Neuroendocrineimmune system, Electroacupuncture and Gene Expression

This is an article included in my writing project and it doesn’t seem to be anywhere in my blog.  So here it is!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862942/

Cooper EL. eCAM: Neuroendocrineimmune, Electroacupuncture and Gene Expression. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010;7(2):149-150. doi:10.1093/ecam/neq035

According to Burnet (5):

The first objective in a serious approach to immunology should be to obtain a broad understanding, with a minimum of detail, of how immunology fits into the pattern of biology—of the way in which the immune system evolved, its function and coordination with other body systems, and its development from the embryo onwards. At the same time, such an outline should provide an adequate background for easy application of immunological ideas to the detail of practical immunological work in public health, clinical, and veterinary practice.

After reading this, I paraphrased it immediately to fit the context of eCAM so that it reads: ‘the first objective in a serious approach to CAM should be to obtain a broad understanding, with a minimum of detail, of how CAM fits into the pattern of biology—of the way in which the neuroendocrineimmune system evolved, its function and coordination with other body systems, and its development from the embryo onwards. At the same time, such an outline should provide an adequate background for easy application of CAM ideas to the detail of practical CAM work in public health, clinical and medical practice, and yet not stray far away from the very biology that under girds it. CAM is organismic, inclusive and not reductionist and exclusive (6–9).

Turning now to the current example of CAM and its fit with molecular approaches, toward a greater understanding of mechanisms that are evidence based. For the uninitiated, EA is defined according to Acupuncture Today, ‘Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment. As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. The needles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electric pulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needles at time so that the impulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes at a time.’