Electroacupuncture (EA) is an innovative approach that combines traditional acupuncture with electric stimulation to enhance therapeutic effects. It has shown promise in managing a wide range of conditions, including pain relief, reducing inflammation, and alleviating nausea and vomiting.
- Electroacupuncture (EA) involves passing a small electric current between pairs of acupuncture needles.
- This current stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins, β-endorphin, met-enkephalin, and dynorphin.
- These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors in the brain and spinal cord, potentially aiding in pain relief.
Studies show that electroacupuncture activates the nervous system differently in healthy individuals compared to those in pain conditions. It has been found to alleviate both sensory and affective inflammatory pain, and it inhibits inflammatory and neuropathic pain more effectively at frequencies between 2–10 Hz.
