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TL;DR
The central finding is that acupuncture, particularly at acupoint ST36, can bidirectionally regulate immune responses and protect organs in sepsis models, but its effects are highly dependent on stimulation parameters and timing.
Frontiers in Immunology · 11 authors, 6 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
The central finding is that acupuncture, particularly at acupoint ST36, can bidirectionally regulate immune responses and protect organs in sepsis models, but its effects are highly dependent on stimulation parameters and timing.
This systematic review examines preclinical animal models (e.g., LPS injection, CLP models in rodents) and clinical studies on acupuncture for sepsis. The authors summarize that acupuncture, especially at acupoint ST36, can inhibit systemic inflammation and organ damage through various pathways, including the vagus-adrenal axis, vagus-cholinergic pathway, and spinal sympathetic reflex. The review notes that effects are intensity-dependent (low-intensity EA at ST36 activates parasympathetic pathways, while high-intensity EA can activate sympathetic pathways) and timing-dependent (application before vs. after sepsis induction can yield different outcomes).