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Neural Control of Energy Balance: Biochemistry behind Glucose Metabolism and Obesity

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Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanisms in the Dopaminergic Neural Circuit

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Medical Research

Neuroplasticity of Acupuncture for Stroke: An Evidence-Based Review of MRI

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Medical Research

Acupuncture for prevention of Cis-Platinum neuropathy: role of GRK2

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Cardiac Response to Auricular Acupuncture

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Medical Research

Specific vagus nerve stimulation parameters alter serum cytokine levels in the absence of inflammation

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Medical Research

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and heart rate variability: Analysis of parameters and targets

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Medical Research

How Acupuncture Targets Inflammation. From Harvard Gazette

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The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

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Molecular and Functional Neuroscience in Immunity

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Health & Fitness

Neural Control of Energy Balance: Biochemistry behind Glucose Metabolism and Obesity

This article has background material on circuits involved in metabolism and homeostatic mechanisms involved in glucose metabolism with possible applications for obesity. This is not my particular area of expertise, but I do follow the biochemisty of the effects of acupuncture, so I’m filing it away. Gautron L, Elmquist JK, Williams KW. Neural control of…

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Medical Research

Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanisms in the Dopaminergic Neural Circuit

This is a fantastic review article on Acupuncture for Parkinson’s.  I will summarize it in a subsequent post.  It is full of mechanisms and neurotransmitter detail Neural Plast. 2021; 2021: 9926445. Published online 2021 Jun 15. doi: 10.1155/2021/9926445 PMCID: PMC8221898 PMID: 34221005 Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanisms in the Dopaminergic Neural Circuit Yadan…

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Medical Research

Neuroplasticity of Acupuncture for Stroke: An Evidence-Based Review of MRI

This article is way above my head.  The details of MRI studies are foreign to me.  But, as with so many other aspects of acupuncture,  the science is starting to explain the empirical successes of acupuncture.  What always seemed like placebo and wishful thinking actually has firm roots in measurable phenomena. Neuroplasticity of Acupuncture for…

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Medical Research

Acupuncture for prevention of Cis-Platinum neuropathy: role of GRK2

These studies are getting more and more granular and exciting!  In this study, preventative electroacupuncture in mice reduced peripheral neuropathy in animals.  This all contributes to the effort to figure out best practices for using more acupuncture for maintenance and prevention.  This concept, of course, is a mainstay of ancient practice. Spinal Neuronal GRK2 Contributes…

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Medical Research

Cardiac Response to Auricular Acupuncture

Dynamic_Pulse_Reaction_-_Update_2020 Litscher This reflex auricular cardiac (RAC)reaction is something that Litscher is interested in.  From what I gather, it is an immediate reaction to ear needling that can be detected by wearable technologies.  He acknowledges work done with Heart Rate Variability, which is my focus. “Litscher et al. [7] published an original article in Integrative…

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Medical Research

Specific vagus nerve stimulation parameters alter serum cytokine levels in the absence of inflammation

This is an important article to keep in mind.  Just as in this latest article from Harvard, stimulation parameters really matter when trying to activate vagal activity.  This study is in animals and directly stimulation the vagus nerve.   If you get it wrong, you can get the opposite effect.  That is why I think my…

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Medical Research

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and heart rate variability: Analysis of parameters and targets

Use of Trancutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation TAVNS, might be helpful to augment acupuncture for many different conditions since improved parasympathetic activity can mitigate inflammation globally in the body.  I’ve been studying this with HRV in conjunction with acupuncture, which also improves parasympathetic activity. Machetanz K, Berelidze L, Guggenberger R, Gharabaghi A. Transcutaneous auricular vagus…

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Medical Research

How Acupuncture Targets Inflammation. From Harvard Gazette

Harvard gazette does a great job explaining the importance of this  Nature article that I wrote about when it came out. It’s great to have professional science writers do the explaining! A subset of neurons in the hindlimbs have been found to trigger an anti-inflammatory response when acupuncture is applied. Andrey Popov   “This study…

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Medical Research

The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Patients with fibromyalgia often have low vagal activity and low Heart Rate Variability.  Acupuncture and TAVNS can help. Review article The role of the vagus nerve in fibromyalgia syndrome Author links open overlay panelDaniel F.MartinsabFrederic J.F.ViseuxcdDaiana C.SalmabAnny Caroline AvelinoRibeiroaHelen Kassiana Lopesda SilvaaLynsey A.SeimeEdsel B.BittencourtfGianlucaBiancoghAri Ojeda OcampoMoréiWilliam R.ReedjkLeidianeMazzardo-Martinsl Show more Add to Mendeley Share Cite https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.021Get…

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Medical Research

Molecular and Functional Neuroscience in Immunity

Molecular and Functional Neuroscience in Immunity Valentin A. Pavlov, Sangeeta S. Chavan, and Kevin J. Tracey Center for Biomedical Science and Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA Stimulation of somatosensory signaling to the CNS by acupuncture activates a brain muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) mechanism…

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