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Abstract
Objective. We investigated the relationship between superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) and autonomic nerve activity in acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points through heart rate variability (HRV) evaluations. Methods. Twenty-six healthy volunteers underwent crossover applications of bilateral manual acupuncture stimulation at ST36 or LR3 or no stimulation. Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, SMA BFV, and HRV at rest and 30 min after the intervention were analyzed. Results. SMA BFV showed a significant increase after ST36 stimulation (0% to 14.1% ± 23.4%, P = 0.007); very low frequency (VLF), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF were significantly greater than those at rest (0% to 479.4% ± 1185.6%, P = 0.045; 0% to 78.9% ± 197.6%, P = 0.048; 0% to 123.9% ± 217.1%, P = 0.006; 0% to 71.5% ± 171.1%, P = 0.039). Changes in HF and LF also differed significantly from those resulting from LR3 stimulation (HF: 78.9% ± 197.6% versus −18.2% ± 35.8%, P = 0.015; LF: 123.9% ± 217.1% versus 10.6% ± 70.6%, P = 0.013). Conclusion. Increased vagus nerve activity after ST36 stimulation resulted in increased SMA BFV. This partly explains the mechanism of acupuncture-induced BFV changes.
Highlights
In traditional medicine in East Asia, acupuncture therapy is achieved through acupoints, which are reactive points on the surface of the body
We investigated the relationship between superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) and autonomic nerve activity in acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points through heart rate variability (HRV) evaluations
We have reported that acupuncture stimulation of ST36 significantly increased superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) using ultrasonographic diagnostic equipment [5]
Summary
In traditional medicine in East Asia, acupuncture therapy is achieved through acupoints, which are reactive points on the surface of the body. Unique organ-specific effects associated with acupoints have been difficult to evaluate quantitatively, because of the lack of a quantitative method of evaluation of the effects of acupuncture. With this in mind, we have evaluated the effects on blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery, radial artery, brachial artery, and retrobulbar artery as a result of acupuncture stimulation at specific acupoints [2,3,4,5,6]. We have reported that acupuncture stimulation of ST36 significantly increased superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) using ultrasonographic diagnostic equipment [5]. The mechanism of the increase in blood flow volume has not yet been fully elucidated but is speculated to result from vasodilation caused by the suppression of abdominal sympathetic nerve activity, promotion of abdominal vagus nerve activity, and increases in secondary blood flow due to promoted intestinal movement, as well as other mechanisms
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