Application Of Acupuncture Research Articles

The Transformation of Acupuncture Practice Using Ultrasonography: Expert Opinions.

The rapidly growing use of ultrasound in South Korea has revolutionized the real-world application of acupuncture, making it a safer, more accurate treatment. However, little is known about the challenges Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) encounter, as well as the procedures and resources necessary for hygienic, safe ultrasound-guided acupuncture. This study aimed to investigate the purpose, indications, and procedure for ultrasound-guided acupuncture in Korean medicine (KM) practice and the challenges KMDs encounter in using ultrasonography. Eleven KMDs with expertise in practicing or teaching ultrasonography were consulted in detail. The purpose of ultrasonography in real-world practice, the overall process, resources utilized in ultrasound-guided procedures, and the unaddressed needs of KMDs were investigated. Ultrasound guidance, employed for various diseases in KM practice, is crucial for pharmacopuncture and acupotomy to increase accuracy and safety. Ultrasoundguided acupuncture involves covering the probe, putting on sterile gloves, and scanning with disinfectants, though the exact steps vary among experts. They also suggested that a lack of insurance coverage was a common obstacle for KMDs utilizing ultrasonography. Acupuncture with ultrasound guidance has become a prevalent procedure in South Korea. Standard procedure guidelines and insurance coverage for ultrasonography used for acupuncture procedures are essential to ensure safe, accurate procedures.

Acupuncture as a Complementary Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant global medical concern due to the aging population. AD is featured by gradual cognitive impairment, impacting daily functioning and causing behavioral and personality changes, causing disruptive psychiatric symptoms. While pharmacological interventions are the primary clinical approach, their efficacy is variable and limited. Acupuncture, with its distinctive theoretical framework and treatment approach, has garnered attention as a non-pharmacological intervention for AD through extensive preclinical and clinical research. Neurobiological investigations into the machinery of acupuncture in AD have provided compelling evidence of its therapeutic efficacy and unique advantages. This review commences with an in-depth exploration of acupuncture's clinical applications, emphasizing its various parameters and its potential combination with first-line drugs and other therapies in the context of AD. Subsequently, we delve into the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture in AD. Finally, we summarize these aspects, highlight current study limitations, and offer recommendations for future research. Taken together, in a rapidly aging society, both clinical application and mechanistic exploration of acupuncture in AD treatment have gained momentum. This trajectory suggests that acupuncture will continue to make significant strides in AD therapeutics as research progresses.

Exploring the pathogenesis of insomnia and acupuncture intervention strategies based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder observed in clinical settings, with a globally rising prevalence rate. It not only impairs sleep quality and daytime functioning but also contributes to a range of physiological and psychological conditions, often co-occurring with somatic and mental disorders. Currently, the pathophysiology of this condition is not fully understood. Treatment primarily involves symptomatic management with benzodiazepine receptor agonists, melatonin and its receptor agonists, sedative antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, and orexin receptor antagonists. However, due to the adverse side effects of these drugs, including dependency, addiction, and tolerance, there is an urgent need for safer, more effective, and environmentally friendly treatment methods. In recent years, research on the microbiota-gut-brain axis has received significant attention and is expected to be key in uncovering the pathogenesis of insomnia. Acupuncture stimulates acupoints, activating the body's intrinsic regulatory abilities and exerting multi-pathway, multi-target regulatory effects. A substantial body of evidence-based research indicates that acupuncture is effective in treating insomnia. However, the unclear mechanisms of its action have limited its further clinical application in insomnia treatment. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of insomnia from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis by examining metabolic, neuro-endocrine, autonomic nervous, and immune pathways. Additionally, this study discusses the comprehensive application of acupuncture in treating insomnia, aiming to provide new strategies for its treatment.

New ideas for the development of acupuncture and moxibustion under the background of medicine-engineering translation.

With the increasing value of translational medicine and medical engineering in the medical field, the collaborative innovation of acupuncture and engineering has become a trend. The mode and concept of the discipline of medicine-engineering junction can promote the development of translational research with acupuncture characteristics, including the rule of syndrome evolution, the application of meridians and acupoints, the exploration of treatment methods, the research of effect mechanism and the innovation of diagnosis and treatment. This paper put forward the future underlying research ideas, the existing questions and challenges for medicine-engineering junction, so as to provide the evidences for the clinical promotion of "combination of medicine and engineering" in the application of modern acupuncture and moxibustion.

Value Analysis of Combined Application of Acupuncture and Massage in Community Health Service for Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

Value Analysis of Combined Application of Acupuncture and Massage in Community Health Service for Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

Systemic acupuncture application does not change muscle performance parameters in women: A randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study

Background/objectiveAcupuncture is used for therapeutic purposes. The possible beneficial role of this therapy may be as an ergogenic resource for the performance of fitness variables in exercise and sports. To date, acupuncture has been associated with increases in muscle strength, aerobic power, and vertical jump performance, but the evidence is still inconclusive. This study aimed to verify the immediate effects of a single session of acupuncture on lower-limb muscle performance in 31 young, physically active women. MethodsThis randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and in the Brazilian Registry of Randomized Clinical Trials. After warming up on a treadmill, the participants underwent the vertical jump test, followed by an isometric strength test of the extensor muscles of both knees. Immediately after the tests, participants were randomly divided into the following groups: sham (SG), acupuncture (AG), and control (CG). After each intervention, all participants repeated the warm-up and functional tests. ResultsThere was a significant decrease in the mean and peak values of vertical jump height, in the sham and acupuncture groups, respectively. Furthermore, none of the groups showed changes in isometric muscle strength. ConclusionIt was concluded that the proposed acupuncture protocol did not promote improve in lower-limb muscle performance parameters in young, physically active women.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods We searched eight databases from their inception until 14 April 2024, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Periodical Database, and Wanfang Database. The search aimed to find randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of acupuncture for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Literature screening and data extraction were performed independently by the authors. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan V.5.3 software, and Stata 17.0 software was used for detecting publication bias and performing sensitivity analysis. Results Twenty-eight studies, involving 2148 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture therapy improved depression-related scale scores (standardized mean difference (SMD) = –0.70, 95%CI [–0.98, −0.42], p < 0.00001), anxiety-related scale scores (SMD = –0.78, 95% CI [–1.43, −0.14], p = 0.02), Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.74, 95% CI [2.43, 3.05], p < 0.00001), Mini Mental State Examination scores (WMD = 2.36, 95% CI [0.78, 3.94], p = 0.003), Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 scores (WMD = –2.66, 95% CI [–4.83, −0.49], p = 0.02) compared to controls. Conclusion This review supports the application of acupuncture to reduce the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, and impulse control disorders, and to improve cognition and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. The adverse effects associated with acupuncture, either alone or as adjunctive therapy, were relatively minor.

Exploring the efficacy and safety of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for diminished ovarian reserve: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

IntroductionThe therapeutic needs of women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), coupled with the increasing application of acupuncture in improving ovarian function, have highlighted the need to verify the efficacy and...

Effect on serum metabolomics of rats with premature ovarian insufficiency by Zhibian (BL54) through Shuidao (ST28) acupuncture.

To analyze the serum metabolic targets of the "Zhibian (BL54) through Shuidao (ST28)" acupuncture technique in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) model rats and to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of acupuncture in improving POI. We used an intraperitoneal injection of CTX to establish the POI rat model (POI group) and compared serum hormone levels and ovarian histopathological changes to evaluate the effect of the Zhibian (BL54) through Shuidao (ST28) technique (ZS + POI group) on ovarian function. Then, nontargeted metabolomics was performed using rat serum by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). After acupuncture intervention, the serum hormone levels and ovarian pathological morphology of POI rats were effectively improved. Moreover, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS results showed that the ZS + POI group showed a significant reversal of the levels of 6 differential metabolites. Among them, the levels of four serum metabolic markers, divanillyltetrahydrofuran ferulate, trans-ferulic acid, tryptamine, and neuraminic acid, increased significantly. Further analysis of biological effects showed that all metabolites were involved in the regulation of reproductive hormone levels and antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. The "Zhibian (BL54) through Shuidao (ST28)" acupuncture method may improve the ovarian function of POI rats by regulating serum metabolite markers to exert antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of acupuncture in the treatment of POI.

Core concomitant symptoms reported by the patients with breast cancer in postoperative endocrine treatment and the demand for acupuncture therapy： a network-based cross-sectional study.

To investigate the most common concomitant symptoms and the urgent demand of solution in the breast cancer patients undergoing postoperative endocrine treatment, as well as the acceptance and expectation of acupuncture in the patients so as to provide the scientific data for promoting the application of acupuncture in the breast cancer patients. Breast cancer patients treated in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2022 to March 2023 were randomly selected as the subjects. Using "questionnaire star" website, the questionnaire was conducted to investigate the relevant concomitant symptoms of the patients in postoperative endocrine treatment and the questions related to acupuncture treatment. In this study, 229 questionnaires were distributed and 211 valid ones were collected, with the response rate of 92.1%. Among these patients, the first three common symptoms were sleep disorders (157 cases, 74.4%), hot flashes (138 cases, 65.4%) and joint / muscle pain (118 cases, 55.9%)；the top three symptoms to be solved the most urgently were sleep disorders (131 cases, 62.1%), joint / muscle pain (62 cases, 29.4%) and hot flashes (45 cases, 21.3%). 79.1% of the patients (167 cases) were willing to receive acupuncture treatment because of the high expectations on its potential effect (93%). 20.9% of them (44 cases) refused acupuncture because they were worried not to be treated by the experienced physicians of TCM (52%) or afraid of needling feelings (48%). The average expectation value of acupuncture treatment was 4.02 points (5 points for the total score) among patients willing to receive acupuncture treatment. The main purposes of receiring acupuncture for the patients undergoing endocrine treatment were to strengthen the immune function (92%), reduce the adverse reactions (83%), and improve the physical condition (75%), et al. Sleep disorder is one of the most concerned symptoms in endocrine treatment for the patients after breast cancer surgery. The patients highly expect for acupuncture treatment even though some patients dislike the needling sensation. How to provide the acceptable and high-quality acupuncture services for cancer patients will be one of the major directions of acupuncture research in the future.

The clinical application and experience of acupuncture in the treatment of asthma assisted by intelligent technology

Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory disease, impacts patients' quality of life. Traditional acupuncture therapy is effective but lacks personalization. This paper introduces AI technology into acupuncture treatment, proposing an intelligent assistance system. The system uses patients' physiological and imaging data to construct an intelligent diagnostic model, accurately identifying conditions and symptom types. Through reinforcement learning optimization algorithms, personalized acupuncture plans are tailored for each patient. Clinical trials show that AI-assisted acupuncture significantly improves symptom scores, lung function, and reduces attack frequency, enhancing clinical efficacy and serving as a valuable tool for traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture training.

Current and future trends of acupuncture as an adjuvant therapy in cancer: A bibliometric and visual analysis.

Acupuncture, as one of the representatives of complementary therapies, is often used as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of cancer and related complications with beneficial results. We selected the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database as the data source and searched to obtain relevant literatures on the application of acupuncture in cancer treatment. The relevant literature was analyzed using CiteSpace (version 6.1.R6) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.20). A total of 592 publications were included, with an overall upward trend in the number of publications. There were 135 countries or institutions involved, with China as the most published country. There were 1888 related institutions, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was the institution with the most publications. A total of 3067 authors were involved, and there were obvious collaborations between authors. There were 190 related journals, and J Clin Oncol was the most cited journal. The most frequently occurring keywords were breast cancer and management, but also other related topics such as quality of life, chemotherapy, and complementary. Acupuncture is gaining increasing attention as an adjunctive therapy in cancer treatment programs. Currently, relevant research focuses on acupuncture to alleviate cancer-induced comorbid symptoms, such as pain and insomnia. Future research is gradually shifting toward spiritual care, Colorectal Cancer Surgery, and systematic review.

A survey on the real-world clinical utilization of a traditional acupuncture in Republic of Korea: Sa-am acupuncture

ObjectiveThis study investigated the clinical details and usage of Sa-am acupuncture in Korean medicine clinics and explored how practicing Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) think about Sa-am acupuncture. MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire-based survey of KMDs who utilize Sa-am acupuncture in their practice. The study comprehensively investigated issues related to clinical application of Sa-am acupuncture, needling techniques used during treatment, training methods, and directions for its future improvement. ResultsWe analyzed 572 responses. An average of 50% of the patients visiting Korean medicine clinics were receiving Sa-am acupuncture. The most prevalent indication for Sa-am acupuncture use was digestive disorders. The patients’ appetite level and digestive function were most frequently used indicators for selecting acupuncture points. Regarding prescription compositions, Jung-Gyuk formulas were more frequently used than Seung-Gyuk formulas. Inserting the needle along the flow of the channel or against the flow of the channel was most popular. The acupuncture style most frequently used in combination with Sa-am acupuncture was Ashi point acupuncture. Strengths of Sa-am acupuncture included its versatility, easy application, and good outcomes. Limitations included the lack of rigorous education and training programs, difficulty in applying the principles for beginners, and insufficient clinical research evidence. ConclusionIn clinics where Sa-am acupuncture is available, KMDs were providing Sa-am acupuncture to about half of their patients. Practitioners were not using all of the tonification and sedation techniques which may be due to time constraints or simply a lack of necessity. Sa-am acupuncture demonstrated high utility in clinical practice and high satisfaction based on the efficacy and safety. More training programs and high-quality research are needed to help expand the use of Sa-am acupuncture.Please cite this article as: Park JY, Lee YS, Park HJ, Lee SK, Lee JW, Kim SY. A survey on the real-world clinical utilization of a traditional acupuncture in Republic of Korea: Sa-am acupuncture. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(5): 570–578.

Application of New Acupuncture and Moxibustion Technology in Acne

Acne is a common aesthetically damaging skin disease at present, with a high incidence rate, complex etiology, and serious symptoms, usually manifested as blackhead or white head acne, inflammatory papules, secondary pustules, nodules, cysts, and even scars on the face, chest, back, etc. At present, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of acne has obvious curative effect, small side effects and few sequelae. Its mechanism may be related to anti-inflammatory effects, regulation of sex hormones and endocrine levels, promotion of skin toxin metabolism, and enhancement of immunity. Therefore, this article reviews the application of new acupuncture and moxibustion technology in acne in recent years, and expounds its mechanism, hoping to provide new ideas and reference for everyone in clinical treatment of acne.

Advancements in the physiopathological study of acupuncture treatment for insomnia: A review.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that significantly impacts an individual's psychological and physical health, characterized by persistent difficulties in falling asleep, decreased sleep quality, and impaired daytime functioning. Traditional treatment approaches primarily rely on pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy, yet not all patients benefit from these methods, and they often come with certain side effects. Thus, identifying safe and effective alternative or adjunctive treatments is of paramount importance. The purpose of this paper is to review the research progress on acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia and to explore the mechanisms by which acupuncture may treat insomnia through regulating neurotransmitters and nervous system, anti-inflammatory actions, and improving neuroplasticity, providing evidence to support the broad application of acupuncture in clinical practice.

Current advances in the pain treatment and mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a unique medical model in China, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of many diseases. It has been proven that TCM can increase the pain threshold, increase the level of endorphins and enkephalins in the body, and reduce the body's response to adverse stimuli. In recent years, TCM scholars have made valuable explorations in the field of pain treatment, using methods such as internal and external application of TCM and acupuncture to carry out research on pain treatment and have achieved more satisfactory results. TCM treats pain in a variety of ways, and with the discovery of a variety of potential bioactive substances for pain treatment. With the new progress in the research of other TCM treatment methods for pain, TCM will have greater potential in the clinical application of pain.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the assessment of acupuncture effect on exercise-induced fatigue.

Acupuncture as a traditional Chinese medicine therapy relies on unique theories to alleviate fatigue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on exercise-induced fatigue utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A total of 20 participants with regular exercise habits were recruited for this study. All participants were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture intervention for exercise-induced fatigue. TMS and a heart rate monitor were used to measure the amplitude and latency of motor evoked potential (MEP) as well as heart rate every 5min over a 30-min period. The blood lactic acid (BLA) levels were measured using Lactate Scout+ at baseline, 0min, and 30min after fatigue. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was utilized to compare the differences between the effects of acupuncture method and time. Bonferroni post hoc tests were conducted to compare specific differences. Statistical significance was set at p<.05. Interaction effect was observed between acupuncture method and time effect in terms of amplitude (F(1, 38)=5.40, p<.001, η2=0.12) and latency (F(1, 38)=3.78, p=.008, η2=.09) of MEP. The application of acupuncture can promote the recovery of heart rate especially at 30min (p<.05), but which seem insufficient to generate significant difference in BLA (F(1, 38)=0.067, p=.797, η2=0.002). Acupuncture can promote the increase of MEP amplitude, shorten MEP latency, and restore heart rate. Preliminary findings provide novel insights for individuals with exercise habits to alleviate fatigue and enhance sports performance.

Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for vascular dementia

Acupuncture can intervene with and treat vascular dementia (VD) through multiple targets and pathways. The mechanisms of its action involve inhibiting central inflammatory responses, regulating neuronal synaptic plasticity, modulating oxidative stress, reducing neuronal apoptosis, and adjusting cellular autophagy. This paper summarizes researches on the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for VD over the past decade, aiming to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of acupuncture in treating VD and offer a reference for future in-depth research in this field.

Progress of Clinical Application of Acupuncture in Critically Ill Patients in ICU

Progress of Clinical Application of Acupuncture in Critically Ill Patients in ICU

Research progress of acupuncture regulating ERK signaling pathway in the treatment of depression.

Acupuncture treatment for depression has definite therapeutic efficacy, and its mechanism has been extensively studied. The extracellular regulatory protein kinase(ERK) signaling pathway is involved in the development and progression of depression. This article reviewed and summarized the research progress on the regulation of the ERK signaling pathway by acupuncture in the treatment of depression in recent years, focusing on the physiological activation and regulatory mechanism of the ERK signaling pathway, its association with the occurrence of depression, and the mechanisms through which acupuncture activates the ERK signaling pathway to treat depression (including enhancing neuronal synaptic plasticity, promoting the release of neurotrophic factors, and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis). Future research could explore the relationship between the ERK pathway and other pathways, investigate other brain regions besides the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, examine differences in regulatory mechanisms between male and female patients, assess the effects of different acupuncture techniques on the ERK pathway, and increase efforts to explore mechanism of synaptic plasticity regulation, so as to provide reference for the clinical application and mechanism sludy of acupuncture in depression treatment.