Experimental Evidence of the Benefits of Acupuncture/Electroacupuncture for Acute Lung Injury/ Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Literature Review of Rodent Studies.

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) encompass various etiologies and are distinguished by the onset of acute pulmonary inflammation and heightened permeability of the pulmonary vasculature, often leading to substantial morbidity and frequent mortality. There is a scarcity of viable approaches for treating effectively. In recent decades, acupuncture has been proven to be antiinflammatory. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the previously documented mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of acupuncture in ALI/ARDS, including inhibiting excessive oxidative stress, alleviating pulmonary inflammatory response, suppressing programmed cell death, and protecting the alveolar-capillary membrane. Collectively, these findings indicate that acupuncture yields therapeutic benefits for ALI/ARDS.