BL-0020

Acupuncture has gained growing attention in the management of osteoporosis (OP). However, a comprehensive review has not yet been conducted on the efficacy and challenges of acupuncture in preliminary research and clinical trials. Therefore, an extensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), CNKI (www.cnki.net), and Web of Science, for studies published from the beginning of 2000 to the end of May 2022. Combinations of synonyms for OP, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, clinical trial, preclinical study, and animal experiments were searched. A total of 290 papers were consulted, including 115 reviews, 109 clinical observations, and 66 preclinical studies. There is accumulating evidence to support the beneficial role of acupuncture in preserving bone quality and relieving clinical symptoms based on clinical and preclinical investigations. The top ten most commonly used acupoints are BL23, ST36, BL20, BL11, CV4, GV4, SP 6, KI3, BL18, and GB39. The underlying mechanisms behind the benefits of acupuncture may be linked with the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (adrenal) axis and activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathways. In summary, strong evidence may still come from prospective and well-designed clinical trials to shed light on the potential role of acupuncture in preserving bone loss. Future investigations are needed to explore the potential underlying mechanisms, long-term clinical efficacy, and compliance of acupuncture in OP management.

Acupuncture treatment on back-shu points (BSPs) has received attention owing its ability to control the function of visceral organs. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to provide detailed information on the effectiveness and safety of BL18, BL20, and BL22 on the digestive system in terms of soft tissue and anatomical structure and assist in the appropriate application.

Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, OASIS, RISS, and CNKI were searched from their inception to July 2021. This systematic review included randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, case series, and case reports that addressed anatomical structures or needling methods of BL18, BL20, and BL22.

In total, 115 articles were included from the 7 electronic databases. One hundred eight articles described the depth and method. A total of 96 articles described depth, 86 articles described the angle, and 74 articles described both. Seventy-nine articles described the target muscles and anatomical structure. Acupuncture on BSP is effective in gastrointestinal diseases because of compression of the spinal nerve, sympathetic nerve hyperactivity, and connection of the diaphragm. By reviewing each study’s acupuncture method and target muscles, we analyzed the angle and depth of the needle that effectively leads to therapeutic response.

This study provides guidance on applying needles in terms of anatomical structures to yield therapeutic responses. However, few studies have assessed how to effectively stimulate BSP to trigger digestive effects and their mechanisms. Additional studies on the relationship between BSP and the digestive system are needed to use these acupoints for digestive diseases.