Tag: acupuncture animal research
Dr. Volkow, Addiction and Dopamine
I came across this article about Dr. Nora Volkow, a neuroscientist whose life work is bringing addiction science to mainstream medicine. She stresses how dopamine is the key to addiction and to future therapies. Dopamine has been studied in animals in conjunction with acupuncture, discussed here( the NFL and Acupuncture), and here (Cocaine seeking in…
Read MoreResponders versus Nonresponders: Genetic?
There IS a wide variation in patients’ responses to acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA.) In this study they look at gene expression that might explain those differences. I’ve seen in my own studies that vagal enhancement is more often seen during treatment in responders, and the enjancement can be dramatic in “profound responders.” PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42331….
Read MoreAcupuncture in Lab Mice for Alcohol Withdrawal
This study shows that electroacupuncture during alcohol withdrawal in mice improves with electroacupuncture of 100 Hz at Du14 and Du 20 and not at Susanli and Neiguan. This study is beyond my expertise, but I applaud the study design which compares acupoints as well as including controls. In addition, it is counterintuitive that Du14…
Read MoreAuricular Acupuncture on Gastrointestinal Mobility and HRV
The topic of vagal tone is key to our understanding of stress and HRV. We’ve looked at acupuncture and GI motility (upper and lower) before. In this study, they looked at auricular acupuncture (AA) , somatic/body acupuncture (SA)and its effect on GI motility and HRV in rats. HRV did not appear to be influenced…
Read MoreAdenosine and Acupuncture Pain Relief
Recent studies have shown that adenosine increases with acupuncture, suggesting that acupuncture works partially through adenosine A1 receptors. This study suggests that the response is specific to acupoints and requires rotation of the needle. This study looks at the response to Zusanli, one of the most commonly used points in acupuncture. I’m glad to see…
Read MoreDose Related Effects of Moxibustion on Asthma
Again, I have no idea how to correlate moxibustion dosage in rats to humans, but I applaud the study design that compares different time variables or “dosages” of moxibustion (15,30,60, and 120 minutes) instead of just placebo control. They look specifically at certain immune regulation markers. Brief excerpt follows. Update: I just started treating a…
Read MoreAcupuncture for Appetite Control Albeit in Rats
These studies are interesting, but not sure how to apply them to clinical practice. How do you compare electroacupuncture in a tiny animal to humans? But, glad that the studies are being done, and maybe setting some directions for future studies. Am J Chin Med. 2012;40(3):511-20. Effect of electroacupuncture on leptin resistance in rats…
Read MoreSpecific Neurotransmitter Effects of Electroacupuncture
I’m citing this study, though technical, because it’s in the British Journal of Anesthesia and because it’s by Lixing Lao. I’m pasting much of the abstract here. The nitty gritty of the article is beyond my expertise, but we’re getting ever more specific measures of acupuncture’s mechanisms of action. Here, they use specific neuroreceptor blockers…
Read MoreFertility Acupuncture study in Animals
Stener-Victorin is the “go to” researcher on acupuncture fertility. I’ve corresponded with her and shared lunch at conferences and discussed the issues of HRV and fertility. (PCOS patients tend to have high sympathetic tone.) This study is of interest to me because in my own practice, I’ve found that the HRV response is more positive…
Read MoreAcupuncture for Dementia in Rats
A bit of a stretch for relevancy, I know, but I’m drawing attention to this article because the science is pretty provocative, and the points are such easy ones. They used the Jing Well points, which are next to the nail bed corners on the digits of the hands and feet (or fore and hind…
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