TY - JOUR
T1 - Haemodynamic changes in the superior mesenteric artery induced by acupuncture stimulation on the lower limbs
AU - Watanabe, Masashi
AU - Takayama, Shin
AU - Yamamoto, Yoshiko
AU - Nagase, Satoru
AU - Seki, Takashi
AU - Yaegashi, Nobuo
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Acupuncture is commonly performed on acupoints. A comparison of quantitative physiological alterations induced by stimulation on different acupoints has never been performed in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in humans. Therefore, we investigated changes in blood flow volume (BFV) in the SMA as an indicator of physiological effects induced by stimulation on 3 points. Thirty healthy participants aged 29±10 years (mean±SD) were enrolled. All participants underwent stimulations on 3 points located in the lower legs: ST36, LR3, and a non-acupoint. Control pertains to a condition with no-stimulation. Stimulation was performed bilaterally with manual rotation of the needles. BFV was measured by ultrasonography before insertion and 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes after stimulation. Following acupuncture on ST36, BFV increased significantly 20 and 30 minutes after stimulation, compared to BFV before insertion (P<0.05). Following stimulation on LR3 and the non-acupoint, no significant differences in BFV could be found. Relative to the no-stimulation group, stimulation on LR3, and the non-acupoint, stimulation on ST36 elicited a significant increase in BFV (P<0.05). The results suggest that stimulation on the different points causes distinct physiological effects in BFV in the SMA.
AB - Acupuncture is commonly performed on acupoints. A comparison of quantitative physiological alterations induced by stimulation on different acupoints has never been performed in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in humans. Therefore, we investigated changes in blood flow volume (BFV) in the SMA as an indicator of physiological effects induced by stimulation on 3 points. Thirty healthy participants aged 29±10 years (mean±SD) were enrolled. All participants underwent stimulations on 3 points located in the lower legs: ST36, LR3, and a non-acupoint. Control pertains to a condition with no-stimulation. Stimulation was performed bilaterally with manual rotation of the needles. BFV was measured by ultrasonography before insertion and 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes after stimulation. Following acupuncture on ST36, BFV increased significantly 20 and 30 minutes after stimulation, compared to BFV before insertion (P<0.05). Following stimulation on LR3 and the non-acupoint, no significant differences in BFV could be found. Relative to the no-stimulation group, stimulation on LR3, and the non-acupoint, stimulation on ST36 elicited a significant increase in BFV (P<0.05). The results suggest that stimulation on the different points causes distinct physiological effects in BFV in the SMA.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862321806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84862321806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1155/2012/908546
DO - 10.1155/2012/908546
M3 - Article
C2 - 22675391
AN - SCOPUS:84862321806
VL - 2012
JO - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
SN - 1741-427X
M1 - 908546
ER -