Electroacupuncture Treatment on Parkinson’s Disease
1. Effect of electro-scalp acupuncture on cerebral dopamine transporter in the striatum area of the patient of Parkinson’s disease by means of single photon emission computer tomography
libido-de.com
Jiang XM, Huang Y, Li DJ et al., Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2006, June;26(6):427-30
This research is to probe the mechanism of electro-scalp acupuncture in treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by computer tomography (CT). All the patients received CT examination before and after acupuncture treatment of 6 weeks. And the activities of dopamine transporter (DAT) were analyzed by the ration of striatum/occipital lobe. It concludes that electro-scalp acupuncture can decrease the loss of DAT and improve the activities of DAT in striatum of the patients with PD.
2. Effects of head point-through-point electroacupuncture on SOD and LPO in the patient of Parkinson’s disease
Wang S, Cai YY, Shang Shang YJ, Jin-rong L, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2006 Apr;26(4):240-2
The objective of this research is to observe clinical therapeutic effect of head point-through-point electroacupuncture on Parkinson’s disease and the mechanism. The electroacupuncture treatment can increase SOD and decrease LPO and therefore help Parkinson’s disease.
SOD=Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that alternately catalyzes the dismutation (or partitioning) of the superoxide radical into either ordinary molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide.
LPO=lipid peroxide
3. Effects of electroacupuncture on behaviors and dopaminergic neurons in the rat of Parkinson’s disease
Ma J, Wang YC, Gan SY, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 2006 Sep;26(9):655-7
This research shows that electroacupuncture can effectively prevent the injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson’s disease.
Research on acupuncture in people with breast and other types of cancer
Acupuncture has been shown to help relieve fatigue, hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, and pain.
(1) “The number of emesis (vomiting) episodes occurring during the 5 days was lower for patients receiving electroacupuncture compared with those receiving minimal needling or pharmacotherapy alone” Electroacupuncture for Control of Myeloablative Chemotherapy–Induced EmesisA Randomized Controlled Trial
(2) “Treating postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an important medical issue. About 70 percent of women who undergo major breast surgery requiring general anesthesia suffer from this complication”…”Two hours after surgery, 77 percent of the patients receiving acupuncture experienced no PONV, nor did they require an antiemetic drug to reduce nausea and vomiting, compared to 64 percent for those who received ondansetron and 42 percent who received nothing. At 24 hours, the rates were 73 percent, 52 percent and 38 percent, respectively.” Acupuncture Reduces Nausea and Vomiting, Pain After Major Breast Surgery
(3) “Human neuroimaging data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and electroencephalography (EEG) have demonstrated that acupuncture stimulation moderates a wide network of brain regions, including the primary somatosensory, secondary somatosensory, and anterior cingulated, prefrontal, and insular cortices, amygdale, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and other areas.” … “Recent advances in acupuncture clinical research suggest that acupuncture may provide clinical benefit for cancer patients with treatment-related side effects such as nausea and vomiting, post operative pain, cancer related pain, chemotherapy-induced leukopenia, postchemotherapy fatigue, xerostomia (dry mouth), and possibly insomnia, anxiety and quality of life.” The Value of Acupuncture in Cancer Care
Acupuncture & Nervous System
“Experimental and clinical evidence suggest that acupuncture may affect the sympathetic system via mechanisms at the hypothalamic and brainstem levels, and that the hypothalamic beta-endorphinergic system has inhibitory effects on the vasomotorcenter, VMC. Post-stimulatory sympathetic inhibition which proceeds to a maximum after a few hours and can be sustained for more than 12 hours, has been demonstrated in both man and animals.” Andersson S1, Lundeberg T, Acupuncture — from empiricism to science: functional background to acupuncture effects in pain and disease.
Acupuncture & Pain, Immune System, Cancer; Acupuncture FAQ
“Acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerves cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body’s natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be released.”
Questions and Answers About Acupuncture, National Cancer Institute.
Acupuncture & Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis
“EA(electroacupuncture) with the effective acupoints could cure some anovulatory patients in a highly effective rate and the experimental results suggested that EA might regulate the dysfunction of HPOA(hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis) in several ways”
Chen BY, US National Library of Medicine, PebMed.gov
Acupuncture & Microcirculation
“the physical properties of the vascular structure of acupoints may affect the perfusion resistance, and thereby modulate the microcirculatory perfusion in accordance with tissue needs.”
Hsin Hsiu, et al., Physiological Measurement
Acupuncture & Dermatology
“Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema.”
Pfab F, et al., US National Library of Medicine, PebMed.gov