Research Advances on Acupuncture Analgesia

Abstract

Pain is a widespread and complex symptom which causes serious emotional and social burdens to individuals and society. Most patients with pain rely heavily on over the counter (OTC) and prescription pain killers. However, there would be a number of issues that arise from the use of pain killers, in which safety and addiction are the most critical issues. For traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pain is a result of the meridians being blocked. This could occur as a symptom of or be caused by various diseases. In this case, the key to relieve pain depends on dredging the meridian or meridians. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 2000 years to lessen pain. It is based on the “meridian theory”. Acupuncture is being used more widely and with a growing number of people in the treatment of pain because it is safer and has fewer side effects. Along with growing use and interest in acupuncture to treat pain, more attention has been paid to the mechanism underlying its analgesic effect, which is mainly associated with the changes of neurotransmitters. In this review, we summarize and analyze the range and mechanism of acupuncture analgesia treatment.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture for Pain Management in Women Undergoing Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval

“… 44 , 45 This conventional therapy achieves pain intensity during OPU by suppressing the endogenous opioid system, increasing endogenous opioid peptide release, reducing inflammation, and improving uterine blood flow changes. 6 , 46 , 47 In this review, Fan 35 and Tian et al 37 found significantly higher β-endorphin in the acupuncture group than the control groups (P<0.05). We also discovered that acupuncture is a safe analgesic approach since there were no differences between groups about the number of oocytes retrieved 27 , 28 , 30–32 , 34 , 35 or clinical pregnancy 30–32 , 35 , 36 after the procedure.…”

“…Acupuncture has been widely used during long periods for analgesia. 6 , 7 Prolonged clinical practice proved acupuncture compound analgesia therapy in OPU has the advantages of safety, high efficiency, fast recovery, and few side effects. 8 , 9 Although previous systematic review 10 demonstrated no evidence supporting acupuncture to be more optimal for pain relief during OPU than PCA with CSA, the updated Cochrane review supported acupuncture is appropriate to adjuvant analgesia OPU process.…”

Pain Changes Induced by Acupuncture in Single Body Areas in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Results from an Open-Label Pragmatic Study

“…Analgesia derives from integrated mechanisms involving the nervous system, the painful stimuli, and the stimuli resulting from skin infission with needles. Several neurotransmitters are involved, including serotonin, adenosine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, opioid peptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and substance P [ 28 ]. The above list of substances involved in acupuncture-induced analgesia is certainly not exhaustive, but the molecules act through pathways involving segmental and supraspinal spinal mechanisms [ 29 ].…”

Clinical Effect of Electroacupuncture Baihui and Neiguan Acupoint on Cognitive Function Recovery in Elderly Patients after General Anesthesia

“…Through a large number of clinical studies, it is found that acupuncture at Baihui and Neiguan Points has a significant effect on improving brain hypoperfusion, enhancing brain metabolic function, enhancing brain blood flow and restoring brain nerve cell function. In addition, acupuncture at Zusanli and Hegu can also be used during practical application, in which acupuncture at Zusanli can activate most brain regions, including frontal lobe, temporal lobe, insular lobe and part of cerebellum [7] . Among them, the most significant effect is to stimulate the temporal lobe region of the brain.…”