http://goo.gl/zVUzmM
Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) in Washington, DC, say the animal study "provides the strongest evidence to date on the mechanism of this ancient Chinese therapy in chronic stress."
Lead investigator Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, associate professor in the departments of nursing, and pharmacology and physiology at GUMC, says:
"The benefits of acupuncture are well known by those who use it, but such proof is anecdotal.
"This research, the culmination of a number of studies, demonstrates how acupuncture might work in the human body to reduce stress and pain, and, potentially, depression."
Dr. Eshkevari, a nurse anesthetist and licensed acupuncturist, adds:
"We have now found a potential mechanism, and at this point in our research, we need to test human participants in a blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study - the same technique we used to study the behavioral effects of acupuncture in rats."
Dr. Eshkevari and her team applied electro-acupuncture to a powerful acupuncture point called stomach meridian point 36 (St36).
The researchers found that this blunted activity in the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis - the chronic stress pathway associated with chronic pain, the immune system, mood and emotions.