The Mystery of Acupuncture Partly Explained In Rat Study

hackingbear writes: A biological mechanism explaining part of the mystery of acupuncture has been pinpointed by scientists studying rats. The research showed that applying electroacupuncture to an especially powerful acupuncture point known as stomach meridian point 36 (St36) affected a complex interaction between hormones known as the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. In stressed rats exposed to unpleasant cold stimulation, HPA activity was reduced (abstract). The findings provide the strongest evidence yet that the ancient Chinese therapy has more than a placebo effect when used to treat chronic stress, it is claimed. "Some antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs exert their therapeutic effects on these same mechanisms," said lead investigator Dr Ladan Eshkevari, from Georgetown University medical center in Washington DC.

Comments

Re:Not acupuncture

[king neckbeard]

Even if it's just luck, that doesn't mean it doesn't merit study, especially if some portion of the practices show promise. Imagine if we were able to turn acupuncture into a practice that actually has some science behind it. Real medicine could gain a new tool and people in general can be better protected from Charlatans.

Re:Not acupuncture

[nitehawk214]

Acupuncture Today says acupuncture works? Oh well that convinces me!

Also, your first article says that Electroacupuncture was developed until the 20th century, which kind of proves what the GP is saying.

Re:Not acupuncture

[PopeRatzo]

Also, your first article says that Electroacupuncture was developed until the 20th century, which kind of proves what the GP is saying.

Let's see what the GP is saying,

The Chinese did not have electricity nor does anyone claiming to be an acupuncturist use electricity.

OK, there are two statements there that we can evaluate.

1) The Chinese did not have electricity. China first got electricity about five years after the US.

2) "nor does anyone claiming to be an acupuncturist use electricity." Every acupuncturist now uses some amount of electroacupuncture

Also, your first article says that Electroacupuncture was developed until the 20th century

Electricity wasn't really all that widely available until the 20th century.

Acupuncture Today says acupuncture works? Oh well that convinces me!

My comment had nothing to do with whether or not acupuncture "works". It was just pointing out that the GP's comment was incorrect.

It amazes me that so many fans of pop skepticism still are unable to unpack a simple argument.

Rubbish

[mynamestolen]

I hate rubbish research and I hate rubbish research on slashdot.
Stick needles in anyone and you affect HPA axis. Doh!
Blast adrenal glands with electricity and you affect HPA axis. Another no brainer.
The real test, if these woo believers wanted to test the magic scientific meridian whacko superpoint stomach meridian point 36 (St36) [help me stop laughing], is to do the magic at various points on the poor bloody rats and see what happens (including the little itty bitty points close to the magic St36).
I sincerely hope no taxpayer money went into this particular egregious piece of flam. Check out this for NZ subsidy of this religion:
https://kmccready.wordpress.co...

Re:Rubbish

[Smidge204]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Fake acupuncture, where the skin isn't penetrated at all, was found to be much more effective than real penetrative acupuncture and acupuncture improperly applied (needles in the "wrong" locations).

And the tests were done on human volunteers. Citations in the video description.
=Smidge=

I'm laughing

[sjames]

So, the demand is show proof or go home. Proof shown and people fall all over themselves to ignore it. Still wonder why nobody bothers to look for proof?

This isn't even the first evidence found.