IntroductionUremic pruritus (UP) is a common complication of end-stage renal disease that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. Although acupuncture can effectively relieve UP symptoms, its central mechanism remains unclear.Methods and analysisA total of 96 patients with UP will be randomly assigned to three groups: verum acupuncture (VA), sham acupuncture (SA), or waiting-list (WT) co…
BackgroundIschemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and is frequently accompanied by brain–gut axis disturbances, including intestinal barrier dysfunction, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and immune–inflammatory imbalance. Although electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in experimental stroke, its effects on brain–gut axis-related outcomes have not b…
BackgroundMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a critical window for intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. As emerging evidence suggests the role of microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis on cognitive health, this systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in modulating the MGB axis to alleviate cognitive decline.MethodsA systematic search was conducted …
Barcelona, Spain: Acupuncture to the ear may help to lessen pain from migraines and their impact on daily life, according to new research presented today (Friday) at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 [1]. A randomised clinical trial of the treatment, called auriculotherapy, found that migraines were less painful immediately after the treatment and 30 days later…
Recovering from a stroke can be a long and difficult journey. Many survivors face months or even years of rehabilitation as they work to regain movement, balance, and independence. One of the biggest challenges is weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the body, a problem that occurs when stroke damages parts of the brain […] The post How Acupuncture Could Help Stroke Patients Move Again app…
ObjectiveThe comorbidity of pain and depression is prevalent, adding difficulty to the treatment of depression. This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating depression-associated chronic pain (DACP).MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted across four international databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochra…
BackgroundChronic insomnia is a prevalent and disabling condition associated with impaired daytime functioning, psychiatric comorbidity, and autonomic dysregulation. Although cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as the first-line treatment, access is limited. Acupuncture has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for insomnia but requires trained practitioners and repeated …
BackgroundChronic pain (CP) is a public health challenge recognized as involving large-scale functional brain dysregulation. Acupuncture is widely used as a non-pharmacological intervention for CP, yet its central mechanisms remain incompletely understood. fMRI provides an approach for investigating acupuncture-related brain alterations in CP.MethodsEight databases were searched from inception to…
BackgroundGastrointestinal and psychological symptoms jointly motivate patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to seek medical care, with the latter often exacerbating the difficulty of achieving overall improvement. Although acupuncture has been shown to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in the general IBS population, the evidence in individuals with psychological disturbances remains insuf…
