New research demonstrates that acupuncture reduces the allergic inflammatory process. Electro-acupuncture was investigated in a mouse hypersensitivity model that simulates human allergic asthma. In this controlled study, researchers used histopathology to examine the effects of electro-acupuncture on bodily tissues affected by the allergic inflammatory process. It was discovered that electro-acupuncture significantly decreased the excessive pathological diffusion and accumulation of inflammatory substances in the cells of peribronchal and perivascular tissues.
The study demonstrated that electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) exerts an anti-inflammatory response. ST36 is located below the knee and is traditionally indicated for the treatment of stomach related issues, exhaustion, mania-depression, dizziness, throat pain, breast abscesses and local pain. Zusanli is translated as “leg three miles,” which reflects the ability of this acupuncture point to increase strength and bodily energy. The results of this study map the precise pathology and biochemical agents controlled by the application of electro-acupuncture to acupoint ST36.
Reference:
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 647308, 10 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/647308. Electroacupuncture Attenuates Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Asthma via Modulating CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells. Youngjoo Kwon, Sung-Hwa Sohn, Gihyun Lee, Youngeun Kim, Hyejung Lee, Minkyu Shin, and Hyunsu Bae. Kyung Hee University, Seoul , Korea.
