Acupuncture works by deactivating the area of the brain governing pain
29/07/2011 13:17:16
Brain scan
In the first of three BBC Two programmes on complementary
medicine entitled "Alternative Medicine: The Evidence", York
Clinic's Hugh MacPherson's research based at the University of York
showed the use of brain scans on people having
acupuncture. Volunteers were subjected to a normal style
of needling at a well-known acupuncture point on the back
of the hand. A control group underwent needling with needles
inserted very superficially.
The needles were then stimulated until the participants feel a
dull, achy or tingling sensation. During these two procedures, the
volunteers underwent brain scans to see what, if any, effect there
was in the brain. The team, including leading scientists from
University College London, Southampton University and the
University of York, found the superficial needling resulted in
activation of the motor areas of the cortex, a normal reaction to
pain. But with deep needling, the limbic system, which is part
of the pain matrix, was deactivated. The finding was surprising
because experts had always assumed that acupuncture primarily
activates the brain in some way.
Professor Sykes said: "The pain matrix is involved in the perception of pain - it helps someone decide whether something is painful or not, so it could be that acupuncture in some ways changes a person's pain perception. We have found something quite unexpected - that acupuncture is having a measurable effect on the human brain. We are not suggesting that it should be used during surgery, although it is in China, but just that it acts as a pain relief and should be taken seriously."
More information on Hugh MacPherson and his research is here.