When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research

The sensation of sng (pronounced/səŋ/, the Romanization form of 痠or soreness in Taiwanese Southern Min) associated with de qi, a composite of unique sensations, is a novel phenotype for acupoint stimulation. It is perceived by test participants but also by experienced practitioners as a sensation of...

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Main Authors: Wei-Zen Sun, Chih-Cheng Chen, Jaung-Geng Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411024000919
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author Wei-Zen Sun
Chih-Cheng Chen
Jaung-Geng Lin
author_facet Wei-Zen Sun
Chih-Cheng Chen
Jaung-Geng Lin
author_sort Wei-Zen Sun
collection DOAJ
description The sensation of sng (pronounced/səŋ/, the Romanization form of 痠or soreness in Taiwanese Southern Min) associated with de qi, a composite of unique sensations, is a novel phenotype for acupoint stimulation. It is perceived by test participants but also by experienced practitioners as a sensation of “taking the bait” (by fish when fishing), a characteristic heavy and tight sensation from the needle. Here, we propose that sng is a powerful biomarker for de qi associated with successful manual acupuncture. Sngception (sng-ception), a specific somatosensory function of acid-sensation or tether-mode mechano-sensation, may serve as the ideal molecular and physiological link between sng perception and needle manipulation (e.g., lifting, thrusting, and twisting). To explain how manual acupuncture can induce de qi, we constructed a hypothetical model of manual needling-driven sngception. In acupoints (e.g., ST36), an acupuncture needle can easily stick to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g., fibronectin and laminin). While the acupuncture needle is manually twisted, it mingles with ECM and delivers a pulling force to ECM-tethered mechanically sensitive ion channels (e.g., acid-sensing ion channels) on somatosensory nerves to induce sngception. The concept of sng and sngception represents an emerging field for research into the peripheral mechanisms of acupuncture.
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spelling doaj-art-b263b08686d145bbb8c9a15f1ce9daca2025-08-20T01:57:56ZengElsevierJournal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine2225-41102025-01-011511510.1016/j.jtcme.2024.07.008When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational researchWei-Zen Sun0Chih-Cheng Chen1Jaung-Geng Lin2Department of Anesthesiology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Health Science & Wellness Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanInstitute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Corresponding author.The sensation of sng (pronounced/səŋ/, the Romanization form of 痠or soreness in Taiwanese Southern Min) associated with de qi, a composite of unique sensations, is a novel phenotype for acupoint stimulation. It is perceived by test participants but also by experienced practitioners as a sensation of “taking the bait” (by fish when fishing), a characteristic heavy and tight sensation from the needle. Here, we propose that sng is a powerful biomarker for de qi associated with successful manual acupuncture. Sngception (sng-ception), a specific somatosensory function of acid-sensation or tether-mode mechano-sensation, may serve as the ideal molecular and physiological link between sng perception and needle manipulation (e.g., lifting, thrusting, and twisting). To explain how manual acupuncture can induce de qi, we constructed a hypothetical model of manual needling-driven sngception. In acupoints (e.g., ST36), an acupuncture needle can easily stick to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g., fibronectin and laminin). While the acupuncture needle is manually twisted, it mingles with ECM and delivers a pulling force to ECM-tethered mechanically sensitive ion channels (e.g., acid-sensing ion channels) on somatosensory nerves to induce sngception. The concept of sng and sngception represents an emerging field for research into the peripheral mechanisms of acupuncture.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411024000919AcupunctureASICASIC3Needle twistingPainSng
spellingShingle Wei-Zen Sun
Chih-Cheng Chen
Jaung-Geng Lin
When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Acupuncture
ASIC
ASIC3
Needle twisting
Pain
Sng
title When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
title_full When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
title_fullStr When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
title_full_unstemmed When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
title_short When sng meets acupuncture -- a paradigm-shift biomarker for translational research
title_sort when sng meets acupuncture a paradigm shift biomarker for translational research
topic Acupuncture
ASIC
ASIC3
Needle twisting
Pain
Sng
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411024000919
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