Effect of acupuncture on the haemodynamic system in men
Misaki Okada1, Hiroshi Taniguchi2, Sazu Taniguchi1
1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Integrative Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Insights
Acupuncture lowers heart rate (HR) and increases stroke volume (SV) in healthy men. Cardiac output remains stable, and blood pressure changes are transient, suggesting baroreflex regulation during acupuncture.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Regulation
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Acupuncture's effect on heart rate (HR) is known via somato-autonomic reflexes.
- Mechanisms behind acupuncture's influence on stroke volume (SV) and blood pressure (BP) are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To continuously assess comprehensive cardiovascular changes during acupuncture.
- Investigate the impact of acupuncture on HR, SV, and BP.
Main Methods:
- 20 healthy men underwent continuous monitoring of HR, SV, and BP.
- Electrocardiogram, transthoracic impedance cardiography, and finger blood pressure were used.
- Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied at the LI10 acupoint for 60 seconds.
Main Results:
- Acupuncture significantly reduced HR and increased SV concurrently (P<0.01).
- Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed a transient decrease but quickly returned to baseline.
- Cardiac output (CO) remained unchanged throughout the stimulation period.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture reduces HR and increases SV, maintaining stable cardiac output.
- Transient DBP reduction is likely counteracted by baroreflex mechanisms.
- Findings clarify cardiovascular responses to acupuncture stimulation.
Background:
Acupuncture stimulation decreases heart rate (HR) through somato-autonomic reflexes. However, the mechanisms responsible for other cardiovascular changes induced by acupuncture, such as its effects on stroke volume (SV) and blood pressure (BP), remain obscure.
Objective:
To evaluate continuously the comprehensive cardiovascular changes occurring during acupuncture.
Method:
20 healthy men participated in the study. HR, SV and BP were measured in the supine position using electrocardiogram, transthoracic impedance cardiography and continuous non-invasive finger blood pressure, respectively. Manual acupuncture stimulation using a stainless steel needle was performed at LI10 for 60 s after resting periods of approximately 15 min.
Results:
HR was reduced and SV increased, in parallel, during the period of acupuncture stimulation (P<0.01, respectively). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased in the 10 s period of acupuncture stimulation compared with the 120 s pre-stimulation period (P<0.01) and recovered close to the pre-stimulation reading instantly after the transient reduction. No change was observed in cardiac output (CO) derived from HR and SV.
Conclusions:
This study indicates that HR reduction during acupuncture does occur, as previous reports have indicated. SV increased during acupuncture stimulation in parallel with HR reduction and CO was maintained during these changes. Any reduction in DBP caused by acupuncture recovered to baseline, likely due to baroreflexes.
