Site-specific activation of gastric and cardiac parasympathetic function by epifascial acupuncture to abdomen

Acupuncture has been used extensively for normalizing autonomic functions in various organ systems; however, the current evidence about its effects on objective indices is limited. Here weinvestigated the effect of acupuncture on autonomic neural functions by applying acupuncture to abdominal points (epifascial acupuncture) and analysing heart rate variability (HRV) and electrogastrogram (EGG). In 10 healthy volunteers, beat-to-beat R-R intervals and EGG were recorded for 10 minutes before and after acupuncture stimulation to each of CV12 (the midpoint of the line connecting xiphoid and umbilicus on the upper abdomen), ST25 (on the middle of the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus), and CV6 (on the anterior median line of the lower abdomen, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus). HRV was analyzed for the power of high-frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz) and low-frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) components, and LF-to-HF power ratio. EGG was analyzed for period dominant power and frequency. We observed that stimulation at CV12 increased the power of LF and HF components, an effect indicating cardiac vagal activation. In contrast, stimulation at ST25 and CV6 affected none of the HRV indices. Stimulation at none of the three points affected the period dominant power or frequency of EGG. In conclusion, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that acupuncture stimulation has site-specific and organ-selective effects on autonomic neural functions.