Acupuncture Protects the Brain From Stroke – New Research

New research demonstrates that
acupuncture protects the brain from deterioration due to strokes. In the
study, researchers discovered that electro-acupuncture exerts an
anti-inflammatory effect on the brain following a stroke that is caused
by a transient cerebral ischemic injury, a sudden loss of blood supply
to the brain.

Acupuncture for StrokeThe
researchers discovered that electro-acupuncture treatment activates a
special alpha-7 nicotinic receptor located in the brain, alpha-7nAChR.
Modern research confirms that alpha-7 nicotinic receptors are involved
in the reduction of inflammatory neurotoxicity due to stroke, heart
attack, sepsis and alzheimers disease. Acupuncture helps to protect the
brain by activating alpha-7nAChR receptors. Once activated, they inhibit
the release of HMGB1, a protein responsible for inflammation and
necrosis.

Measuring the shutting down of HMGB1
release following a stroke is one of the first examples of mapping the
exact biochemical mechanism by which acupuncture reduces brain cell
death following a stroke. This helps to explain several beneficial
effects measured in the study: electro-acupuncture reduces infarct
volume, improves neurological outcomes, and inhibited neuronal
apoptosis. The researchers conclude that electro-acupuncture provides
“strong protection against transient cerebral ischemic injury….”

About HealthCMi: The
Healthcare Medicine Institute provides acupuncture CEUs to licensed
acupuncturists for acupuncture continuing education credit and publishes
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healthcare technology.

Reference:
Journal of Neuroinflammation,
2012, 9:24. Electroacupuncture pretreatment attenuates cerebral
ischemic injury through a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated
inhibition of high-mobility group box 1 release in rats. Qiang Wang,
Feng Wang, Xin Li, Qianzi Yang, Xuying Li, Ning Xu, Yi Huang, Qiaomei
Zhang, Xingchun Gou, Shaoyang Chen and Lize Xiong.

Acupuncture Protects the Brain From Stroke – New Research.

via Acupuncture Protects the Brain From Stroke – New Research.