Acupuncture Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acupuncture, including details on alternative medicine, uses, benefits, treatment, chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture and placebo (sham) acupuncture are differentiated by their effects on mu-opioid receptors (MORs).

Harris RE, Zubieta JK, Scott DJ, Napadow V, Gracely RH, Clauw DJ

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Controversy remains regarding the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia. A prevailing theory, largely unproven in humans, is that it involves the activation of endogenous opioid antinociceptive systems and mu-opioid receptors (MORs). This is also a neurotransmitter system that mediates the effects of placebo-induced analgesia. This overlap in potential mechanisms may explain the lack of differentiation between traditional acupuncture and either non-traditional or sham acupuncture in multiple controlled clinical trials. We compared both short- and long-term effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TA) versus sham acupuncture (SA) treatment on in vivo MOR binding availability in chronic pain patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM). Patients were randomized to receive either TA or SA treatment over the course of 4 weeks. Positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-carfentanil was performed once during the first treatment session and then repeated a month later following the eighth treatment. Acupuncture therapy evoked short-term increases in MOR binding potential, in multiple pain and sensory processing regions including the cingulate (dorsal and subgenual), insula, caudate, thalamus, and amygdala. Acupuncture therapy also evoked long-term increases in MOR binding potential in some of the same structures including the cingulate (dorsal and perigenual), caudate, and amygdala. These short- and long-term effects were absent in the sham group where small reductions were observed, an effect more consistent with previous placebo PET studies. Long-term increases in MOR BP following TA were also associated with greater reductions in clinical pain. These findings suggest that divergent MOR processes may mediate clinically relevant analgesic effects for acupuncture and sham acupuncture.

Published 30 June 2009 in Neuroimage.
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Articles on Acupuncture published 29 June 2009:

Myofascial referred-pain data provide physiologic evidence of acupuncture meridians.   J Pain, 10(7): 723-31.

Recently published data suggest substantial anatomic, clinical, and physiologic (referred pain to meridian) overlap of myofascial trigger points and acupuncture points, particularly in the treatment of pain disorders. This qualitative study examines whether myofascial referred-pain data from the Trigger Point Manual can provide independent physiologic evidence of acupuncture meridians. Trigger point regions were subdivided from prior, validated trigger point region-classical acupuncture point ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Endogenous anandamide and cannabinoid receptor-2 contribute to electroacupuncture analgesia in rats.   J Pain, 10(7): 732-9.

Acupuncture is widely used clinically to treat acute and chronic pain conditions, but the mechanisms underlying its effect are not fully understood. Although endocannabinoids are involved in modulation of nociception in animal models and in humans, their role in acupuncture analgesia has not been assessed. In this report, we determined the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the level of anandamide in the skin tissue and the role of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the analgesic effect of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

An fMRI study on the interaction and dissociation between expectation of pain relief and acupuncture treatment.   Neuroimage.

It is well established that expectation can significantly modulate pain perception. In this study, we combined an expectancy manipulation model and fMRI to investigate how expectation can modulate acupuncture treatment. Forty-eight subjects completed the study. The analysis on two verum acupuncture groups with different expectancy levels indicates that expectancy can significantly influence acupuncture analgesia for experimental pain. Conditioning positive expectation can amplify acupuncture ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Massage for Low Back Pain: An Updated Systematic Review Within the Framework of the Cochrane Back Review Group.   Spine.

STUDY DESIGN.: Systematic Review. OBJECTIVES.: To assess the effects of massage therapy for nonspecific low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Low back pain is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal problems in modern society. Proponents of massage therapy claim it can minimize pain and disability, and speed return to normal function. METHODS.: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL from their beginning to May 2008. We also searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Laser acupuncture for acute inflammatory, visceral and neuropathic pain relief: An experimental study in the laboratory rat.   Res Vet Sci.

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation. We explored the clinical efficacy of a very low level diode laser wavelength 670nm (Biolite LP020, RGM, Genoa, Italy), used to stimulate acupoints ST36 Zu San Li and TH5 Waiguan, on well-established experimental models of acute and persistent pain in the rat, e.g. acute inflammatory pain, muscle pain, visceral pain and neuropathic pain. We report the anti-edema ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnant women who have low back and posterior pelvic pain: a pilot study.   Am J Obstet Gynecol.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to examine whether 1 week of continuous auricular acupuncture could reduce low back and posterior pelvic pain associated with pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on pregnant women who have lower back and posterior pelvic pain. These women were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group, a sham acupuncture group, or a waiting list control group. All participants were monitored for 2 weeks. RESULTS: Baseline and day 7 ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Acupuncture mobilizes the brain's default mode and its anti-correlated network in healthy subjects.   Brain Res.

Previous work has shown that acupuncture stimulation evokes deactivation of a limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (LPNN) as well as activation of somatosensory brain regions. This study explores the activity and functional connectivity of these regions during acupuncture vs. tactile stimulation and vs. acupuncture associated with inadvertent sharp pain. Acupuncture during 201 scans and tactile stimulation during 74 scans for comparison at acupoints LI4, ST36 and LV3 was monitored with fMRI ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Acupuncture published 26 June 2009:

Electroacupuncture downregulates TLR2/4 and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression after surgical trauma stress without adrenal glands involvement.   Brain Res Bull.

Cumulative evidences suggest that electroacupuncture (EA) can modulate immune function, but the mechanism needs further study. In the present study, the contribution of EA on toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2/TLR4) and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression after surgical trauma stress were investigated. The mRNA level of both TLR2/4 and pro-inflammatory cytokine was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. ELISA and Western blot assay were chosen for TLR2/TLR4 protein expression and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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