Acupuncture Helps to Repair Brain Damage
Done by Drug Abuse
There have been several reports before of research and theories about the usefulness of acupuncture in treating addiction but few have yielded concrete proof, that is until now. A recent study found that acupuncture at the Zusanli point significantly decreased the activation of heroin cues in the brain. Heroin cues are responsible for inducing sensations linked to reward and craving in the mind and the acupuncture used in this study quickly suppressed these sensations.
Drug addiction and abuse is a serious problem for a lot of people and overcoming that addiction sometimes seems insurmountable but this research proves that acupuncture can be an essential part of rehabilitation.
Links to the Articles:
– www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2012;volume=7;issue=33;spage=2607;epage=2616;aulast=Cai;type=0
Acupuncture Proves Useful in Treating Spinal
Cord Injury
A recent study examining the beneficial effects of acupuncture in treating spinal cord injury has found some conclusive and impressive results. The study conducted on 100 subjects suffering from high grade spinal injuries has found that acute acupuncture can statistically raise sensory and motor function and downgrade spinal injuries according to the ASIA index (American Spinal Injury Association). The study followed up with the subjects a year after treatment to find that the treatment had remained effective. Spinal injury is painful and immediately gets in the way of one’s everyday life so it’s important to treat it quickly and effectively and acupuncture is proving to be a natural and practical way to alleviate the pains and effects of spinal injury.
Links to the Articles:
– www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12510181
Acupuncture May Help Relieve Symptoms after Chemo
There has been a wealth of research done, and still being done, on the effects of acupuncture on cancer patients undergoing chemo. Recent studies have confirmed statistically significant decreases in fatigue in breast cancer patients (Reuters). These studies are still just coming out and most physicians are wary of saying that acupuncture will be guaranteed to relieve fatigue due to chemo but more physicians are consistently telling their patients to give it a try. In another study several women going through chemo were given acupuncture to help with their nausea and vomiting and 24 of the 26 women given acupuncture reported much less nausea and an overall better and more health feeling (Sciencedirect). These results are still not conclusive but with more research being done regularly into the positive effects of acupuncture for cancer patients it’s definitely worth talking with your doctor about.
Links to the Articles:
– www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-acupuncture-cancer-idUSBRE89S15420121029
– www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566070206002219
Further Research Closing in on How Acupuncture
Treats Chronic Stress
It is a widely held belief that acupuncture is a great way to relieve stress. Several studies have seen groups diagnosed with chronic stress display remarkable improvement in quality of life and lower stress levels due to acupuncture. Despite this evidence it has remained largely unclear why or how acupuncture is able to reduce stress levels. A recent study however has come closer to pin pointing how acupuncture can specifically target and reduce stress. The researchers found that electro-acupuncture interacted with hormones in the brain to reduce their stress elevating effects. These results are promising as researchers find more and more evidence to show that acupuncture is a scientifically viable way to relieve stress and other ailments.
Links to the Articles:
– www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23386059
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