Daniel Mazanec, MD, FACP, FACR, Associate Director, Center for Spine Health Cleveland Clinic, discusses medical acupuncture and its physiology.

Summary:
Acupuncture needling with electrical stimulation produces release of various endorphins, producing analgesia, and functional MRI and PET brain scans have also demonstrated the effects of acupuncture.

References and Resources:
Hua C, Liu QS. [Effects of acupuncture on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the ovariectomized rat fracture model]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2009 Apr;29(4):303-8.

Wang ZF, Chen Y, Zheng MF, Wu BH, Zhang WG, Lin C, Zhang JD. [Study on needling depth and direction from different acupoints to sphenopalatine ganglion]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2009 Apr;29(4):289-92.

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