Endocrinological basis of acupuncture.

The widespread and lasting effect of acupuncture suggests the mediation of humoral factor(s). Controlled clinical and experimental investigations done by Chinese researchers during the past three decades lend support to this assumption. Electrophysiological and histochemical studies denote the involvement of hypothalamus and pituitary in acupuncture. Acupuncture causes the release of some of the anterior pituitary hormones, as assessed by bio-assay methods. Observations from physiological as well as morphological approach showed that acupuncture has significant influences upon thyroid, adrenal gland and gonads. Preliminary results also indicate that pancreatic islets and parathyroid gland are affected by acupuncture. However, much remains to be investigated concerning the endocrinological basis of acupuncture.