Acupuncture Works – Confirmed by Science
Acupuncture Increases Adenosine
Clarifying how acupuncture may work to reduce pain, a study shows that, at the site applied, acupuncture needles increase levels of a molecule called adenosine, a natural compound that regulates sleep, anti-inflammatory responses – and painkilling.
Research previously showed an increase in brain-signaling and painkilling endorphins when the central nervous system is affected by acupuncture. But this study found that stimulation of nerve endings not linked to the brain and spinal cord also increase levels of adenosine. Mice bred to have no adenosine received no pain benefit from acupuncture; mice whose adenosine was “turned on” received benefit without acupuncture; and mice with normal adenosine had pain reduced by two thirds while adenosine levels at the needle site jumped 24 times normal levels.
This study will be published in a future issue of Nature Neuroscience by July 2010 issue and full details will be available with subscription. You can read the full-text study released May 30 without cost at: http://bit.ly/dogW0U.
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