Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on inflammatory pain

Abstract

Acupuncture, as a traditional treatment, has been extensively used in China for thousands of years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture is recommended for the treatment of 77 diseases. And sixteen of these diseases are related to inflammatory pain. As a combination of traditional acupuncture and modern electrotherapy, electroacupuncture (EA) has satisfactory analgesic effects on various acute and chronic pain. Because of its good analgesic effects and no side effects, acupuncture has been widely accepted all over the world. Despite the increase in the number of studies, the mechanisms via which acupuncture exerts its analgesic effects have not been conclusively established. A literature review of related research is of great significance to elaborate on its mechanisms and to inform on further research directions. We elucidated on its mechanisms of action on inflammatory pain from two levels: peripheral and central. It includes the mechanisms of acupuncture in the periphery (immune cells and neurons, purinergic pathway, nociceptive ion channel, cannabinoid receptor and endogenous opioid peptide system) and central nervous system (TPRV1, glutamate and its receptors, glial cells, GABAergic interneurons and signaling molecules ). In this review, we collected relevant recent studies to systematically explain the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating inflammatory pain, with a view to providing direction for future applications of acupuncture in inflammatory pain and promoting clinical development.

Combining various acupuncture therapies with multimodal analgesia to enhance postoperative pain management following total knee arthroplasty: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Additionally, acupuncture directly activates endogenous opioids, such as enkephalin and β-endorphin, in both the central and peripheral systems, thereby contributing to its analgesic effects ( 124 ). In addition to conventional analgesic methods, acupuncture has the potential to alleviate pain indirectly through various mechanisms, including the placebo effect ( 125 ), modulation of patients’ negative emotions, and alteration of the contextual effect (CE) ( 126 ). The placebo effect ( 125 ) associated with sham acupuncture refers to the phenomenon wherein patients do not receive genuine acupuncture treatment, yet experience symptom relief due to their “psychological belief” in the efficacy of the ineffective therapy.…”

Electroacupuncture promotes macrophage/microglial M2 polarization and suppresses inflammatory pain through AMPK

“…These reactions encompass neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and heightened activation of microglial cells. As of now, the effectiveness in treating IP has been proven by a relatively small range of drugs [3,4].…”

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Herbal Medicine on Pain Intensity for Chronic Sciatica Secondary to Lumbar Disc Herniation: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

“…24 It has been recognized as an effective treatment by the American Pain Society and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and is used by millions of people to reduce pain and block inflammation. [25][26][27] Shenxie Zhitong capsule is officially recognized by Shanghai Food and Drug Administration Bureau, which is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation developed according to experience of Shi's orthopedics and traumatology. As a compound preparation of blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicinal (Sanqi) and medicinal insects (Ground beetle, Scorpion, Centipede), Shenxie Zhitong capsule can improve blood rheology and conform to the theory of dissipating blood stasis, activating blood, resolving stasis, freeing the collateral vessels, and relieving pain of traditional Chinese medicine with no adverse reactions such as liver and kidney damage so far.…”