Acupoints in Acupuncture Research: Past, Present, and Future.

Abstract

Background: Although acupuncture points (acupoints) have been used for thousands of years, their exact biological basis remains uncertain. This knowledge gap has hindered both acupuncture research and the integration of acupuncture into clinical care.

Objective: In response to a consensus in the scientific community about the need for an open-access database where researchers can deposit, share, and compare anatomical and physiological data associated with acupoints, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has funded a project to develop such a database, the Topological Atlas and Repository for Acupoint Research (TARA).

Conclusions: TARA will enable researchers to synthesize different types of data to develop a comprehensive understanding of acupoints and help elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture. For example, one area of research that may benefit from this resource is the developing concept that stimulating points on the surface of the body may have physiological effects through the interstitium-the connective tissue between fascial layers-in addition to effects through pathways within the nervous system.