"Acupuncture points" are believed to be a concept that has originated in China for thousands of years (1). Recent randomized controlled clinical trials support the effect of stimulating "acupoints" such as "zusanli (ST36)" (Zusanli (ST36)) on the lower limbs with weak current in relieving functional dyspepsia , etc. (2, 3); animal experiments It was further shown that stimulating "Zusanli" with weak electric current can reduce systemic inflammatory response (4).
Randomized controlled clinical trials have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation of "zusanli" and other "acupoints" can relieve functional indigestion (2)
Mouse experiments have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation of "zusanli" and other "acupoints" in mice can alleviate inflammation (4, 5)
So how do "acupoints" function specifically? People have long used "qi" to explain (6), but there is no further data basis. Researchers such as Ma Qiufu of Harvard Medical School recently published a Nature article and found that a sensory nerve deeply enriched in the corresponding position of "Zusanli" in mice mediates this process through the vagus nerve- adrenal gland axis. Inserting an electroacupuncture into the "Zusanli" position of mice and applying a 0.5mA current can inhibit systemic inflammation (LPS-induced inflammation) ; If the sensory nerves enriched in the deep layers of "Zusanli" are removed, then The inhibitory effect of electroacupuncture on systemic inflammation disappears; further functional gain experiments, directly activating the sensory nerve with an optogenetic strategy can have an effect similar to that of "electroacupuncture" (6).
"Zusanli (ST36)" deeply enriches a kind of sensory nerve (6)
Electroacupuncture stimulation of "Zusanli" inhibits systemic inflammatory response relying on this kind of "Zusanli" enriched sensory nerve (6)
Research The personnel said that this work is to discover the structural basis for the specific functions of "acupoints". In the future, more detailed adjustments based on this structural basis can alleviate human diseases.
This work was published in nature(6) on October 13, 2021.
Comments:
In fact, it does not prove "acupuncture". After all, it relies on electrical stimulation, and the resolution of the location where the effect is exerted is far from as high as "acupuncture".
However, the nerves related to systemic inflammation found in this work through the traditional "acupoint" concept are still quite important. This is also consistent with a series of other recent work on the regulation of the immune system by the nervous system and (7, 8) ;
Further research on the mechanism of this nerve function may be able to find better intervention sites.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04001-4
Corresponding author introduction:
https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/bbb-scba/people/qiufu-ma-%E9%A9% AC%E7%A7%8B%E5%AF%8C-phd
Reference:
. Q. Ma, Somato–Autonomic Reflexes of Acupuncture. https://home.liebertpub.com/acu. 32, 362–366 (2020 ).
2. M. TT et al., Randomized clinical trial: an assessment of acupuncture on specific meridian or specific acupoint vs. sham acupuncture for treating functional dyspepsia. Aliment.Pharmacol. Ther. 35, 552–561 (2012).
3 . J. Shen et al., Electroacupuncture for Control of Myeloablative Chemotherapy–Induced Emesis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 284, 2755–2761 (2000).
4. R. Torres-Rosas et al., Dopamine mediates vagal modulation of the immune system by electroacupuncture. Nat. Med. 20, 291–295 (2014).
5. H.-L. Chao et al., The Beneficial Effect of ST-36 (Zusanli) Acupressure on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Function in Patients With Colorectal Cancer. Oncol. Nurs. Forum. 40, E61–E68 (2013).
6. S. Liu et al., A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal–adrenal axis. Nature, 1–5(2021).
7. A. Jacobson, D. Yang, M. Vella, I. M.Chiu, The intestinal neuro-immune axis: crosstalk between neurons, immunecells, and microbes. Mucosal Immunol. 14, 555–565 (2021).
8. X. Zhang et al ., Brain control of humoral immune responses amenable to behavioral modulation. Nature. 581,204–208 (2020).
Original link:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04001-4
