Effect of Acupuncture at PC6(<i>Neiguan</i>) and SP4(<i>Gongsun</i>) points on Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults

Rheu, Kyoung-Hwan; Im, In-Hwan; Kim, Dong-Hyun; Na, Byong-Jo; Lee, Beom-Jun; Park, Seong-Uk; Ko, Chang-Nam

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 27(3); 2006 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2006;27(3): 698-705.

內關(PC6)·公孫(SP4) 자침이 정상인의 자율신경계에 미치는 영향 연구

유경환¹, 임인환¹, 김동현¹, 나병조¹, 이범준¹, 박성욱², 고창남²

¹강남경희한방병원 내과학교실
²경희대학교 동서신의학병원 중풍·뇌질환센타

Effect of Acupuncture at PC6(Neiguan) and SP4(Gongsun) points on Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults

Kyoung-Hwan Rheu¹, In-Hwan Im¹, Dong-Hyun Kim¹, Byong-Jo Na¹, Beom-Jun Lee¹, Seong-Uk Park², Chang-Nam Ko²

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Kang-Nam Oriental Medicine Hospital, College of Oriental Medicine Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
²Stroke & Neurological Disorders Center, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence

Seong-Uk Park ,Tel: 02-440-6217, Fax: 02-440-6296, Email: happyomd@khu.ac.kr

Published online: September 30, 2006.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
This study was designed to investigate the effect of PC6 and SP4 on autonomic nerve system in healthy adults.

Methods :
22 healthy adults were recruited and randomized into the study group or control group. The study group (real acupuncture group) was acupunctured on PC6 and SP4. The control group (sham acupuncture group) was acupunctured superficially near PC6 and SP4 but not the exact points. The subjects rested for 10 minutes, and were then acupunctured. After 15 minutes, acupuncture needles were removed and the subjects rested for another 15 minutes. Heart rate variability(HRV) was continuously measured during the study period by FM-150 (digital Holter ECG recorder).

Results:
In the real acupuncture group, LF(low frequency) significantly decreased during the acupuncture period(p<0.05). LF/HF ratio also had a significant decrease during acupuncture period and the decrease was maintained during the post-treatment period as compared with the pre-treatment period. In the sham acupuncture group, LF significantly increased during the acupuncture period but LF/HF ratio had no significant changes.

Conclusions:
The results suggest that acupuncture on PC6 and SP4 can increase parasympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system.

Key words: Acupuncture, Autonomic nervous system, Heart Rate Variability(HRV)