Effects of acupuncture needle modification on acupuncture analgesia.
10.1016/j.joim.2024.11.007
- Author:
Ming-Zhu SUN
1
;
Xin WANG
2
;
Ying-Chen LI
1
;
Yu-Hang LIU
1
;
Yi YU
3
;
Liu-Jie REN
4
;
Wei GU
5
,
6
;
Wei YAO
7
Author Information
1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
2. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
3. Medical Instrumentation School, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China.
4. FPRS Department/ENT Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.
5. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: sam6116@
6. com.
7. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Mechanism and Acupoint Function, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: weiyao@fudan.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Acupuncture needle;
Acupuncture needle modification;
Analgesic efficacy;
Mast cell degranulation;
Pain threshold
- MeSH:
Needles;
Acupuncture Analgesia/methods*;
Animals;
Rats;
Male;
Acupuncture Points;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2025;23(1):66-78
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:The analgesic effect of acupuncture has been widely accepted. Nevertheless, the mechanism behind its analgesic effect remains elusive, thus impeding the progress of research geared toward enhancing the analgesic effect of acupuncture. This paper investigated the role of acupuncture needle surface textures on acupuncture's analgesic effect by creating four experimental acupuncture needles with different patterns of surface augmentation.
METHODS:Four types of acupuncture needles with different surface textures (the lined needle, circle needle, sandpaper needle, and threaded needle) were designed. Additionally, the force/torque measurement system used a robot arm and mechanical sensor to measure the force on the needle during insertion and manipulation. To perform acupuncture analgesia experiments, four experimental acupuncture needles and a normal needle were inserted into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint of rats with inflammatory pain. By comparing the force and torque and the analgesic efficacy of the different acupuncture needles, these experiments tested the role of acupuncture needle body texture on acupuncture analgesia.
RESULTS:The analgesic effects of different acupuncture needle body textures varied. Specifically, the force required to penetrate the skin with the lined needle was not greater than that for the normal needle; however, the needle with inscribed circles and the sandpaper-roughened needle both required greater force for insertion. Additionally, the torque of the lined needle reached 2 × 10-4 N·m under twisting manipulation, which was four times greater the torque of a normal needle (5 × 10-5 N·m). Furthermore, the lined needle improved pain threshold and mast cell degranulation rate compared to the normal needle.
CONCLUSION:Optimizing the texture of acupuncture needles can enhance acupuncture analgesia. The texture of our experimental acupuncture needles had a significant impact on the force needed to penetrate the skin and the torque needed to manipulate the needle; it was also linked to variable analgesic effects. This study provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the analgesic efficacy of acupuncture through the modification of needles and promoting the development of acupuncture therapy. Please cite this article as: Sun MZ, Wang X, Li YC, Liu YH, Yu Y, Ren LJ, Gu W, Yao W. Effects of acupuncture needle modification on acupuncture analgesia. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 66-78.
