Research Progress on the Mechanism of the Acupuncture Regulating Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Network System

Acupuncture is a millenary therapeutic practice of traditional Chinese medicine that has gained worldwide recognition, currently used in 183 countries according to the World Health Organization. This scientific review examines how acupuncture influences the body through the regulation of the neuro-endocrine-immune system, a complex communication network between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems that maintains the body's balance. Understanding this mechanism is fundamental to explaining why acupuncture can treat conditions as diverse as pain, emotional disorders, and immune problems, offering a solid scientific basis for this ancestral therapy.

The aim of the study was to review and systematize current knowledge on how acupuncture regulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network. Researchers at China Agricultural University conducted a narrative review of the scientific literature, analyzing experimental and clinical studies that investigated the mechanisms of action of acupuncture. The methodology included the analysis of research on neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, hormones, cytokines, and cells of the immune system, as well as studies on specific brain regions involved in this regulation. The authors examined studies in both animals and humans, focusing especially on molecular signaling pathways and the bidirectional effects of acupuncture.

The findings reveal that acupuncture acts as a physical stimulus that activates local cellular functions and neuroreceptors, triggering a cascade of biological events. When a needle is inserted at an acupuncture point, it stimulates nerve endings, mast cells, and other local cells, promoting the release of various important biomolecules. In the nervous system, acupuncture regulates neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine, which in turn influence the immune system. The study demonstrates that acupuncture also modulates neuropeptides such as endorphins and enkephalins, which have direct effects on immune function, improving the activity of important cells such as NK (natural killer) cells and regulating antibody production.

In the endocrine system, acupuncture has shown the ability to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and other hormonal systems, influencing both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism conditions. Particularly interesting is the finding that acupuncture promotes a balance between different types of T cells (Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg), fundamental to an adequate immune response.

These findings have important implications for both patients and health care professionals. For patients, the results explain why acupuncture may be effective in treating apparently unrelated conditions—from autoimmune diseases to neurologic disorders and digestive problems. Acupuncture's ability to promote bidirectional regulation means that it can either stimulate or inhibit bodily functions as needed, offering a unique balancing effect. This explains why the same technique can treat both constipation and diarrhea, or both hypertension and hypotension.

For professionals, these findings provide a robust scientific basis for the practice of acupuncture, helping to integrate this therapy more effectively into modern health care. The research also suggests that acupuncture may be particularly valuable as a complementary therapy in conditions where immune modulation is important, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Despite significant advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of acupuncture, the study acknowledges several important limitations. Most research still focuses on isolated effects or single systems, when in reality acupuncture acts through complex and interconnected networks. There is an urgent need for more studies examining the interactions between different systems simultaneously, using systems biology approaches. The researchers also highlight that, although many studies demonstrate the effects of acupuncture, research on specific molecular mechanisms is still limited.

In addition, there is a significant gap between basic research and clinical application. As future directions, the authors suggest the use of advanced technologies such as metabolomics, genomics, and proteomics to obtain a more complete understanding of how acupuncture influences the body as a whole. These modern approaches, combined with emerging biological analysis techniques, may finally unravel the mysteries of this ancient practice, consolidating its position in modern evidence-based medicine.