What is Acupuncture and how does it work?
New research examines the role of acupuncture in nerve regeneration of the brain following a stroke due to cerebral ischemia – a condition due to restricted blood flow to the brain. The research cites the ability of acupuncture to “promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the brain… accelerate angiogenesis and inhibit apoptosis.” This basically means, Acupuncture promotes the important stages of division, growth, development and specialization of Neural Stem Cells in the brain, which leads to repair of damage caused from strokes and cerebral (brain) ischemia.
The researchers note that the Conception Vessel (CV, Ren channel) and Governing Vessel (GV, Du channel) are effective acupuncture meridians to “prevent and treat neural injuries following cerebral ischemia.”
Recent studies demonstrate that neural stem cells (NSCs) in the brain have the “ability of self-duplication, self regeneration and continuous differentiation into neuron and neuroglial cells.” Studies show that acupuncture on the Conception and Governing Vessels promotes “proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the ischemic brain.” Two specific Acupuncture points “increase the release of nerve growth factors (NGFs) to make nerve cells survive and axons (specialized part of the neural cell) grow, synthesize neurotransmitters, (and) metabolize toxic substances….” Treatment of these two acupuncture points can stimulate the brain to start repairing the damaged area through neural cell division and growth, while cleaning up the damaged tissue.
The research notes that needling specific Conception Vessel points “could inhibit excessive proliferation of the hippocampal astrocytes and promote cellular differentiation.” The research also notes that these points increase GFAP/NSE double-labeled cells. GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) is a marker of astrocyte activation and NSE (neuron-specific enolase) is a marker of the neurons.
The research shows that acupuncture plays an important role in the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Acupuncture at specific Governing Vessel points increases neural cell repair following cerebral ischemia (lack of blood flow to areas of the brain). These points increased the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor, which stimulates growth of blood vessel wall lining) and Ang-1 (angioprotein 1, needed for growth of blood vessels) in the area damaged by reduced blood flow. Both VEGF and Ang-1 are important blood vessel growth modulators, and when stimulated to increase in quantity by Acupuncture, Blood Vessel and Neural Cell repair in the Brain will increase also
The research also documents that acupuncture at other points on the Governing Vessel effects the contents and expressions of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). STATs play an important role in Janus kinase (JAK-STAT) – a pathway that transmits information from chemical signals outside the cell, through the cell membrane and into gene promoters on the DNA in the cell nucleus (causing DNA transcription and activity/growth in the cell).
The researchers note that the influence of acupuncture on STATs indicates that acupuncture activates bodily self-protection and reduction of “apoptosis (death) of the nerve cells in and around the ischemic focus.”
Reference:
Research advances in treatment of cerebral ischemic injury by acupuncture of conception and governor vessels to promote nerve regeneration. Zhou-xin Yang, Peng-dian Chen, Hai-bo Yu, Wen-shu Luo, Yong-Gang Wu, Min Pi, Jun-hua Peng, Yong-feng Liu, Shao-yun Zhang, Yan-hua Gou. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Jan. 2012. vol. 10, 1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China.
http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/495-acupunctureceusbrainstrokerepair
