ABSTRACT
It has been documented that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a multifunctional nucleoside triphosphate used in cells, including chemical energy transportation, extra- and intracellular signaling, cell structure maintaining, DNA and RNA synthesis, etc. In the present paper, the authors reviewed studies on the involvement of ATP in different efficacies of acupuncture intervention from the following four aspects. 1) ATP release in the stimulated acupoint area is one of the key factors for producing acupuncture analgesia; 2) Acupuncture induced suppression of ATP activity in the central nervous system results in pain relief; 3) ATP application on the human body surface may strengthen the sensation propagation along the meridian; 4) Favorable regulation of acupuncture intervention on the abnormal functional activities of some viscera often accompanies with an increase of ATP content and ATPase activity in the related internal organs. It has been proposed that ATP, Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely related each other in the life activities of the organism. Hence, a reasonable regulation on ATP levels in the related organs of the body may be a new approach for raising clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture therapy.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Acupuncture Analgesia , Acupuncture Points , Animals , Disease , Humans , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of thoracic duct lymph volume and the contents of histamine (HA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), etc. in the lymph after acupuncture or thermal acupuncture interventions, in order to investigate the effect of lymphatic system in transmitting acupuncture and moxibustion signals. METHODS: A total of 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, acupuncture group, and thermal acupuncture (acupuncture with the needle warmed by burning moxa) group (n = 15/group). The rat thoracic duct lymphatic fistula model was replicated. Acupuncture or thermal acupuncture was applied to "Zusanli" (ST 36), and the changes of thoracic duct lymph volume and the concentrations of HA, 5-HT in the lymph were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the thoracic duct lymph volume in acupuncture group and thermal acupuncture group were obviously increased (P < 0.05), while the concentrations of lymph HA and 5-HT in both acupuncture and thermal acupuncture groups had no significant changes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both acupuncture and thermal acupuncture interventions can increase the thoracic duct lymph volume, but have no effects on lymph HA and 5-HT contents in normal rats.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Lymph/chemistry , Thoracic Duct/metabolism , Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation , Acupuncture Therapy/methods , Animals , Histamine/analysis , Histamine/metabolism , Lymph/metabolism , Male , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Serotonin/analysis , Serotonin/metabolism , Thoracic Duct/chemistryABSTRACT
The history of collateral puncture therapy in Japan was traced, the current status and characteristics of collateral puncture therapy in Japan were introduced in this paper. Originated in China, the collateral puncture therapy in Japan combined Japanese knowledge of acupuncture with the theory and practice of bloodletting of Portugal Medicine and Netherlands Medicine. The discussion on the theory and technique of the collateral puncture therapy by Kudo Kunsei became the standard of the collateral puncture therapy in Japan in modern times. Based on this discussion, Tetuo Asami proposed a new theory of the collateral puncture therapy which improved the collateral puncture therapy in Japan. Currently, as a part of Japanese health care system, the collateral puncture therapy with Japanese characteristics is gradually accepted by the medical profession in Japan.
Subject(s)
Bloodletting/methods , Medicine, East Asian Traditional , Meridians , Acupuncture Points , Bloodletting/history , History, 15th Century , History, 17th Century , History, 18th Century , History, 19th Century , Humans , JapanABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the rate of Zijin powder in inhibiting H22 mice solid and ascites liver cancer and the relation between quatity and effect. METHOD: The Kunming mics, transplanted by H22 liver cells, were divided into a model group, a cyclophosphamide group and three groups of Zijin powder in high dose, medium dose, and low dose. Then observation was made on the rate of Cancer. RESULT: The inhibiting rates of Zijin powder of three groups (high dose group, medium dose group and low dose group) for H22 mice solid liver cancer were 30.8%, 38.31% and 48.59% respectivily. The inhibiting rates of three groups of Zijin powder (low dose group, medium dose and high dose group) for H22 mice ascites liver cancer were 6.77%, 15.59% and 14.90 % respectivily. CONCLUSION: Zijin powder has better effect on H22 mice solid liver cancer, and its effect is greatly increasing with the increased dosage.