Med Hypotheses. 2000 Mar; 54(3): 358-9.

What is the material base of acupuncture? The nerves!

Fu H.

Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical method which has been used in the treatment of patients for thousands of years. It is rejected by modern science for lack of solid material background. In recent years, more and more laboratory proof has accumulated that acupuncture can change the charge and potential of neurons, the concentrations of K(+), Na(+), Ca(++) and the content of neuro-transmitters such as aspartate, and taurine and the quantities of neuro-peptides such as beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin. All these phenomena are directly related to nerve cells. Now the lengthy discussion may conclude that nerve cells and the central nervous system are the real material base of acupuncture. (c) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.