Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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Research Trends on Immune Mechanisms of Acupuncture: A Literature Review

  • Joonyong Noh (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Jinkang Lim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Jeong Cheol Shin (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University) ;
  • Sung-Pil Bang (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Naju Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Geunwoong Noh (Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cheju Halla General Hospital) ;
  • Jin-Sol Yoon (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Yun-Gwon Seon (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Naju Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Siyoung Song (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Dongshin University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Jae-Hong Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongshin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital)
  • Received : 2023.10.30
  • Accepted : 2023.11.14
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Recently, acupuncture has demonstrated extraordinary clinical results in the treatment of several categories of health conditions worldwide. The mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune mechanisms) have been investigated by biomedical studies over the last few decades. The immune mechanisms of representative clinical conditions and their clinical effects were thoroughly assessed, with a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune responses) in this study. Conditions such as stroke, migraine, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, sepsis, and allergic diseases were meticulously examined. This in-depth analysis aims to ensure a foundational understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in acupuncture, thereby serving as an initial step toward integrating the impact of acupuncture on the immune system.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2021R1A2C2007041).

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