Comparative Effects of Acupressure at Local
and Distal Acupuncture Points on Pain Conditions and Autonomic Function in Females with Chronic
Neck Pain
Matsubara T, et al. Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty
of Health Sciences, Nihon Fukushi University, 26-2 Higashihaemicho, Handa, Aichi 475-0012, Japan.
Acupressure on local and distal acupuncture points might
result in sedation and relaxation, thereby reducing chronic neck pain. The aim was to investigate the
effect of acupressure at local (LP) and distal acupuncture points (DP) in females with chronic neck pain.
Thirty-three females were assigned to three groups: the control group did not receive any stimuli, the
LP group received acupressure at local acupuncture points, GB 21, SI 14 and SI 15, and the DP group
received acupressure at distal acupuncture points, LI 4, LI 10 and LI 11. Verbal rating scale (VRS),
Neck Disability Index (NDI), State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory (STAI), muscle hardness (MH), salivary
alpha-amylase (sAA) activity, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) values and satisfaction
due to acupressure were assessed. VRS, NDI, STAI and MH values decreased after acupressure in the LP
and the DP group. HR decreased and the power of high frequency (HF) component of HRV increased after
acupressure in only the LP group. Although acupressure on not only the LP but also the DP significantly
improved pain conditions, acupressure on only the LP affected the autonomic nervous system while
acupuncture points per se have different physical effects according to location.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011. pii: 543291. Epub 2010 Sep 23. Source: PubMed
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The Effects of Acupuncture (PC6) on Chronic Mild
Stress-Induced Memory Loss
Kim H, et al. Division of Brain Disease, Center for Biomedical Science, National
Institute of Health, 194 Tongillo, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, 122-701, Korea.
A previous study reported that the PC6 acupuncture point can alleviate chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced
anxiety [17]. Following the previous study, this study examined the effects of the PC6 acupuncture point
on CMS-induced memory loss. The memory storage and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity in the
hippocampus were measured, respectively, using a passive avoidance test (PAT) and AchE
immunohistochemistry. In the PAT (retention test), the CMS group showed a markedly lower latency time
than the control (post (72h): p<0.01, post (96h): p<0.05, post (120h): p<0.001). However, acupuncture
at PC6 significantly recovered the impairment of memory compared to the CMS group (post (120h):
p<0.001). Exposure to CMS also significantly decreased the AchE activity in the hippocampus compared
to the control rats. Acupuncture stimulation at the PC6 point on the pericardium channels (3min),
but not at other points (TE5), produced memory improvements and an increase in AchE reactivity in the
hippocampus compared to the CMS group. These results show that the acupuncture point is effective in
restoring the CMS-related biochemical and behavioral impairments, such as learning and memory.
Neurosci Lett. 2010 Oct 11. Source: PubMed
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Chinese Herbal Extracts as a Potential Candidate for the
Therapy of Metabolic Syndrome
Tan Y, Kamal MA, Wang ZZ, Xiao W, Seale JP, Qu X.
Metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, but currently there is
a lack of effective therapies for this multi-factorial endocrine disease. Traditional Chinese Medicine
has been utilized to treat a wide variety of diseases for centuries in China, subsequently becoming a
promising source for the development of new therapeutic agents. Chinese medicinal herbs Gynostemma
pentaphyllum, Coptis chinensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza have been shown to have antiatherosclerotic and
antidiabetic properties. In this study, we have investigated the metabolic effects of a mixture of
these three herbal extracts (SK0506) in a rodent model of metabolic syndrome induced by high fat diet
(HFD). SD rats that were fed HFD for 4 weeks gained 33% more weight compared with chow fed rats
(P <0.05). 4 weeks treatment with SK0506 prevented weight gain with decreased visceral fat (P <0.01 vs.
vehicle treatment). SK0506 also significantly reduced plasma triglycerides, NEFAs and cholesterol.
SK0506 exerted similar effects to rosiglitazone on impaired glucose intolerance SK0506 also
significantly enhanced glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in adipose tissue during
hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp. Western blotting analysis revealed SK0506 enhanced GLUT4
expression in adipose tissue and rosiglitazone markedly up-regulated GLUT4 translocation in
skeletal muscle. Overall, this study discovered that SK0506 can reverse several components of
metabolic syndrome primarily through acting on hyperlipidaemia and visceral obesity. The results
from this study suggest that it is worthwhile to conduct a randomized clinical trial to confirm
the potential that SK0506 may be a new oral agent for treating metabolic syndrome and preventing
type 2 diabetes.
Clin Sci (Lond). 2010 Oct 15.
Source: PubMed
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