Scientific Basis of Acupuncture

Scientific Basis Of Acupuncture
by David Lee Krofcheck OMD, RAc, LAc(CA)

Acupuncture stimulates the bodys natural healing systems. The three main mechanisms of its
actions are:
1. Neurological
2. Biochemical
3. Bioelectrical
The following will help us understand the details.
There has been more scientific research done on acupuncture than any other "complementary"
medical therapy. Years ago, Dr. William Osler, the father of modern medicine in America,
recommended acupuncture as the treatment of choice for lumbago (back pain). But not until
President Nixon's 1972 visit to China did intense acupuncture research get sparked.
In a 1992 study, Cole tabulated the conditions of study in 365 Western and 344 Chinese
research studies.1 These investigated treatments of conditions range from 22-pain, 62neurlogic, to 54-addiction therapies. Double blind procedures have proven the validity of
acupuncture.2
Clinical research has demonstrated the effectiveness
of acupuncture in treating many disorders. For
example: arthritis,3 dysmenorrheal,4 and headache.5
A 1986 single-blind trial, studied the effects of
acupuncture on patients with angina pectoris (chest
pain) unresponsive to standard medical treatment.6
Research found that in addition to relieving chest
pain, "compared to patients receiving sham
acupuncture, the patients receiving acupuncture
increased cardiac work capacity significantly."
In April 1996, the FDA lifted the "investigational use" status of acupuncture needles based upon
a review of research. A 12 member consensus panel for the National Institute of Health (NIH)
met in November of 1997. They concluded that the existing research already shows the
effectiveness of acupuncture in certain conditions, while more research is needed. 7 A 2002, 87
page Review and Analysis of Reports of Controlled Clinical Trials8 appears to have satisfied
the NIHs directive. Every acupuncturist needs to review this article and the public should be
aware of this work.
John Reed MD, wrote "The documentation of positive results in diverse conditions, including
the medically difficult areas of chronic pain management and management of drug addiction,
suggests that acupuncture is a real and potentially cost effective intervention." 9
The advent of sophisticated research equipment has made possible the discovery of the
mechanisms of acupuncture. We
have found the acupuncture
points have distinct
anatomical10,11 and electrical
characteristics.12 The body
produces natural responses to
being pierced by a foreign
object.13,14 Because of these
characteristics, acupuncture can
enhance and regulate the body's
natural responses which include
pain relief, stimulation of the
immune system, and healing.15,16
Studies utilizing PET scan technology have verified the linkage of distal acupuncture points to
correlating brain centers and demonstrated the homeostatic effects of acupuncture. 17 After
years, we have the long awaited discovery of the anatomical structures comprising the
meridians!18 This article summarizes the details of fascinating properties of these structures.
The effects of acupuncture are delivered by: 1)
Neurological, 2) Biochemical, and 3) Bioelectrical
mechanisms. In 1989 Deke Kendal organized
tremendous amounts of research to describe in detail
the neurological and biochemical mechanisms of
acupuncture.14
1. Neurological - The A-delta and C fibers carry
signals into the spinal cord and upward to the
brain. The importance of the fibers in addition
to mediating acupuncture is the connections
to the internal organs through the dorsal horns of the spinal cord. 14,19,20
2. Biochemical - Many bioactive substances including bradykinin, histamine and leukotrine
are important for initiating responses at the acupuncture points. The serotonin,
enkephalin, endorphins and substance P are important for mediating the central
nervous system effects of acupuncture.14,21,22
3. Bioelectrical - Electric energy, naturally occurring in the body, has been found to
stimulate regeneration and healing.23,24 The limbs of frogs and rats were regenerated
and resistant bone fractures were healed in humans by electric treatment.23,24,25 Ions of
radioactive isotopes, injected into acupuncture points, migrate along meridians.26,27
The bioelectrical mechanisms of acupuncture include: (23)
1. Stimulation of electric currents at the site of the needled acupuncture point. 28

2. Electric conduction along meridians and other biologically closed electric circuits.29,30
3. Electric conduction along the perineurium (the covering around the nerve) which also
influences the firing of the nerve.30,31
The complexity of the action of acupuncture is deceiving. It has been used effectively for
centuries in the East. Acupuncture is a safe therapy which utilizes the body's natural healing
systems. In this era of high tech medicine, acupuncture would be considered one of the
greatest discoveriesif it hadn't already been developed centuries ago.32
References
1. Cole, J.: Clinical Research in Medical Acupuncture: A Literature Review. Biomedical
Research in Acupuncture- Symposium Proceedings 5/92. J. Caulkins, ed. American
Foundation of Medical Acupuncture 1993.
2. Lee M., Ernst.: Clinical Research Observations in Acupuncture Analgesia and
Thermography. Scientific Basis of Acupuncture . Eds. Pomerantz, Stutz. Springer-Verlog,
Berlin, 1989, pp. 157-175.
3. Junnilia, S.Y.: Acupuncture Superior to Piroxican in the Treatment of Osteoarthrosis.
American J. Acupuncture. Vol. 10, No. 4, Oct-Dec. 1982, pp. 341-346.
4. Helms, J.M.: Acupuncture for the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea. Obstet.
Gynecol., Vol. 69, No. 1, January 1987, pp.51-56.
5. Hanson, P.E., Hansen, J.H.: Acupuncture Treatment of Chronic Tension Headache- A
controlled Cross-Over Trial. Cephalgia, Vol. 5, No. 3, Sept. 1985, pp. 137-142.
6. Ballegaard, S., et al: Acupuncture in Severe Stable Angina Pectoris- A randomized trial.
Medical Dept. P. Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Acta. Med Scand.
Vol. 220, No. 4, pp. 307-313.
7. NIH Consensus Development Conference Statement, Nov. 3-5, 1997.
8. WHO Acupuncture: Review And Analysis Of Reports On Controlled Clinical Trials,

Geneva, 2002 (ISBN 9241545437)
9. Reed, J.C.: Acupuncture Overview, AAMA Symposium. Baltimore, MD, 5/93.
10. Gunn, C.C.; Ditchburn, F.G.; King, M.H.; Renwick, G.J. Acupuncture loci: A proposal for
their classification according to their relationship to known neural structures. Am. J.
Acupuncture , 1976, 4(2): 183.
11. Gunn, C.C. Type IV acupuncture points. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1977, 5(1): 51.
12. Bergsmann, O. and Woolley- Hart, A. Differences in electrical skin conductivity between
acupuncture points and adjacent areas. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1973, 1(1): 27.
13. Ross, R., Vogel, A. The platelet-derived growth factor. Cell 14:203-210.
14. Kendall, D.E. A Scientific Model for Acupuncture. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1989 17(3) 251.(4)
343.
15. Huang. H.C., The effects of acupuncture on the peripheral leukocyte count and the
production of anti-cobrotoxin. Acupuncture Res. Quarterly 4(1980) 137-146.
16. Sliwinski, J., Kuley, M. Acupuncture induced immunoregulatory influence on the clinical
state of patients suffering from chronic spastic bronchitis and undergoing long-term
treatment with corticosteroids. Acupuncture and Electro-therapeutics Research. 9:203215.
17. Zang-He, C., Olsen, T.D., Alimi, D., Niemtzow, R.C. Acupuncture: The Search for Biologic
Evidence with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission
Tomography Techniques. J. Alt Compl. Med. 2002 8(4) 399.
18. Milbrant, D. Bonghan, Bonghan Channels in Acupuncture. Acupuncture Today, 4/2009
19. Wang, K.M., Yao, S.M., Xian, Y.L., Hou, Z. A study on the receptive field of acupoints and
the relationship between characteristics of needle sensation and groups of afferent
fibers. Scientia Sinica 1985, 963-971.
20. Chiang, C.Y. Chang, C.T., Chu, H.L. Yang, L.F. Peripheral afferent pathway for
acupuncture analgesia. Scientia Sinica. 1973, 16:210-217.
21. Filshie, J. White, A. Medical Acupuncture: A Western Scientific Approach. 1998,
Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.
22. Cheng, R.S. and Pomeranz, B. Electroacupuncture analgesia could be mediated by at
least two pain-relieving mechanisms; endorphins and non-endorphin systems. Life
Sciences, 1979, 25:1957.
23. Becker, R.O. and Selden, G. The Body Electric: electromagnetism and the foundation of
life. 1985, New York: William Morrow and Co. Inc.
24. Becker, R.O. Electrical control systems and regenerative growth. J. Bioelec., 1982, 1(2):
239.
25. Bassett, C.A.L., Pilla, A.A., and Pawluk, R.J. Inoperative salvage of surgically resistant
pseudoarthritis and non-unions by pulsing electromagnetic fields. Clin. Orthop., 1977,
124:128.
26. De Vernejoul, P.; Darras, J.C.; Beguin, C.; Cazalaa, J.B.; Daury, G. and De Vernejoul, J.
Approche isotopique de la visualisation des meridiens d' acupuncture. Agressologic,
1984, 25 (10):1107.
27. Tiberiu, R.; Gheorghe, G.; Popescu, I. Do meridians of acupuncture exist? A radioactive
tracer study of the bladder meridian. Am. J. Acupuncture, 1981, 9(3):251.
28. Nordenstrom, B.E.W. Biologically closed electric circuits: clinical, experimental, and
theoretical evidence for an additional circulatory system. 1983, Stockholm, Nordic
Medical Publications.
29. Reichmanis, M.; Marino, A.A. and Becker, R.O. Laplace plane analysis of transient
impedance between acupuncture points LI-4 and LI-12. IEEE Trans. Biomed. End., 1977,
BME 24(4):402.
30. Becker, R.O. Search for evidence of axial current flow in peripheral nerves of the
salamander. Science, 1961, 134:101.
31. Terzuolo, C.S. and Bullock, T.H. Measurement of imposed voltage gradient adequate to
modulate neuronal firing. J.Physiol, 1956, 42:687.
32. Down, D. Why the Electric Battery Was Forgotten. Creation, 1994.

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How has scientific research contributed to our understanding of acupuncture?

What are some of the proposed mechanisms through which acupuncture is thought to work?

Scientific Basis Of Acupuncture

by David Lee Krofcheck OMD, RAc, LAc(CA)

The bioelectrical mechanisms of acupuncture include: (23)

1. Stimulation of electric currents at the site of the needled acupuncture point. 28

8. WHO Acupuncture: Review And Analysis Of Reports On Controlled Clinical Trials,

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