The Status and Future of Acupuncture Mechanism Research

Abstract

On November 8-9, 2007, the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) hosted an international conference to mark the tenth anniversary of the landmark NIH [National Institutes of Health] Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture. More than 300 acupuncture researchers, practitioners, students, funding agency personnel, and health policy analysts from 20 countries attended the SAR meeting held at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. This paper summarizes important invited lectures in the area of basic and translational acupuncture research. Specific areas include the scientific assessment of acupuncture points and meridians, the neural mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation by acupuncture, mechanisms for electroacupuncture applied to persistent inflammation and pain, basic and translational research on acupuncture in gynecologic applications, the application of functional neuroimaging to acupuncture research with specific application to carpal-tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia, and the association of the connective tissue system to acupuncture research. In summary, mechanistic models for acupuncture effects that have been investigated experimentally have focused on the effects of acupuncture needle stimulation on the nervous system, muscles, and connective tissue. These mechanistic models are not mutually exclusive. Iterative testing, expanding, and perhaps merging of such models will potentially lead to an incremental understanding of the effects of manual and electrical stimulation of acupuncture needles that is solidly rooted in physiology. 861

History of Acupuncture

“…Becoming familiar with the recent history of AA (see Table 1.2) provides a better understanding of the benefits of integrating the practice into current, western, medical pain management. [2] 3300 bce Tattoo marks on the Tyrolean Iceman [3] 198 bce Silk scrolls (origin of moxibustion) [4] 100 bce The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, 1st document (Ling Shu) describing AA [2] 1950s AA developed in China [21] 1965 Gate theory for AA [5] 1971 Introduction of AA into USA [22] 1975 Discovery of enkephalin [9] 1976 Discovery of endorphin [7,8] 1979 Discovery of dynorphin [9], non-endorphin system for AA [14], DNIC theory for AA [6] 1986 Cholecystokinin 8 as a mediator for AA tolerance [18] 1997 Discovery of endomorphin [10], 1st NIH consensus meeting on acupuncture [27] 1998 1st fMRI study for AA studies [32] 2007 2nd NIH consensus meeting on acupuncture [28] AA acupuncture analgesia, DNIC diffuse noxious inhibitory control, NIH National Institute of Health, fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging…”

“…A World Health Organization report and a National Institutes of Health consensus conference each provided long lists of indications for which acupuncture was allegedly of proven benefit. The second "NIH Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture," held in 2007, summarized not only AA but also the modulation of visceral functions and anti-inflammation as acupuncture indications [28].…”

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Antiestrogen Therapy: A Pilot Study in Korean Women

“…In TKM, the acupuncture works by applying acupuncture to the 12 meridians and 5 inductive points. 27,34,35 Each inductive point is assigned to Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water of the five phases with the characteristics of each elements, whereas eight principles in TCM includes Interior and Exterior, Hot and Cold, Full and Empty, Yin and Yang. 36 These inductive points represent the flow of Qi inside the 12 meridians using the flow of Water as metaphor.…”

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Practice in Infertility

“…Çalişmanin sonucunda da anovulator infertil hastalarda akupunkturun klinik etkilerinin çok etkili olduğu bildirilmiştir (15) . "10 th International Conference on Acupuncture" sunulan klinik araştirma sonuçlarina göre, uterus ve yumurtalik kan akişinin düzenlenmesinde akupunkturun etkili olduğu belirtilmiştir (16) .…”

“…PCOS olan hastalara uygulanan düşük frekansli elektro akupunkturun sonuçlari değerlendirilmiş, endokrin parametreleri ve anovulasyon üzerine uzun süre etkilerinin olduğu belirtilmiştir. Araştirmacilar bu etkilerin yumurtalik sempatik sinirleri aktive etmesinden kaynaklandiğini belirtmişlerdir (16) .…”