Response of Local Nitric Oxide Release to Manual Acupuncture and Electrical Heat in Humans: Effects of Reinforcement Methods

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2017 Jul 19

PMID 28717380

Citations 12

Authors

Sheng-Xing Ma

Paul C Lee

Thomas L Anderson

Xi-Yan Li

Isabelle Z Jiang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study was to examine the influences of manual acupuncture (MA) and electrical heat corresponding to reinforcing methods on nitric oxide (NO) release over the skin regions in humans. A device with collecting solution was taped to the skin surface along pericardium (PC) or lung (LU) meridian. Acupuncture needles were gently inserted into PC 4 with reinforcing stimulation (low force/rate) for 20 minutes in the MA group. LU11 on the finger was heated (43-44°C) by electrical heat for 20 minutes. Biocapture was consecutively conducted for two 20-minute intervals during and after each treatment. Total nitrite and nitrate (NO ) in the collecting samples were quantified using chemiluminescence in blinded fashion. Baseline NO levels are higher and tended to be higher over PC and LU acupoints during the 1st biocapture. NO levels over PC regions were consistently increased by MA during both intervals. NO concentrations over LU acupoints were increased and tended to be increased by electrical heat in the 1st and 2nd biocapture. The results suggest that reinforcing MA and electrical heat induce NO released from the local skin regions with higher levels at acupoints, which improve local circulation and contribute to the beneficial effects of the therapies.

Citing Articles

Stimuli-evoked NOergic molecules and neuropeptides at acupuncture points and the gracile nucleus contribute to signal transduction of propagated sensation along the meridian through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.

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