Current Status and Prospects of Research on the Potential Neurobiological Mechanisms of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.04.016
- VernacularTitle:针刺治疗烟草依赖的潜在神经生物学作用机制研究现状及展望
- Author:
Shumin CHEN
1
;
Jin CHANG
1
;
Chaoren TAN
1
;
Hao ZHU
2
;
Jinsheng YANG
3
;
Zhao LIU
4
;
Yingying WANG
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，Beijing，100700
2. Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
3. Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine
4. Department of Smoking Control and Respiratory Disease Prevention and Control，China-Japan Friendship Hospital
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
tobacco dependence;
acupuncture;
neurobiology
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(4):421-426
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
This paper comprehensively discusses on the potential neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of tobacco dependence， focusing on three important aspects， including acupuncture's regulation of tobacco dependence behavior， effects of acupuncture on withdrawal syndrome， and the role of acupuncture in preventing relapse. It is found that acupuncture can inhibit drug-seeking behavior by regulating the reward pathway and related neurons， such as dopamine， thus modulating tobacco dependence behavior. It also alleviates withdrawal symptoms by improving the oral environment of smokers and reducing negative emotions after quitting. Furthermore， acupuncture can prevent relapse by decreasing brain network activity related to smoking cravings and improving cognitive brain functions like addiction memory. Currently， research on the specific neurobiological mechanism of acupuncture in treating tobacco dependence and the involved neural circuits is limited. Future research directions are proposed， including the evaluation of clinical effects， exploration of specific therapeutic mechanisms， investigation of brain pathology， and strengthening the exploration of brain functions. Additionally， combining modern technologies to clarify the neural circuits involved in acupuncture intervention will provide a basis for acupuncture treatment of tobacco addiction.
