Bae Ryan, Kim Hyung Kyu, Lu Baoji, Ma Jing, Xing Juping, Kim Hee Young
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College, Boston, MA 02467, USA.
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Brain Sci. 2025 Jan 15;15(1):72. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15010072.
The significant correlation between ancient medicinal practices and brain function marks a revolutionary frontier in the field of neuroscience. Acupuncture, a traditional oriental medicine, can affect brain regions, such as the hypothalamus, anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, and hippocampus, and produces specific therapeutic effects, such as pain relief, suppression of hypertension, and alleviation of drug addiction. Among the brain regions, the hypothalamus, a small yet critical region in the brain, plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating a wide array of physiological processes, including stress responses, energy balance, and pain modulation. Emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert its therapeutic effects by modulating the activity of the hypothalamus and its associated neural circuits, particularly in relation to pain, stress, and metabolic regulation. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive review of past and current research on the role of the hypothalamus in mediating the therapeutic effects of acupuncture.
古代医学实践与脑功能之间的显著关联标志着神经科学领域的一个革命性前沿。针灸作为一种传统的东方医学，能够影响诸如下丘脑、前扣带回、后扣带回和海马体等脑区，并产生特定的治疗效果，如缓解疼痛、抑制高血压和减轻药物成瘾。在这些脑区中，下丘脑作为大脑中一个虽小但至关重要的区域，通过调节包括应激反应、能量平衡和疼痛调节在内的一系列广泛生理过程，在维持体内平衡方面发挥着关键作用。新出现的证据表明，针灸可能通过调节下丘脑及其相关神经回路的活动来发挥其治疗作用，特别是在疼痛、应激和代谢调节方面。因此，我们对过去和当前关于下丘脑在介导针灸治疗效果中作用的研究进行了全面综述。
