Positive Health Online

Abstract

TANAKA and colleagues, Pacific Wellness Institute, Toronto, Ontario Canada studied the physiological effect of superficial acupuncture stimulation during a patients exhalation phase in a sitting position (SES).

Background

Methodology

: The response to SES was compared to stimulation applied continuously without considering the respiratory phase (CONT). The study evaluated the chronic tension-type headache patients electromyographic (EMG) activity, pain response, heart rate, pulse height and skin conductance level.

Results

Compared to CONT stimulation, SES stimulation significantly decreased headache intensity and showed a strong trend towards decreasing static EMG activity.

Conclusion

Acupuncture, applied to the same point and at the same depth, produced varying physiological effects, depending upon whether the stimulation was applied during exhalation alone, or continuously applied. This result suggests that the effect of acupuncture derives not only from point selection matching symptoms, but also from the consideration and use of the patients respiratory phase during stimulation.

References

Tanaka TH et al. The physiological responses induced by superficial acupuncture: a comparative study of acupuncture stimulation during exhalation phase and continuous stimulation. Int J Neurosci 90(1-2): 45-58. Jun 1997.