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Brain Scans Show Acupuncture Can Deactive Pain Centers in Brain
The BBC reports on a television show about acupuncture that shows acupuncture works by deactivating pain centers in the brain. This was proven by using brain scans to show acupuncture deactivating the limbic system.
During these two procedures, the volunteers underwent brain scans to see what, if any, effect there was in the brain.
The team, including leading scientists from University College London, Southampton University and the University of York, found the superficial needling resulted in activation of the motor areas of the cortex, a normal reaction to pain.
But with deep needling, the limbic system, part of the pain matrix, is deactivated.
The finding was surprising because experts had always assumed acupuncture activates the brain in someway.
The television show also show acupuncture being used during surgery in China. Clearly there is much to be learned by studying acupuncture and other practices of Eastern medicine.
Posted on January 25, 2006
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Nasal Surgery Reduces Migraine Pain in Test
The BBC reports that a New Jersey nasal surgery test (published in the journal Cephalagia) on 21 migraine patients reduced the severity of the headaches and cut the length of the migraines in half. The goal of the surgery was to correct intranasal contact points found on CT scans that researchers believed where stimulating nerves and causing pain.
It has been known that when opposite surfaces in the nasal cavity touch and press against each other they stimulate one of the main nerves in the face called the trigeminal nerve; which in turn causes secretion of a special substance that is irritant to the nasal tissue.
When this occurs it has known in certain instances to confuse the brain into interpreting the stimulation as a headache - a phenomenon known as referred pain.
The researchers evaluated 21 patients who had severe migraines that had not responded to conventional treatment.
CT scans of the sinuses revealed that these 21 patients had intranasal contact points.
The BBC article also indicates that migraines have also been linked to a heart defect and that all migraines may not be curable with the new sinus surgery.
Posted on July 11, 2005
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