Acupuncture for Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases including autoimmune disorders, diabetes, Alzheimer's and depression.
During the past two decades  nerve stimulation has been investigated as a  potential therapeutic method to treat systemic and chronic inflammation. The electrical stimulation of cervical vagal efferents was shown to be effective in suppressing  systemic inflammation. The vagus stimulation therapies involve invasive surgical procedures, which prompted the need for investigation of alternative, non-invasive methods, such as electroacupuncture (EA).

Animal studies with low intensity, low frequency EA at the acupuncture point Zusanli (ST-36) have shown that this therapy  can efficiently suppress systemic inflammation, mainly via vagal efferents.

In clinical practice, this treatment has proved to be beneficial for a range of health conditions with underlying chronic inflammations, such as some  gastrointestinal conditions, autoimmune disorders,  migraines, neuropathy, anxiety and depression.

References:

1. Liu, S., Wang, Z. F., Su, Y. S., Ray, R. S., Jing, X. H., Wang, Y. Q., & Ma, Q. (2020). Somatotopic Organization and Intensity Dependence in Driving Distinct NPY-Expressing Sympathetic Pathways by Electroacupuncture. Neuron, 108(3), 436–450.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.015
2. Hu, S., Du, M. H., Luo, H. M., Wang, H., Lv, Y., Ma, L., Lin, Z. L., Shi, X., Gaischek, I., Wang, L., & Litscher, G. (2013). Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) Prevents Intestinal Barrier and Remote Organ Dysfunction following Gut Ischemia through Activating the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory-Dependent Mechanism. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/592127