title: The effect of acupuncture on the coronary arteries as evaluated by coronary angiography: a preliminary report.
abstract: The Neiguan acupuncture point (EH-6) of the heart meridian is often used for circulatory disorders. To clarify this effect, we measured coronary diameters in patients with angina pectoris following acupuncture stimulation using cardioangiography. Two kinds of acupuncture stimulation, the leaving needle (LN) and the sparrow pecking method (SPM), were employed for this study. No significant differences were found between LN and SPM. Concerning the pattern of coronary reaction, coronary constriction following acupuncture showed a relationship to patients with vasospastic angina. Coronary dilation following acupuncture showed a relationship to patients with Syndrome X. The mean dilatation with acupuncture was 68.8% of that caused by isosorbide dinitrate. These findings may help to clarify the mechanism of acupuncture treatment.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. y_kurono@muom.meiji-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoo
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*