Covid-19 & Acupuncture: The Research Evidence

Covid-19 & Acupuncture Research Evidence

The application of acupuncture is really wide. In many clinical practices, acupuncture is used to treat inflammation in different systems, such as muscle-skeletal, hormonal, and neurological systems. At the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, acupuncture treatment is used for symptoms related to Covid-19. However, the mechanism has not been clear, until now.

As we know in Covid-19, our body can over produce proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 , IL-8 and IL-12) that leads to a hyperinflammatory state of the body, which leads to cellular injury in different organs.

In the States, acupuncture is used as an adjunct therapy for chronic pain management and inflammation, such as knee osteoarthritis. We found that in knee osteoarthritis, there are elevation in serum concentrations of certain inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL8 and TNF-ɑ. The research shows a significant reduction in TNFɑ after 8 weeks of electro-acupuncture & manual acupuncture, and a significant increase in mobility (Research Article).

The significant effect of acupuncture on changes of serum concentrations in TNFɑ and other cytokines might be one of the mechanism causing effects towards Covid-19 treatment. In Covid-19, TNFɑ, along with INFγ, can induce cellular death through the characteristics of inflammation (Research Article). The co-treatment focusing on TNFɑ and INFˠ, which induces nitric oxide production, might provide some clue on the acupuncture effect on Covid-19.

In Covid-19, there is a study proving that Nitric Oxide (NO) deficiency can disrupt the endothelial function in the development of Covid-19 (Research Article). In both animal and human modules, there are findings that showed acupuncture can induce NO production. The acupuncture point being studied is ST36 (Zu San Li), located in the shin, which is an empirical point for strengthening and tonifying in classical acupuncture (Research Article).

The human mobile study also confirms the stimulated production of NO by acupuncture. Interestingly, manual, electro, TENS and laser acupuncture all showed elevation when acupoints are stimulated with these methods (Research Article).

The mechanism of acupuncture in inflammation might not be abundantly clear at this point. However, we find studies that back the benefits of acupuncture with evidence-based research. This can definitely help patients and practitioners in clinical decision making in treating Covid-19.

Through the lenses of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the scientific method, we are able to identify the beneficial connection in treating Covid-19 symptoms with acupuncture. Treating and caring for your health through holistic perspective is key.

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References

1.Shi GX, Tu JF, Wang TQ, Yang JW, Wang LQ, Lin LL, Wang Y, Li YT, Liu CZ. Effect of Electro-Acupuncture (EA) and Manual Acupuncture (MA) on Markers of Inflammation in Knee Osteoarthritis. J Pain Res. 2020;13:2171-2179 https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S256950

2.Karki, R., Sharma, B. R., Tuladhar, S., Williams, E. P., Zalduondo, L., Samir, P., Zheng, M., Sundaram, B., Banoth, B., Malireddi, R., Schreiner, P., Neale, G., Vogel, P., Webby, R., Jonsson, C. B., & Kanneganti, T. D. (2021). Synergism of TNF-α and IFN-γ Triggers Inflammatory Cell Death, Tissue Damage, and Mortality in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Cytokine Shock Syndromes. Cell, 184(1), 149–168.e17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.025

3.Martel, J., Ko, Y. F., Young, J. D., & Ojcius, D. M. (2020). Could nasal nitric oxide help to mitigate the severity of COVID-19?. Microbes and infection, 22(4-5), 168–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2020.05.002

4.Ma, S. X., Ma, J., Moise, G., & Li, X. Y. (2005). Responses of neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in the brainstem to electroacupuncture Zusanli (ST 36) in rats. Brain research, 1037(1-2), 70–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2004.12.029

5.Ma S. X. (2021). Nitric Oxide on Pathophysiology of SARS-CoV 19: Toward Possible Role of Acupuncture Treatment. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS, 17(4), 40–45.

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