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In October 2021, an international collaborative study on the use of electroacupuncture (EA) to treat inflammation was published in the journal Nature by Dr. Qiufu Ma's team. Based on the results of EA on inflammation in the mouse model of lipopolysaccharide inflammatory storm, the study showed that the distal effect of acupuncture can be achieved by "driving the vagus-adrenal axis (through the adrenal medulla, by releasing catecholamines)." PROKR2Cre-marked sensory neurons, which innervate the deep hindlimb fascia but not the abdominal fascia, are crucial for driving this axis. The study suggests the existence of specificity distribution of acupoints, that different EA stimulation intensities or different needle penetration depths have different therapeutic effects, that photosensitive stimulation may be a substitute for needle acupuncture, and that massage, stretching and body movements may also activate PROKR2Cre-markable dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons and elicit anti-inflammatory effects. However, results of some other studies are contrary to the conclusions of Ma's team. For examples: low-intensity EA at GB30 point significantly reduced the inflammation in the rat model of persistent inflammation, which is more relevant to the real daily acupuncture practice, and this effect was partly related to the adrenal cortex and associated with the stimulation of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone; manual acupuncture (similar to the low-intensity EA) at KI3, Zhichuan point (an extra point), etc. was effective in a severe COVID-19 patient with sepsis; stimulating ST25 with low-intensity EA or manual acupuncture was effective against gastrointestinal inflammations; the above mentioned points are not in an area enriched with PROKR2Cre-marked sensory nerve endings. Evidence shows that the mechanism of EA against inflammation includes modulating multi-systems, multi-levels and multi-targets, which does not limit to "driving the vagus-adrenal axis." Please cite this article as: Fan AY. Anti-inflammatory mechanism of electroacupuncture involves the modulation of multiple systems, levels and targets and is not limited to "driving the vagus-adrenal axis." J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):320-323.
Subject(s)
Mice , Rats , Animals , Electroacupuncture , COVID-19/therapy , Acupuncture Therapy , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Inflammation/therapy , Acupuncture PointsABSTRACT
This article was aimed to observe the intracardiac pressure under different states by electric acupuncture (EA) on yuan-source point of PC7-Daling and to explore the acupuncture effect features. Catheterization was applied through the right common carotid artery to the left ventricle in order to record the left intraventricular pressure. The intracardiac pressure was used as an indicator. The effects of EA on PC7-Daling to the left intraventricular pressure of rats were observed under the states of normal physiology, isoproterenol and propranolol, respectively. The results showed that for the immediate effects of acupuncture, EA on PC7-Daling can obviously excited the intracardiac pressure of normal rats. Under the state of intravenous application of propranolol and isoproterenol, no obvious reac-tions during EA on PC7-Daling. From the effects of acupuncture, under normal conditions, EA on PC7-Daling had excitatory effect; under propranolol state, it had inhibitory effects; and the effect of isoproterenol state was variable. It was concluded that according to the specificity of acupoint effect, PC7-Daling can excite intracardiac pressure.
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This study was aimed to explore the clinical efficacy and differences in hemorheological parameters in sudden deafness treated with Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture and western medicine . Patients were selected according to the diagnostic criteria of sudden deafness. Patients were randomly divided into the Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture group ( 35 cases ) and the western medicine group (30 cases). In the treatment group, Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction was orally administrated in combination with electric acupuncture on Jiaj i points on the neck region . In the western medicine group , alprostadil and prednisone were used . For both groups , 10 days were one treatment course . The results showed that after two treatment courses , the hearing improvement of two groups was compared . The total efficiency of Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture group was 91 . 4%. And the total efficiency of the western medicine group was 66 . 7%. There were significant differences between two groups ( P < 0 . 05 ) . The treatment efficiency of tinnitus between two groups was also compared . The total efficiency of Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture group was 91 . 2%. And the total efficiency of the western medicine group was 78 . 6%. There was no significant difference between two groups . The comparison of dizziness relieving effect between two groups showed that the total efficiency of Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture group was 94 . 1%; and the total efficiency of the western medicine group was 73 . 3%. There was no significant difference between two groups . The hemorheological parameters were also improved . In the Chinese medicine combined with electric acupuncture group , indexes such as blood viscosity ratio , plasma viscosity ratio , erythro-cyte electrophoresis time and hematocrit were all improved obviously compared to western medicine group . There was significant difference between two groups ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It was concluded that in the improvement of clinical symptoms of sudden deafness, physical signs and hemorheology, Chinese medicine combined with elec-tric acupuncture receives better effects compared to western medicine .
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Objective To observe the clinical effect of electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods Forty cases with herpes zoster were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 20 patients in each group.The treatment group was treated with electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion,while the control group was treated with valaciclovir and vitamin B1.In the two groups severity of pain and the time of pain beginning to ease,pain lasting blisters disappearing,incrustation and decrustation during treatment were observed and recorded,referring to the People's Republic of China Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Standard(Chinese disease diagnosis and efficacy standard)for efficacy evaluation.Results There was significant difference between the treatment group and the control group with regard to the cure rate(75% versus 35%,P＜0.05);however,the total effective rates of two groups had no significant difference(P＞0.05).After treatment VAS score in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group(P＜0.05);in treatment group the time of pain beginning to ease and pain lasting were significantly less than those in control group(P＜0.05);the time of blister disappearing in treatment group was significantly faster than that in control group(P＜0.01);the time of incrustation and decrustation in treatment group were significantly less than those in control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The advantages of electric acupuncture,surrounding acupuncture and cotton moxibustion in the treatment of herpes zoster were shown as faster pain easing,shorter pain lasting,shorter duration of blister and incrustation.This treatment for herpes zoster is safe,effective and affordable.
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@# Objective To observe the clinical effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on diabetic foot.Methods98 diabetic foot patients were divided into the routine treatment group (50 cases), treated only with conventional treatment, and the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group (48 cases) added with multidisciplinary rehabilitation besides conventional treatment.ResultsAfter one month treatment, blood flow parameters of the patients with 0 grade diabetic foot in the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group were markedly improved showed by color Doppler ultrasonograghy of lower limbs ( P<0.05); after two months treatment, the effect of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group was better than that of the routine treatment group ( P<0.05).ConclusionThe multidisciplinary rehabilitation has obvious effect on diabetic foot and can improve disease recovery earlier.
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Objective:To study the effectiveness and safety of different acupuncture therapies in treating Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)after Wenchuan‘5.12’earthquake.And choose a desirable acupuncture therapy.Methods:A total of 276 patients were recruited in this trial and randomly divided into four groups:scalp electric acupuncture group(group A),scalp electric acupuncture with moxibustion group(group B),scalp electric acupuncture with auricular acupuncture group(group C)and paroxetine hydrochloride group(group D).Each group was treated for 12 weeks.Patients were scored using Clinicianadministered Scale for DSM-IV(CAPS),Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD),and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA).Results:The study was finished well with a balanced grouping and fine baseline.After the analysis of integrations of CAPS,HAMD,and HAMA,we found that the score differences before and after the treatment were of statistical significance in all four groups(P
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[Objective ] To evaluate the curative effect of urinary retention caused by hyperplasia of prostate gland after treatment of electric acupuncture to Ciliao and Zhongliao acupoints combined with ultrashort wave therapy.[Methods] 35 patients were treated by electric acupuncture to Ciliao and Zhongliao acupoints cooperating with ultrashort wave therapy.Residual urine volumn(RUV),frequency of urinary retention,the therapeutic effect and follow-up were recorded and statistically analyzed.[Results] 29 patients were able to urinate after the therapy,except for 6 patients who were still in urinary retention condition.Effective rate were up to 82.8%.[Conclusion] It proved that the less the frequency was,the better the clinical effect would be.However,no matter how frequent the retention was,our combination therapy still worked,and both effects of the near future and long-term were proved to be fine.Special therapeutic action from Shu acupoint,electric acupuncture's electric current effect,and physical therapy of ultrashort wave contributed to the outcome.
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[Objective] To explore the effective method of nerve-root type sondylopathy.[Method] Apply cervical vertebra traction and electric acupuncture on 134 cases.[Result] 62 cases were cured,occupying 46.2%;21 much effective 15.7%;36 better,26.9%;15 no effect,11.2%,the total effective rate 88.8%.[Conclusion] The said method has definite clinical effect on the disease above.
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Third lumbar vertebra TP syndrome is one of the common diseases and frequently encountered diseases in sports trauma,and it tends to have recurrent attacks.The author of this article successfully cured 83 cases of athletes with this syndrome through electric acupuncture combined with Tuina,with low recurrence rate.In this article,the author illuminated the principles of curing and the highlights of operation.
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Objective To study the effects and the mechanism of electric acupuncture therapy with early rehabilitation training on cerebral ischemic injury. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups: normal control group without any treatment, ischemic model group, electric acupuncture therapy group and electric acupuncture therapy with rehabilitation training group. Except the normal control group, all rats were established into cerebral ischemic models. In 4 weeks after the operation, the morphological changes of ischemic zone, the serum level of IL6 and the expression of IL1 in hippocampus of sarcrificed rats were observed and detected. Results The combined therapy could significantly ameliorate the pathologic changes of cerebral ischemic zone, decrease the serum level of IL6 and enhance the release of IL1 in hippocampus. Conclusion The combined therapy, by enhancing the release of IL1 and decreasing the serum level of IL6, can decrease the damage of the cerebral ischemia, accelerate the rehabilitation and reinforce the living quality.
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Nausea, retching and vomiting are among the most common postoperative complaints after general anesthesia. Some effective drugs and approaches were sought to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting, but none of them abolished those complaints completely and without side-effects. We studied postoperative antiemetic effect of electric acupuncture stimulaton (EAS) on PC6 point (Neiguan, on the pericardium meridian) and PC7 point (Daling, on the pericardium meridian) before induction of anesthesia. One hundred patients (ASA I-II) scheduled for transabdominal hysterectomy were randomly selected, premedicated with glycopyrrolate, and divided into two group, the EAS-treated group (experimental group, 50 patients) and the non EAS-treated group (control group, 50 patients). For the EAS-treated group, electrical stimulation of 3Hz was applied for 15 minutes just 45 minutes prior to the induction and as for the non EAS-treated group, no EAS was applied and the incidence of nausea, retching and vomiting were blindly checked every three hours after operation for 12 hours. The incidence of postoperative nausea, retching and vomiting in EAS-treated group 3 hours after operation was 24% as compared to the non EAS-treated group, 54%(p<0.001). Between 3 hours and 6 hours after operation, it was 12% in EAS-treated group and 52% in non EAS-treated group(p<0.001), between 6 hours and 9 hours after operation, it was 26% in EAS-treated group and 64% in non EAS-treated group(p<0.001), and during 9 to 12 hours after operation, it was 28% in EAS-treated group and 60% in non EAS-treated group(p<0.001). For 12 hours after operation, the incidence of postoperative nausea, retching and vomiting in EAS group was significantly lower compared to the non-EAS group, 30% and 68%(p<0.001), respectively. Although definite mechanism is not known, it can be concluded that EAS of PC 6 and PC 7 antiemetic point is very effective in preventing postoperative nausea, retching and vomiting.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture , Anesthesia , Anesthesia, General , Antiemetics , Electric Stimulation , Glycopyrrolate , Hysterectomy , Incidence , Nausea , Pericardium , Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting , VomitingABSTRACT
Forty - six cases of VD were equally and randomly divided into 2 groups, the electric - acupuncture group (EA) and acupuncture group (A). Changes in scoring value of HDS, FAQ. CCSE; contents of SOD. LPO. GSH -Px. bloodlipids and NO and changes in EEG. TCD were observed before and after treatment. The effective rate, total ameliorated and effective rates were 52. 2%, 87. 0% respectively in the AE group; higher than those in the Agroup of 13. 0%. 47. 8% respectively (P 0. 05), indicating that EA treatment is superior to regular acupuncture treatment for VD and exerts marked convalescent actions on patients mental ability.