Mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of ischemic stroke: a review

Abstract

Acupuncture can intervene in and treat ischemic stroke (IS) through multiple targets and pathways. In recent years, experimental studies have shown that the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of IS mainly involves the promotion of nerve repair and regeneration, the regulation of the activity of neurotransmitters, the improvement of cerebral blood flow, the alleviation of brain edema, the reduction of oxidative stress, the inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy, and the suppression of inflammatory responses. This paper reviewed the available mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of IS to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of acupuncture against IS and references for further research.