How Does Acupuncture Help Heroin
Craving?
Previous research using functional MRI has shown that
specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin
craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of
heroin relapse, and acupuncture may inhibit craving. In this study, we
performed functional MRI in heroin addicts and control subjects. We compared
differences in brain activation between the two groups during heroin cue
exposure, heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point (ST36)
without twirling of the needle, and heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the
Zusanli point with twirling of the needle. Heroin cue exposure elicited
significant activation in craving-related brain regions mainly in the frontal
lobes and callosal gyri. Acupuncture without twirling did not significantly
affect the range of brain activation induced by heroin cue exposure, but
significantly changed the extent of the activation in the heroin addicts group.
Acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle significantly
decreased both the range and extent of activation induced by heroin cue
exposure compared with heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture without twirling of
the needle. These experimental findings indicate that presentation of heroin
cues can induce activation in craving-related brain regions, which are involved
in reward, learning and memory, cognition and emotion. Acupuncture at the
Zusanli point can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions
related to craving, supporting its potential as an intervention for drug
craving
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