Chen G S
Am J Chin Med (Gard City N Y). 1977 Spring;5(1):25-30. doi: 10.1142/s0192415x77000038.
From the results of clinical and basic research, there is clear evidence that acupuncture analgesia is closely associated with the nervous system, especially the central nervous system. Stimulation of certain acupuncture loci which have been used for analgesia during operations also can calm the withdrawal symptoms of morphine and heroin addicts. Acupuncture analgesia can be antagonized by the specific narcotic antagonist, naloxone. These findings suggest the factor or factors produced by acupuncture stimulation would also have agonist activity on opiate receptors. Moreover, the morphine receptors are most concentrated in those parts of the brain concerned with perception of pain and the pathway of acupuncture stimulation. Since the opiate receptors are associated with the synaptic fraction of brain cell membrane preparations, the natural ligand of these receptors may be a neurotransmitter. Enkephalin has stronger binding affinity to opiate receptors than morphine, which suggests that it is the natural ligand for these receptors. In other words, enkephalin might be the natural "pain killer" produced in the brain to suppress pain. If we summate all the information available now, it is possible to suggest that enkephalin may be the product of the nervous system released by acupuncture stimulation to create an analgesic effect as well as suppress opiate withdrawal symptoms.
从临床和基础研究结果来看，有明确证据表明针刺镇痛与神经系统密切相关，尤其是中枢神经系统。在手术中用于镇痛的某些穴位受到刺激时，也能缓解吗啡和海洛因成瘾者的戒断症状。针刺镇痛可被特定的麻醉拮抗剂纳洛酮所拮抗。这些发现表明，针刺刺激产生的一个或多个因素也会对阿片受体产生激动剂活性。此外，吗啡受体在大脑中与疼痛感知及针刺刺激通路相关的部位最为集中。由于阿片受体与脑细胞膜制剂的突触部分相关联，这些受体的天然配体可能是一种神经递质。脑啡肽对阿片受体的结合亲和力比吗啡更强，这表明它是这些受体的天然配体。换句话说，脑啡肽可能是大脑中产生的天然“止痛剂”，用于抑制疼痛。如果我们汇总目前所有可得的信息，有可能推测脑啡肽可能是针刺刺激释放的神经系统产物，既能产生镇痛效果，又能抑制阿片类药物戒断症状。
