More ISAMS:Lixing Lao presenting recent studies shoulder pain, electroacupuncture and inflammation

More from the ISAMS conference.
The indomitable Dr. Lixing Lao gave a presentation on the current state of Acupuncture research. He reported on a German Study looking at shoulder pain published in Pain by Molsberger. This was a study comparing sham, with verum and conservative management. The verum acupuncture group showed 65% of patients with at least 50% improvement in their pain and well being scores persisting to the 3 month mark. Sham had 40% improvement, but that deteriorated by the 3 month mark.
"“Research should be supported to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, and such research may lead to improvements in treatment.”
(That's what I'm trying to do!!)
In persistent inflammatory pain, there is a dual mechanism of electroacupuncture (10 Hz, but not 100Hz)in rats. There is a direct effect on the CNS, an analgesic mechanism, there is also an effect on the hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis leading to less edema. (I discussed that study here.) They discuss the exact mechanism involving CRF. They also show that EA significantly increased plasma ACTH levels compared to sham EA leading to a decrease in edema. They also show that EA significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels compared to sham EA. (This makes me wonder if that's why I often see no decrease in the stress response with electroacupuncture.
Conclusion
EA activates CRF-containing neurons to significantly increase plasma corticosterone and ACTH levels, suggesting that EA activates the HPA.(Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Adrenal)
•Corticosterone, ACTH and CRF receptor antagonists blocked EA anti-inflammation but not anti-hyperalgesia, suggesting that corticosterone, ACTH and CRF are involved in EA anti-inflammation but not EA anti-hyperalgesia.
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