Key result
Acupuncture stimulation at the SI6 point inducing a De-Qi sensation significantly increased blood flow at the SI8 point by 11.1 PU, an effect that was abolished by mechanical obstruction.
Why the study?
Does acupuncture at SI6 increase skin blood flow and temperature at SI8 when De-Qi sensation is achieved in healthy volunteers?
Does acupuncture at SI6 increase skin blood flow and temperature at SI8 when De-Qi sensation is achieved in healthy volunteers?
Absolute Event Rate: 11.1% vs 0.9%
p-value: p=0.0009
Acupuncture at SI6 increases local and distant skin blood flow and temperature upon achieving De-Qi sensation, suggesting autonomic nervous system involvement and microvascular relaxation.
May indicate autonomic modulation of distant perfusion by acupuncture; hypothesis-generating and should not alter practice.
Acupoints tend to show higher electric conductivity and have a higher concentration of neural and vascular elements as well as mast cells. According to one model, the meridian is an extravascular fluid (interstitial fluid) pathway and circulation of this fluid is driven by skeletal muscle contraction. Our result derived from laser Doppler flowmetry shows that Yanglao (SI6) and Xiaohai (SI8) have larger amplitude of heartbeat and vasomotion than non-acupuncture points. The amplitude of blood flow on the SI8 shows a more significant increase (4.3 ± 0.7 PU) than that of non-acupuncture points (1.1 ± 0.2 PU). Our results indicate that acupuncture increases blood flow when the De-Qi sensation takes place. In the experiment, the needle was only entered into the subject by 2 mm for about 15 sec during a SI6 acupuncture session, and the blood flow increased immediately. The blood flow of SI8 began to rise 5 sec after implementation and increased by 11.1 ± 0.9 PU. However, when the arm was tied up, the blood flow at the SI8 point slowed down quickly. Even though insertion with a twirling needle was followed after the drop in blood flow, the blood flow at the SI8 point did not accelerate again (0.7 ± 0.2 PU). The present study seems to show that acupuncture is effective in regulating the autonomic nervous system. Implementation of acupuncture causes the sphincter of microvessel to relax, and the tissue fluid to flow out, and the propagated sensation along the meridian is caused by this large amount of tissue fluid that flows along the loosen body stalk. The interstitial fluid increases during the needling and blood capillary expansion, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture regulation.
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Kuo et al. (2004) studied Healthy volunteers (n=58). Acupuncture at SI6 (Yanglao) point with De-Qi sensation vs. Non-acupuncture points or mechanical obstruction (tied arm) was evaluated on Increase in blood flow at the SI8 point following SI6 stimulation (p=0.0009). Acupuncture stimulation at the SI6 point inducing a De-Qi sensation significantly increased blood flow at the SI8 point by 11.1 PU, an effect that was abolished by mechanical obstruction.
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