Possible physiological bases for acupuncture analgesia

Neurophysiological studies of electrical responses of single cells at various levels of the nervous system to noxious and non-noxious stimulation may give clues regarding acupuncture analgesia. Many cells show convergent properties receiving input from both low and high threshold cutaneous and peripheral nerve stimulation. Often the former may inhibit the latter. Our studies illustrate three examples of inhibition mechanisms which may play a role in attenuation of noxiously induced impulses, especially the prolonged discharge. Discussed briefly are othe suggested CNS mechanisms that may be involved in processing and attenuating noxious information, including those in brainstem and intralaminar nuclei.