In one study some of the test subjects with the collagen induced inflammation were injected with synthetic steroid anti-inflammatory drug.
Interestingly dexamethason did not affect IL-10 levels, but decreased the level of pro inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF alpha.
Subject treated with acupuncture at SP6 showed no changes in these pro inflamtory cytokines IL-6 but did cause an increase in anti inflammatory IL-10.
These revealing results show how different mechanisms are used to control inflammation between acupuncture and steroid treatment.
It is also a fascinating lesson now showing that acupuncture can be an anti inflammatory treatment without being an immunosupressant agent.
Another study highlighted the benefit of ES acupuncture over regular acupuncture to treat inflammation .
ST36 plus ES treatment was done 3 times per week for several weeks reducing pro inflamatory cytokines IL-6, IFN gamma and TNF alpha with test subjects having collagen induced arthritis with inflamation.
Result
Acupuncture is proven as a good choice of complementary therapy for inflammation problem.
