Science behind Acupuncture and Allergy
I’m taking this off the page for allergy to place it here for readers who really are interested in the nitty gritty. There is much interplay in the human body between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. Cytokines, including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha,are important mediators of the immune response and play…
Read MoreAuricular Neuromodulation: The Emerging Concept beyond the Stimulation of Vagus and Trigeminal Nerves
Another article exploring the uses of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation and the physiology of its effects. So many of the studies are small, so not definitive. I am also wary since there is a “gold rush” to produce expensive products to exploit the benefits of vagal nerve enhancement. Among the cited conditions that might…
Read MoreAcupuncture modulates stress response by the mTOR signaling pathway in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model.
In this study, single needle acupuncture in mice was as effective as fluoxetine in controlling anxiety. These mouse studies are brutal. They make the mice swim for long periods of time which then sets them up for PTSD. Brutal… I need to get up to date about the MTOR pathway. It seems to be everywhere…
Read MoreStress Response as Sign of Aging
I’m rereading this blog post by “friend-of-blog” Zach Haigney. He is reviewing and discussing a Science Direct article from 2013 that seeks to establish biomarkers for cellular stress response and what they can tell us about the aging process. A key sentence in this article is the following ““A crucial component of the homeodynamic space…
Read MoreAcupuncture and Neuromodulation: Napadow Editorial
When a White Horse is a Horse:Embracing the (Obvious?) Overlap Between Acupuncture and Neuromodulation As some patients may know, I was going to present at the NYC North American Neuromodulation conference in August. Due to family obligations, I had to cancel. My presentation was on a group of migraine patients and whether the addition of…
Read MoreElectroacupuncture for Addiction: Animal Study and Orexin
This animal study gets closer to the exact mechanism of acupuncture in reward seeking and drug addiction. They recommend a protocol using electroacupuncture and low dose orexin for drug addiction. Though electroacupuncture alone might be safer in my opinion. Neurosci Lett. 2017 Nov 20;661:84-89. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.09.057. Epub 2017 Sep 28. Electroacupuncture suppresses morphine reward-seeking behavior:…
Read MorePolyvagal Theory and Auricular Acupuncture
Polyvagal theory Oleson Medical Acupuncture This is from a recent issue of Medical Acupuncture and discusses the importance of the vagus nerve in auricular acupuncture. My research, such as it is, is focussed on the stress response and the role of the autonomic nervous system in acupuncture . Until recently, both Western medicine and traditional…
Read MoreShape Magazine: Why You Should Try Acupuncture Even if You Don’t Need Pain Relief
Lovely article from Shape Magazine about acupuncture that actually gets to the nitty gritty of mechanisms. (Link broken) But I loved this part best “Acupuncture also has a dramatic effect on your nervous system, calming you down so your body can rejuvenate faster, Dr. Audette says. When a needle is inserted, it stimulates small nerves…
Read MoreHRV Stress Levels in Migraine:Sa.Be edition
This data is from a patient we’ve discussed before. She was a profound responder with almost immediate resolution of her headaches with acupuncture. This is her summarized Sympathetic Activity or Flight/Fight activity during acupuncture minutes 6 to 12. This prolonged decrease in sympathetic activity over time is one of the things I find so compelling…
Read MoreRelationship between regional mast cell activity and peripheral nerve discharges during manual acupuncture stimulation of “Zusanli” (ST 36)
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2013 Apr;38(2):118-22. [Relationship between regional mast cell activity and peripheral nerve discharges during manual acupuncture stimulation of “Zusanli” (ST 36)]. [Article in Chinese] Sa ZY1, Huang M, Zhang D, Ding GH. Author information Abstract OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of discharges of the sciatic nerve branch and mast cell activities and collagen…
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