The Neuroimmune Basis of Anti-inflammatory Acupuncture

Abstract

This review article presents the evidence that the antiinflammatory actions of acupuncture are mediated via the reflexive central inhibition of the innate immune system. Both laboratory and clinical evidence have recently shown the existence of a negative feedback loop between the autonomic nervous system and the innate immunity. There is also experimental evidence that the electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve inhibits macrophage activation and the production of TNF, IL-1β β, IL-6, IL-18, and other proinflammatory cytokines. It is therefore conceivable that along with hypnosis, meditation, prayer, guided imagery, biofeedback, and the placebo effect, the systemic anti-inflammatory actions of traditional and electro-acupuncture are directly or indirectly mediated by the efferent vagus nerve activation and inflammatory macrophage deactivation. In view of this common physiological mediation, assessing the clinical efficacy of a specific acupuncture regimen using conventional double-blind placebo-controlled trials inherently lacks objectivity due to (1) the uncertainty of ancient rules for needle placement, (2) the diffuse noxious inhibitory control triggered by control-needling at irrelevant points, (3) the possibility of a dose-response relationship between stimulation and effects, and (4) the possibility of inadequate blinding using an inert sham procedure. A more objective assessment of its efficacy could perhaps consist of measuring its effects on the surrogate markers of autonomic tone and inflammation. The use of acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to conventional medical treatment for a number of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases seems plausible and should be validated by confirming its cholinergicity. Keywords

Effects of Acupuncture Treatment and Taping Therapy After Lisfranc Joint Injuries: A Case Report

“…It has been reported in previous studies that acupuncture (applied as the main mode of treatment in our patient) has antiinflammatory and analgesic effects [17,18]. Remote acupuncture point needling and near acupuncture point needling are also effective in controlling the pain of ankle injuries [19].…”

Effect of aquapuncture on postoperative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy in dogs

“…A major part of studies investigating the effect of AP have been related to pain assessment and the possible mechanisms behind the acupuncture analgesic effects have been reported elsewhere (CAO, 2002;HE, 1987;CHEN, 2008;MCLENNAN et al, 1977;KAVOUSSI;ROSS, 2007;MELZACK, 1976;MOON et al, 2007;OKADA;KAWAKITA, 2009;TAGUCHI, 2008;ZIJLSTRA et al, 2003). Acupuncture has been commonly used to treat acute and chronic pain (CAO, 2002;CASSU et al, 2008;FERRARI et al, 2006;HE, 1987;JOAQUIM et al, 2010;TAGUCHI, 2008).…”

“…Acupuncture analgesia embraces the majority of the pain mechanisms, like transduction, transmission, modulation and perception, involving an anti-inflammatory, humoral and neurological effect (CAO, 2002;HE, 1987;KAVOUSSI;ROSS, 2007;CHEN, 2008;MCLENNAN et al, 1977;MELZACK, 1976;MOON et al, 2007;OKADA;KAWAKITA, 2009;TAGUCHI, 2008;ZIJLSTRA et al, 2003). Both opioids and acupuncture activate inhibitory descending pathways in the spinal cord and prevent noxious stimuli to reach the brain CHEN, 2008).…”

Acupuncture: An Alternative Therapy in Dentistry and Its Possible Applications

“…The above therapeutic effects might occur because of modulation of the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network. Kavoussi and Ross 37 hypothesized that acupuncture may produce its analgesic, antianxiety, and other therapeutic effects via mediating this intrinsic neural circuit, which play central roles in the affective and cognitive dimensions of pain.…”