Acupuncture for Parkinson's disease: From theory to practice

Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 May:149:112907. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112907. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Abstract

Advances in molecular biology and biochemistry have improved the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). There has been extensive evidence on the benefit of standard treatment (e.g., deep brain stimulation, levodopa, and dopamine agonists) and acupuncture for PD. This article aims to distill the similarities and differences in the treatment concepts between Chinese and Western medicine from the perspective of reinforcing the deficiency and purging the excess, summarize the latest evidence on the benefits of acupuncture for PD from theory to practice, and propose prospective treatment options for PD.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson’s disease; Theory; Traditional Chinese medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy*
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa
  • Parkinson Disease* / therapy
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Levodopa