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. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):367-372.
doi: 10.1089/acu.2020.1477. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Applying the Power of the Mind in Acupuncture Treatment of Pain

Jian Kong  1 , Maya Nicole Eshel  1
Affiliations

Applying the Power of the Mind in Acupuncture Treatment of Pain

Jian Kong et al. Med Acupunct. .

Abstract

Background: Healing is a complicated process that can have several components including the self-healing properties of the body, the nonspecific effects of treatment (e.g., the power of the mind), and the specific effects of an intervention. This article first discusses the brain imaging studies on placebo acupuncture analgesia and the modulation effects of expectancy on real acupuncture in healthy subjects. Then, it introduces some attempts to translate findings from healthy subjects to patient population using power of the mind as a way to enhance acupuncture's treatment effects on chronic pain. After that, a new alternative method which merges acupuncture and imagery, while also drawing on power of the mind, is presented. Finally, the specific effects of acupuncture are discussed. Conclusions: Elucidating the mechanism underlying power of the mind would provide new opportunities for boosting the therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment and furthering the development of new alternative interventions.

Keywords: acupuncture; brain imaging; imagined acupuncture; nonspecific effect; pain; placebo.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Kong holds equity in a startup company (MNT) and has pending patents to develop new neuromodulation tools, but declares no financial conflicts of interest. No financial conflicts of interest exist for Dr. Eshel.

References

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