Hyperuricemia is an excess of uric acid in the blood,
which is one of potential risk factors for many conditions e.g. gout and kidney
stones. Acupuncture treatment is reported to significantly lower blood levels
of uric acid according to a report being published in the journal of Annals of
Palliative Medicine.
Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down
substance called purines which are found in many food and drinks, including mackerel,
liver, beer and peas and many more. Normally uric acid is metabolised in the
liver, enters into the blood stream and excreted in the urine. Excess levels of
purines and problems with kidney excretion of uric acid cause hyperuricemia.
Drug treatment is commonly used to treat hyperuricemia, but accompanied with
some unwanted effects.
Recently Dr. BG Sun and colleagues in China carried out a
clinical study to assess the effect of acupuncture on hyperuricemia. Thirty-two
patients with primary hyperuricemia were recruited for the study. The Five Shu
acupoints in the spleen meridian were applied for 30 min, once a day for ten
consecutive days. The 24-hour urine volume and blood samples were collected for
analysis of urine uric acid and urinary creatinine, and blood uric acid level
and creatinine concentration respectively before acupuncture, during
acupuncture treatment and 24-hour after acupuncture.
It was found that acupuncture treatment significantly
reduced blood uric acid levels in patients with over-production of uric acid,
with under-excretion of uric acid and with mixed type as well. Further the
fraction of excretion of uric acid was markedly decreased. Overall, serum
concentration of uric acid decreased by ca. 18% and 24-hour urine volume was
increased by 27%.
The authors suggest that acupuncture stimulation at the
Five Shu acupoints in the spleen meridian has significantly lowered blood uric
acid level by promoting uric acid excretion and increase urine volume.
Reference:
Sun BG et al., Acupuncture
of the Five Shu Acupoints in spleen meridian to lower blood uric acid level. Ann
Palliat Med. 2014 Jan;3(1):22-7. http://www.amepc.org/apm/article/view/3253
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