Acupuncture Relieves Stress by Regulating Hormones: A New Study Shows Exciting Results

A recent study, “Acupuncture Relieves the Excessive Excitation of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Cortex Axis Function and Correlates with the Regulatory Mechanism of GR, CRH, and ACTHR,” has revealed promising findings about how acupuncture can help manage stress.

Led by Dr. S.J. Wang, this research, published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Volume 2014, Article ID 495379), explores how acupuncture affects the body’s stress response.

Understanding Stress

Stress is a common issue that affects both physical and mental health. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis (HPAA) is crucial in how our body responds to stress. While previous research suggested acupuncture could calm the overactive HPAA, the specific effects on glucocorticoid receptors (GR) were unclear until now.

Study Goals

The main goal of this study was to see how acupuncture changes the protein levels of key stress-related components in the HPAA, including corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor (ACTHR), and GR, both in normal and stressed conditions.

Key Findings

The study found some fascinating ways acupuncture affects stress:

Under Stress:

  • Acupuncture increased GR protein in the brain’s hippocampus and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and in the pituitary gland.
  • It reduced GR protein in the adrenal cortex, leading to lower glucocorticoid (GC) production, a major stress hormone.
  • Acupuncture decreased CRH and ACTHR protein levels, reducing the stress response.

Under Normal Conditions:

  • Acupuncture boosted GR protein in the hippocampus and CRH in the hippocampus and PVN.

Conclusion

The study suggests acupuncture helps manage stress by improving the interaction between GCs and GR, which affects GR protein levels. This interaction creates a feedback loop that reduces CRH and ACTHR over-expression, lowering GC levels and GR protein in the adrenal cortex.

These groundbreaking findings bring us closer to understanding how acupuncture can be a powerful tool for stress relief. For a deeper dive into the study, check out the full article in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Male fertility Chinese medicine acupuncture research

The Therapeutic Effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Wuzi Yanzong Pill for the Treatment of Oligoasthenozoospermia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

In this 2018 study of a traditional Chinese herbal formula and its effects for men with low sperm count and sperm with poor motility “…the WZYZ pill improved sperm quality by improving several semen parameters and decreasing DNA damage in oligoasthenozoospermia patients.”

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2018 (2018), Article ID 2968025, 10 pages

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2968025

Ming Peng Zhao, Xiao Shi, Grace Wing Shan Kong, Chi Chiu Wang, Justin Che Yuen Wu, Zhi Xiu Lin, Tin Chiu Li, and David Yiu Leung Chan

Published 17 January 2018

Oligoasthenozoospermia is a crucial factor in male infertility. Wuzi Yanzong (WZYZ) pill is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula which has been used for male infertility treatment for years. However, its effects on semen quality remain controversial. We conducted a preregistered meta-analysis to assess the effect of WZYZ pill for the therapeutic effects on oligoasthenozoospermia. Five randomized controlled trials including 960 participants were selected from databases of domains in North-East Asian regions, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library.

WZYZ pill group yielded a greater mean increment on sperm concentration (5 trials: MD 5.99, 95% CI 2.12–9.85, ), sperm motility (5 trials: MD 4.57, 95% CI 0.47–8.68, ), sperm morphology (2 trials: MD −1.93, 95% CI −4.87–1.01, ), activity of acrosomal enzyme (2 trials: MD 28.27, 95% CI 12.41–44.14, ), volume of semen (2 trials: MD 0.56, 95% CI 0.21–0.91, ), and a decrement of sperm DNA fragmentation index (2 trials: MD −3.82, 95% CI −6.45–−1.19, ). However, qualities of selected studies were generally unsatisfactory, and there was inherent heterogeneity among some of the outcomes.

Despite these limitations, the WZYZ pill improved sperm quality by improving several semen parameters and decreasing DNA damage in oligoasthenozoospermia patients.

 

Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Male Infertility

“Chinese Herbal Medicine improved sperm motility and quality, increased sperm count and rebalanced inadequate hormone levels, and adjusted immune functions leading to the increased number of fertility. Further, CHM in combination with conventional therapies improved efficacy of conventional treatments.”

International Review of Neurobiology, Volume 135, 2017, Pages 297-311 : Chapter Thirteen – Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Male Infertility

DanJiang*AlbertoCoscione†LilyLi‡Bai-YunZeng§

https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2017.02.014

Abstract

Male infertility normally refers a male’s inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female partner after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Male infertility in recent years has been attracting increasing interest from public due to the evidence in decline in semen quality. There are many factors contributing to the male infertility including abnormal spermatogenesis; reproductive tract anomalies or obstruction; inadequate sexual and ejaculatory functions; and impaired sperm motility, imbalance in hormone levels, and immune system dysfunction. Although conventional treatments such as medication, surgical operation, and advanced techniques have helped many male with infertility cause pregnancy in their female partners, effectiveness is not satisfactory and associated with adverse effects.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used to improve male infertility in China for a very long time and has now been increasingly popular in Western countries for treating infertility. In this chapter we summarized recent development in basic research and clinical studies of CHM in treating male infertility.

It has showed that CHM improved sperm motility and quality, increased sperm count and rebalanced inadequate hormone levels, and adjusted immune functions leading to the increased number of fertility. Further, CHM in combination with conventional therapies improved efficacy of conventional treatments. More studies are needed to identify the new drugs from CHM and ensure safety, efficacy, and consistency of CHM.

Randomised clinical trial of comparing effects of acupuncture and varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in infertile varicocele patients

A 2016 study comparing acupuncture vs surgery for men with varicocele found “acupuncture treatment in primary infertile varicocele patients with semen abnormalities seems to be effective and has comparable results with the varicocelectomy treatment.”

Eyup Veli Kucuk, MD, Umraniye Education & Research Hospital, Adem Yavuz Cad. No:1, Elmalikent Mah., 34760 Umraniye, İstanbul, Turkey.

Andrologia. First published: 21 January 2016

Summary

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the acupuncture treatment on sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in patients with primary infertility. Between January 2008 and May 2010, 30 men with the primary infertility (one year of unprotected intercourse, healthy wife) and varicocele with normal hormone levels and abnormal semen analysis were randomised into two groups. Group 1 underwent subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy, and Group 2 underwent acupuncture treatment twice a week for 2 months. Both groups were evaluated with semen analysis at 6 months after the treatment. Patients in both groups evaluated with telephone calls and e-mail in terms of pregnancy. The mean age of the patients was 27.2, and groups were comparable regarding the age (P = 0.542). The pre-treatment sperm concentration, motility and morphological characteristics were similar in both groups. Sperm concentration and motility improved significantly in both groups after the treatment. Increase in sperm concentration was higher in the acupuncture group compared to the varicocelectomy group (P = 0.039). The average follow-up was 42 months, and pregnancy rates were emphasised 33% in both groups. Acupuncture treatment in primary infertile varicocele patients with semen abnormalities seems to be effective and has comparable results with the varicocelectomy treatment.

Treatment of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Female Infertility

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2017;135:233-247. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2017.02.011. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Jiang D1, Li L2, Zeng BY3

1 Hallam Institution of TCM in Sheffield UK, Sheffield, United Kingdom. 

2 St. Mary’s Hospital Paddington, London, United Kingdom.

3 Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College, London, United Kingdom.

 

Abstract

Female infertility is when a woman of reproductive age and sexual active, without contraception, cannot get pregnant after a year and more or keeps having miscarriages. Although conventional treatments for infertility such as hormone therapy, in vitro fertilization and many more, helped many female patients with infertility get pregnant during past a few decades, it is far from satisfactory with prolonging treatment time frames and emotional and financial burden. In recent years, more patients with infertile problems are seeking to alternative and complementary medicines to achieve a better outcome. In particular, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is increasingly popular for treating infertility due to its effectiveness and complimentary with conventional treatments. However, the mechanisms of action of CHM in treating female infertility are not well understood. In this chapter authors reviewed research development of CHM applied in many infertile models and CHM clinical studies in many conditions associated with female infertility, published in past 15 years.

The data of review showed that CHM has either specific target mechanisms of action or multitarget mechanisms of action, via regulating relevant hormone levels in female reproductive system, improving ovary function, enhancing uterine receptivity. More studies are warranted to explore the new drugs from CHM and ensure safety, efficacy, and consistency of CHM.

Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Male Infertility

Jiang D1, Coscione A2, Li L3, Zeng BY4

1 Hallam Institution of TCM in Sheffield UK, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

2 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, United Kingdom.

3 St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, London, United Kingdom.

4 Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College, London, United Kingdom.

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2017;135:297-311. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2017.02.014. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Abstract

Male infertility normally refers a male’s inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female partner after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Male infertility in recent years has been attracting increasing interest from public due to the evidence in decline in semen quality. There are many factors contributing to the male infertility including abnormal spermatogenesis; reproductive tract anomalies or obstruction; inadequate sexual and ejaculatory functions; and impaired sperm motility, imbalance in hormone levels, and immune system dysfunction. Although conventional treatments such as medication, surgical operation, and advanced techniques have helped many male with infertility cause pregnancy in their female partners, effectiveness is not satisfactory and associated with adverse effects. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used to improve male infertility in China for a very long time and has now been increasingly popular in Western countries for treating infertility. In this chapter we summarized recent development in basic research and clinical studies of CHM in treating male infertility.

It has showed that CHM improved sperm motility and quality, increased sperm count and rebalanced inadequate hormone levels, and adjusted immune functions leading to the increased number of fertility.

Further, CHM in combination with conventional therapies improved efficacy of conventional treatments. More studies are needed to indentify the new drugs from CHM and ensure safety, efficacy, and consistency of CHM.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28807164

Treating Gynaecological Disorders with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review

Jue Zhou1 and Fan Qu2

J. Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 2009

 

Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in treating gynaecological disorders. The paper has provided a brief introduction on the current progress of treating some gynaecological disorders including endometriosis, infertility, dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal syndrome, uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), cervicitis and vaginitis with Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) and acupuncture. The use of TCM in the field of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has also been included in the review. In addition, thirty-two commonly used Chinese medicinal formulas in treating gynaecological disorders have been introduced.

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