A recent study shows that acupuncture
as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has immediate effects
in reducing nocturnal respiratory events, sleep disruptions, and
desaturations (low oxygen levels in the blood). The researchers
hypothesize that this improvement is due to acupuncture’s effects on
serotonergic pathways and also acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects.
Both manual acupuncture and 10Hz electro-acupuncture techniques were
found effective. Both techniques produced superior clinical outcomes
compared with 2Hz electro-acupuncture.
Discussion of Acupuncture and Airflow
The
researchers note that the acupuncture points of the neck are of
specific interest because they stimulate the genioglossus muscle
(secondarily, the mylohyoid muscle) on deep insertion. They note that
stimulation of this lingual muscle affects airflow dynamics and may be a
key reason as to why acupuncture is effective for improving the
symptoms of patients with sleep apnea.
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Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac
