止痛是針灸的一項(xiàng)常見(jiàn)功能,，但過(guò)去人們對(duì)其科學(xué)原理并不十分清楚,。美國(guó)一項(xiàng)最新研究認(rèn)為,，針灸可以促使機(jī)體釋放一種天然止痛物質(zhì),，從而起到止痛效果。
新一期英國(guó)《自然·神經(jīng)科學(xué)》雜志刊登報(bào)告說(shuō),，美國(guó)羅徹斯特大學(xué)等機(jī)構(gòu)的研究人員通過(guò)動(dòng)物實(shí)驗(yàn)發(fā)現(xiàn)了這一原理,。他們對(duì)有一只爪子不舒服的實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠的相應(yīng)膝蓋部位進(jìn)行約半小時(shí)的針灸，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)這會(huì)導(dǎo)致實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠機(jī)體釋放一種名為腺苷的物質(zhì),，這種物質(zhì)具有天然的止痛效果,，可以減輕實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠的疼痛。檢測(cè)顯示,，針灸后相應(yīng)部位腺苷的含量是針灸前的24倍以上,。
為了進(jìn)一步驗(yàn)證這項(xiàng)發(fā)現(xiàn)，研究人員還對(duì)實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠使用了一種使機(jī)體難以天然消除腺苷的藥物,。結(jié)果顯示,，使用這種藥物后，機(jī)體中腺苷累積量明顯增加,，針灸止痛的有效時(shí)間延長(zhǎng)到3倍以上,。
參與這項(xiàng)研究的內(nèi)德加德博士說(shuō)，針灸治療歷史悠久，但由于其作用原理一直不太清楚,，許多人對(duì)針灸持懷疑態(tài)度,，而本次研究揭示了針灸止痛的確存在科學(xué)原理。（生物谷Bioon.com）
OTOHNS：針灸可有效治療嗅覺(jué)障礙（PVOD）
BMJ：針灸可傳播肝炎艾滋病
Brain Research：針灸可引起大腦神經(jīng)變化
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Nature Neuroscience (2010) doi:10.1038/nn.2562
Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture
Nanna Goldman,Michael Chen,Takumi Fujita,Qiwu Xu,Weiguo Peng,Wei Liu,Tina K Jensen,Yong Pei,Fushun Wang,Xiaoning Han,Jiang-Fan Chen,Jurgen Schnermann,Takahiro Takano,Lane Bekar,Kim Tieu& Maiken Nedergaard
Acupuncture is an invasive procedure commonly used to relieve pain. Acupuncture is practiced worldwide, despite difficulties in reconciling its principles with evidence-based medicine. We found that adenosine, a neuromodulator with anti-nociceptive properties, was released during acupuncture in mice and that its anti-nociceptive actions required adenosine A1 receptor expression. Direct injection of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist replicated the analgesic effect of acupuncture. Inhibition of enzymes involved in adenosine degradation potentiated the acupuncture-elicited increase in adenosine, as well as its anti-nociceptive effect. These observations indicate that adenosine mediates the effects of acupuncture and that interfering with adenosine metabolism may prolong the clinical benefit of acupuncture.
