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A Naturalistic Study of the Effect of Acupuncture on Heart-Rate Variability

Journal: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (Vol.5, No. 1)

Publication Date:

Authors : ; ; ; ; ;

Page : 15-20

Keywords : acupuncture; Fourier analysis; heart rate variability; sample entropy;

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Abstract

Objectives To study the effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability (HRV) by using linear and non-linear methods of analysis. Methods 40 patients were recruited consecutively, including patients with insomnia, stomachache, diarrhea, dizziness, cervical syndrome, lower back pain, gonarthritis, peripheral facial paralysis, post-traumatic organic brain syndrome and urinary retention. Different acupoint prescriptions were used, according to the textbook for 5-years' education on traditional Chinese medicine specialty, which is used in Chinese Universities. HRV was recorded before, during, and after acupuncture. Results Acupuncture substantially reduced variability, causing a 41% reduction in the standard deviation. Using a Fourier analysis, the variances both in the low frequency (LF) and the high frequency (HF) ranges were markedly reduced, but the LF/HF ratio (an indication of sympatho-vagal balance) was not altered. The HR was unchanged. The sample entropy, which is a measure of the complexity of time series, was significantly increased (+35%). Conclusions Acupuncture produced a pattern of changes different from that seen in pathological conditions, where increased variability and reduced complexity is expected.

Last modified: 2015-07-16 14:27:58