[Research progress of acupuncture for peripheral inflammatory response].

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Peripheral inflammatory responses are complex and involve multiple physiological systems.
• Acupuncture is a traditional therapy with known immunomodulatory effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the primary mechanisms by which acupuncture regulates peripheral inflammation.
• To explore the influence of acupoint specificity and electroacupuncture parameters on acupuncture's anti-inflammatory action.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on acupuncture and inflammation.
• Analysis of neuro-endocrine and gut microbiota pathways involved in acupuncture's effects.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture primarily modulates inflammation through somatosensory-vagal/sympathetic nerve-splenic/adrenal/local reflex pathways.
• Gut microbiota and neuro-endocrine pathways are also implicated in acupuncture's anti-inflammatory role.
• Acupoint specificity, timing, and electroacupuncture parameters (voltage, current, frequency) significantly affect outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture exhibits multi-target, multi-pathway anti-inflammatory effects.
• Future research should investigate the central nervous system's role and the integration of multiple targets for acupuncture's anti-inflammatory benefits.