Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to find evidence of a synergistic effect of acupoint combinations by analyzing different brain regions activated after acupuncture at different acupoint combinations.Methods: A total of 57 healthy subjects were randomly distributed into three groups: LR3 plus KI3 acupoints, LR3 plus sham acupoint, or LR3 alone. They underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan before and after acupuncture. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values of different brain regions were analyzed to observe changes in brain function.Results: ALFF and ReHo produced an activated area in the cerebellum posterior lobe after acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints versus LR3 alone. ALFF and ReHo revealed altered activity in Brodmann area 10 (BA10), BA18, and brainstem pons after acupuncture at LR3 plus sham acupoint compared with at LR3 alone. A comparison of acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints with LR3 plus sham acupoint demonstrated an increase in BA6 of ALFF and a downregulation of ReHo.Conclusions: The increased number of brain regions with altered brain activity after acupuncture at acupoint combinations versus a single acupoint are evidence of the synergistic effect of acupoint combinations. BA6 was significantly activated after acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints compared with at LR3 plus sham acupoint, suggesting that BA6 is the specific region of synergistic effect of acupoint combinations of LR3 plus KI3 acupoints. Affected brain regions were different between acupuncture at LR3 plus sham acupoint and LR3 alone, which indicates that the sham acupoint may have some psychological effect. However, the specific mechanism of acupoint combinations requires further research.
Highlights
Acupuncture is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it is widely applied for the treatment of various diseases, such as motor-system and nervous-system diseases
There was no significant difference between groups in functional imaging before acupuncture according to the REST software
The increased number of altered brain regions as a result of acupuncture at the LR3 plus KI3 acupoints versus LR3 alone supports a synergistic effect of acupoint combinations
Summary
Acupuncture is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it is widely applied for the treatment of various diseases, such as motor-system and nervous-system diseases. Many randomized controlled trials and evidence-based medicine have fully affirmed the remarkable curative effect of acupuncture on a variety of diseases.[1,2,3]. Acupoint combinations account for the vast majority of prescribed acupuncture points. Acupoint combination means the use of two or more acupoints at once during acupuncture therapy, and its action can be classified into synergy, antagonism, or other effects (e.g., additive, no interaction, and mixed).
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