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book,
Zang-Hee Cho, Ph.D., the professor of Radiological Sciences
and Psychiatry at University of California at Irvine,
is one of the leading neuro-imaging scientists and inventor
of the PET (Positron Emission Tomography). He is a world-renowned
MRI physicist, who has pioneered numerous MRI imaging
techniques including the first Acupuncture -fMRI technique
in 1997.
The
book Neuro-Acupuncture is written for both the acupuncturists
who are interested in learning neural basis of acupuncture
mechanisms as well as for the physicians who are interested
in learning acupuncture in terms of modern neuroscience
point of view. The book is written in such a way that
it is readily readable for the newcomers as well as for
those who have some previous exposure to modern neuroscience.
To make the book more readily understandable for the newcomers,
many illustrations are given, some in repetition, to enhance
the consolidation of memory of many new exotic neuroscience
nomenclatures.
Neuro-Acupuncture
is the first textbook illustrating the interpretation
of Acupuncture from a Neurological perspective. This extraordinary
textbook provides the essentials to modern Neuroscience
and its relationship to the field of Acupuncture. The
extensive research compiled for Neuro-Acupuncture clearly
demonstrates that Acupuncture stimulation leads to activation
of upper parts of the brain. Undoubtedly, understanding
the scientific bases of Acupuncture can improve its clinical
effectiveness. Initial studies with such techniques as
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography
(PET), and Magneto-Encephalography (MEG) have discovered
effects of Acupuncture on neural correlates. These studies
have begun to provide some clues to the mechanisms of
Oriental Medicine, such as the meridians and the principles
of pain control.
Acupuncture
is no longer a theory !
TESTIMONIAL
Review
of Neuro-Acupuncture: Scientific Evidence of Acupuncture
Revealed
By Matthew D. Bauer, LAc San Dimas, California
In
this book, principal author Z.H. Cho, Professor of the
Department of Radiological Sciences & Psychiatry at
the University of California at Irvine, provides an overview
of the research he has been conducting into the pivotal
role the brain apparently plays in mediating acupuncture's
far-reaching effects.
Professor
Cho is one of the world's foremost authorities on brain
imaging technologies. Inventor of the PET (positron emission
tomography) scan and important contributor to the invention
of the fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), Professor
Cho ranks as one of the world's highest level scientists
engaged in acupuncture research. He has been using his
considerable expertise with this cutting edge brain imaging
technology to examine how signals from acupuncture stimulation
affect brain functioning.
Much
of Neuro Acupuncture is dedicated to explaining the highly
complex subject of neurophysiology and anatomy in as easy
to follow a manner as possible. As such, it easily ranks
as one the of the best resources available for non-specialists
(neurophysiologists/anatomists), successfully balancing
the need to provide enough information on this complex
subject without going into so much detail as to bewilder
one with only moderate knowledge in neurology. In fact,
the drawings, diagrams, etc. are the most well-designed
I have ever seen in any technical book. You simply could
not find better visual aids to help illustrate neuroanatomy
and physiology. Every acupuncture school should have a
copy of this book, as should anyone interested in how
acupuncture causes a cascade of effects throughout the
nervous system.
Neuro
Acupuncture is organized into five chapters, the first
of which briefly explains how PET and fMRI scans allow
researchers to image minute changes in the brain's energy
metabolism, PET measuring glucose and fMRI measuring oxygen
consumption. This allows the study of how stimulating
specific acupuncture points activates or deactivates very
specific regions of the brain. The chapter concludes with
the statement that, while still too early to know for
sure, "recent experimental data suggests strongly
that there may be a correlation between acupuncture and
cortical activation that is related to certain types of
disease or dysfunction."
Chapters
two, three and four are titled "Overview of Brain
Function and Neuroanatomy," "Details of the
Brain: Higher Brain, Intermediate Brain, Lower Brain and
their Interconnections" and "The Peripheral
Nervous System and Sensory Pathways," respectively.
As mentioned above, these chapters make for an excellent
review of these subjects. They also help the reader to
make sense of the principal theory of Professor Cho's
research; namely, that there is a growing body of scientific
evidence suggesting that acupuncture may help a wide range
of different diseases by stimulating brain regulating
mechanisms.
Chapter
five, titled "Hypotheses of Acupuncture Mechanisms,"
explains how research on acupuncture's neuromechanisms
has progressed in the last 30-40 years starting with the
"gate theory" of Melzack and Wall through studies
conducted by Han, Pomeranz, Takesige and others. Professor
Cho's theories expand on these earlier studies, especially
those of Pomeranz, who suggested that the higher brain
might mediate acupuncture pain control.
Cho
theorizes that acupuncture may stimulate regions of the
higher brain for disease conditions other than pain. Chapter
five features a section titled "Hypothesis of the
Acupuncture-Disease-Treatment Mechanism, Parts I, II and
III." This chapter culminates with Cho's "Integrated
Hypothetical Model" which states that the three major
regions of the brain (higher, intermediate and lower)
may work together in an integrated fashion to stimulate
survival mechanisms controlled by the hypothalamus, stimulating
the "execution of endocrine, autonomic and other
functions for the purpose of homeostasis."
Neuro
Acupuncture concludes with appendices and an index that
add to the value of this book as a functional, easy use
reference guide. My only criticism of this book is how
quickly chapter five concludes. I wanted more information
on what really amounts to the first comprehensive scientific
theory about how acupuncture may be an effective form
of therapy for a wide range of different diseases and
dysfunctions "beyond pain." This book is billed
as "Volume I: Neuroscience Basics," so we can
only hope more information about this milestone research
will be forthcoming soon.
On
a personal note, I would like to add that I have gotten
to know professor Cho over the last two years and feel
the acupuncture community is extremely fortunate to have
a scientist of his caliber involved in acupuncture research.
Since he first began publishing reports of his studies
(most in Western medical/science journals), he has been
a highly sought after speaker around the world. His research
has been very well received and has sparked an interest
in acupuncture by mainstream Western researchers that
will have a far-reaching impact on the development of
acupuncture research. He brings a unique combination of
world-class knowledge of brain imaging technology, understanding
of neurophysiology, and an appreciation of working with
fully trained acupuncturists to aid him in his research.
By
Belinda J. Anderson, Ph.D. and Moshe Heller, L. Ac.
This
book is a much needed addition to the relatively small
number of books that have been written on the subject
of the neurological explanation of acupuncture. What sets
this book apart from the others is the considerable attention
that has been given to a thorough explanation of the neuroanatomy
and neurological mechanism that are relevant to understanding
acupuncture. This is an excellent book for students and
practicing acupuncturists who require background neurological
knowledge in order to appreciate the new findings about
the neurological basis of acupuncture.
The
book is beautifully illustrated and the use of detailed
and plentiful color figures greatly facilitates a better
understanding of the material. The text is well written
and succinct, which should help to retain the interest
of the reader without having to wade through unnecessary
detail. As a book aimed at the understanding of acupuncture
the choice of neurological theory is judicious and appropriate.
The authors have done a good job of keeping the material
simple without loosing accuracy or intellectual content.
Being
the first volume of a series, the focus of this volume
is the basics of neuroscience. Much of the book is devoted
to explaining the basic anatomy and functioning of the
nervous system. As such this book could be used as a text
for neuroanatomy courses within acupuncture and oriental
medicine academic programs. What is particularly attractive
about this book is the simplicity in which the material
is presented and explained whilst still retaining enough
detail for an introductory neuroanatomy course.
The
final chapter contains material that is directly relevant
to understanding acupuncture. An explanation of pain mechanisms
is given followed by a description of the current theories
for how acupuncture is thought to attenuate pain via various
neurological pathways. A description of recent research
demonstrating the role of higher brain functions in mediating
the effects of acupuncture is given. This is followed
by discussion of the role that the CNS may play in mediating
the wide range of physiological effects of acupuncture.
This takes the understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture
beyond pain modulation and opens up a much broader neurological
explanation of how acupuncture affects the physiology
and biochemistry of the body.
Dr Belinda Anderson is Head of the Biomedical Department
at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a research
scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She
has been teaching Biophysics at the College since 1997
in which she explores various scientific theories for
understanding the mechanism of acupuncture and other complimentary
and alternative medical modalities. Web site: www.mandalascience.com
Moshe
Heller graduated from Pacific College in San Diego in
1994. He then moved to Israel where he was teaching and
maintaining a busy practice as well as working in a hospital
setting. He has relocated to New York in 1999 and is the
Academic Dean at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine,
NY campus.
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