I had posted on my comments for the Acupuncture Conference in Hong Kong in 2024.  But I didn’t realize until today that my comments were published in PubMed.  The citation below with the link under my name.

Yeung JW, Bromley A, Chae Y, Cheung DST, Conboy L, Graca S, Levett K, Lumiere K, Schnyer R, Sparrow K, Tseng L, Yoo J, Zhang YQ, Citkovitz C. Bridging the Two Worlds: Worldwide Reflections on the 2024 Hong Kong SAR/PolyU Conference. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Dec;30(12):1125-1129. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2024.0819. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527006; PMCID: PMC11659461.

Society for Acupuncture Research Member Perspective: Kristen Sparrow, San Francisco

From PCOS to antihypertension, to pain, to brain, lung, gut, and heart health, the tight correlation between autonomic activity and inflammation was highlighted. This correlation is a treasure trove for insights and future studies, not to mention practical applications for acupuncture practice. The α7nAChR receptor, triggered by the vagus nerve, continues to be a key mechanism for understanding acupoint’s and acupuncture’s effectiveness. Vagal activity was also featured in a presentation on a device with potential for home-based stimulation, transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (TAVNS). A presentation by Lixing Lao showed how different frequencies lead to differing physiological effects. For example, strikingly, one frequency affects the edema portion of experimentally induced mouse foot swelling, whereas another is analgesic. Out of so many impressive takeaways, perhaps the most surprising was that they might have identified a genotype for acupuncture responders. We are watching scientific history unfold.