year for Integrative Pain Care “Factsheet Acupuncture for Pain Relief” and reviews best evidence and practice. Results: Acupuncture is supported by a large research evidence base and growing utilization. Mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia include local physiological response at the needling site, suppression of nociceptive signaling at spinal and supraspinal levels, and peripheral/central release of endogenous opioids and other biochemical mediators. Acupuncture also produces pain relief by modulating specific brain networks, integral for sensory, affective, and cognitive processing, as demonstrated by neuroimaging research. Importantly, acupuncture does not just manage pain symptoms but may target the sources that drive pain, such as inflammation, partially by modulating autonomic pathways. Contextual factors are important for acupuncture analgesia, which is a complex multifaceted intervention. In clinical practice, historical records and many providers believe that acupuncture efficacy depends on specific acupoints used, the technique of needle placement and stimulation, and the person who delivers the procedure. Clinical research has supported the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for various pain disorders, including acupuncture as a complementary/integrative therapy with other pain interventions. Conclusion: Although the quality of supportive evidence is heterogeneous, acupuncture's potential cost-effectiveness and low risk profile under standardized techniques suggest consideration as a neuromodulatory and practical nonpharmacological pain therapy.
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Holyoak, Gilbert Reed, and Aituan Ma. "Evidence-Based Application of Acupuncture in Theriogenology." Veterinary Sciences 9, no. 2 (January 28, 2022): 53. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9020053.
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Historical evidence of acupuncture predates written history. It has been a component of Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine for many generations and is officially recognized in recorded history for treating equine disease in the Zhou Dynasty, circa 1050 BC. Drawing from a range of searchable databases, we present the use of veterinary acupuncture related to theriogenology. We touch on human-based medicine only as an introduction to current uses within veterinary medical acupuncture. This review is confined to the use of acupuncture encompassing dry needle, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, and the few reports of laserpuncture. Starting with acupuncture’s influence on the master organs of reproduction, the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, we then review reports specific to the gonads—ovaries and testicles—and then its influences on the uterus. From there, we review reports on the influence of acupuncture on pain associated with reproductive surgery, and finally, on the use of acupuncture for maternal lactation. Based on published reports, we conclude that acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many situations as a treatment for infertility and/or reproductive tract disfunction, resulting in improvements in both female and male patients.
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Li, Junjun, Liang Dong, Xuhong Yan, Xiaozhang Liu, Ying Li, Xujun Yu, and Degui Chang. "Is Acupuncture Another Good Choice for Physicians in the Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome? Review of the Latest Literature." Pain Research and Management 2020 (March 10, 2020): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/5921038.
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This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). A search of PUBMED, EMBASE, Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Chinese Biomedicine Literature (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wang-Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and other available resources was made for studies (up to February 2019). Searches were limited to studies published in English and Chinese. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the efficacy and/or safety of acupuncture for CP/CPPS were included. Two investigators independently evaluated the quality of the studies. A total of 11 studies were included, involving 748 participants. The results revealed that compared with sham acupuncture (MD: −6.53 [95% CI: −8.08 to −4.97]) and medication (MD: −4.72 [95% CI: −7.87 to −1.56]), acupuncture could lower total NIH-CPSI score more effectively. However, there are no significant differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in terms of IPSS score. In terms of NIH-CPSI voiding domain subscore, no significant differences were found between acupuncture and medication. Compared with sham acupuncture (OR: 0.12 [95% CI: 0.04 to 0.40) and medication (OR: 3.71 [95% CI: 1.83 to 7.55]), the results showed favorable effects of acupuncture in improving the response rate. Acupuncture plus medication is better than the same medication in improving NIH-CPSI total score and NIH-CPSI pain domain subscore. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that acupuncture may be an effective intervention for patients with CP/CPPS. However, due to the heterogeneity of the methods and high risk of bias, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about the entity of the acupuncture’s effect on alleviating the symptoms of CP/CPPS. The adverse events of acupuncture are mild and rare.
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Pan, Weidong, Mingzhe Wang, Mao Li, Qiudong Wang, Shin Kwak, Wenfei Jiang, and Yoshiharu Yamamoto. "Actigraph Evaluation of Acupuncture for Treating Restless Legs Syndrome." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015 (2015): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/343201.
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We evaluated the effects of acupuncture in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) by actigraph recordings. Among the 38 patients with RLS enrolled, 31 (M=12,F=19; mean age,47.2±9.7years old) completed the study. Patients were treated with either standard acupuncturen=15or randomized acupuncturen=16in a single-blind manner for 6 weeks. Changes in nocturnal activity (NA) and early sleep activity (ESA) between week 0 (baseline), week 2, week 4, and week 6 were assessed using leg actigraph recordings, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLSRS), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Standard but not randomized acupuncture reduced the abnormal leg activity of NA and ESA significantly in week 2, week 4, and week 6 based on the changes in the clinical scores for IRLSRS and ESS in week 4 and week 6 compared with the baseline. No side effects were observed. The results indicate that standard acupuncture might improve the abnormal leg activity in RLS patients and thus is a potentially suitable integrative treatment for long-term use.
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Georgakopoulou, Paraskevi, Evangelia Anastasiadi, and Eleftherios Paraskevopoulos. "Acupuncture Reduces Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. A Systematic Review." International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science 12, no. 2 (April 30, 2024): 46–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.12n.2p.46.
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Aims: Acupuncture is an alternative method used to treat patients with Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). However, it still has not been well established, as an effective and safe option, in literature. This systematic review aims to investigate: (a) the quality of the methodology used in previous Randomized Controlled and Clinical Trials, concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture, in reducing pain, in patients with TMD, (b) the effectiveness of acupuncture, in reducing pain, in patients with TMD. Method: Electronic databases were investigated to identify available Randomized Controlled and Clinical Trials concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing pain in patients with TMD; Specific criteria were used to select eligible studies; the quality of studies was assessed using the PEDro scale; an evaluation of differences was performed between the qualified studies. Results: A total of ten Randomized Controlled and Clinical trials were included in this systematic review. The methodology used in most studies was determined to be low to moderate. Nine out of ten studies showed statistically significant results in reducing pain. However, acupuncture was not more effective than other therapeutic methods used in most of the studies. Only 2/10 studies revealed that acupuncture was more effective, when compared to other methods. Acupuncture reduced pain faster and the results lasted up to one month, when compared to other methods. Conclusion: Acupuncture is an effective method, in relieving pain, in patients with TMD. There is, however, need for more, qualitatively improved studies in order to verify acupunctures effects in patients with TMD.
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Chen, Jason Aaron, Justin Albert Chen, Sanghoon Lee, and Gerard Mullin. "Potential Role for Acupuncture in the Treatment of Food Addiction and Obesity." Acupuncture in Medicine 36, no. 1 (February 2018): 52–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2017-011366.
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Addressing the global obesity epidemic requires innovative approaches that are also acceptable to affected individuals. There is growing evidence suggesting that food addiction, one contributor to obesity, bears many similarities to drug and alcohol addiction, presenting a potential role for addiction-focused acupuncture as a novel treatment modality. In this perspective article, we begin by briefly reviewing the evidence linking food and drug/alcohol addiction. We then describe the development of an acupuncture-based protocol for treating opioid addiction in Hong Kong in the 1970s and discuss the evidence base for acupuncture's efficacy in treating a range of substance use disorders. Next, we describe acupuncture's proposed mechanism of action in attenuating withdrawal and promoting abstinence. Finally, we note the dearth of studies specifically examining the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating food addiction and suggest that more research should focus in this area as part of the effort to combat rising rates of obesity worldwide.
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Cheng, Meihua, and Xinyue Chen. "Image Construction of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture from the Framing Theory Perspective—A Case Study of Reports in The New York Times." Journal of Asian Research 9, no. 1 (May 26, 2025): p52. https://doi.org/10.22158/jar.v9n1p52.
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As an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, traditional Chinese acupuncture has gained increasing global influence in recent years. Prominent U.S. media outlets like The New York Times have played a pivotal role in its international dissemination, shaping both its media image and public perception. Adopting framing theory as the analytical lens, this study systematically examines the image construction strategies employed by U.S. mainstream media in portraying Chinese acupuncture across three dimensions: high-level themes, mid-level narratives, and low-level expressions. Specifically, it investigates how The New York Times constructs acupuncture’s image through its reporting. The findings reveal that The New York Times frames a multidimensional image of acupuncture through thematic selection, emotional tone, and linguistic symbolism. These representations highlight acupuncture’s therapeutic value and cultural significance while reflecting its localized adaptation within Western societies. This research offers theoretical insights into how international media shape perceptions of Chinese culture and provides practical implications for optimizing the global communication strategies of traditional Chinese medicine.
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Liu, Hsu-Jan, Sheng-Feng Hsu, Chang-Chi Hsieh, Tin-Yun Ho, Ching-Liang Hsieh, Chin-Chuan Tsai, and Jaung-Geng Lin. "The Effectiveness of Tsu-San-Li (St-36) and Tai-Chung (Li-3) Acupoints for Treatment of Acute Liver Damage in Rats." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 29, no. 02 (January 2001): 221–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x01000253.
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This study investigated the effects of acupuncture on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver injury in male rats (n = 36). The experimental groups were injected with CCl4 before, during, or after acupuncture therapy. Acupoints similar to the human Tsu-San-Li (St-36) and Tai-Chung (Li-3) were needled bilaterally. Rats treated with CCl4 had higher levels of serum glutamate-oxalate-transaminase (sGOT) and serum glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (sGPT). Comparing the experimental groups, biochemical and pathological parameters of liver injury were significantly reduced when rats were acupunctured after, not before, CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Acupuncture at the Tsu-Sa-Li and Tai-Chung acupoints cannot prevent acute liver injury but may be effective in treating liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.
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Cabioglu, Mehmet Tugrul, and Gülnaz Arslan. "Neurophysiologic Basis of Back-Shu and Huatuo-Jiaji Points." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 36, no. 03 (January 2008): 473–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x08005916.
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Acupuncture, a method of traditional Chinese medicine that uses Back-Shu and Huatuo-Jiaji points, is especially effective for treating diseases of the visceral organs. Applying acupuncture on Back-Shu points affects visceral organs in many ways. For example, it dilates the bronchus, affects the heartbeat, stomach motility, urinary bladder contractions and so on. Acupuncture's effects can be explained as viscero-cutaneous, cutaneo-visceral, cutaneo-muscular, and viscero-muscular reflexes. Segmental dispersion of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems is related to the location of Back-Shu points. Changes in visceral organs caused by application of acupuncture can be explained as modulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
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Morawik, Iwona, Karolina Turżańska, and Mirosław Jabłoński. "Acupuncture: Ancient Remedy or Modern Placebo?" Wiadomości Lekarskie, no. 3 (March 29, 2025): 595–601. https://doi.org/10.36740/wlek/202550.
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Introduction:. Acupuncture as an alternative method of pain treatment was created in China 3000 years ago. It still has many supporters. For years, it has been used in many countries to relieve labor pains, postoperative pains, pains caused by osteoarthritis, toothaches, and headaches. The World Health Organization (WHO) has significantly expanded the indications for the use of acupuncture. The aim: The primary aim of this article is to critically evaluate whether acupuncture is a scientifically validated therapeutic intervention or primarily a placebo effect? Material and methods: The material and methods section of this article involves a comprehensive review of existing literature, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and meta-analyses on acupuncture. The review also includes observational data on patient outcomes, potential risks, and reported complications. Results: The effectiveness of acupuncture has been extensively studied, with varying levels of scientific support for different conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the strongest evidence supports acupuncture’s effectiveness in dental pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and pregnancy-related nausea. Studies on lower back pain, headaches, and knee osteoarthritis have shown moderate benefits, leading some physicians to recommend acupuncture as a complementary therapy. Conclusions: An analysis of studies has shown the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of nausea and headaches. The results also showed the benefits of using this method in relieving back pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be one option for pain relief, but it needs more research.
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Grabous, Oleksii, Oksana Makar, Lukyan Andriyuk, and Oleksandr Hrabous. "ENHANCING SOLDIER RESILIENCE: ACUPUNCTURE TECHNIQUES FOR PAIN AND STRESS MANAGEMENT ON THE FRONTLINES." Anti-Aging Eastern Europe 3, no. 3 (September 30, 2024): 141–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.56543/aaeeu.2024.3.3.05.
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This article examines the growing interest in acupuncture as a potential treatment on the battlefield, particularly for pain relief and aiding the recovery of soldiers. This trend is part of a broader movement toward the integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into military healthcare systems. The article highlights how acupuncture’s holistic approach, which differs significantly from traditional Western medicine, makes it particularly effective in managing pain by considering the physical, psychological, and other patient characteristics that contribute to imbalances. Modern research and evidence further support the integration of acupuncture into pain management strategies, especially in military contexts. The article also explores the development and application of Battlefield Acupuncture, a protocol designed for rapid pain relief in combat settings. Additionally, the introduction of innovative approaches, such as finger acupuncture for self-help on the battlefield, offers a practical and low-risk alternative for soldiers in field conditions where access to comprehensive medical care may be limited. The effectiveness, simplicity, and potential for self-treatment make acupuncture a valuable tool in military medicine, particularly in resourceconstrained environments.
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Fan, Jing-qi, Wei-jing Lu, Wei-qiang Tan, Xin Liu, Yu-ting Wang, Nan-bu Wang, and Li-xing Zhuang. "Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Anxiety Among Patients With Parkinson Disease." JAMA Network Open 5, no. 9 (September 21, 2022): e2232133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.32133.
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ImportanceOne of the ordinary manifestations of Parkinson disease (PD) is anxiety, which remains untreated. Anxiety is closely associated with the accelerated progression of PD. Efficacy of acupuncture for anxiety has been reported. However, to date, there are no data on acupuncture’s effectiveness on anxiety for patients with PD.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of acupuncture vs sham acupuncture for treating anxiety in patients with PD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis is randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial enrolled patients between June 20, 2021, and February 26, 2022. Final follow-up was April 15, 2022. Patients with Parkinson disease and anxiety were allocated randomly (1:1) to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. Acupuncture operators, outcome measures evaluators, and statistical analysts were blinded to the grouping of patients. Patients were blinded to their own grouping during the study. This study took place in the Parkinson clinic of a hospital in China.InterventionsReal acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 8 weeks.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrimary outcome was Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) score. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), 39-item Parkinson Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and serum levels of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT).ResultsSeventy eligible patients were enrolled, including 34 women (48.5%) and 36 men (51.4%). Sixty-four patients (91%) completed the intervention and the 8-week follow-up, including 30 women (46.9%) and 34 men (53.1%) with a mean (SD) age of 61.84 (8.47) years. At the end of treatment, the variation of HAM-A score was 0.22 (95% CI, –0.63 to 1.07; P = .62) between the real acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. At the end of follow-up, the real acupuncture group had a significant 7.03-point greater (95% CI, 6.18 to 7.88; P &lt; .001) reduction in HAM-A score compared with the sham acupuncture group. Four mild adverse reactions occurred during the study.Conclusions and RelevanceThis study found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for anxiety in patients with PD. These findings suggest that acupuncture may enhance the wellbeing of patients who have Parkinson disease and anxiety.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2100047253
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Jiang, Song-he, Wen-zhan Tu, En-miao Zou, Jie Hu, Sai Wang, Jiang-ru Li, Wan-sheng Wang, Rong He, Rui-dong Cheng, and Wei-jing Liao. "Neuroprotective Effects of Different Modalities of Acupuncture on Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014 (2014): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/431580.
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Spinal cord injury (SCI) can induce a series of histological, biochemical, and functional changes. Acupuncture is commonly used for SCI patients. Using male rats of spinal cord injury with the New York University (NYU) Impactor, we investigated the response of electroacupuncture (EA), manual acupuncture (MA), and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) at Shuigou (DU26) and Fengfu (DU16) acupoints to understand the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture in neuroprotection and neuronal function recovery after SCI. Histological study showed a restored neural morphology and an increase in the quantity of neurons after EA, MA, and TAES administrations. Acupuncture's antioxidation effects were demonstrated by alleviation of the post-SCI superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increase and malondialdehyde (MDA) level decrease. The anti-inflammation effect of acupuncture was shown as the reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) when SCI was treated. And the antiapoptosis role was approved by TUNEL staining. Our data confirmed that the role of acupuncture in neuroprotection and dorsal neuronal function recovery after rat SCI, especially, EA stimulating at Shuigou (DU26) and Fengfu (DU16) can greatly promote neuronal function recovery, which may result from antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antiapoptosis effects of acupuncture.
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Yu, Xi-Wen, Cheng-Si Wang, Xi-Ze Sun, and Jia-Mei Wu. "Perspectives in clinical research on acupuncture treatment for central obesity: A perspective." Medicine 104, no. 21 (May 23, 2025): e42634. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000042634.
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This study evaluates acupuncture as a viable treatment for central obesity, noting its significant effects on reducing body weight and improving metabolic health. Clinical trials attribute these benefits to acupuncture’s impact on hormonal regulation, neurological responses, and inflammation reduction. Despite its proven efficacy and minimal side effects, which promote high patient satisfaction and adherence, challenges remain. These include variability in research designs and a general lack of methodological rigor. Future research should focus on personalized treatments and integrating acupuncture with conventional methods to enhance effectiveness. Policy recommendations include incorporating acupuncture into standard obesity management protocols and training providers to ensure safe, effective treatment delivery. This holistic approach could significantly improve obesity management within contemporary healthcare settings.
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Hsu, Sheng-Feng, Chien-Yue Chen, Ming-Da Ke, Chien-Hsun Huang, Yuan-Ting Sun, and Jaung-Geng Lin. "Variations of Brain Activities of Acupuncture to TE5 of Left Hand in Normal Subjects." American Journal of Chinese Medicine 39, no. 04 (January 2011): 673–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x11009111.
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This paper presents the evident effects of acupoint stimulation, using EEG (electroencephalogram) measurements. With acupuncture stimulation and the EEG measurement on the same meridian, EEG is able to accurately detect the effects of acupunctural point stimulation on brain waves. In this study, 24 subjects without heart or neural diseases were randomly separated into two groups of 12, named test and control groups. Similar procedures are performed; the subjects lay on a bed with eyes closed for ten minutes as the baseline. The test group received acupuncture at their Waiguan points (TE5) on their left hands for 20 minutes, while the control group did not. EEGs are recorded during pre-acupuncture, acupuncture stimulation and post-acupuncture stimulation periods. The EEG electrodes are at the T3, T4, O1 and O2 locations. Continuous wavelet transformation analysis is adopted; therefore, EEGs are divided into the following bands: δ (0.5–4HZ), θ (4–8HZ), α (8–13HZ) and β (13–30HZ). During acupuncture stimulation, the θ energy is increased and had statistical differences at all electrode points, T3, T4, O1 and O2. Upon removing the needle, the energy at the T3 and T4 points slowly declined and revealed obvious statistical differences. During acupuncture, only α energy has been noted to have statistical difference and it was increased at the T3 point. However, the energy was decreased and had no statistical difference after five minutes. Acupuncture is proven to be able to affect brain waves, as the stimulation might have changed the tissues between the cranium and scalp; therefore, the brain waves are detected more easily.
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Romero, Sally A. D., Eileen Jiang, Jason Bussell, Whitney Eriksen, Katherine N. Duhamel, Frances K. Barg, and Jun J. Mao. "What makes one respond to acupuncture for insomnia? Perspectives of cancer survivors." Palliative and Supportive Care 18, no. 3 (October 1, 2019): 301–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1478951519000762.
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AbstractObjectiveLike any therapy, acupuncture is effective for some patients, while not helpful for others. Understanding from a patients' perspective what makes one respond or not to acupuncture can help guide further intervention development. This study aimed to identify factors that influence the perception of acupuncture's therapeutic effect among cancer survivors with insomnia.MethodWe conducted post-treatment semi-structured interviews with cancer survivors who were randomized to the acupuncture group in a clinical trial for the treatment of insomnia. Survivors were categorized into Responders and Non-Responders to acupuncture treatment based on the change in the Insomnia Severity Index with a reduction of eight points or greater as the cut-off for the response. An integrated approach to data analysis was utilized by merging an a priori set of codes derived from the key ideas and a set of codes that emerged from the data through a grounded theory approach. Codes were examined for themes and patterns.ResultsAmong 28 cancer survivors interviewed, 18 (64%) were classified as Responders. Participants perceived the ability to respond to acupuncture as dependent on treatment that effectively: (1) alleviated co-morbidities contributing to insomnia, (2) supported sleep hygiene practices, and (3) provided a durable therapeutic effect. Acupuncture treatment that did not address one of these themes often detracted from positive treatment outcomes and diminished perceived benefit from acupuncture.Significance of resultsWe identified patient-perceived contributors to response to acupuncture, such as co-morbid medical conditions, adequate support for sleep hygiene practices, and temporary therapeutic relief. Addressing these factors may improve the overall effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia.
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Bao, Ting, Susan Q. Li, Josh L. Dearing, Lauren A. Piulson, Christina M. Seluzicki, Robert Sidlow, and Jun J. Mao. "Acupuncture versus Medication for Pain Management: A Cross-Sectional Study of Breast Cancer Survivors." Acupuncture in Medicine 36, no. 2 (April 2018): 80–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2017-011435.
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Aim of the Study Breast cancer survivors who take aromatase inhibitors (AI) often suffer from chronic pain. Emerging evidence supports the use of acupuncture as an effective pain management strategy for this condition, but its acceptability among cancer survivors is unknown. We evaluated breast cancer survivors’ preferences for acupuncture as compared with medication use and identified factors predictive of this preference. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among breast cancer survivors who were currently, or had been, taking an AI. The primary outcome was degree of preference for acupuncture as compared with medication for pain management. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses to evaluate the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) factors and health beliefs on treatment preference. Results Among 592 participants, 160 (27.0%) preferred acupuncture, 153 (25.8%) preferred medication and 279 (47.1%) had no clear preference. In a multivariate analysis that only included SES, higher education and white race were significantly associated with greater preference for acupuncture. When health beliefs were added, SES effects were attenuated, while greater expectation of acupuncture's effect, lower perceived barriers to its use, higher social norm (endorsement from family members and healthcare professionals) related to acupuncture and higher holistic health beliefs were associated with greater preference for acupuncture. Conclusion We found similar rates of preference for acupuncture versus medication among breast cancer survivors for pain management. Specific attitudes and beliefs predicted such preferences, highlighting the importance of a patient-centred approach to align patient beliefs and preferences with therapeutic options for more effective pain management. Trial Registration Number NCT01013337; Results.
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Wang, Shao-Jun, Hao-Yan Yang, and Guo-Shuang Xu. "Acupuncture Alleviates Colorectal Hypersensitivity and Correlates with the Regulatory Mechanism of TrpV1 and p-ERK." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012 (2012): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/483123.
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Here we used a mouse model of zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity, a similar model of IBS in our previous work, to evaluate the effectiveness of the different number of times of acupuncture and elucidate its potential mechanism of EA treatment. Colorectal distension (CRD) tests show that intracolonic zymosan injection does, while saline injection does not, induce a typical colorectal hypersensitivity. EA treatment at classical acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) in both hind limbs for 15 min slightly attenuated and significantly blunted the hypersensitive responses after first and fifth acupunctures, respectively, to colorectal distention in zymosan treatment mice, but not in saline treatment mice. Western blot results indicated that ion channel and TrpV1 expression in colorectum as well as ERK1/2 MAPK pathway activation in peripheral and central nerve system might be involved in this process. Hence, we conclude that EA is a potential therapeutic tool in the treatment and alleviation of chronic abdominal pain, and the effectiveness of acupuncture analgesia is accumulative with increased number of times of acupuncture when compared to that of a single time of acupuncture.
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Sjölund, Bengt H. "Acupuncture or acupuncture?" Pain 114, no. 3 (April 2005): 311–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2004.12.026.
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Kajla, Deepak, Maneesh Mohan, and Kenneth C. Ugoeze. "Acupuncture: A Potential Therapy for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders." Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology, Research and Management 11, no. 2 (November 10, 2023): 93–105. https://doi.org/10.15415/jptrm.2023.112002.
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Background: Acupuncture, a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years, is increasingly recognized as a complementary therapy for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Purpose: This review aims to explore recent advancements in acupuncture’s application for treating specific neurological and psychiatric conditions and to highlight its therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms. Methods: The review synthesizes findings from extensive research and scientific studies, incorporating insights from modern neuroimaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). It also examines the efficacy of combined modalities, such as laser and electroacupuncture. Results: Acupuncture has demonstrated efficacy in managing neurological conditions such as stroke, neuropathic pain, and neurodegenerative diseases by enhancing cerebral blood flow, promoting neuroplasticity, and providing neuroprotection. Its application in psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has shown promising outcomes. These therapeutic effects are mediated through mechanisms involving the autonomic nervous system, decreased inflammation, and neurotransmitter regulation. Combining acupuncture with modalities like laser and electroacupuncture has expanded treatment options and enhanced efficacy. Conclusion: Recent advancements underscore acupuncture’s promise as an effective adjuvant therapy for neurological and psychiatric conditions. However, challenges remain in standardizing procedures and refining study designs to better define specific mechanisms and optimize therapeutic parameters. Continued research is essential to establish acupuncture as a reliable treatment option for improving patient outcomes.
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Miller, David W., Eric J. Roseen, Jennifer A. M. Stone, Paula Gardiner, Juli Olson, Shellie Rosen, Peter Wayne, Robert Davis, and Remy Coeytaux. "Incorporating Acupuncture Into American Healthcare: Initiating a Discussion on Implementation Science, the Status of the Field, and Stakeholder Considerations." Global Advances in Health and Medicine 10 (January 2021): 216495612110425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/21649561211042574.
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Introduction The field of implementation science is the study of methods that promote the uptake of evidence-based interventions into healthcare policy and practice. While acupuncture has gained significant traction in the American healthcare landscape, its journey has been somewhat haphazard and non-linear. Methods In June 2019, a group of thirty diverse stakeholders was convened by the Society for Acupuncture Research with the support of a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Eugene Washington Engagement Award. This group of stakeholders represented a diverse mix of patients, providers, academicians, researchers, funders, allied health professionals, insurers, association leaders, certification experts, and military program developers. The collective engaged in discussion that explored acupuncture’s status in healthcare, including reflections on its safety, effectiveness, best practices, and the actual implementation of acupuncture as seen from diverse stakeholder viewpoints. Objectives A primary goal was to consider how to utilize knowledge from the field of implementation science more systematically and intentionally to disseminate information about acupuncture and its research base, through application of methods known to implementation science. The group also considered novel challenges that acupuncture may present to known implementation processes. Findings This article summarizes the initial findings of this in-person meeting of stakeholders and the ongoing discussion among the subject matter experts who authored this report. The goal of this report is to catalyze greater conversation about how the field of implementation science might intersect with practice, access, research, and policymaking pertaining to acupuncture. Core concepts of implementation science and its relationship to acupuncture are introduced, and the case for acupuncture as an Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is established. The status of the field and current environment of acupuncture is examined, and the perspectives of four stakeholder groups––patients, two types of professional practitioners, and researchers––are explored in more detail.
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Shan, Yi, Zhi-qun Wang, Zhi-lian Zhao, Mo Zhang, Shi-lei Hao, Jian-yang Xu, Bao-ci Shan, Jie Lu, and Kun-cheng Li. "An fMRI Study of Neuronal Specificity in Acupuncture: The Multiacupoint Siguan and Its Sham Point." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014 (2014): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/103491.
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Clarifying the intrinsic mechanisms of acupuncture’s clinical effects has recently been gaining popularity. Here, we choose the Siguan acupoint (a combination of bilateral LI4 and Liv3) and its sham point to evaluate multiacupoint specificity. Thirty-one healthy volunteers were randomly divided into real acupoint (21 subjects) and sham acupoint (10 subjects) groups. Our study used a single block experimental design to avoid the influence of posteffects. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired during acupuncture stimulation. Results showed extensive increase in neuronal activities with Siguan acupuncture and significant differences between stimulation at real and sham points. Brain regions that were activated more by real acupuncture stimulation than by sham point acupuncture included somatosensory cortex (the superior parietal lobule and postcentral gyrus), limbic-paralimbic system (the calcarine gyrus, precuneus, cingulate cortex, and parahippocampal gyrus), visual-related cortex (the fusiform and occipital gyri), basal ganglia, and the cerebellum. In this way, our study suggests Siguan may elicit specific activities in human brain.
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Li, Haixia, Qiongyao Xiang, Rujing Ren, and Gang Wang. "Acupuncture as a Complementary Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 101, s1 (October 18, 2024): S503—S520. http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/jad-231250.
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant global medical concern due to the aging population. AD is featured by gradual cognitive impairment, impacting daily functioning and causing behavioral and personality changes, causing disruptive psychiatric symptoms. While pharmacological interventions are the primary clinical approach, their efficacy is variable and limited. Acupuncture, with its distinctive theoretical framework and treatment approach, has garnered attention as a non-pharmacological intervention for AD through extensive preclinical and clinical research. Neurobiological investigations into the machinery of acupuncture in AD have provided compelling evidence of its therapeutic efficacy and unique advantages. This review commences with an in-depth exploration of acupuncture’s clinical applications, emphasizing its various parameters and its potential combination with first-line drugs and other therapies in the context of AD. Subsequently, we delve into the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture in AD. Finally, we summarize these aspects, highlight current study limitations, and offer recommendations for future research. Taken together, in a rapidly aging society, both clinical application and mechanistic exploration of acupuncture in AD treatment have gained momentum. This trajectory suggests that acupuncture will continue to make significant strides in AD therapeutics as research progresses.
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Zhu, Qianyin, Tingyu Mu, Die Dong, Lingshan Chen, Jiayi Xu, and Cuizhen Shen. "Renin-angiotensin system mechanism underlying the effect of auricular acupuncture on blood pressure in hypertensive patients with phlegm-dampness constitution: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial." PLOS ONE 19, no. 2 (February 1, 2024): e0294306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294306.
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Background Phlegm-dampness constitution is a traditional Chinese medicine constitution typically associated with essential hypertension. Previous studies have demonstrated that auricular acupuncture effectively decreases blood pressure and adjusts the constitution. However, the mechanism underlying auricular acupuncture’s effect is poorly understood. Methods A non-blinded, randomized controlled trial will be undertaken between September 2022 and May 2023. Eighty essential hypertensive patients with a phlegm-dampness constitution will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive eight weeks of auricular acupuncture and regular use of antihypertensive drugs, while the control group will only receive antihypertensive drugs. The primary outcome will be any mean differences in office systolic blood pressure. The secondary outcomes investigations will include proteins of the renin-angiotensin system, office blood pressure of different genotypes, and phlegm-dampness constitution scores. Discussion By demonstrating how auricular acupuncture affects the renin-angiotensin system, this research will offer significant new information on the mechanism underlying the action of auricular acupuncture in hypertension. Moreover, the results will provide crucial clinical information on the associations between renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms and the antihypertensive effects of auricular acupuncture. Trial registration Registered at the chictr.org.
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Kim, Yoon Sang. "The Impact of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on the Microenvironment." Science Insights 41, no. 2 (July 29, 2022): 599–603. http://dx.doi.org/10.15354/si.22.re072.
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Acupuncture therapy is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine that is being recognized by an increasing number of countries due to its convenience, effectiveness, and low risk of adverse reactions. The microenvironment is important in the occurrence, development, treatment, and rehabilitation of diseases, and has recently become a focus of research in the field of various diseases. Acupuncture’s therapeutic effect on the human body begins in the microenvironment (acupoints) and ends in the microenvironment (lesions). Many reports on the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion are written with the impact of acupuncture on the microenvironment of different systems or parts in mind. Several diseases that have been widely reported in recent years, such as osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, and tumors, have been chosen as examples.
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Calandruccio, Amy. "Acupuncture Effects on COVID -19 Long- Hauler Syndrome." Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine 10, no. 1 (January 31, 2024): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.24966/acim-7562/100444.
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This study provides a foundation for future acupuncture research for COVID-19 long-hauler syndrome for the symptoms of dysgeusia, anosmia, and brain fog. Dissemination of information on acupuncture’s efficacy is needed.
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MacPherson, Hugh. "Evidence-Based Acupuncture? a Challenge Ahead." Asian Medicine 1, no. 1 (January 16, 2005): 147–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157342105777996755.
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Acupuncture's increasingly widespread use has been paralleled by calls for more rigorous evidence of its effectiveness. In this article, some of the challenges of developing a strong evidence base are explored. As acupuncture is a complex intervention, a case is made for the appropriateness and relevance of pragmatic rather than experimental randomised controlled trials in the evaluation of acupuncture. Within this context there remain key challenges associated with ensuring treatment within a trial is sufficiently flexible, so that it can match the expected variability in patients, that outcomes measures capture the broader range of changes that can be experienced by patients, and that the therapeutic relationship is not compromised by the trial design. The central theme is the importance of protecting the integrity of the acupuncture, and the underlying principles upon which it is based.
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Li, Hongjin, Hannah Choi, Madelyn C. Houser, Changwei Li, Tingting Liu, Shuang Gao, Katy Sullivan, and Judith M. Schlaeger. "Impact of Acupuncture on Human Metabolomic Profiles: A Systematic Review." Metabolites 14, no. 10 (October 11, 2024): 542. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/metabo14100542.
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Background/Objectives: Metabolomics provides insights into the biological underpinnings of disease development and treatment. This systematic review investigated the impact of acupuncture on metabolite levels and associated metabolic pathways using a metabolomic approach. Methods: Five databases (i.e., PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central) were searched using terms such as “acupuncture” and “metabolites” to retrieve relevant journal articles published through January 2024. Studies utilizing mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Metabolic pathway analysis was conducted using MetaboAnalyst 6.0 to identify common significant pathways affected by acupuncture. Additionally, subgroup pathway enrichment analysis identified metabolites significantly altered in more than two studies. Results: Among 4019 articles, 22 studies met inclusion criteria, examining changes in metabolomic biomarkers before and after acupuncture for various diseases and symptoms. A total of 226 metabolites showed significant changes, with 14 common metabolites altered in more than two studies (glutamine, androsterone glucuronide, choline, citric acid, decanoylcarnitine, estrone, glutathione, glycine, hypoxanthine, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, serine, proline, and sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Common pathways affected by acupuncture were glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. Conclusions: This review provides insights of the metabolomic mechanisms underlying acupuncture, highlighting its impact on specific metabolic pathways. Recognizing these changes can enhance acupuncture’s effectiveness and support the development of personalized treatments. The findings underscore metabolomics as a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing acupuncture for various diseases and symptoms.
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Pernambuco, Carlos Soares, João Rafael Valentim-Silva, Edsel Bittencourt, Carlos Alberto Souza Filho, Vinicius do Espírito Santo de Jesus, Leandra Silva Cardoso, Isabel Cristina Regazzi, et al. "Impact of the Acupuncture on Performance, and Physiological Markers of Athletes: A Crossover Control Trial." Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research 36, no. 12 (December 2, 2024): 131–40. https://doi.org/10.9734/jammr/2024/v36i125660.
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Background: In recent years, interest has grown in complementary therapies to support athletic performance and recovery, with acupuncture showing potential to influence physiological responses during high-intensity exercise. Traditionally applied for pain management and stress reduction, acupuncture’s effects on exercise-related factors, such as perceived exertion, lactate levels, and heart rate, remain less examined. This study explores the immediate impact of acupuncture on physical performance and perceived exertion in amateur athletes, aiming to provide initial insights into its possible role as a supportive tool in sports training contexts. Aims: To determine the acute effects of acupuncture on physical performance and perceived exertion in amateur athletes. Methodology: A crossover and quantitative study was proposed. The sample was acquired at Estácio de Sá University, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, between April and May 2020. Fifteen competitive males engaged in HIIT (31.61 ± 7.02 years old; heart rate reserve: 59.71 ± 4.10; lactate: 3.31 ± 0.63 mM/DL) were subjected to two exercise sessions. Both sessions were performed at an intensity of 85-95% of maximum heart rate. Acupuncture points used: ST36, LI4, LI11, LR3. Lactate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and perceived exertion were assessed immediately after the exercise challenge, with or without acupuncture pre-conditioning. The Student’s t-test and Shapiro-Wilk test were applied for statistical analysis, with Pearson correlation tests conducted. A significance level of 5% was used. Results: A significant reduction in perceived exertion was observed after acupuncture (PES1: 19.4 ± 1.14; PES2: 16.8 ± 0.84; p = 0.001). Acupuncture also led to higher lactate accumulation and heart rate during the session. Conclusion: Acupuncture improved lactate clearance and reduced perceived exertion, suggesting it may be a useful intervention to enhance athletic performance. Limitations include the small sample size and the absence of direct VO2 max measurement.