Differential autonomic response to acupuncture at wood and metal of five-shu acupoints

Effect of Acupuncture on Diabetic Neuropathy: A Narrative Review

Diabetic neuropathy, a major complication of diabetes mellitus, refers to a collection of clinically diverse disorders affecting the nervous system that may present with pain. Although the number of patients suffering from severe neuropathy is increasing, no optimal treatment method has been developed yet. Acupuncture is well known for its ability to reduce various kinds of pain, and a number of studies have also reported its effect on diabetes mellitus; however, its effect and underlying mechanism against diabetic neuropathy are not yet clearly understood. In this review, ten and five studies performed in humans and animals, respectively, were analyzed. All studies reported that acupuncture significantly relieved diabetic neuropathy. ST36, BL13, BL20, SP6, and SP9 were the most widely used acupoints. Five studies used electro-acupuncture, whereas other studies used manual acupuncture. Furthermore, the effect of acupuncture was shown to be mediated through the various molecules present in the peripheral nerves and spinal cord, such as P65, GPR78, and TRPV1. Five studies reported side effects, such as swelling, numbness, and nausea, but none were reported to be serious. Based on these results, we suggest that acupuncture should be considered as a treatment option for diabetic neuropathy.

Chinese medicine for bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury: Recent advances

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI) has a significant impact on both patients' physical and mental health, severely impairing their quality of life. Although this condition has attracted wide attention in the world, there have been few studies on it in China. So far, the theory of Chinese medicine for the treatment of SCI and neurogenic bowel dysfunction after SCI has not been established. Fortunately, Chinese medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal autonomic nervous system dysfunction has been recognized. The finding that Chinese medicine is effective in the treatment of bowel dysfunction and can improve patients' quality of life lays a foundation for further studies on neurogenic bowel dysfunction. In this paper, we review recent advances in treatment of neurogenic bowel dysfunction after SCI by Chinese medicine.