Neurobiology of analgesia induced by manual acupuncture and electro-acupuncture: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19177/cntc.v1e1201271-84Keywords:
Acupuncture analgesia, Opioid peptides, SerotoninAbstract
This paper reviews experimental and clinical researches published between 1976-2011 on the neurobiological mechanisms of analgesia induced by manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. The actions of the endogenous opioid system are discussed as the main mechanism responsible for acupuncture¬-induced analgesia in the context of several models of needle stimulation. The majority of studies in recent decades support the hypothesis that the brain processes the signals and organizes the analgesic effects indu¬ced by acupuncture. Electroacupuncture applied at specific frequencies facilitates selective release of certain neuropeptides in the central nervous system, leading to different physiological effects and mechanisms ena¬bling self-healing. The acupuncture analgesia is a neurobiological complex process mediated not only by endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins, but also by a variety of neuropeptides, hormones, monoamines, catecholamines, and transmitting and modulating substances such as serotonin, neurotensin, cholecystoki¬nin octapeptide, angiotensin II, dopamine and noradrenaline.Downloads
Published
2012-12-01
Issue
Section
Review articles