Acupuncture Calms Anxiety Disorder - New Research

ON 23 FEBRUARY 2014.

A recent study concludes that acupuncture relieves generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a condition characterized by excessively intense and debilitating chronic anxiety. GAD sufferers cannot relax, startle easily and have impaired concentration. Overall, GAD sufferers are chronically worried and anxious.

In this new study, researchers note that “a number of Meta analysis and system evaluations point out that acupuncture treatment has more advantages than drugs in the treatment of anxiety disorders….” The researchers also note that acupuncture has a fast effective action and high compliance. In addition, acupuncture has a relatively minimal risk of side effects compared with drug therapy.

At the Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi), we promote acupuncture continuing education with acupuncture CEU and acupuncture PDA courses online. Our news division reports the latest in acupuncture and herbal medicine research. Most news is based on modern scientific reports. This recent study stands out because its basis is both in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classical theory and modern biomedical research.

The researchers note that acupuncture is both safe and effective. A trend towards increased usage of acupuncture for GAD is partially due to the risk of side effects from drug therapy. Benzodiazepines are major anti-anxiety medications but there is a risk vertigo, sleepiness and addiction. SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are also important drugs for anti-anxiety treatments. However, side effects including nausea, irritability, sexual dysfunction, headaches, high blood pressure, dizziness, sweating and digestive disturbances complicate use of these medications.

The researchers note that GAD affects approximately 2 - 4.7% of the population in China and approximately 3% in the USA. GAD impacts work productivity, studies and may lead to suicide. Furthermore, the incidence of GAD is increasing.

The researchers based their conclusion on meta-analyses and biomedically based studies. They also give a detailed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theoretical and practical analysis of acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The conventional scientific evidence demonstrates that acupuncture benefits brain biochemistry and produces significant positive patient outcomes. The TCM analysis details proven methods to achieve clinical results, however, the terminology is less accessible to mainstream doctors than the biomedical evidence. 

The researchers reviewed scientific evidence including the following studies:
The mechanism of post receptor signal transduction pathway cAMP-CREB -BDNF in acupuncture against depression.Study on the role of post receptor signal transduction pathway cAMP-CREB-BDNF by acupuncture intervention in the rat model of depression.Clinical study on acupuncture treatment of Depression Insomnia.Research of mechanism of acupuncture regulating signal transduction cAMP-CREB-BDNF in hippocampus of depression rats.Research of mechanism of antidepressant acupuncture based on glutamic acid circulation guided by glial cell medium.

The research demonstrates a clear pattern of acupuncture’s ability to benefit the brain, bodily biochemistry and to produce positive patient outcomes in the treatment of both depression and anxiety. This aspect of the research is highly accessible to a wide audience within the medical community. What follows next is comprehensible within the TCM system but is external to conventional semantics and theoretical constructs.

The researchers detailed TCM approaches to the treatment of GAD. The terminology includes terms such as Lungs and Kidneys, which do not correlate to biomedical lungs and kidneys in a one-to-one correspondence. Note that Lungs and Kidneys are capitalized because they represent broader concepts including the entire respiratory system and water circulation within the human body. As a result of semantic and translation issues, this type of research is often overlooked within the conventional biomedical community as there is no basis to understand the concepts presented in biomedicine. The findings are comprehensible only within the framework of those trained in the TCM system, a tightly contained hermeneutical construct.

The researchers have discovered that a combination of acupuncture points LU7 (Lieque) and KI6 (Zhaohai) are potent clinical tools in the fight against generalized anxiety disorder. The translated text notes that:

Lieque (LU7) is the intersection point of lung meridian and Ren meridian. Lung plays an important role in movement of qi, blood and body liquid of the whole body, because (L)ung governs physical qi, distributes the essence of water and grain, helps heart promote blood circulation, regulates water metabolism with (K)idney. (Zhaohai) KI6 is the intersection point of (K)idney meridian and Yinqiao meridian. Yang of (H)eart descends to kidney and warms and nourishes yang of Kidney, while yin of (K)idney ascends to nourish yin of (H)eart, so that yin and yang are coordinated to make the viscera functions normally. Yinqiao meridian has the functions of nourishing eyes, governing the open and close of eyelid, nourishing skin, communicating yin and yang. Therefore, we select LU7 and KI6 of the eight confluent points to treat generalized anxiety disorder in clinical practice.

The researchers posit several main TCM concepts. They note that there is a “close relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and (the) heart, lung and kidney.” In TCM, anxiety is categorized under melancholia, palpitations and insomnia. The researchers note that the pathogenesis relates to qi stagnation, Heart and Kidney disharmony and the Heart, Lung and Kidney. The Heart is dominant in emotional changes because it governs blood and vessels. Stagnant Heart qi deprives nutrients to the internal organs and orifices leading to imbalances of qi, blood, yin and yang. This is the biophysical process in the development of melancholia.

The researchers note that the Kidneys have two major components related to GAD. The first is due to depletion. Emotional disturbances emerge when Kidney essence deficiency causes yin and yang imbalances. The second is due to congenital issues. The Kidneys govern bone and marrow and therefore congenital deficiency leads to emotional imbalances.

The study notes that Five Element theory maps the importance of Heart and Kidney balance to prevent excess fire due to yin deficiency that results in palpitations, insomnia and other conditions. Normally, “(H)eart yang descends to (K)idney to warm and nourish (K)idney yang, while (K)idney yin ascends to nourish (H)eart yin, so that water and fire are coordinated.” Internal organ imbalances leading to emotional disturbances emerge when there is Kidney yin deficiency or a disturbance of Heart yang leading to fire. 

The researchers note that the Lungs govern qi, breathing, dispersing both outwardly and inwardly, water metabolism, convergence of vessels and coordinates activities of the internal organs. They cite a great work of TCM, The Classic of Difficult Issues, Eight Difficult Issues, “qi is the essence of a person.” Another classic work notes that “all diseases result from the disorder of qi.” As a result, many TCM doctors contend that melancholia is a disorder due to qi disturbance.

The study notes that the Lungs are important in the “generation and activity of qi.” The dispersing quality of the Lungs relates to “harmony of qi and the normal operation of five zang organs.” Further, the Lungs govern “the coordinative activities of viscera and the physical qi, which plays a coordinating role in the qi of lung upward and downward, outward and inward.” The researchers note that a lack of governance is a primary cause of qi stagnation. They add that the Lungs role in “convergence of vessels” helps the Heart to “promote and regulate the circulation of blood.” As a result, Lung dysfunction may lead to qi and blood stagnation affecting the internal organs and the acupuncture meridians.

The study cites the findings of Wei Zhang and Yun Meng in their publication The Relationship Between Lung And Six Stagnations. Here, the findings assert that melancholia is due to qi stagnation. Since the Lungs govern the qi of the entire body, it is an important component of melancholia. The findings of A. L. Zhang and K. J. Qi in the study Discussion On Depression From The Lung published in the Journal of Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine were also included in the study. Zhang and Qi note that when the Lungs cannot govern the coordinative functions of the viscera, melancholia may develop. Qi stagnation may be caused by excessive emotions. Both a deficiency or excess of emotions can lead to the development of melancholia.

The study notes that there is an important relationship between the Ren meridian and anxiety. The researchers note that acupuncture point LU7 is an intersection point of the Lung and Ren meridians. LU7 is a confluent point of the Ren meridian and is paired with KI6, a confluent point of the Yinqiao vessel. As a confluent point, LU7 is indicated for treatment of the throat, chest and lungs. LU7 is especially important in the treatment of disorders affecting the head and neck.

The Ren meridian is “the sea of yin meridians” and “governs jing, blood, body fluid and adjusts qi of yin meridians in the whole body.” The Chong (Penetrating) vessel emanates from the “same source” as the Ren meridian and the Yinqiao vessel intersects the Chong vessel. Also, the Yinwei vessel intersects the Ren meridian at CV22 (Tiantu) and CV23 (Lianquan). Three yin meridians of the foot intersect the Ren meridian at CV3 (Guanyuan) and CV4 (Zhongji). The Ren meridian “converges triple burner qi” and asserts powerful actions on the body through its acupuncture points. CV8 (Shenque) relates “meridians, collaterals and viscera,” CV14 (Juque) is the front Mu point of the Heart and CV17 (Danzhong) is the front Mu point of the Pericardium. Additionally, CV4 (Guanyuan) and CV6 (Qihai) tonify conditions due to congenital deficiency. These acupuncture points tonify the Kidney and acts to “consolidate the root.” For these reasons, the Ren meridian can regulate the Heart and Kidney Qi to assist in the treatment of anxiety.

The study underscores the relationship between the Lungs and Heart. The Heart Shaoyin meridian connects the heart and lung organs. The Lungs govern qi whereas the Heart governs blood. Both govern circulation. The Lungs regulate respiration and the Heart regulates blood circulation. Together, the Heart and Lungs coordinate qi and blood.

The Lungs and Kidney are closely related. The Kidney meridian enters the lungs. The Kidneys receive the qi from the Lungs in respiration. The Lung metal is the mother element of Kidney water. Lung yin descends to the Kidneys while Kidney yin nourishes the Lungs. Lung and Kidney balance is responsible for the “distribution and excretion of water.”

The treatment of generalized anxiety disorder is related to LU7 and KI6, which are two of the eight confluent points affecting the eight extra meridians. The researchers note that the “eight extra meridians have the function of storage when overflowing, regulation, transferring qi, gathering qi of twelve meridians.” They note that when there is an overabundance in the twelve major meridians, the meridian qi and blood “overflow to and store in the eight extra meridians.” If there is a deficiency in the twelve major meridians, the eight extra meridians flow back to the nourish the twelve major meridians. The eight extra meridians function to regulate defensive qi, nutrient qi, meridians and internal organs. The researchers add that the eight confluent points affect all twelve meridians and cite the classic workIntroduction To Medicine, “Three hundred and sixty points of the whole body are unified by the sixty-six points in the hand and foot, which are unified by eight confluent points.”

The study notes that LU7 is a connecting point to the Large Intestine Yangming meridian of the hand. As a confluent point, LU7 connects to the Ren meridian. The Lung position in the upper jiao is the “canopy of the five zang organs, which governs qi generation and regulation.” The Lungs are also the first of the yin meridians, therefore, “the flow of qi starts from the lung.” The dispersing function of the Lung qi is essential to the “distribution of water and grain,” qi and blood to the other meridians. GAD pathology is Heart and Kidney disharmony and qi stagnation.

LU7 is the confluent point of the Ren meridian. As the essence of the twelve meridians, the Ren meridian is the “origin of qi generation, the convergence of qi, the sea of yin meridians, the root of pregnancy.” This reflects the function of LU7’s ability to nourish yin essence. If this essence is depleted, it cannot ascend to the Heart and fire will ensue thereby leading to emotional disturbances. Sufficiency of yin essence functions to “tranquilize the mind.”

The researchers note that KI6 (Zhaohai) is a Shu point of the foot Shaoyin meridian. KI6 is the confluent point of the Yinqiao vessel. The Kidneys store the essence and govern reproduction. As a result, KI6 functions to tonify Kidney essence. The Kidneys govern water circulation and metabolism. KI6 is therefore important in the treatment of water stagnation. The researchers note that Kidney water balances Heart fire and Kidney yang warms and nourishes the body. KI6 is effective in treating yin and yang imbalances including insomnia and drowsiness due to its connection to the Yinqiao vessel.

Several other TCM theories were presented in the study. The study notes that GV20 (Baihui) is the intersection of the three yang meridians of the Bladder, Gallbladder and Sanjiao meridians and the yin meridian of Foot Jueyin, the Liver meridian. They add that this is a major point for tranquilizing the mind along with Yintang (HN3).

This research is an interesting example of TCM insights. Many studies seek biomedical correlates for acupuncture and herbal medicine. This study uses these correlates but chooses to focus on TCM approaches to effective medicine rather than seeking substantiation through biomedical correlation.

Reference:
Observation on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for generalized anxiety disorder using Lieque (LU7), Zhaohai (KI6) as the main acupoints. Lin, Chuhua; Zhao, Xiaoyan; Liu, Xing; Fu, Wenbin. Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), 2013 IEEE International Conference on. 18-21, 12-2-13.

Source: www.healthcmi.com

Finally, Acupuncture Proven To Reduce Pain

on 16 March 2014.

  TumblrTechnoratiStumbleUpon Reddit

Acupuncture effectively reduces pain according to research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Acupuncture groups had significantly greater reductions of pain than both non-treatment control groups and sham (imitation/placebo) control acupuncture groups in multiple high quality studies. Specifically, acupuncture was found effective for reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis, chronic headache, shoulder pain, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain, neck pain and back pain.

The researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York and Technical University, Munich underscored the importance of this latest research. They note that prior meta-analyses and systematic reviews of acupuncture for the treatment of pain included research of “variable quality.” In this new study, the scope was “restricted to high-quality trials.”

The researchers started with 31 eligible studies with a total of 19,827 patients. Studies were accepted only from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Only studies with controls were included. Controls included no-acupuncture and sham/placebo acupuncture. All studies were conducted between 1996 and 2008. The researchers refined the studies down to 29 from the original 31 to preserve the highest quality evidence profile.

The clinical results demonstrated acupuncture to provide a “good response” to pain reduction in 50% of all cases. Sham/placebo acupuncture groups demonstrated the ability to reduce pain in 42.5% of cases and no-acupuncture controls demonstrated pain reduction in 30% of all cases. Some concern was expressed by the researchers that the sham/placebo acupuncture groups received active true acupuncture because some of the sham/placebo techniques “involved skin penetration.” They note that the sham/placebo acupuncture may not be “physiologically inactive.” As a result, some of the successes with sham/placebo acupuncture may reflect true acupuncture results. The researchers note “trials that include sham acupuncture as a comparison may underestimate the effects of acupuncture on pain reduction.” Another consideration is that these controlled studies involve blinding and standardization.  As a result, the benefits of acupuncture may be underestimated because a true clinical setting involves customization of acupuncture procedures according to an individual patient’s differential diagnosis.

The researchers note that many established guidelines recommend acupuncture. They cite, for example, that the American College of Physicians’ guidelines recommend acupuncture for the treatment of back pain. Also, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines officially recommend acupuncture treatments for both chronic headaches and migraines when unresponsive to pharmaceutical medications.

This level of meticulous review establishes acupuncture as a standard and effective tool for the treatment of pain. This research has been published just after a recent discovery by investigators at Rutgers University Medical School, New Jersey that acupuncture reduces inflammation. The surgery department researchers proved that electroacupuncture fights infections including polymicrobial peritonitis and reduces severe systemic inflammation due to infections, sepsis. The researchers documented that the anti-inflammatory effects of electroacupuncture “are voltage dependent.” Non-acupuncture points (sham points) did not exert anti-inflammatory responses and “electroacupuncture with a wooden toothpick” did not reduce inflammation. Only true acupuncture was effective in regulating both dopamine and cytokine levels and produced anti-inflammatory effects that prevented death. 

The researchers note that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of electroacupuncture is “mediated by the sciatic and vagus nerves that modulates the production of catecholamines in the adrenal glands.” The researchers documented that electroacupuncture reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced serum levels of cytokines, reduced inflammation and prevented death due to sepsis.

There is a powerful take away from the latest research. Not only is acupuncture effective but it is irresponsible and uninformed to dismiss it. The data is in and acupuncture is a valuable treatment modality. There is a great need in modern clinical settings to provide enhanced relief from pain to alleviate suffering. Moreover, acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory actions demonstrate that it saves lives by preventing sepsis.

Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi)
HealthCMi publishes acupuncture continuing education courses online for acupuncture CEU, PDA, CE and CAE credit for the USA, Canada and more. The HealthCMi news division provides up-to-date news on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM). Traditional Japanese Medicine (TJM) and other branches of acupuncture, herbal medicine, qi gong, tui-na and dietetics.

References:
Vickers AJ, Linde K. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain. JAMA. 2014;311(9):955-956. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.285478.

Rafael Torres-Rosas, Ghassan Yehia, Geber Peña, Priya Mishra, Maria del Rocio Thompson-Bonilla, Mario Adán Moreno-Eutimio, Lourdes Andrea Arriaga-Pizano, Armando Isibasi, Luis Ulloa. Dopamine mediates vagal modulation of the immune system by electroacupuncture. Nature Medicine, 2014; DOI: 10.1038/nm.3479.

- See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1275-finally-acupuncture-proven-to-reduce-pain#sthash.1fitSWBr.dpuf

Source:www.healthcmi.com

Acupuncture Reduces Stroke Risk Discovery

ON 25 FEBRUARY 2014.

Acupuncture decreases the risk of stroke for patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). An investigation of 29,636 patients with TBI reveals that patients receiving acupuncture have a “lower probability of stroke than those without acupuncture treatment during the follow-up period.” Patients from 2000-2008 were reviewed from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Follow-ups continued through the end of 2010. The study “showed significantly decreased risk of new-onset stroke events for patients with TBI who received acupuncture treatment. The present study is the first to report that acupuncture treatment was associated with reduced stroke risk for patients with TBI.”

The researchers note that acupuncture provides other medical benefits to patients with TBI. They noted, “Our previous study found that patients with TBI who received acupuncture treatment had less emergency care and hospitalization in the first year after injury compared with control.” Another study cited in the research “proved that acupuncture improves cognition and perception of sleep or sleep quality.” 

The researchers uncovered numerous studies demonstrating that acupuncture is effective “in improving stroke patients’ physical abilities.” They also found concrete evidence showing that acupuncture helps to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and improve the “lipid profile.” They note that this type of research helps to explain why acupuncture is effective in reducing the risk of stroke in TBI patients.

The study is important in that the sample size is large and that strict study designs were used. Additionally, the researchers sorted for sociodemographics and preexisting medical conditions to ensure accurate results. As a result, the researchers give a 95% rating of confidence to the study’s outcome.

The breakdown shows some interesting results. Overall, incidence rates for strokes in TBI patients decreased from 7.5 per 1,000 patients in the non-acupuncture group to 4.9 in the acupuncture group. Sorted by gender, females without acupuncture had an incidence of 6.5 per 1,000 but with acupuncture had an incidence of 4.6. For males, the incidence was 7.9 per 1,000 for non-acupuncture patients and 5.2 for acupuncture patients. For TBI patients from ages 20-44, the incidence was 2.1 for non-acupuncture patients and 1.2 for acupuncture patients. For ages 45-64, the incidence was 10.6 for non-acupuncture patients and 7.4 for acupuncture patients. For TBI patients 65 and older, the incidence was 28.4 per 1,000 for non-acupuncture patients and 18.0 for acupuncture patients. 

In other recent related research, investigators discovered that combining acupuncture with conventional medications decreases post-stroke depression (PSD). Researchers examined 150 patients in a controlled single blind study. They concluded that acupuncture combined with medications synergistically improves patient outcomes by decreasing post-stroke syndrome, improving limb function and benefitting serum biochemistry. The study group receiving both acupuncture and medications had significantly better patient outcomes than the medication only and acupuncture only groups. This research supports the integration of acupuncture into conventional medical settings for patients who have suffered a stroke.

References:
Shih, Chun-Chuan, Yi-Ting Hsu, Hwang-Huei Wang, Ta-Liang Chen, Chin-Chuan Tsai, Hsin-Long Lane, Chun-Chieh Yeh et al. "Decreased Risk of Stroke in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Receiving Acupuncture Treatment: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study." PLOS ONE 9, no. 2 (2014): e89208.

Clinical research on treating PSD by acupuncture combined with medicine. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2014 (1), R749.4, 361009; 10.3969/j.issn.1674-7860.2014.01.007.

Source: www.healthcmi.com

Group photo with Vice President of The International Education College, H.K, Macao, and Taiwan Education Center, Nanjing Univ. of T.C.M.

"Sharpen up" acupuncture study

English.news.cn   2011-09-26 10:18:59

FeedbackPrintRSS

A patient suffering from facial paralysis receives acupuncture treatment at a hospital in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, on Dec 6, 2010. (Source: China Daily/Zhao Qirui)

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Although it is home to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), China must do much more to improve its academic research capacity for acupuncture, a form of TCM, to take the lead worldwide on both the academic and clinical sides.

At present, among all academic theses on acupuncture indexed by the Science Citation Index (SCI), a leading world thesis index system, only 5 percent are from the Chinese mainland, according to Wang Linpeng, the director of the acupuncture and moxibustion center of the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is affiliated with the Capital Medical University.

Although Chinese acupuncturists absolutely excel worldwide in clinical practice, "they are not as good as their foreign peers in academic capacity, particularly Western-style research methods and lab experiment design," he told China Daily on Friday during the 2011 International Symposium on Acupuncture.

Studies by TCM practitioners - including acupuncturists - largely focus on their area of specialization, and few are in line with global interest in the medical science that has been proven effective over thousands of years, he said.

"Chinese TCM practitioners are very good at treating conditions, but they are clumsy at showing how and why it really works in an internationally accepted 'language' and 'manner'," said Gao Sihua, chancellor of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

"It's especially true in TCM circles, where few Chinese practitioners would regularly follow international academic articles and research trends," Wang said.

Measured by the number of articles on acupuncture indexed by SCI, the US and European countries lead globally, he said.

"Sharpen up" acupuncture study

English.news.cn   2011-09-26 10:18:59

FeedbackPrintRSS

A doctor applies acupuncture treatment to a patient in Zouping, Shandong province in this July 19, 2011 file photo.(Source: China Daily)

If nothing changes, it could be that in 30 years, the Chinese would have to learn from foreigners about TCM, warned Wang Guoqiang, who heads the State Administration of TCM.

In Wang's opinion, the issues foreign experts study when it comes to acupuncture are quite basic for most Chinese researchers.

"They just know better about the lab research design and methods," he said.

Chinese are also capable of doing high-level research into TCM including acupuncture, up to internationally recognized standards and having more theses indexed by SCI, he said.

Some TCM experts have warned that following this course could hurt TCM's characteristics. Wang, however, disagreed.

"Explaining well why and how TCM works internationally also helps Chinese researchers deepen their understanding of the medical science," he said.

Nicola Robinson, editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Integrative Medicine, urged Chinese TCM experts to do more research into TCM based on lab evidence.

Although it is practiced in more than 160 countries, acupuncture has not been integrated into national health services in most of these countries, largely because the lab-based evidence is not good enough, she said.

(Source: China Daily)

Study shows acupuncture safe for children

English.news.cn   2011-11-22 06:02:10

FeedbackPrintRSS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The use of acupuncture for children is common and acupuncture is generally safe for children when performed by "appropriately trained practitioners," Canadian researchers reported Monday in online journal Pediatrics.

Researchers at the University of Alberta looked at data from 37 studies of needle acupuncture, spanning 60 years, on children from birth to age 17, and assessed the association between needle acupuncture and various levels of adverse events in children. They found that of 279 adverse events identified, 253 were mild, one was moderate and 25 were serious.

Serious side effects included bleeding, infections, and heart and lung problems. One child may have contracted HIV. But the researchers said the serious side effects were related to substandard conditions from the care provider, rather than acupuncture's technique itself. They concluded that in trained hands, pediatric acupuncture is safe.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and traditional Chinese theory suggests needle placement helps balance the body's energy flow, called "qi". Acupuncture is sometimes used to treat headaches, migraines, back and joint pains, cramps, and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Estimates show 150,000 U.S. children undergo acupuncture each year.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Acupuncture and Adrenal Gland Functions

Acupuncture and Adrenal Gland Functions
By Li Zheng, Ph.D., Lic. Acu.
Coincident with the equilibrium theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, many studies have demonstrated that acupuncture treatments contribute to the maintenance of the balance of biological chemicals such as serotonin, endorphin, dopamine, cortisol, and many other hormones in the central nervous system. Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the lymph and the bloodstream. The endocrine system is an orchestra that requires all of its players to be fully engaged. The quick alleviation of symptoms of various diseases by acupuncture is partially fulfilled via the simultaneous improvement of the functions of endocrine glands, such as adrenal gland, provided that there is no structural abnormality in the endocrine system. The following is a brief summary of some scientific evidence that acupuncture can optimize adrenal gland function.
1. Anti-inflammatory function of adrenal gland
RX Zheng published a paper in the Journal of Alternative Complement Medicine regarding acupuncture’s effect on adrenal gland function. Electroacupuncture at 10 Hz significantly reduced chemically induced hind paw edema in rats. The effect was partially blocked by adrenalectomy (removing adrenal gland). Electroacupuncture significantly increased plasma levels of cortisol but caused no noticeable signs of stress, such as increased blood sugar level. Electroacupuncture at 10 Hz may activate the hypothalamus-pituitary- adrenal axis and enhance adrenal gland function to produce more endogenous cortisol.
2. Balancing different hormones from the adrenal gland.
Dr. HS Lee of the Republic of Korea did extensive research on the effects of acupuncture on water metabolism and high blood pressure. Applying manual acupuncture on the UB15 decreased plasma levels of aldosterone (a chemical stimulating the body to retain more water and sodium), whereas acupuncture on the UB23 decreased plasma renin activity (a chemical stimulating blood vessels to constrict in order to increase blood pressure). Both points helped lower blood pressure. These results suggest that acupuncture on specific points may have site-specific regulatory effects on hormone levels and that the meridian points, UB23 and UB15, are associated with the regulation of body fluids and of electrolyte balance to optimize the blood pressure level.
3. Optimize cortisol level
Acupuncture can also reduce stress-induced increases of the blood cortisol level. QG, Yang et al. conducted some research on a group of people undergoing heart and lung surgery. Thirty patients with atrial septal defects were divided into 3 groups: the general anesthesia group (A), the acupuncture anesthesia group (B), and the group of general anesthesia combined with electroacupuncture (C). Peripheral blood samples were collected at times before anesthesia, before surgery, and 30 minutes after surgery to determine the levels of plasma ß-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (a hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to produce more cortisol), serum cortisol, and blood glucose. Plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH, and serum cortisol increased significantly in both Groups A and B 30 minutes after surgery, but there were no significant changes in Group C. Blood glucose increased in all the 3 groups 30 minutes after surgery but increased much less in Group C. When our bodies go through surgeries, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, the important stress coping system, will act up. Thus, cortisol and glucose levels will generally increase because of stress. This response can lead to suppressed immune function and therefore infection, high blood sugar levels, or other complications after surgery. Combining acupuncture with general anesthesia can inhibit this stress response so that the stress hormone cortisol is adjusted to precisely the right level: not too high to cause tissue damage and not too low to create chronic inflammation. People can even recover from the open-heart surgery more quickly.
How can acupuncture increase cortisone level in one condition and reduce the same hormone in another? This happens because acupuncture can generally balance thyroid, adrenal gland, and other gland functions so that the levels of the different hormones are optimized. When inflammation continues, our bodies need more cortisol. Acupuncture stimulates the adrenal gland to produce more by enhancing its function instead of exhausting it as caffeine does. When our bodies produce too much cortisol to cope with stress, acupuncture reduces cortisol production by eliminating the stress factor and enhancing liver and kidney function to quickly discharge the extra stress hormones. H. Mori of the Department of Acupuncture at the Tsukuba College of Technology, Japan used electroacupuncture to stimulate a rat’s hind paw with different intensities. He found that the adrenal gland could produce more or less adrenaline depending on what kind of manipulation is applied to the points. This mechanism may be associated with improved adrenal gland function. Generally, hand manipulation tends to relax people more than electrical stimulation. If the main purpose is to lower stress levels and the patients are already very tight with a lot of blocked energy, mild hand manipulation should be used to help reduce the stress hormone. If the patients are exhausted from chronic illness and the adrenal gland is depleted with a very low production of cortisol, then, an application of low frequency electrical stimulation will enhance the adrenal gland function.
In Chinese medicine, the kidney is a very important organ closely related with reproductive function, bone formation, urinary function, and hormone balance. Many kidney points are located on the foot. When we stimulate these points, most patients say they become more energetic even with the same amount of sleep. Perhaps this is the result of a temporary increase in cortisol level. Although we just mentioned that high cortisol levels are not good, a normal adrenal gland can only increase cortisol levels within a certain range that does not cause any tissue damage. Acupuncture adjusts the adrenal gland function to produce the optimized amount of adrenaline in order to dilate the trachea and increase heart rate when our body is physically challenged. If people have too much adrenaline, they will end up with palpitations or a panic attack. If adrenaline is insufficient, people will have exercise-triggered asthma attacks. Since the adrenal gland plays such an important role in our lives, a famous scientist, Dr. Omura, conduct a lot of research to determine how the adrenal gland correlates with the Chinese meridian systems. He found that the Pericardium meridian, running along the midline of the ventral part of the arm and the chest area, is closely associated with adrenal gland function, and that the Triple Burner meridian, running along the midline of the dorsal part of the arm, shoulder and head area, is associated with ovary or adrenal gland function in the female and with testes or adrenal gland function in the male.
Li Zheng is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, a graduate of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine with 11 years of formal training, including 6 years of residency, a Ph.D. degree holder in medical sciences from the US, a Harvard Medical School trained researcher, a professor at the New England School of Acupuncture, and a staff acupuncturist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Her website is www.acumagic.org and her clinic is located at 475 hillside avenue, Needham, MA02494.