An Exploratory Review of the Electroacupuncture Literature: Clinical Applications and Endorphin Mechanisms

Mayor, David

doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010324

Cited by 71 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Previous studies have suggested that different frequencies of EA can induce different peripheral reactions [18, 19], but little effort has been made to investigate how EA with different intensities affects jejunal motility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroacupuncture at ST37 Enhances Jejunal Motility via Excitation of the Parasympathetic System in Rats and Mice

Yuan

Wang

et al. 2016

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Background. The roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in mediating the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST37 on jejunal motility have yet to be demonstrated. Aim. We used rats and mice to investigate the effect and mechanism of action of EA at ST37 on jejunal motility. Methods. Jejunal motility was recorded by a balloon placed in the jejunum and connected to a biological signal collection system through a transducer. The effects of EA (3 mA) at ST37 were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats without drugs and with the administration of clenbuterol, propranolol, acetylcholine, and atropine. Further, the efficacy of EA at different intensities (1/2/4/6/8 mA) was measured in wild-type mice and β 1 β 2 −/− mice and M2M3 −/− mice. Results. In Sprague-Dawley rats, the excitatory effect of EA at ST37 on jejunal motility disappeared in the presence of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. EA at ST37 was less effective in M2M3 −/− mice than in wild-type mice. Furthermore, to a certain extent, there existed “intensity-response” relationship between jejunal motility and EA. Conclusions. EA at ST37 can enhance jejunal motility in rats and mice mainly via excitation of the parasympathetic pathway. There is an “intensity-response” relationship between EA and effect on jejunal motility.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroacupuncture at ST37 Enhances Jejunal Motility via Excitation of the Parasympathetic System in Rats and Mice

Yuan

Wang

et al. 2016

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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“…Mayor 35 argues that EA implicitly provides a greater dose of stimulation compared to MA alone, based on greater activation of endogenous opioid mechanisms (EOM). The single trial comparing MA with EA showed a more rapid onset of pain relief in the EA group.…”

Section: Immediatementioning

confidence: 99%

Treating Primary Dysmenorrhoea with Acupuncture: A Narrative Review of the Relationship between Acupuncture ‘dose— and Menstrual Pain Outcomes

Armour

Smith

2016

Acupunct Med

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Objective A number of randomised controlled trials have been performed to determine the effectiveness or efficacy of acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhoea. The objective of this review was to explore the relationship between the ‘dose’ of the acupuncture intervention and menstrual pain outcomes. Methods Eight databases were systematically searched for trials examining penetrating body acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea published in English up to September 2015. Dose components for each trial were extracted, assessed by the two authors and categorised by neurophysiological dose (number of needles, retention time and mode of stimulation), cumulative dose (total number and frequency of treatments), needle location and treatment timing. Results Eleven trials were included. Components of acupuncture dose were well reported across all trials. The relationship between needle location and menstrual pain demonstrated conflicting results. Treatment before the menses appeared to produce greater reductions in pain than treatment starting at the onset of menses. A single needle during menses may provide greater pain reduction compared to multiple needles. Conversely, multiple needles before menses were superior to a single needle. Electroacupuncture may provide more rapid pain reduction compared to manual acupuncture but may not have a significantly different effect on overall menstrual pain. Conclusions There appear to be relationships between treatment timing and mode of needle stimulation, and menstrual pain outcomes. Needle location, number of needles used and frequency of treatment show clear dose-response relationships with menstrual pain outcomes. Current research is insufficient to make definitive clinical recommendations regarding optimum dose parameters for treating primary dysmenorrhoea.

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“…Acupuncture may reduce endometriosis-related CPP through multiple mechanisms including the potential to reduce prostaglandin expression [18], reduce nerve growth factor [19], increase endogenous opioid release [20] and reduce mechanical allodynia [19]. However, the effects of acupuncture on three key areas that are altered in women with chronic pelvic pain are still unclear: increased inflammatory markers, changes in neuronal functional connectivity, and altered endogenous pain modulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manual acupuncture plus usual care versus usual care alone in the treatment of endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study

Armour

Smith

Schabrun

et al. 2017

Pilot Feasibility Stud

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BackgroundEndometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain worldwide. Non-surgical treatments are effective for only 30–50% of women and have a significant side effect burden that leads to high discontinuation rates. Surgery can be effective but is expensive and invasive, and symptoms tend to recur within 5 years. There is early evidence that acupuncture may be effective in treating endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain, showing clinically significant analgesia. Both levels of inflammation and pain processing have been shown to be altered in women with chronic pelvic pain. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce inflammation and change central pain processing in other conditions, but research on women with endometriosis is currently lacking. The aim of this feasibility study is to provide data on recruitment rates, retention, appropriateness of outcome measures, minimal clinically important difference in numeric rated scales for pain and the potential effect of acupuncture on pain processing and markers of inflammation in endometriosis-related CPP.MethodsWe will include women aged 18–45 years with a diagnosis of endometriosis via laparoscopy in the past 5 years. A total of 30 participants will be recruited and randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive acupuncture or usual care. Women in the acupuncture group will receive two 45-min treatment sessions per week for 8 weeks (total of 16 sessions). Women in the usual care group will continue with their current treatment regimen. The primary feasibility outcomes are recruitment rates, retention rates and the safety and acceptability of the intervention; secondary patient-centred outcomes include a change in 0–10 daily pelvic pain ratings, the Endometriosis Health Profile 30 (EHP-30) and changes in conditioned pain modulation, resting and task-related EEG activity and inflammatory markers. Analyses will be performed blind to group allocation.DiscussionThis is a two-armed, assessor blind, randomised controlled feasibility trial. Data will be compared at baseline and trial completion 8 weeks later. Outcomes from this feasibility study will inform a larger, fully powered clinical trial should the treatment show trends for potential effectiveness.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617000053325 (http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12617000053325.aspx).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40814-017-0152-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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An Exploratory Review of the Electroacupuncture Literature: Clinical Applications and Endorphin Mechanisms

Cited by 71 publications

References 22 publications

Electroacupuncture at ST37 Enhances Jejunal Motility via Excitation of the Parasympathetic System in Rats and Mice

Electroacupuncture at ST37 Enhances Jejunal Motility via Excitation of the Parasympathetic System in Rats and Mice

Treating Primary Dysmenorrhoea with Acupuncture: A Narrative Review of the Relationship between Acupuncture ‘dose— and Menstrual Pain Outcomes

Manual acupuncture plus usual care versus usual care alone in the treatment of endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study

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