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Progress on the mechanism of endocannabinoids involved in electroacupuncture for analgesia and itch relief

CAO Yu-Wei¹, QIN Ren-Jie², JING Xiang-Hong³, ZHANG Zhao-Qing^1,4, LI Man^2,*

¹College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, China；²College of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China；³Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China；⁴Department of Pain Rehabilitation, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan 430060, China

Abstract

Chronic pain and pruritus are significant health challenges that pose major threats to human well-being, with existing therapeutic approaches being limited in their efficacy and scope. Electroacupuncture, as a therapy developed by combining traditional acupuncture with modern electrophysiological techniques, has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality, characterized by its low risk and excellent tolerability, and has demonstrated unique advantages in the treatment of related disorders. In recent years, the role of the endocannabinoid system in modulating pain and pruritus has garnered increasing attention as a research hotspot. This review systematically examined the composition and function of the endocannabinoid system, as well as its regulatory mechanisms in pain and pruritus signaling within the central nervous system and peripheral immune system. Additionally, we summarized the current state of research on the analgesic and itch-relieving effects of electroacupuncture through modulation of the endocannabinoid system, aiming to provide novel insights and theoretical foundations for the clinical management of pain and itch-related diseases.

Key words: endocannabinoids; electroacupuncture; pain; pruritus

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 李熳　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0108

Citing This Article：

CAO Yu-Wei, QIN Ren-Jie, JING Xiang-Hong, ZHANG Zhao-Qing, LI Man. Progress on the mechanism of endocannabinoids involved in electroacupuncture for analgesia and itch relief. Acta Physiol Sin 2026; 78 (1): 71-82 (in Chinese with English abstract).