Objective: To elucidate the effect of auriculopuncture in Sympathetic points on autonomic function, we investigated the heart rate (HR) response to orthostatic challenge in healthy subjects. Design and setting: An experimental and cross-sectional study was conducted at Acupuncture Clinic, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, and México. Participants. Twenty healthy university students (twelve women) aged 22.7 ± 1.5 (mean ± SD) participated in the study. Interventions and outcomes: The study consisted of two sessions of auricular acupuncture in the Sympathetic point in the right or left ear. The data for continuous normal beat-to-beat recording to derive the statistical parameters of the normal R-R intervals of the electrocardiogram was obtained using the SphygmoCor equipment (AtCor Medical Pty Ltd, Sidney, Australia). The registration periods were computed in a supine position and then after standing. The primary outcomes were the changes in the velocities of the primary HR increase, bradycardia secondary response, and interval between the times of maximum increase in HR and minimum in secondary response. Results: Acupuncture at the Sympathetic point in the right ear raises the velocity of the initial HR increase and decreases the velocity of bradycardia secondary response and elicits a shortening of the period between the maximum increase and minimum in the secondary response in HR, in all cases significant. Otherwise, auriculopuncture in the Sympathetic point of the left ear did not produce significant changes in the outcomes studied. Conclusion: Data suggest that auriculopuncture in the Sympathetic right point elicits a vagal suppression in the initial orthostatic response to active standing.
One of the assumptions of the application of acupuncture, when used based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, is that it favors the recovery of homeostasis of organic functions. Besides, experimental data showed that acupuncture produces opposite effects on the same variable. Furthermore, the effect of acupuncture depends on the initial physiological or pathophysiological state of the patient or experimental subject. We discuss the effect of ear acupuncture on unstimulated salivary flow and present a hypothetical model that suggests a possible bidirectional relationship between the effect of ear acupuncture on basal salivary flow. We hypothesize that the directionality of the effect of auriculopuncture on salivary flow depends on the basal state of salivation and allows reaching a state of equilibrium of this physiological function. The hypothesis predicts that ear acupuncture as a treatment that could facilitate the balance and modulation of a physiological phenomenon such as salivation in healthy subjects, and phase transitions, could play an essential role in regulating salivary flow homeostasis. Future research is needed to empirically evaluate the fullness of this bidirectional effect model of both ear acupuncture and body acupuncture. If such work demonstrates usefulness and predictive validity, this model will have significant implications for clinicians and experimental acupuncture.
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