How acupuncture works?

Acupuncture increases Adenosine 24-fold

acupuncture adenosine

Would you like to hear about the latest breakthrough in acupuncture? I have came across an article on the mechanism of acupuncture in the latest issue of the journal of Nature. A team of amazing scientists from the University of Rochester, New York have discovered that acupuncture triggers an incredible 24-fold increase in neurotransmitter adenosine at the punctured area!

This is big news because it sheds more light the mechanisms of how acupuncture actually works. If you want to learn more about this incredible discovery, check out the Scientific American podcast on the subject or read the article in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience.

More details in Nature Neuroscience.

Update: there was substantial media coverage of this study, including scientific journals like Scientific American and mainstream media including the New Zealand Herald. I’ve inserted a scanned image of the story in the NZ Herald forwarded to me by one of my colleagues. So go ahead, give it a read and share with your friends!

acupuncture-pain-adenosine-nzherald

Carpal tunnel acupuncture

Acupuncture Carpal Tunnel

A group of researchers from Department of Neurology, Kuang Tien General Hospital in Taiwan decided to compare the efficacy of acupuncture and steroid treatment in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

They found acupuncture to be as effective as steroids and improved symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and clumsiness. Acupuncture improved sleep and was significantly better than corticosteroids at reducing awakening at night experienced by carpal tunnel patients.

Mayo Clinic: Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of a particular area, this form is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive. Within days or weeks of starting oral therapy, you may have an increased risk of:

  • Elevated pressure in the eyes (glaucoma)
  • Fluid retention, causing swelling in your lower legs
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Mood swings
  • Weight gain, with fat deposits in your abdomen, face and the back of your neck

Acupuncture is very safe when administered by a qualified practitioner. Side effects are extremely rare and usually mild. It is a clear winner, especially for patients who are health conscious or can not tolerate steroid treatment.

Reference: The Clinical journal of pain, 2009 May, Mayo clinic

Pentagon acupuncture weapon

Acupuncture – Pentagon’s new weapon

US Air Force doctors will have a new medical weapon in their arsenal: acupuncture. Military physicians, pleased with the success of treating wounded troops at home, will begin teaching battlefield medics how to fight severe or chronic pain by inserting tiny acupuncture needles under soldiers’ skin, the Baltimore Sun reports.

“This is one of the fastest pain attenuators in existence,” a surgeon said, adding that relief lasts for days.

Update: Jul 21, 2009 |
Please listen to a report by Stephanie Marudas | NPR

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