Multi-effective characteristics and advantages of acupuncture in COVID-19 treatment
Wang L, Hu X, Geng L, Li N, Chen Y, Zhang J, Yuan X, Huang L, Ba D, Lian J, Lyu X, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Chen B · Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine · 2023 March 13
DOI 10.1097/HM9.0000000000000062
Objective
To investigate the mechanisms and acupoint selection of acupuncture treatment for coronavirus disease 2019-related symptoms and complications through a systematic literature review and complex network analysis.
Conclusions
Acupuncture can improve various respiratory, digestive, nervous, mental, psychological, and other clinical symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 by modulating immune inflammatory reactions, intestinal flora, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, neurotransmitter release, and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity.
Critical Appraisal
Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.
This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.
Learn more about Critical Appraisal
Insights
Acupuncture may ease diverse coronavirus disease symptoms by simultaneously regulating inflammation, stress responses, gut function, and nervous system activity.
The authors systematically searched several literature databases for studies examining acupuncture mechanisms relevant to symptoms and complications associated with coronavirus disease. They also used complex network analysis to map relationships between reported symptoms and acupuncture points, aiming to identify patterns in point selection for treatment.
The review found that acupuncture was associated with potential improvement in respiratory, digestive, neurological, and psychological symptoms. Proposed mechanisms included reduced immune and neurological inflammation, regulation of intestinal microorganisms, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, heart-cell death, neurotransmitter release, and stress-axis activity, alongside potential benefits for underlying vascular conditions.
