Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회지)

The society of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회)
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Effect of Acupuncture at the Field of the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve on Autonomic Nervous System Change

미주신경 감각분지 분포영역의 자침이 자율신경 변화에 미치는 영향

  • An, Sunjoo (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Keum, Dongho (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University)
  • 안선주 (동국대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실) ;
  • 금동호 (동국대학교 한의과대학 한방재활의학교실)
  • Received : 2021.03.18
  • Accepted : 2021.03.29
  • Published : 2021.04.30
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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.

Keywords

References

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