僅引用一篇發表在 Lancet, Volume 316, No. 8201, p946–949, 1 November 1980

INCREASED β-ENDORPHIN BUT NOT MET-ENKEPHALIN LEVELS IN HUMAN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AFTER ACUPUNCTURE FOR RECURRENT PAIN

Vicky Clement-Jones

,

 Susan Tomlin

,

 LesleyH. Rees

,

 Lorraine Mcloughlin

,

 G.M. Besser

,

 H.L. Wen

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(80)92106-6

 

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Article Info

 

• Summary

Abstract

Low-frequency electroacupuncture effectively alleviated recurrent pain in 10 patients. Basal levels of β-endorphin and met-enkephalin in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these patients were not different from those in pain-free control subjects. After electroacupuncture in the patients with pain CSF β-endorphin levels rose significantly in all subjects, but met-enkephalin levels were unchanged. These results suggest that the analgesia observed after electroacupuncture in patients with recurrent pain may be mediated by the release into the CSF of the endogenous opiate, β-endorphin.