A. NAU
B. Illustration of multiple neural pathways NAU’s stimulate
C. Further illustration of neuro-physiology of acupuncture
A. Neural Acupuncture Unit: (NAU) A New Concept for Interpreting Effects and Mechanisms of Acupuncture
Zhang-Jin Zhang, Xiao-Min Wang, and Grainne M. McAlonan
School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK
Received 24 September 2011; Revised 30 November 2011; Accepted 1 December
B. Neural Acupuncture Unit
(NAU) was the name proposed by Dr Zhang and his colleagues in 2011 to more accurately convey the properties and function of traditional acupuncture points. According to Dr. Zhang, the traditional acupuncture points represent an anatomical landmark system that indicates the external locations of relatively dense and concentrated neural tissue units that when stimulated enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at greater than normal rate to exquisitely internally complicated systems -the human nervous system, the immune system and the endocrine system.
B. Illustration of multiple neural pathways NAU’s stimulate
Below is a Schmatic illustration of multiple central neural pathways transmitting NAU afferent impluses from different parts of the body. The brain areas commonly observed in neuroimaging response to acupuncture stimulation are indicated with a gray shadow. DCEAS: dense crainial electroacupuncture stimulation.
C. Further illustration of neuro-physiology of acupuncture
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CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM LEVEL Possible effects on higher brain functions (mood, Depression anxiety). Feedback/descending regulation Of pain, autonomic activity and hormonal milieu. NERVOUS SYSTEM LEVEL Action on autonomic activity and pain descending Control system. Control of sympatho-adrenal and hypothalamus- pituitary adrenal/gonadal axis. Mediators: Endorphins, ACTH, MSH, Lh, FSH, etc Neurotransmitters (5-HT, NE), Neuropeptides (Oxitocyn, Vasopressin PACAP, etc.) Growth Factors SPINAL/SEGMENTAL LEVEL Reflexive modulation of visceral organ function Mediated by autonomic nervous system. LOCAL LEVEL Afferent nerve activation. Local reaction mediated by: Neuropeptides, Prostaglandins, histamine Growth Factors (NGF) |
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