title: The mechanism of acupuncture and clinical applications.
abstract: This study presents the result of the studies explaining the effects of acupuncture on various systems and symptoms. It has been determined that endomorphin-1, beta endorphin, encephalin, and serotonin levels increase in plasma and brain tissue through acupuncture application. It has been observed that the increases of endomorphin-1, beta endorphin, encephalin, serotonin, and dopamine cause analgesia, sedation, and recovery in motor functions. They also have immunomodulator effects on the immune system and lipolithic effects on metabolism. Because of these effects, acupuncture is used in the treatment of pain syndrome illnesses such as migraine, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and trigeminal neuralgia; of gastrointestinal disorders such as disturbance at gastrointestinal motility and gastritis; of psychological illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and panic attack; and in rehabilitation from hemiplegia and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Selçuk University, Faculty of Meram Medica, Konya, Turkey. tugcab@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet Tugrul
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cabýoglu
authors.forename: Neyhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ergene
authors.forename: Uner
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D059408:Pain Management
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides