Acupuncture points can be identified as cutaneous neurogenic inflammatory spots

Abstract

Acupuncture, a traditional medical procedure practised for over 2000 years in Asia, stimulates specific but poorly defined sites called acupoints. To date, no unique anatomical acupoint structures have been found. However, noxious sensory signals from visceral organs produce hypersensitive spots on the skin (neurogenic spots), caused by cutaneous neurogenic inflammation, in the dermatome that overlaps with visceral afferent innervations. Here, we show that an acupoint is one form of neurogenic inflammation on the skin. Various studies have demonstrated that acupoints show mechanical hypersensitivity and have high electrical conductance. Stimulation of acupoints produces needling sensations caused by the activation of small diameter afferent nerve fibres and therapeutic effects on the associated visceral organs, which is likely due to the release of endogenous opioids. The present study provides experimental evidence that neurogenic spots exhibit all the characteristics of the acupoints listed above. In addition, the stimulation of neurogenic spots by electrical, mechanical, or chemical means alleviated pathological conditions in rat colitis and hypertension models via the endogenous opioid system. Our results suggest that acupoints associated with internal organs may be identical to neurogenic inflammatory spots on the skin, which are produced by activation of somatic afferents in abnormal conditions of visceral organs.

Paired mechanical and electrical acupuncture of neurogenic spots induces opioid-mediated suppression of hypertension in rats

“…While our previous studies have shown that mechanical or electrical stimulation of neurogenic spots generates therapeutic effects in a similar manner as MA [9,11], the optimal stimulation conditions for neurogenic spots, and the underlying mechanisms remain uncharacterized, which may be important for clinical application of visualized neurogenic spots for the treatment of various disorders. To investigate whether MA, EA, or combined MA + EA of Neuro-Sps might have therapeutic effects or synergic effects, we developed a new device (named mechano-electroacupuncture instrument; MEA) that enabled MA, EA or combined MA + EA.…”

“…The neurogenic spots are characterized by plasma extravasation and vasodilation in the skin microvasculature and wheal-and-flare reaction arising from release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) from activated sensory C-fiber terminals [8]. Our recent studies demonstrated that the neurogenic spots show hypersensitivity, high electrical conductance, and C-fiber-mediated sensations [9,10]. Furthermore, when the needles inserted into neurogenic spots are stimulated manually or electrically, it generates therapeutic effects in a similar manner as acupoints [9,11,12].…”

“…Furthermore, when the needles inserted into neurogenic spots are stimulated manually or electrically, it generates therapeutic effects in a similar manner as acupoints [9,11,12]. Thus, we have proposed that the neurogenic spots function as acupoints [9,10,12].…”

Changes in cerebral glucose metabolism after acupuncture at KI3 in spontaneously hypertensive rats: a positron emission tomography study

“…For example, studies have found that substances in the brain, such as neurotransmitters, nitric oxide, angiotensin II (Ang II), gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine, serotonin, and opioids, are involved in the antihypertensive effects of acupuncture. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Nevertheless, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying the positive effects of acupuncture on hypertension.…”

Reduction of Freezing Behavior by Acupuncture Stimulation at HT7 in Contextual Fear-Conditioned Mice

“…Although there had been a lack of consensus among researchers regarding the location of acupoints in the laboratory animals such as mice and rats, the definition of exact position is currently adopted by the transpositional method, which transposed the acupuncture points of human beings onto animal body 10) . In addition, it has been suggested that the stimulation of acupoints including PC6 and HT7 in human and mouse displays similar effects 11) .…”