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How does acupuncture work

At a recent social gathering, I had a fascinating conversation with an orthopedic surgeon who was outspokenly skeptical of acupuncture’s effectiveness. “Does acupuncture work” – he said. I told him there were numerous studies to show it did, and as an example mentioned a new study published in the current issue of Nature magazine. It showed how acupuncture helped save the lives of mice! with sepsis, a deadly condition caused by whole-body inflammation.

“Of forty mice with induced sepsis, all 20, who received acupuncture lived. Another 20 received fake acupuncture and half of them died” – I said.

“I don’t believe this” – he said. “Sepsis! How could acupuncture ever touch sepsis ?”

“It’s all legit, published in the current issue of Nature magazine” – I fired back.

“I don’t believe this” – he insisted.

I pulled out my smartphone to show him the study.

“Well, it’s just one study. I don’t believe this. Maybe, I’d believe it, if a recommendation came from the World Health Organisation or NHI”.

I put my phone to good use again and a minute later, I’m on WHO website with the list of condition acupuncture has been shown to work for.

“I still don’t believe it works!”

At that point, I made a joke “if you were a real doctor, but not an orthopedic surgeon, you would have more appreciation for the studies” , I teased him. Then I changed the subject. It was not my business to convince him. It was just a chat at a party. He asked, I answered kind of thing.

As I pondered how to convince skeptics like him, I realised the power of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans. These scans can visually show increased activity in various centers of the brain by measuring blood flow. Numerous studies have been published in peer-reviewed magazines on acupuncture, and the specificity of various acupuncture points can be seen in the fMRI images.

For example, an image in one study showed different areas of the brain getting activated depending on the acupuncture points^ref 1 being used, with the visual cortex being activated in response to treatment of an acupuncture point associated with visual healing^ref 2. This image provides a split-second explanation of the power of acupuncture and its impact on the brain.

While some may remain skeptical, the evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture continues to grow. And with continued research, who knows what other fascinating discoveries may be made about this ancient practice.

Interest in Acupuncture is heating up

Have you ever wondered just how much research has been conducted on acupuncture? Well, let me tell you, it’s a lot! In fact, acupuncture is the most researched natural therapy out there, and the scientific interest in it is only increasing.

To give you an idea, I recently was researching on Pubmed and discovered the trend. The graph shows the number of acupuncture studies conducted each year from 1996 to 2012. And let me tell you, the numbers are impressive! I used actual data from the PubMed database to create this graph, so you can trust that it’s accurate. Now, I should note that I excluded data from 2013 since, at the time of my observation, the year was still in progress.

So, if you’ve ever been curious about acupuncture and its effectiveness, just know that there is plenty of research out there to back it up!

Dementia – Acupuncture improves cognitive function

What is Dementia?

Have you ever wondered what dementia is? Well, let me break it down for you. Dementia is a condition characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities such as memory, thinking, and communication. It’s a gradual and progressive disorder that can make it difficult for individuals to carry out their daily activities and can significantly impact their quality of life.

Now, here’s the thing: there’s currently no cure for dementia. But there are treatments available that can help manage its symptoms and improve quality of life. So, while we may not have all the answers yet, there is hope for those affected by this condition. And with continued research, we may one day be able to find more effective treatments or even a cure.

The promise of Acupuncture

Let me tell you something fascinating: a recent study conducted at the department of Acupuncture in Beijing Hospital of TCM suggests that acupuncture might be a viable option for treating vascular dementia. Yes, you heard that right! This ancient practice could potentially improve cognitive function and quality of life for those grappling with this debilitating condition.

During the study, researchers assessed the cognitive function and quality of life of participants before and after receiving acupuncture treatment. They also measured levels of 8-OHdG, a marker of oxidative stress in the urine. And guess what? The results were nothing short of remarkable! Participants not only showed a reduction in 8-OHdG levels but also experienced improved cognitive function and quality of life.

Now, don’t get too carried away just yet, because this study was conducted in a single center and with a relatively small sample size. So, further research is necessary to validate these findings and determine the optimal acupuncture treatment protocol for vascular dementia patients. Nevertheless, this study certainly raises some exciting possibilities about the potential of acupuncture to positively impact our health and well-being.

The findings were published in the current issue of the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine [2012, 32(2):199-202].

Update 2021:
A recent systematic review published in European Journal of Integrative medicine summarised 137 studies (randomised controlled trials) amassing a total of 9012 participants. Their conclusion is promising: “The available evidence seems to support the beneficial effects of acupuncture at effective rate, cognitive performance and activities of daily living for people with dementia.” The researchers call for studies to further confirm these effects.