Acupuncture Modifies Immune Cells

Acupuncture, a relief procedure originating in East Asia, has become increasingly popular as a therapy for pain and chronic diseases that are difficult to manage with conventional treatments. The attributive effects of acupuncture have been investigated in various inflammatory disorders including asthma, allergic rhinitis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, epicondylitis, complex regional pain syndrome type 1, and vasculitis. Japan is one of the countries that has done extensive research on the various effects of acupuncture on immunological functions. Recently, we studied acupuncture's effect on leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in human peripheral blood. Based on research data and other findings previously published in the literature, this article reviews the ascribed immunomodulation of acupuncture on the immune system, which includes activities of macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and lymphocytes, immunoglobulin production, and complement systems.