Vopr Med Khim. 1983 Jul-Aug; 29(4): 106-9.

[Effect of reflexotherapy on the functional state of the sympathoadrenal system in patients with bronchial asthma]

Markelova VF, Osipova NN, Belitskaia RA, Gul'iants ER.

Activity of sympathoadrenal system in patients with infectious-allergic bronchial asthma treated with reflexotherapy by monitoring alterations in spontaneous and L-DOPA stimulated daily excretion of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and L-DOPA with urine. Before and after the reflexotherapy course spontaneous excretion of catecholamines and L-DOPA with urine was found to be similar to the physiologically normal level. The test with per oral administration of 250 mg of L-DOPA showed that before the reflexotherapy the course of consumption of L-DOPA was impaired and, hence, the functional state of sympathoadrenal system was altered. The reflexotherapy improved the L-DOPA consumption suggesting normalization of catecholamine metabolism. The data obtained suggest that normalization of sympathoadrenal system activity is one of important effects of the acupuncture therapy.