Masui. 2002 Feb; 51(2): 134-9.

[The effect of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on circulatory parameters]

Baba S, Hasegawa I, Ohmori S, Kaneko T, Watanabe K, Iwama H.

Department of Anesthesiology, Central Aizu General Hospital, Aizuwakamatsu 965-0011.

We examined the effect of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on circulatory parameters by use of a non-invasive procedure in 10 healthy male adult volunteers. Circulatory parameters measured were systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, total peripheral resistance and cardiac output. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture significantly increased total peripheral resistance, and electro-acupuncture increased systolic blood pressure further. There was no difference in cardiac output compared with the control. The results suggest that acupuncture or electro-acupuncture has an action of alpha-stimulation but not of beta-stimulation, and that electro-acupuncture has a stronger effect than acupuncture alone.