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Cells Feb 2022This review summarizes experimental evidence indicating that subcutaneous mast cells are involved in the trigger mechanism of analgesia induced by acupuncture, a... (Review)
Review
This review summarizes experimental evidence indicating that subcutaneous mast cells are involved in the trigger mechanism of analgesia induced by acupuncture, a traditional oriental therapy, which has gradually become accepted worldwide. The results are essentially based on work from our laboratories. Skin mast cells are present at a high density in acupuncture points where fine needles are inserted and manipulated during acupuncture intervention. Mast cells are sensitive to mechanical stimulation because they express multiple types of mechanosensitive channels, including TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, receptors and chloride channels. Acupuncture manipulation generates force and torque that indirectly activate the mast cells via the collagen network. Subsequently, various mediators, for example, histamine, serotonin, adenosine triphosphate and adenosine, are released from activated mast cells to the interstitial space; they or their downstream products activate the corresponding receptors situated at local nerve terminals of sensory neurons in peripheral ganglia. The analgesic effects are thought to be generated via the reduced electrical activities of the primary sensory neurons. Alternatively, these neurons project such signals to pain-relevant regions in spinal cord and/or higher centers of the brain.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Analgesia; Humans; Mast Cells; Pain; Sensory Receptor Cells
PubMed: 35269431
DOI: 10.3390/cells11050809 -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Oct 2022Acupuncture has gained growing attention in the management of osteoporosis (OP). However, a comprehensive review has not yet been conducted on the efficacy and... (Review)
Review
Acupuncture has gained growing attention in the management of osteoporosis (OP). However, a comprehensive review has not yet been conducted on the efficacy and challenges of acupuncture in preliminary research and clinical trials. Therefore, an extensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), CNKI (www.cnki.net), and Web of Science, for studies published from the beginning of 2000 to the end of May 2022. Combinations of synonyms for OP, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, clinical trial, preclinical study, and animal experiments were searched. A total of 290 papers were consulted, including 115 reviews, 109 clinical observations, and 66 preclinical studies. There is accumulating evidence to support the beneficial role of acupuncture in preserving bone quality and relieving clinical symptoms based on clinical and preclinical investigations. The top ten most commonly used acupoints are BL23, ST36, BL20, BL11, CV4, GV4, SP 6, KI3, BL18, and GB39. The underlying mechanisms behind the benefits of acupuncture may be linked with the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (adrenal) axis and activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathways. In summary, strong evidence may still come from prospective and well-designed clinical trials to shed light on the potential role of acupuncture in preserving bone loss. Future investigations are needed to explore the potential underlying mechanisms, long-term clinical efficacy, and compliance of acupuncture in OP management.
Topics: Animals; Prospective Studies; Acupuncture; Acupuncture Therapy; Acupuncture Points; Osteoporosis
PubMed: 36521826
DOI: 10.51507/j.jams.2022.15.5.281 -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Apr 2017In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture points (APs) have been emphasized as key elements that generate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. At the spinal cord... (Review)
Review
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture points (APs) have been emphasized as key elements that generate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. At the spinal cord or supraspinal level, sensory neurons located in the dorsal horn receive an extensive supply of sensory information from skin and muscle receptors through peripheral afferent nerves. The stimulated skin area that influences the activity of a spinal sensory neuron is known as the peripheral receptive field (RF) of that neuron. By considering that a particular AP location involves the activation of one or various RFs, it can be assumed that several sensory central neurons are the site of convergence of the peripheral input generated by acupuncture stimulation. However, stimulation on nonacupoint sites could also activate skin areas with RFs that have been sensitized, and they could be involved in the generation of nonspecific effects of acupuncture, as seen in clinical practice. From the latter, it is suggested that effective APs, and even nonacupoints, are associated with a particular arrangement of RFs, and their study will be useful for understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of acupuncture and for the development and identification of more efficient sites and modes of acupuncture stimulation to evoke optimal therapeutic actions.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Animals; Humans; Sensory Receptor Cells; Skin
PubMed: 28483189
DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2017.01.006 -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Apr 2019A number of studies have examined the accuracy and precision of acupuncture point location across various point location methods. Accuracy of point location is essential...
A number of studies have examined the accuracy and precision of acupuncture point location across various point location methods. Accuracy of point location is essential for safe, efficacious and reliable treatments and valid reproducible research outcomes. This review aims to identify, summarize, compare and critically appraise available empirical studies relating to the accuracy and precision of acupuncture point location. A comprehensive search of five electronic databases, World Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Google scholar was performed for studies investigating accuracy and precision in acupuncture point location. 771 studies were screened of which 14 studies were identified, including 9 studies that investigated the localization of acupoints and 5 studies that examined the cun measurement system. Considerable variation in localization of acupoints was reported among qualified medical acupuncturists. Variation in point location among qualified non-medical acupuncturists is unknown due to lack of any identified study. The directional method was found to be significantly inaccurate and imprecise in all studies that evaluated the method. Suitability of other methods for clinical and research purposes and influencing factors such as education, training and experience were identified as topics for future studies.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Humans
PubMed: 30396004
DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2018.10.009 -
Explore (New York, N.Y.) 2019The most well known forms of "energy psychology" combine cognitive and exposure techniques with the stimulation of selected acupuncture points (acupoints) by tapping on... (Review)
Review
The most well known forms of "energy psychology" combine cognitive and exposure techniques with the stimulation of selected acupuncture points (acupoints) by tapping on them. Most clinicians who learn and utilize an acupoint tapping protocol integrate the approach within their existing clinical frameworks rather than using it as a stand-alone therapy. The method has been highly controversial, with its efficacy, purported speed, and explanatory models all questioned. Nonetheless, its utilization within clinical settings and as a self-help method has continued to expand since it was introduced more than three decades ago. This paper reviews the most salient criticisms of the method and presents research and empirically based theoretical constructs that address them. More than 100 peer-reviewed outcome studies-51 of which are randomized controlled trials-provide an evidential base for evaluating the claims and criticisms surrounding the approach. This review concludes that a growing body of evidence indicates that acupoint-based energy psychology protocols are rapid and effective in producing beneficial outcomes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and possibly other conditions. Mechanisms by which acupoint tapping might bring about these treatment outcomes are also proposed.
Topics: Acupressure; Acupuncture Points; Emotions; Humans; Mental Disorders; Physical Stimulation
PubMed: 30718189
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2018.11.003 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Dec 2022To systematically review and analyze the effect of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding in treatment of abdominal obesity to provide a more reasonable clinical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and analyze the effect of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding in treatment of abdominal obesity to provide a more reasonable clinical treatment regimen.
METHODS
Ten databases were searched as of August 2022: the English databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wiley, and Scopus and the Chinese databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang, and SinoMed/Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding as the main interventions to treat abdominal obesity were extracted. The investigators imported the citations into EndNote version X9.1 for deduplication, screening, extraction, and integration. The risk of bias in the included RCTs was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5.4 software was used to conduct a Meta-analysis of RCTs that met the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Thirteen RCTs (1069 patients) were included in this study, and the data of eleven RCTs (966 patients) were include in the Meta-analysis. The results showed that acupoint catgut embedding can significantly change the weight and waist circumference of patients with abdominal obesity when compared to sham acupuncture or no treatment [mean difference () = 2.32, 95% confidence interval () (1.88, 2.76), < 0.000 01], [ = 3.47, 95% (1.99, 4.94), < 0.000 01]. The change in hip circumference after acupuncture was also significant [ = 0.89, 95% (0.12, 1.66), = 0.02].
CONCLUSION
This study found that acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding can effectively treat abdominal obesity, therefore, these interventions can be used as clinical supplements and alternative therapies. The diagnostic criteria of the existing studies and the intervention measures of the control group are not unified. It will be necessary to improve the clinical study protocols and expand the sample size to further validate the reliability of the results obtained of this study.
Topics: Humans; Catgut; Acupuncture Points; Obesity, Abdominal; Acupuncture Therapy; Obesity
PubMed: 36378041
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.06.002 -
American Family Physician Sep 2009Acupuncture is increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy for the treatment of pain. It is well tolerated, with a low risk of serious adverse effects....
Acupuncture is increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy for the treatment of pain. It is well tolerated, with a low risk of serious adverse effects. Traditional and modern acupuncture techniques may result in reported improvement in pain patterns. Research on acupuncture has had a number of limitations, including: incomplete understanding of the physiologic effects of acupuncture; ineffective blinding of participants; unclear adequacy of acupuncture "dose;" difficulty in identification of suitable sham or placebo treatments; and the use of standardized treatment regimens rather than the individualized approach that characterizes most acupuncture practice. Controlled trials have been published regarding acupuncture for lumbar, shoulder, and neck pain; headache; arthritis; fibromyalgia; temporomandibular joint pain; and other pain syndromes. Enough data are available for some conditions to allow systematic evaluations or meta-analyses. Based on published evidence, acupuncture is most likely to benefit patients with low back pain, neck pain, chronic idiopathic or tension headache, migraine, and knee osteoarthritis. Promising but less definitive data exist for shoulder pain, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint pain, and postoperative pain. Acupuncture has not been proven to improve pain from rheumatoid arthritis. For other pain conditions, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions.
Topics: Acupuncture Analgesia; Acupuncture Points; Humans; Pain Management; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 19725489
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Oct 2023Hot flashes are the common and debilitating symptom among prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Strong evidence from multiple...
BACKGROUND
Hot flashes are the common and debilitating symptom among prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Strong evidence from multiple rigorously designed studies indicated that pharmacological option such as venlafaxine provides partial relief, but the tolerability is poor when dose is not tapered. Hence, alternative therapy is needed. Previous studies reported that acupuncture may be helpful in the management of hot flashes. However, the insufficient randomized controlled trial limited the quality of evidence.
METHODS
Five hospitals will recruit 120 acupuncture naïve patients with moderate-to-severe hot flashes after prostate cancer received ADT in China from February 2023 to December 2024. Participants will be randomly 2:1:1 allocated to the 18 sessions of verum acupuncture at true acupuncture points plus usual care, 18 sessions of non-penetrating sham acupuncture at non-acupuncture points plus usual care, or usual care alone over 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the change of mean weekly hot flashes symptom severity score (HFSSS) at the end of treatment compared with baseline.
EXPECTED RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
We will be able to measure the effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with PCa suffering from ADT-induced hot flashes and whether acupuncture is superior to sham acupuncture and usual care. The proposed acupuncture treatment might provide an alternative option for those patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05069467).
Topics: Male; Humans; Hot Flashes; Androgen Antagonists; Prostatic Neoplasms; Acupuncture Therapy; Acupuncture Points; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37891531
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04218-y -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Feb 2018Robustness, an ability of biological networks to uphold their functionalities in the face of perturbations, is a key characteristic of all living systems. Acupuncture is... (Review)
Review
Robustness, an ability of biological networks to uphold their functionalities in the face of perturbations, is a key characteristic of all living systems. Acupuncture is a procedure in which fine needles are inserted into an individual at discrete points and then manipulated, with the intent of preventing and curing diseases. Acupuncture does not directly eliminate pathogenic factors or pathological tissue; rather, acupuncture enhances the ability of the human body to self-medicate itself by activating complex regulatory systems and by maintaining physiological homeostasis to prevent or treat diseases. From this point of view, the effect of acupuncture on the human body is more likely a kind of regulation to promote robustness. That is to say, acupuncture has the ability to promote robustness. In this article, we review the properties and functions of acupuncture in preventing and treating diseases and in maintaining health by enhancing robustness.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Animals; Humans; Needles
PubMed: 29482800
DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2017.11.004 -
Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian... Jun 2017This study aims to explore the potential use of ultrasound in locating the second posterior sacral foramen acupuncture point, quantifying depth of insertion and...
This study aims to explore the potential use of ultrasound in locating the second posterior sacral foramen acupuncture point, quantifying depth of insertion and describing surrounding anatomical structures. We performed acupuncture needle insertion on a study team member. There were four steps in our experiment. First, the acupuncturist located the acupuncture point by palpation. Second, we used an ultrasound machine to visualize the structures surrounding the location of the acupuncture point and measure the depth required for needle insertion. Third, the acupuncturist inserted the acupuncture needle into the acupuncture point at an angle of 30°. Fourth, we performed another ultrasound scan to ensure that the needle was in the desired location. Results suggested that ultrasound could be used to locate the acupuncture point and estimate the depth of needle insertion. The needle was inserted to a depth of 4.0 cm to reach the surface of the sacral foramen. Based on Pythagoras theorem, taking a needle insertion angle of 30° and a needle insertion depth of 4.0 cm, the estimated perpendicular depth is 1.8 cm. An ultrasound scan corroborated the depth of 1.85 cm. The use of an ultrasound-guided technique for needle insertion in acupuncture practice could help standardize the treatment. Clinicians and students would be able to visualize and measure the depth of the sacral foramen acupuncture point, to guide the depth of needle insertion. This methodological guide could also be used to create a standard treatment protocol for research. A similar mathematical guide could also be created for other acupuncture points in future.
Topics: Acupuncture; Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Humans; Sacrum; Spinal Cord; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 28712482
DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2017.03.001