Acupuncture-induced changes in human plasma insulin level

Changes of immunoreactive insulin, glucose, and electrolytes in serum were studied in two experimental sessions, each using ten healthy volunteers, who were subjected to two different kinds of acupuncture stimulation. Immediately after acupuncture, independent of the stimulation technique used, a significant short-term decrease in insulin concentration was observed. This effect provides indirect evidence that acupuncture induces alpha-adrenergic system activity and may suggest that this system is responsible in part for acupuncture-analgesia.