Research progress on regulations on nerve-endocrine-immune network by acupuncture

In order to explore the mechanism for the functions of acupuncture on nerve-endocrine-immune (NEI) network, authors carried out systematical analysis on the research progress of regulations on nerve-endocrine-immune network by acupuncture, and investigated current problems and future development tendency. It was found that NEI network was the biological basis for human body to maintain homeostasis and it utilized common medium for transmitting information, and the regulations by acupuncture may activate NEI network or its common medium. Science of acupuncture and moxibustion is the systematical science focusing on integrative regulations, and continuous development of system biology and omics techniques have enabled systematical assurance and comprehensive understanding of network regulatory effects and mechanisms by acupuncture to become new development tendencies.