The research of acupuncture on the treatment of alcohol dependence: hope and challenge

• Main Author: Xue Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hong Kong Gold Orchid Science and Technology Co., Limited 2019-11-01
• Series: Traditional Medicine Research
• Subjects: acupuncture; on the treatment of alcohol dependence; hope and challenge
• Online Access: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr/EN/10.12032/TMR20191009138

Acupuncture, a well-known form of alternative therapy, has been used for treating various disorders including pain, certain drug addiction, and withdrawal syndromes [1-5]. Although there is not any histological or physiological evidence of traditional Chinese medical concepts such as Qi, meridians and acupoints, there is clear scientific evidence that acupuncture relates to endogenous opioid peptides release, and acupuncture can increase the activity of dopaminergic neuron in mesolimbic brain region through the endogenous opioid peptides [6-8]. Till today, there is no convincing evidence to illustrate the nature of acupoints and also no clear mechanism explaining how the signals transport to the central nervous system from the special acupoints. However, recent research have found that the afferent impulses induced by acupuncture can be transmitted by Aβ and AΔ fibers [9, 10], which sent the itch and tactile sensation to the brain; then the signals activate spinal cord, midbrain and pituitary-hypothalamus, which lead to the release of three endorphins and other monoamines [11-13]. These results suggest that acupuncture can indeed activate neurons in the brain to perform physiological functions.