Author: Zhang J1, Zheng Y1, Wang Y1, Qu S1, Zhang S1, Wu C1, Chen J2, Ouyang H3, Tang C4, Huang Y1
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>1 School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China .
<sup>2</sup>2 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangzhou, China .
<sup>3</sup>3 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University , Guangdong, China .
<sup>4</sup>4 Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine , Guangzhou, China .
Conference/Journal: J Altern Complement Med.
Date published: 2016 Aug 22
Other:
Word Count: 262
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to find evidence of a synergistic effect of acupoint combinations by analyzing different brain regions activated after acupuncture at different acupoint combinations.
METHODS: A total of 57 healthy subjects were randomly distributed into three groups: LR3 plus KI3 acupoints, LR3 plus sham acupoint, or LR3 alone. They underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan before and after acupuncture. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values of different brain regions were analyzed to observe changes in brain function.
RESULTS: ALFF and ReHo produced an activated area in the cerebellum posterior lobe after acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints versus LR3 alone. ALFF and ReHo revealed altered activity in Brodmann area 10 (BA10), BA18, and brainstem pons after acupuncture at LR3 plus sham acupoint compared with at LR3 alone. A comparison of acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints with LR3 plus sham acupoint demonstrated an increase in BA6 of ALFF and a downregulation of ReHo.
CONCLUSIONS: The increased number of brain regions with altered brain activity after acupuncture at acupoint combinations versus a single acupoint are evidence of the synergistic effect of acupoint combinations. BA6 was significantly activated after acupuncture at LR3 plus KI3 acupoints compared with at LR3 plus sham acupoint, suggesting that BA6 is the specific region of synergistic effect of acupoint combinations of LR3 plus KI3 acupoints. Affected brain regions were different between acupuncture at LR3 plus sham acupoint and LR3 alone, which indicates that the sham acupoint may have some psychological effect. However, the specific mechanism of acupoint combinations requires further research.
PMID: 27548054 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0016