From East to West and Return: A Western Interpretation of Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a complementary therapy originated in China over 3000 years ago, is widely practiced in western countries. There is an urgent need to define the mechanisms underlying some clinical effects obtained by acupuncture. A placebo effect is sustained by neuroimaging evidence indicating the activation of areas in the brain that are involved in expectation after real and sham acupuncture. However, only real acupuncture modulates the activity of specific regions in the brain some of which involved in the perception of pain. Basic research applied to the field of acupuncture is beginning to offer a scientific interpretation to these events. Indeed, the stimulation of acupoints alters the architecture of the connective tissue and this local mechanical stress is delivered to the keratinocytes, mast cells and fibroblasts, which react in several manners, including the release of various molecules that act on peripheral nerve endings. Consequently, locally generated signals can be transmitted to the neural centers. In the light of these achievements and urging more research in the field, it can be concluded that there are common denominators between acupuncture and western medicine.