Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from a progressive degeneration of striatum-projecting dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta manifesting as static tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, gait dysfunction, and postural instability. PD is classified as the second most common neurodegenerative disease following the Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Aside with conventional medication, acupuncture has been increased introducing to the treatment of PD, whatever motor symptomatology or non-motor symptomatology such as autonomic dysfunction, neuropsychiatric disorders, sleep disturbance, sensory symptoms to gastrointestinal syndromes, fatigue, et al. Acupuncture treatment for PD could be based on general points selection, and may add several unique techniques as well, for better results. The unique acupuncture techniques, such as scalp acupuncture and Dao-qi acupuncture technique, are more specifically the benefit for PD and similar neurological conditions. Both general acupuncture and unique Brain acupuncture treatments are all explained in detail.

Clinical trials have indicated acupuncture may promote cerebral blood flow, protected dopaminergic neurons against toxic insults and increase dopamine production in the brain by inducing release of the neurotrophic factor, enhancing antioxidant agents, and inhibit inflammatory, restores neurogenesis impairment, et al. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the most commonly applied method of functional neuroimaging.