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Embryological Basis
The neurotein system: natural pain relievers, endorphins, enkephalins, are indigenous morphine chemicals which are found within the pituitary and other parts of the central nervous system and encephalon is subfactor of endorphin. These neurotransmitters occur in the brain at the same site where opiate receptors are found. Both body and ear acupuncture have been found to raise the blood serum and cerebral spinal fluid levels of endorphins and enkephalins. Naloxone is a opiate antagonist which blocks morphine endorphin.
Research report from UCLA by Simons & Oleson 1993, Mayer et al 1977, were the first investigators to provide scientific evidence that there was neurophysiological and neurochemical basis for acupuncture and auriculotherapy in human subjects. They demonstrated that the acupuncture stimulation of the body through Large Intestine 4 points, led to a significant increase in pain threshold. They were then able to yield statistically significant reversal of elevated pain threshold by intravenous administration of 0.8 mg of an opiate naloxone. The acupuncture had raised dental pain threshold by over 27 %. There was no treatment control group which showed a 6.9% in dental pain threshold. A total of 20 of 35 acupuncture subjects showed increased pain threshold greater than 20% contrasted with only 5 out of 40 subjects in the controlled condition exhibiting a 20% elevation of pain threshold. Naloxone given to acupuncture subjects reduced the pain threshold to the same level as the control group.
Direct evidence of endorphinogenic response to auricular therapy has been provided by Abbot et al in 1980, they observed a significant increase in endorphins after acupuncture stimulation was combined with nitric oxide inhalation. Whereas the controlled subjects given nitric oxide without acupuncture showed no elevation of the endorphins.
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