THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE AGAINST ISCHEMIC STROKE IN ANIMAL MODEL: A REVIEW

Authors

  • Rui Feng
  • Feng Zhang

Keywords:

acupuncture, cerebral ischemia, brain ischemic tolerance, brain damage

Abstract

Background: It is well established that electro-acupuncture can exert neuroprotection in animal experiments. However, the exact mechanism of electro-acupuncture against ischemic stroke is not very clear. Materials and methods: Literature retrieval was performed in four databases (OVID, PUBMED, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science), from respective inception to July 2013. Results: Series of studies have demonstrated that electro-acupuncture might be a promising method in reducing brain damage after stroke and induce brain ischemic tolerance before stroke through the promotion of angiogenesis, alleviation of the inflammatory response, regulation of the blood brain barrier (BBB), inhibition of apoptosis, and so on. Through these mechanisms, electro-acupuncture may reduce the neural damages associated with stroke. Conclusion: An awareness of the benefits of acupuncture might lead more patients into accepting acupuncture therapy for the management of patients with ischemic stroke and patients with high risk of ischemic stroke.

Author Biography

Feng Zhang

Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Biomechanics,The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, P. R. China.

Downloads

Published

2014-03-29

How to Cite

Feng, R., & Zhang, F. (2014). THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE AGAINST ISCHEMIC STROKE IN ANIMAL MODEL: A REVIEW. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 11(3), 25–29. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/2555

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Review

License

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution CC.

This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. View License Deed | View Legal Code Authors can also self-archive their manuscripts immediately and enable public access from their institution's repository. This is the version that has been accepted for publication and which typically includes author-incorporated changes suggested during submission, peer review and in editor-author communications.