ABSTRACT
The endocannabinoid system, an important biological network for maintaining and balancing various functions of the human body, is involved in many physiological functions such as pain, emotion, learning and memory, etc. Among which the endocannabinoid receptors ï¼»including type I (CB1) and type II (CB2) receptorsï¼½ play an important role in the regulation of pain and have become an important target in the mechanism research of acupuncture analgesia. CB1 is mainly distributed in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord, cerebral cortex, amygdala, insular cortex, and basal ganglia, etc. CB2 is mainly distributed in peripheral immune tissues, such as spleen, bone, skin, etc. In the central and peripheral nervous systems, acupuncture can activate CB1 and CB2 receptors respectively, which is involved in the transmission of central nociceptive signals and related transmitters as well as the peri-pheral pro-nociceptive inflammatory response, thereby alleviating the nociceptive hypersensitivity in animal models. In this paper, we systematically summarize the roles of the above mechanisms in different types of animal models (inflammatory pain, neuropathological pain, visceral pain, etc.), so as to provide new ideas for the study of the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Analgesia , Endocannabinoids , Animals , Humans , Pain , Central Nervous System , Spinal CordABSTRACT
Based on literature research and Delphi expert consensus method, the important acupoints for cancer pain was summarized to provide evidence basis for the formulation of Clinical Practice Guide of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Cancer Pain. Through systematic search of Chinese and English databases, 28 clinical studies regarding acupuncture for cancer pain were included. The acupoint selection methods and high-frequency acupoints were summarized and analyzed. Based on this, a Delphi questionnaire was designed and two rounds of questionnaire survey on 30 experts in acupuncture and tumor related fields in China and abroad were conducted. As a result, it was suggested that the individualized acupoint selection should be adopted for acupuncture treatment of cancer pain, with Zusanli (ST 36), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and ashi points as the main acupoints. Combined with clinical research evidence and expert consensus, the important acupoints for cancer pain were identified. However, clinical acupoint selection still needed further research and refinement.
