Research Progress on the Mechanism of Acupuncture Treatment for Sciatica

Sciatic neuralgia, a prevalent neuropathic pain condition, has been the focus of numerous clinical studies. Current treatment methods for sciatica encompass acupuncture, catgut embedding at acupoint, physical therapy and surgery. Among these, acupuncture therapy has demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy, not only in alleviating pain symptoms but also in effectively managing the progression of the disease. Notably, acupuncture therapy exhibits a low recurrence rate and is characterised by a high degree of safety. The aim of this paper is to review the research literature on the mechanism of acupuncture in treating neuropathic pain at home and abroad in recent years, and to summarise its mechanism from the perspectives of the spinal cord, centre and periphery, in order to provide a theoretical basis for clinical acupuncture treatment of sciatica.