Search

The theory of "通过探源壮医学天阴阳理论，总结黄瑾明教授的学术成果和经验，对广西黄氏壮医针灸流派天阴阳针法的理论和临床特色进行阐释。此针法是以壮医学“三气同步”理论和天阴阳理论为指导，以“三道两路”学说为基础，以调气为法、调神为本，患者调息静息后采用微针浅刺术针刺脐环穴为主以达到调神治本目的的综合性针刺疗法。.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of auricular concha region (ACR) on behavior changes of depression rats.A total of 80 male Wistar rats were randomized into depression model (model, n = 6), EA-ACR (n = 12), preventive EA-ACR (Pre-EA-ACR, n = 11) and EA-ear-tip (n = 12) groups. Depression model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress for 21 days and isolated breeding. Open-field test and sucrose solution intake preference test were conducted to assess changes of the rats' behavior activities before modeling and on day 22, 36 and 50 after starting model. For rats of the pre-EA-ACR group, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to the bilateral auricular concha area for 20 min, once daily for 14 days, beginning from the 8th day on after starting model preparation till the end of the modeling, and for rats of the EA-ACR and EA-ear-tip groups, EA was given to the bilateral ACR and ear-tips respectively, beginning after modeling, once daily for 14 days.In comparison with pre-modeling, the percentages of sucrose solution consumption in rats of the model group decreased gradually from day 22 to 50 (P0.05). Compared with the model group,the percentage of sucrose solution consumption in the EA-ACR group was increased significantly on day 50 (P0.05), suggesting an inhibitory effect of EA on the reduction of sucrose intake preference at this time-point. No significant differences were found between the pre-EA-ACR and the model groups and between the EA-ear-tip and model groups as well as between the EA-ACR and model groups at most time-points (P0.05). Open-field test showed that in comparison with pre-modeling in the same one group, the total scores, crossing and rearing scores on day 22 were decreased considerably in the model and EA-ear-tip groups (P0.05, P0.01), rather than in the pre-EA-ACR and EA-ARC groups (P0.05), suggesting a suppressing effect of pre-EA-ACR and EA-ACR on depression behavior. Compared to day 22 in the same one group, the total scores, crossing and rearing scores on day 36 and 50 in the pre-EA-ACR and EA-ear-tip groups were decreased significantly (P0.05, P0.01).EA of auricular concha region can restrain the development of depression behavioral status in depression rats, which is superior to that of EA of ear-tip.

Chronic stress often results in neurochemical changes in the central nervous system and may lead to the onset of depression. These neurochemical changes refer to alterations of activities of neurotransmitters, neuromediators, hormones and neuronal plasticity, etc. The underlying mechanism of acupuncture in the antidepressant effect is related to its regulatory effect on the neurochemical imbalance. In the present review, the authors summarize the progress of experimental researches on acupuncture treatment of depression from (1) monoamines neurotransmitters and their receptors, (2) gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate, (3) neuropeptide Y, (4) hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-throid axis activities, and (5) brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition, the authors also make an evaluation on the insufficiency of current studies and put forwards some suggestions on the future study.