Acupuncture attenuates alcohol dependence through activation of endorphinergic input to the nucleus accumbens from the arcuate nucleus

by | Addiction

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/9/eaax1342

Comment; I’ve been providing acupuncture detox via the NADA protocol for a few years. It doubles the probability of long-term clean time for alcohol, opioid, stimulant, cannabis abuse. It’s nice to see the “Western” medicine evidence at the molecular biological level of how it works!

  1. Suchan Chang1, 
  2. Dan Hyo Kim1, 
  3. Eun Young Jang1, 
  4. Seong Shoon Yoon1, 
  5. Young Seob Gwak2, 
  6. Yoo Jung Yi1, 
  7. Jun Yeon Lee1, 
  8. Song Hee Ahn1, 
  9. Jin Mook Kim1, 
  10. Yeon-Hee Ryu3, 
  11. Seung-Nam Kim4, 
  12. Hyo Sun Roh4, 
  13. Mi-Young Lee5, 
  14. Sang Chan Kim1, 
  15. Bong Hyo Lee1, 
  16. Hee Young Kim1,* and 
  17. Chae Ha Yang1,*

Abstract

A withdrawal-associated impairment in β-endorphin neurotransmission in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus is associated with alcohol dependence characterized by a chronic relapsing disorder. Although acupuncture activates β-endorphin neurons in the ARC projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a role for ARC β-endorphin neurons in alcohol dependence and acupuncture effects has not been examined. Here, we show that acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) points attenuates behavioral manifestation of alcohol dependence by activating endorphinergic input to the NAc from the ARC. Acupuncture attenuated ethanol withdrawal tremor, anxiety-like behaviors, and ethanol self-administration in ethanol-dependent rats, which are mimicked by local injection of β-endorphin into the NAc. Acupuncture also reversed the decreased β-endorphin levels in the NAc and a reduction of neuronal activity in the ARC during ethanol withdrawal. These results suggest that acupuncture may provide a novel, potential treatment strategy for alcohol use disorder by direct activation of the brain pathway.

Dr. Raymond Oenbrink
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