Scientists demonstrate the biological effect of acupuncture

For the first time, US scientists have demonstrated a biological effect of acupuncture in the human body. So far, there has been no evidence that East Asian healing actually provokes reactions in the body.

Evidence: Acupuncture produces biological reactions.

Los Angeles (U.S.A.). Some people swear by them, others think they are - if at all - only for placebo. But not only among the population is the opinion about acupuncture controversial, even among scientists and doctors has ruled for years disagreement. Now, however, scientists from the University of California in Los Angeles have succeeded in providing evidence for a biological response in the human body.

The end-of-the-century East Asian healing process of acupuncture asserts that by the deliberate setting of fine needles at certain points of the body a therapeutic effect is achieved. To date, however, there has been no evidence - for the therapeutic effect as well as for the ineffectiveness or for a placebo effect.

Acupuncture provides the formation of nitric oxides

As the scientists around Sheng-Xing Ma and Paul C. Lee report in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the correct traditional application of acupuncture has the effect that the injection point of the acupuncture needles of the body begins to form nitrogen oxides. The study funded largely by the National Institute of Health is thus the first scientific evidence of a biological reaction of the body in the acupuncture procedure.

The nitrogen oxides produced increase the blood flow and lead to an increased release of body narcotics, which are perceived as cooling or warming by the patient. In the next steps of their work the scientists want to investigate the release of the underlying cellular mechanisms by acupuncture.