The 2 Hz and 15 Hz electroacupuncture induced reverse effect on autonomic function in healthy adult using a heart rate variability analysis.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at different frequencies on autonomic function. Twenty healthy adult volunteers were studied, and underwent 4 sessions of EA (sham, 2 Hz, 15 Hz, and 50 Hz). Sham, 2 Hz, 15 Hz, and 50 Hz EA was applied to the bilateral Leg Three Li ( zú sān lǐ, ST-36) and Upper Great Hollow ( shàng jù xū, ST-37) acupoints. The intensity of electrical stimulation was adjusted to obtain visible twitching of the anterior tibial muscle about 2.0-2.5 mA except sham without electrical stimulation. The components of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure were measured before EA (BLP), EA (EAP), and post-EA periods (PEP). The results indicated that the natural logarithmic high frequency power (lnHF) of HRV was greater during PEP than during the BLP in the 2 Hz EA sessions. The natural logarithmic low frequency power (lnLF) of HRV was greater during the PEP than during the BLP in 15 Hz EA sessions, suggesting that 2 Hz EA apply to Leg Three Li ( zú sān lǐ, ST-36) and Upper Great Hollow ( shàng jù xū, ST-37) acupoints increased vagal activity, whereas 15 Hz EA increased sympathetic activity.
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Bor-An
BA
Jia
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chin-Yi
CY
Cheng
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yi-Wen
YW
Lin
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tsai-Chung
TC
Li
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hsu-Jan
HJ
Liu
College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Acupuncture Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Ching-Liang
CL
Hsieh
Autonomic function; Blood pressure; Electro-acupuncture; Frequency; Heart rate variability