Oxytocin for chronic pain and acupuncture analgesia

Current medications for chronic pain relief are inadequate, creating a compelling need for new pharmaceuticals that provide effective analgesia. Oxytocin (OXT), a neuropeptide hormone and a prospective pharmacotherapeutic agent, has been an intensively studied molecule in recent years and is intimately involved in the modulation of multiple physiological and psychological functions, such as social behaviors, particularly nociception. Due to its strong analgesic effect, OXT is considered a potential option for chronic pain management. In this review, we aim to address the neural bases of OXT for pain relief, followed by a summary of the existing relevant clinical and basic studies, and finally a discussion on the involvement of OXT in acupuncture analgesia. We conclude that OXT is a promising candidate for chronic pain treatment, and further research is warranted to elucidate its role in acupuncture analgesia.