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Acupuncture Research for the Brain

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Acupuncture for Brain

Abstract

Chinese acupuncture has a long history of treating disease. According to the traditional Chinese acupuncture theory as well as clinical practices with performance results, prove that specific acupoints can treat specific disorders. It works mainly through the brain. Most of the evidence has indicated that one of the major mechanisms of acupuncture is impact to the brain, which influences central neurotransmitters and/or remap the brain, more well-designed studies still needed.

The main neurotransmitters, the major mechanisms for acupuncture include an increase in endogenous opioids and a decrease in substance P. Additional there are other possible neuropeptides involved in acupuncture’s mechanism as well.

Brain imaging technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), have been used to assess brain responses to acupuncture in a dynamic, visual, and objective way. The neuroimaging researches have studied the mechanism of homeostatic role, acupoints specific activities and many clinical treatments for depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer disease, etc. There is a possible bias on languish publishing.

In conclusion, acupuncture works mainly through the brain. One of the major mechanisms of acupuncture is impact to the brain, by influences central neurotransmitters and may remap the brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TJ Acupuncture Academy and UK Centre for Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, London, UK

    Tianjun Wang

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  1. Tianjun Wang
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Correspondence to Tianjun Wang .

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Wang, T. (2021). Acupuncture Research for the Brain. In: Acupuncture for Brain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54666-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54666-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-54665-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-54666-3

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