Mechanisms of Acupuncture Analgesia Produced by Low - Frequency Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points

Abstract

Acupuncture analgesia is produced by activation of the descending pain inhibitory system (DPIS) through a specific pathway connected to the acupoints while still allowing maintenance of consciousness. The analgesia inhibitory system (AIS), in contrast, is activated by stimulation of acupoints or non-acupoints, leading to a nonspecific inhibition of different interconnected pathways. Therefore, acupoints and non-acupoints can be distinguished by their anatomically distinct brain pathways. The after-effects of AA might be produced by the actions of an increased amount of beta-endorphin released from the pituitary gland on components of the AA-producing pathway.

Zusammenfassung

Die Akupunktur-Analgesie basiert auf der Aktivierung des Systems der absteigenden Schmerzhemmung, hervorgerufen über spezifische Bahnen mit den Akupunkturpunkten, während gleichzeitig das Bewusstsein erhalten bleibt. Diffuse Schmerzhemmung hingegen kann durch Aktivierung von Akupunkturpunkten oder Nicht-Akupunkturpunkten aktiviert werden. Dies führt zu einer unspezifischen Hemmung vernetzter Bahnen. Akupunkturpunkte und Nicht-Akupunkturpunkte können somit durch ihre unterschiedlichen Wege im Gehirn erkannt werden. Langanhaltende Wirkungen der Akupunktur-Analgesie könnten im Zusammenhang mit einer Ausschüttung von Beta-Endorphinen aus der Hypophyse und deren Wirkung auf spezifische Nervenbahnen erklärt werden.

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