Pathophysiology of acupuncture: nervous system transmission.

As far as we know, this is the first scientific report which shows distinctly that acupuncture is transmitted directly by the nervous system and the performance of analgesic acupuncture requires an intact nervous system. The more distal the acupuncture treatment is given upon the nerve, the greater the degree of analgesia is afforded. The slowing from a normal awake beta to a normal awake alpha electroencephalographic rhythm may have some effect on the patient's pain perception but further investigation is required.