THE IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF ACUPUNCTURE STIMULATION

Abstract

Various acupuncture experiments have been conducted on rabbits, rats, mice or human bodies for studies on cellular and humoral immunity. The following results were observedi-

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The pnagocytic power (in term of phagocytic index or PI) of rats became higher and reached peak values on the 7th day after the rats were needled daily at GV-14 and B-3.

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Weak stimulation appeared better than strong stimulation.

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Twice daily stimulation appeared better than once daily stimulation.

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The increased phagocytic activity became evident within 24 hours.

	PI (in 24 hrs)
Needling at S-36	3.67
Needling at LI-4	4.42
No needling (control)	1.50

Similar changes also happened in human bodies.

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The total white cell counts (WBC) increased significantly after needling at S-36 on rats and rabbits twice daily. They reached peak values around the 5th day and then gradually returned to normal.

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Intact nervous system and adrenal are indispensable for the immupe response.

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There is acupoint specificity. The immune response works at S-36 and not works at S-37 of the same channel. S-36, 1-6 and LI-4 are the best for increase of WBC (up 105% to 243%).

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Needling at K-3 caused eosinophils 33.5% drop when the needle was retained for 2 minutes and 44.2% drop when the needle was retained for 10 minutes.

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Needling at S-36 in rabbits and patients produced much higher lymphocyte transformation rate (LTR) and rossette-forming rate.

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The immunoglobulins in human body increased within 3 days when S-36, GV-14, S-25 and LI-11 were daily needled. The effects lasted beyond the 12th day.

GROUP		PRE-ACUP	AFTER ACUPUNCTURE
			3 days	7 days	12 days
Patients	IgG	1090±12.0 mg	1225±19.0	1308±26.0	1456±42.0
bacillary dysentery	IgA	158±8.1	188±3.7	211±7.8	225±7.5
(n=50)	IgM	137±5.7	187±8.9	177±13.2	170±5.1
Normal	IgG	1000±50.3	1225±65.0	1300±59.0	1400±44.1
subjects (n=ll)	IgA	196±25.0	214±14.7	236±2.8	234±8.1

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Hepatitis patients showed gradual return to normal levels is of immunoglobulins after acupuncture treatment. So were the LTR.

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Antibody levels in term of agglutinins in rabbits were much higher after needling at GV-14 & GV-20. The peak arrived on the 7th day.

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Antibody titre in patients with acute bacillary dysentery also significantly increased after acupuncture treatment.

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Complements (C¹-3) in patients with chronic discuse returned toward normal level after needling.

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Needling at S-36 of human body or rabbit can remarkably increase the production of proverdin and opsonin.

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Last but not least, bacteriolysin and serum bactericidal power of patients and rabbits increased on the 3rd day (within 3 days) after daily needling.