TITLE:
Acupuncture Practices and Brain Waves
AUTHORS:
Mehmet Tuğrul Cabıoğlu
KEYWORDS:
Acupuncture, Electroencephalography, Brain Activity, Alfa Wave, Relaxation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.3 No.6,
June
21,
2016
ABSTRACT:
Acupuncture is the most frequently used treatment method among the complementary
medicine practices. Acupuncture practices mainly affect the somatic and autonomic
nervous systems in the nervous system. It is important to understand the mechanism
of action of acupuncture practices especially in the central nervous system. Electroencephalography
(EEG) is one of the best techniques to explain the effects of acupuncture on the
central nervous system. In the present review, the changes in the EEG by the application
of acupuncture to different acupoints were evaluated. It was observed that the application
of acupuncture to different acupoints caused different brain activities in different
regions of the brain. In addition to this, an increase in the alpha-1 wave frequency
due to the stimulation of Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (P6), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints
in different meridian and regions has indicated that these points have mood modifying
and relaxation effects and they can be used in the psychological state changes.