Acupuncture is the most frequently used treatment method among the complementary
medicine practices. Acupuncture practices mainly affect the somatic and autonomic
nervous systems in the nervous system. It is important to understand the mechanism
of action of acupuncture practices especially in the central nervous system. Electroencephalography
(EEG) is one of the best techniques to explain the effects of acupuncture on the
central nervous system. In the present review, the changes in the EEG by the application
of acupuncture to different acupoints were evaluated. It was observed that the application
of acupuncture to different acupoints caused different brain activities in different
regions of the brain. In addition to this, an increase in the alpha-1 wave frequency
due to the stimulation of Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (P6), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints
in different meridian and regions has indicated that these points have mood modifying
and relaxation effects and they can be used in the psychological state changes.
Moffet,
H.H. (2006) How Might Acupuncture Work? A Systematic Review of Physiologic Rationales
from Clinical Trials. BMC Complementary
and Alternative Medicine,6, 25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-6-25
Cabyoglu,
M.T., Ergene, N. and Tan, U. (2006) The Mechanism of Acupuncture and Clinical Applications. International Journal of Neuroscience, 116, 115-125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207450500341472
Cabioglu,
M.T. and Arslan, G. (2008) Neurophysiologic Basis of Back-Shu and Huatuo-Jiaji Points. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 36, 473-479. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X08005916
Chen,
A.C., Liu, F.J., Wang, L. and Arendt-Nielsen, L. (2006) Mode and Site of Acupuncture Modulation in
the Human Brain: 3D (124-ch) EEG Power Spectrum Mapping and Source Imaging. Neuroimage, 29, 1080-1091. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.08.066
Streitberger, K., Steppan, J., Maier, C.,
Hill, H., Backs, J. and Plaschke, K. (2008) Effects of Verum Acupuncture
Compared to Placebo Acupuncture on Quantitative EEG and Heart Rate Variability in
Healthy Volunteers. The Journal of
Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14, 505-513. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.0552
Chen,
A.C., Liu, F.J., Wang, L. and Arendt-Nielsen, L.(2006) Mode and Site
of Acupuncture Modulation in the Human Brain: 3D (124-ch) EEG Power Spectrum Mapping
and Source Imaging. Neuroimage, 29, 1080-1091. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.08.066
Sakai, S., Hori, E., Umeno, K.,Kitabayashi, N., Ono, T. and Nishijo, H.(2007) Specific Acupuncture
Sensation Correlates with EEGs and Autonomic Changes in Human Subjects. Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical, 133, 158-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2007.01.001
