This article summarizes and discusses the collaborative effects of acupuncture and medication in treatment

including four aspects

named "acupuncture synergizing the effects of medication"

"medication advancing the effects of acupuncture"

"coordination of acupuncture and medication"

and "antagonism of acupuncture and medication". Regarding "acupuncture synergizing the effects of medication"

the actions of acupuncture are predominant

which affects the absorption and metabolism of drugs in the body

increases drug concentration in blood

enhances the targeting effect of drugs

guides meridian tropism

alleviates the drug dose and adverse reactions

avoids the first pass effect and accelerates the drug bioavailability. As for "medication advancing the effects of acupuncture"

the synergistic effect of acupuncture is obtained by medication

besides

the medication itself may supplement the drug property to the needles during acupuncture pretreatment so as to increase the therapeutic effect. In terms of "coordination of acupuncture and medication"

and "antagonism of acupuncture and medication"

there are the underlying co-effects of acupuncture and medication in the body

and the action targets may be same or different between them

thus

it needs to be further explored.