EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON CARDIOPULMONARY FUNCTION

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between acupuncture and cardio pulmonary function in healthy people. Subjects and Methods. Healthy ma le volunteers were divided into 3 groups, 16 of persons each. Group 1 was treated with acupuncture at points Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36 ); Group 2 was treated with acupuncture at non-acupoints; and Group 3 was taken as control. The effects of resting cardiopulmonary functions were measured with gas analysis system. The resting heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were re corded over a thirty-minute period at intervals of five minutes, 15 mi nutes, and 25 minutes. Electroacupuncture was given to Groups 1 and 2. The analysis of variance and t test were used in data analysis. Resul ts. In the acupuncture groups, resting heart rate and carbon dioxide p roduction decreased (P<0.05) and oxygen consumption also decreased sli ghtly, although it was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusio n. Our results indicate that acupuncture can decrease the resting hear t rate and carbon dioxide production, thus lowering the metabolic rate .