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Published on: December 2, 2017
Effect of acupuncture on capillary refill time in healthy adults: A clinical study
Bo-Yan Yeh1, Yen-Lin Chao1, Yu-Sheng Chen2
1Department of Chinese Acupuncture and Traumatology, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
Acupuncture on the Taixi (KI3) acupoint significantly reduced capillary refill time (CRT) in healthy adults. This finding suggests a potential benefit of acupuncture for assessing circulation status.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Physiology
Background:
- Pulse examination is a key diagnostic method in TCM for assessing qi and blood circulation.
- Capillary refill time (CRT) is a clinical measure of circulatory status.
- CRT measurement shares procedural similarities with traditional pulse examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of acupuncture on CRT.
- To determine if specific acupoints influence CRT and other physiological parameters.
Main Methods:
- 15 healthy adults participated in a prospective study.
- Acupuncture was applied to three acupoints: Taixi (KI3), Hegu (LI4), and Zusanli (ST36) on separate occasions.
- CRT, quantitative CRT, heart rate, core body temperature, and blood pressure were measured before and after acupuncture.
Main Results:
- Acupuncture on KI3 led to a significant decrease in CRT.
- Quantitative CRT showed significant reductions after acupuncture on KI3 and LI4.
- Heart rate exhibited significant changes following acupuncture on KI3 and ST36.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture applied to the KI3 acupoint effectively reduces CRT in healthy individuals.
- This suggests a potential role for acupuncture in modulating peripheral circulation assessment.
Background:
Pulse examination, which reveals information about bodily qi and blood circulation, is an essential diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine. Capillary refill time (CRT) is a simple test parameter for assessing circulation status. Examining the root of pulse and measuring CRT are extremely similar procedures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on CRT.
Methods:
Three acupoints were selected to evaluate the effects of CRT. CRT, quantitative CRT, heart rate, core body temperature, and blood pressure were measured before acupuncture and immediately after removal of needles and 30 min after removal of needles. A total of 15 healthy adults representing both sexes were prospectively included in the study. The acupoints selected were bilateral Taixi (KI3), Hegu (LI4), and Zusanli (ST36). Each participant received acupuncture three times, interventions were separated by at least 2 days, and acupuncture was performed on only one acupoint at each intervention.
Results:
CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on only KI3. Quantitative CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and LI4. Heart rate changed significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and ST36.
Conclusion:
Acupuncture on KI3 can reduce CRT in health adults.
