Current Research In Acupuncture

Written by over 60 scientists and clincicians from the United States, mainland China, Germany, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Portugal and Hong Kong, Current Research in Acupuncture discusses recent advances in acupuncture research in a modern scientific language. The first 5 chapters investigate the basic mechanisms of acupuncture. Later chapters explore topics including acupuncture treatment and potential mechanisms for epilepsy, Parkinson’s diseases, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular cognitive impairment, aging, anxiety, polycystic ovary syndrome, pain, nerve root cervical spondylosis, stroke, imflamation, myocardial ischemia and other cardiovascular diseases. Following the translational and clinical discussions, 4 chapters present new prospects for acupuncture theories and applications. The final chapter comments on the pitfalls and problems of the previous studies and suggests direction for future research towards in-depth understanding of acupuncture, along with better application of acupuncture in modern medicine. Each chapter is written by one or more experts in the field. This unique book provides a broad perspective on the principles of acupuncture for acupuncture researchers and neuroscientists. The laboratory and clinical investigations of various acupoints and optimal conditions provide unique clues to acupuncturists for improved clinical efficacy. For a medical student, this book is a modern course in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially acupuncture. Ying Xia, the chief editor, is Professor and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas, USA. Guanghong Ding is Professor in the Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Fudan University and Director of Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture and Meridians, Shanghai, China. Gen-Cheng Wu is Professor of Neurobiology; Chairman, Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology; Director, Institute of Acupuncture Research; and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

This is the first book to set out a full range of research strategies for evaluating the clinical practice of acupuncture. Leading acupuncturists and researchers with international reputations share their expertise. They illustrate their descriptions with practical examples of what has worked and what has not. It outlines many of the key challenges in the field. These challenges relate to the nature of acupuncture and the gap between current research evidence and the actual experiences of acupuncturists in the field. By focusing the chapters on key research questions, rather than methods, the book has a user-friendly feel. Each chapter is easily accessible with brief explanations of research designs as well as vignettes of relevant past research. The book is based on a deep understanding of acupuncture, with its inherent complexity in practice, whether based on traditional principles or more modern concepts. By incorporating a more sophisticated understanding of the field, this book details a range of strategies aiming to develop the evidence base with the utmost rigour. It is the first book on acupuncture research to take this unique view, integrating the very best of evidence-based medicine with a genuine sensitivity to the discipline of acupuncture, from its traditional and holistic roots to its more modern interpretations.

This book contains four integrated sections: 1) Acupuncture Research; 2) New Developments in Acupuncture; 3) Acupuncture Therapy for Clinical Conditions and 4) Assessment and Accessibility in Acupuncture Therapy. Section 1 provides updates on acupuncture research. From acupuncture effects in modulation of immune system to the role of nitric oxide in acupuncture mechanisms, chapters in this section offer readers the newest trends in acupuncture research. Section 2 summarizes new developments in acupuncture. The included chapters discuss new tools and methods in acupuncture such as laser acupuncture, sham needles, and new technologies. Section 3 discusses acupuncture therapy for clinical conditions. The chapters in this section provide comprehensive and critical views of acupuncture therapy and its application in common clinical practice. Section 4 takes a new look at the issues related to assessment and accessibility in acupuncture therapy. These issues are central to developing new standards for outcome assessment and policies that will increase the accessibility to acupuncture therapy.

This book systematically introduces the Brain in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its acupuncture treatments. It discusses the origin and development of the TCM Brain theory, and presents current research on brain and acupuncture, the unique brain related techniques such as scalp acupuncture and Dao-qi technique, the new developing acupuncture treatment methods for brain-related conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson’s, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy and depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder among others. This book is of interest to TCM and acupuncture practitioners in the West, as well as acupuncture researchers and lecturers. It gives a new understanding of the brain and treatments for brain-related conditions from a complementary medicine point of view.

Acupuncture has been an important branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 3000 years and is the most popular practice among non-Chinese practitioners outside of China. In 1998, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a consensus conference and endorsed the practice of acupuncture as an effective pain control agent — since then acupuncture has become even more popular.Clinical practice is always an inviting form of research. In the field of acupuncture, research concentrates on the neurological pathways of the meridians and acupoints, the neurological functional changes within the central nervous system, and innovative devices being invented, etc. It appears that there will be a long way before firm explanations can be acquired for the explanation of the physiological effects of acupuncture.The technique of acupuncture is easily acquired although the evidence of efficacy remains subjective. Before the evidence can be sorted out through scientific explorations, confidence on efficacy can rely only on literature search and sharing of expert experiences.This is a user-friendly book for all professionals practicing acupuncture. The contents consist of all the popular areas of clinical application viz. pain control and neuromuscular training. Each chapter is composed of two parts: clinical evidences as previously recorded in literature and personal experiences of the author. Acupuncture practice requires a thorough knowledge of the treatment choices relevant to particular conditions, as well as their modifications. This book offers quick references for this purpose.

Written by many scientists and clinicians from China, USA, Canada and other countries, this monograph discusses translational research on acupuncture. Besides general topics on acupuncture practice (e.g., different styles and techniques of acupuncture), topics include some refractory diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular dysfunction, chronic pain, post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer-related symptoms. The factors influencing acupuncture research are comprehensively addressed in the final chapter. This unique book provides a translational perspective on modern acupuncture for not only acupuncturists, but also neuroscientists, neurologists, and other clinicians. For medical students and undergraduate and graduate students majoring in biology, this book is an advanced course for learning the progress in alternative and complementary Medicine.

Proceedings from the first International Symposium on Primo Vascular System 2010 (ISPS 2010) with special topics on cancer and regeneration was held in Jecheon, Korea during September 17-18, 2010. Includes coverage of new study results that have better revealed the functional aspects of PVS, including its roles in the areas of regenerative medicine and cancer.