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Acupuncture and Cholinergic Suppression of Withdrawal Symptoms: an Hypothesis
Author(s) -
Mendelson George
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0007-0890
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1978.tb00137.x
Subject(s) - neuropharmacology , cholinergic , abstinence , acupuncture , withdrawal syndrome , adrenergic , medicine , psychology , heroin , neurotransmitter , neuroscience , anesthesia , psychiatry , drug , central nervous system , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology
Evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that the abstinence syndrome, which follows both narcotic and alcohol withdrawal, is due to an imbalance between central adrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter activity, with adrenergic predominance. Based on current knowledge of the neuropharmacology of acupuncture, this hypothesis provides a possible explanation for the efficacy of electro‐acupuncture in the suppression of the symptoms of heroin and alcohol withdrawal.