Acupuncture in bronchial asthma: bodyplethysmographic measurements of acute bronchospasmolytic effects

In 12 patients with bronchial asthma the effects of acupuncture (45 tests altogether) on airway resistance have been investigated. In 9 patients there was a significant decrease of airway resistance 10 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours after the end of acupuncture. The lowest level for airway resistance (70.1% of control value) was reached during the first hour after acupuncture. The possibility of a merely suggestive effect could be excluded, because "placebo-acupunctures" did not change airway resistance significantly. The comparison with a parasympatholytic acting drug as a metered aerosol (Atrovent) demonstrated that acupuncture had a somewhat weaker bronchospasmolytic effect. Three patients did not show any reaction after repeated acupunctures.