Effect of Acupuncture at the Field of the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve on Autonomic Nervous System Change
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Objectives This study was designed to identify the changes of autonomic nervous system (ANS) which was induced by acupuncture at the field of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.Methods 30 healthy adults were selected and classified into two groups; experimental group, control group.After providing mental stress, acupuncture was applied at external ear in experimental group and no treatment executed in control group.The evaluation of ANS function was measured by heart rate variability (HRV).We statically analyzed the difference of HRV parameters which include mean heart rate (MHRT), standard deviation of all N-N intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent N-N intervals (RMSSD), total power (TP), low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio.Results All subjects showed significant increase in SDNN, LF after stress stimulation (p<0.05).Immediately after intervention, MHRT was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and RMSSD, HF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.05).After the end of intervention, SDNN, HF, RMSSD, TP, LF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.01,p<0.05).And when comparing baseline HRV, SDNN, LF were significantly increased in control group (p<0.01) and SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.05).In the subgroup analysis, normal balance of ANS group showed significant increase in TP, LF, SDNN, HF (p<0.01,p<0.05).Conclusions We suggested that acupuncture at external ear, region of the vagus nerve distribution could increase parasympathetic activity and cause changes and reregulation of the ANS.(
Authors: Sunjoo An, Dongho Keum
Institution: Dongguk University
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3163527175