Objective To define the disease-specific clinical profile of acupuncture in allergic disorders and examine whether reported benefits align with convergent neuroimmune mechanisms. Methods PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 16 July 2026. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic studies were synthesized across allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and other allergic conditions. Results A disease-specific pattern emerged. Evidence was strongest for allergic rhinitis, with improvements in nasal symptoms, medication use, and disease-specific quality of life. In allergic asthma, reported benefits included better symptom control, selected pulmonary-function measures, and quality of life, particularly when acupuncture was added to conventional treatment. In atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria, the clearest signals involved pruritus and disease-activity outcomes. Mechanistic findings converged on regulation of type 2 inflammation through Th1/Th2-associated responses, IgE, eosinophils, and mast-cell activity, together with sensory afferent signaling, autonomic and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal regulation, central itch and affective processing, epithelial-barrier integrity, and gut microbiota. Conclusions Acupuncture shows greatest promise as a disease-specific adjunctive strategy rather than a uniform intervention across allergic disorders. Its most compelling applications involve symptom and medication-burden reduction in allergic rhinitis, selected asthma outcomes, and itch control in allergic skin diseases. Future trials should integrate standardized stimulation protocols, clinically meaningful outcomes, and embedded mechanistic measures to identify responsive patient phenotypes and clarify how neuroimmune regulation translates into clinical benefit.
Background Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively relieve intestinal inflammatory injury in ulcerative colitis (UC). Tianshu (ST25) and Zusanli (ST36) are core acupoints for intestinal disorders, yet their central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms underlying UC amelioration remain unclear. Methods Dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC mice received EA at ST25 or ST36. Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores, colon length and colonic pathology were assessed. Hippocampus, brainstem and hypothalamus were collected for transcriptomic sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Results Both EA groups improved DAI, colon shortening and colonic injury, and activated neurons in the brainstem and hypothalamus. In the brainstem: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the ST25 EA group were enriched in biological complexes related to lipoprotein particles and lipid metabolism, alongside the PPAR signaling pathway; DEGs from the ST36 EA group were clustered in immune-inflammatory processes such as leukocyte activation and cytokine signaling, together with the Ras and MAPK signaling pathways. In the hypothalamus: DEGs of the ST25 EA group were overrepresented in pathways linked to Cushing syndrome; DEGs of the ST36 EA group were enriched in terms of leukocyte intercellular adhesion and myeloid leukocyte activation, together with the PPAR, Ras and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions EA at ST25 or ST36 alleviated symptoms and colonic pathological injury in UC mice, accompanied by increased brainstem and hypothalamic c-Fos expression, suggesting a potential correlation between activation of these brain regions and intervention effects. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that ST25 electroacupuncture was associated with the PPAR signaling pathway, lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis, while ST36 electroacupuncture correlated with the Ras/MAPK pathway and immune-inflammatory and oxidative-stress networks.
Background This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). Material and methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to April 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were performed. Results Thirty-one RCTs were included: 27 trials (2779 participants) entered pooled analysis. Compared with controls, acupuncture significantly lowered Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores (MD = −1.36, 95% CI [−1.65, −1.07]) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores (MD = −6.70, 95% CI [−9.03, −4.38]). These improvements failed to reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Potential publication bias was identified for the VAS outcome; in a trim-and-fill sensitivity analysis, the pooled effect was attenuated to MD = −0.68 (95% CI [−0.98, −0.38]) but remained statistically significant. Adverse-event risk did not differ significantly between groups. GRADE grading identified low to very low evidence quality due to methodological flaws and high cross-trial heterogeneity. Conclusion Acupuncture was associated with statistically detectable improvements in pain and functional impairment in patients with CNLBP and showed no clear increase in reported adverse events. However, its clinically meaningful advantages over active controls remain uncertain given the sub-MCID improvements. Given the substantial between-study heterogeneity, low certainty of evidence, and potential publication bias, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Large, high-quality multicenter RCTs are needed to confirm its clinical efficacy and safety.
Background Stroke had the highest mortality rate in China, and nearly 50% of stroke patients suffered from poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Currently, no specific treatment has been utilized to alleviate PSCI. The detailed mechanism of PSCI was still unclear, and this study aimed to clarify the effect of enriched rehabilitation nursing (ERN) controlling the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in PSCI.Method This study was performed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in PSCI. The enrolled PSCI patients were randomly divided into an ERN and a routine rehabilitation nursing (RRN) group, followed by a cognitive assessment for patients using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. Next, a total of 40 clean-grade Kunming mice were randomly assigned to four groups, a PSCI mouse model was established, and their Keap1 and Nrf2 proteins were evaluated using Western blot.Results In this study, the post-intervention MoCA scores in an ERN group were significantly increased compared with the MoCA scores in the pre-intervention ERN and post-intervention RRN groups. The expression level of Keap1 and Nrf2 proteins in the model group was obviously decreased compared with that in the control, ERN, and RRN groups.Conclusion ERN can improve the ERN by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of thumb-tack needling for tobacco dependence based on time medicine theory. Methods 120 patients were randomized into a time treatment group (n = 40), a thumb-tack needling group (n = 40), and a control group (n = 40). The control group received nicotine patches; the thumb-tack needling group received additional thumb-tack needling; and the time treatment group received thumb-tack needling specifically from 3 to 5 PM during the period from the Beginning of Autumn to the Autumn Equinox. CO levels, daily cigarette consumption, FTND, MNWS, and QSU-Brief scores were assessed at baseline, 2 months, and 16 weeks. Results The total effective rates were 87.50% (time treatment), 72.5% (thumb-tack needling), and 62.5% (control) (P < 0.01). FTND, MNWS, and QSU-Brief scores decreased significantly across all groups, with greater improvement in the two intervention groups versus control (P < 0.05). The time treatment group showed superior outcomes in CO reduction and withdrawal symptom relief compared with the thumb-tack needling group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Thumb-tack needling based on time medicine theory is effective for tobacco dependence, improving cessation rates with low relapse risk.
