Role of Acupuncture in the Management of Severe Acquired Brain Injuries (sABIs)

Table 2

Available strategies to manage sABIs and their mechanisms of action.

NEUROPROTECTIVE STRATEGIES
Mild hypothermia	decrease of cerebral metabolic demand, excitatory neurotransmitter release, inflammation and edema
hyperosmolar therapies	immune-modulating effects
statins	reducing oxidative stress and inflammation
cyclosporin A	ameliorating mitochondrial function
NEUROMODULATIVE STRATEGIES
Pharmacologic; (i) dopaminergics; (ii) serotoninergics; (iii) gabaergics	neurotransmitter modulation
Non Pharmacologic; postural verticalization	potential enhancement of the vestibular effects on locus coeruleus, raphe and thalamic intralaminar nuclei
Neuromodulative Techniques: (i) deep brain stimulation (DBS); (ii) transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS); (iii) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS); (iv) spinal cord stimulation; (v) median nerve stimulation; (vi) vagus nerve stimulation	increasing metabolism in the forebrain, thalamus and reticular formation.; modulating neuronal networks and ANS