A British neuroscientist has proposed that a novel extracellular signalling system, based on adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP), is the mechanism underlying the effects of acupuncture. Recent studies suggest that ATP is released from many cell types in response to gentle mechanical stimulation, heat and electrical currents. Recent evidence has confirmed that sensory nerve terminals in the skin are activated by ATP. These ATP-activated sensory nerves can modulate brain activity in regions that inhibit pain and control the autonomic nervous functions of the gut, lung, urogenital and cardiovascular systems. The author suggests several experimental strategies that could be used to test his hypothesis. (Puncturing the myth: Purinergic signaling, not mystical energy, may explain how acupuncture works. http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/31107/title/Puncturing-the-Myth/
Categories: Acupuncture research
