ACUPUNCTURE: SCIENTIFIC BASIS AND APPLICATIONS

This comprehensive review examines the scientific basis and applications of acupuncture, a millennia-old therapeutic technique aimed at treating illness through the insertion of needles into specific points on the skin. The authors Scognamillo-Szabó and Bechara present a detailed analysis of the historical, anatomical, and physiological foundations of this practice, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture, derived from the Latin terms 'acus' (needle) and 'pungere' (to puncture), has its origins documented around 3000 BC, when stone needles and fish bones were used in China. The classical text 'Nei Jing' (內經) already described anatomical and physiological aspects that anticipated discoveries in Western medicine, such as blood circulation, by approximately 2000 years before William Harvey.

The study details the unique characteristics of acupoints, regions of skin with a high concentration of sensory nerve endings in close relationship with nerves, blood vessels, and musculoskeletal structures. These regions exhibit distinct electrical properties, including high conductance and lower electrical resistance, and are termed low-resistance points of the skin (LRPS). The research identifies a positive correlation between the development of these points and an increase in mast cells in the dermal connective tissue. The mechanisms of action of acupuncture are explained through multiple physiological pathways.

The inflammatory process, one of the main areas of application, is modulated through the release of neuropeptides such as substance P, which plays a crucial role in neurogenic inflammation. Studies demonstrate that acupuncture can significantly reduce acute inflammatory processes, such as in carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats, when applied to specific points related to the affected dermatomes. Electroacupuncture proved particularly effective, with different waveforms producing varied effects on inflammatory modulation. In tissue healing and regeneration, acupuncture demonstrated the capacity to accelerate the recovery of experimental wounds, promoting complete healing without contamination and with superior strength compared to controls.

In neovascularization studies, electroacupuncture significantly increased blood flow in musculocutaneous flaps, with effects comparable to the administration of vasoactive neuropeptides. The effects on the immune system reveal a bidirectional regulatory pattern, in which acupuncture can stimulate deficient immune functions or modulate excessive responses. Studies in surgical patients showed that the technique adapts its effects to the individual's baseline immune state, promoting homeostasis. In hypersensitivity models, acupuncture demonstrated the capacity to suppress allergic reactions and modulate mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

The clinical applications are extensive and documented. The World Health Organization, in 1979, published a list of conditions treatable by acupuncture, including sinusitis, bronchitis, gastritis, and colitis. In Brazil, the technique was recognized as a veterinary medical specialty in 1995. Cardiovascular studies show that stimulation of specific points can increase cardiac output and modulate blood pressure in hypotensive states.

In animal reproduction, acupuncture demonstrated efficacy in inducing estrus in mares and in luteolysis through microdoses of prostaglandins applied at specific acupoints. Behavioral research reveals anxiolytic and stress-modulating effects, with the technique attenuating fight-or-flight responses in experimental models. In obesity, stimulation of specific auricular points reduced weight gain through effects on the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, the satiety center. Neurological studies in stroke patients showed superior functional recovery compared to conventional physical therapy methods.

Despite the demonstrated efficacy, the authors acknowledge limitations in Western acceptance of acupuncture, mainly due to cultural and linguistic distance from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Scientific resistance to the energetic principles and metaphysical language of TCM has hindered researcher engagement in the development of the field. The study concludes that scientific research on acupuncture is fundamental to translate millennia-old knowledge into modern language, contributing to its acceptance and incorporation into conventional medicine, thereby benefiting human and animal well-being.