Warm Needle Acupuncture at Pungsi (GB31) has an Enhanced
Analgesic Effect on Formalin-Induced Pain in Rats
Kim H, et al. The Graduate School of East-West
Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Hoigi-dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul
130-701, Republic of Korea.
Warm needle acupuncture (WNA) therapy combines the effects of acupuncture and
heat produced by moxibustion. This therapy has been widely used in Korean
traditional medicine to treat a number of health problems. We evaluated the
analgesic effect of WNA treatment on formalin-induced pain behavior and c-Fos
expression in the spinal cord of rats. Acupuncture and heat stimulation by
moxibustion were performed at the Pungsi (GB31) acupoint. Needle insertion
without heat stimulation (ACU) and heat stimulation without needle insertion (SWNA)
were used as negative controls. WNA therapy was executed by burning 1.5g of
cylinder-shaped moxa on top of the needle that was inserted at the acupoint. We
measured temperatures of two different locations on the needle using an
automatic temperature-acquisition system. Needle temperatures were
overwhelmingly dependent on the distance from moxa while burning and showed a
maximum of 44.9 degrees C at the location 7mm apart from the ground after
ignition. WNA treatment was more effective than ACU or SWNA in alleviating pain
during the late phase in the rat formalin test. WNA, ACU, and SWNA significantly
reduced c-Fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn by 23.5, 28.3 and 19.4%,
respectively.
Brain Res Bull. 2008 Nov 12.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Effects of Acupuncture on Symptoms and Muscle Function in
Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness
Hübscher M, et al. Department of Sports Medicine,
Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. m.huebscher@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the effects of a standardized
acupuncture treatment on symptoms and muscle function in exercise-induced
delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). METHODS: A prospective, randomized,
controlled, observer and subject-blinded trial was undertaken. Twenty-two (22)
healthy subjects (22-30 years; 10 males and 12 females) were randomly assigned
to three treatment groups: real acupuncture (deep needling at classic
acupuncture points and tender points; n = 7), sham-acupuncture (superficial
needling at nonacupuncture points; n = 8), and control (no needling; n = 7).
DOMS of the nondominant elbow-flexors was experimentally induced through
eccentric contractions until exhaustion. The outcome measures were pain
perception (visual analogue scale; VAS; range: 0-10 cm), mechanical pain
threshold (MPT; pressure algometer), and maximum isometric voluntary force (MIVF;
force transducer). Treatment was applied immediately, 24 and 48 hours after DOMS
induction. Measurements of MPT and MIVF were made prior to DOMS induction as
well as before and after every treatment session. VAS data were acquired after
DOMS induction as well as pre- and post-treatment. Final pain, MPT, and MIVF
measurements were performed 72 hours after DOMS induction. RESULTS: Following
nonparametric testing, there were no significant differences between groups in
outcome measures at baseline. After 72 hours, pain perception (VAS) was
significantly lower in the acupuncture group compared to the sham acupuncture
and control subjects. However, the mean MPT and MIVF scores were not
significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although acupuncture seemed
to have no effects on mechanical pain threshold and muscle function, it proved
to reduce perceived pain arising from exercise-induced muscle soreness.
J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Oct;14(8):1011-6.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Plants Used in Chinese Medicine for Male Infertility Possess
Antioxidant and Anti-Estrogenic Activity
Tempest HG, et al. Department of Biosciences,
Canterbury, Kent, University of Kent, UK. helentempest@hotmail.com
In this study Chinese herbs commonly used in the treatment of male infertility
were investigated for relevant biochemical activity. Male factor infertility
predominantly arises via barriers to, or defects in, spermatogenesis. The
process of spermatogenesis is under strict endocrine control; in addition
oxidative stress has been implicated in male infertility with significant levels
of reactive oxygen species detected in 25% of infertile males. A total of 37
individual herbs and seven herb decoctions used in the treatment of male factor
infertility were therefore tested for endocrine activity using a recombinant
yeast based assay and antioxidant activity using the FRAP (ferric reducing
antioxidant potential) assay. Individual herbs tested did not show androgenic
properties, 20 showed strong and 10 weak anti-estrogenic activity (per g of
dried herb tamoxifen equivalents ranged from 1.18-1280.66 mg and 0.06-0.98 mg,
respectively). Estrogenic responses were elicited for two herbs (85.30-550
microg estradiol equivalents/g dried herb), with seven and three herbs
exhibiting a strong or weak anti-androgenic response (per g of dried herb DHT
equivalents ranged from 1.54-66.78 mg and 0.17-0.32 mg), respectively. Of these
37 herbs, strong (15 herbs), intermediate (7 herbs) and weak/no (15 herbs)
antioxidant activity was detected (ranging from 0.912-1.26; 0.6-0.88 and 0-0.468
microg ascorbate equivalent/mg dried herb, respectively). The seven decoctions
(previously used to treat patients) tested elicited strong (5 herbs) and weak (2
herbs) anti-estrogenic responses (per g of dried herb tamoxifen equivalents
ranged from 1.14-13.23 mg and 0.22-0.26 mg, respectively), but not estrogenic,
androgenic nor anti-androgenic, consistent with their individual composition.
With regard to antioxidant activity the following responses were recorded: three
strong, three intermediate and one weak (ranging from 1.02-1.2; 0.72-0.76 and
0.44 microg ascorbate equivalent/mg dried herb, respectively). The prospects for
introducing Chinese herbal treatments into the Western-based medicine are
discussed.
Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;54(4-5):185-95.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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