Objective assessment of the sympatholytic action of the Nei-Kuan acupoint

From animal experiments and clinical trials, we can think that acupuncture of Nei-Kuan (EH-6) is effective in the control of some vegetative functions . We have tried to determine the real reach of these assumptions by means o f simple quantitative measurement methods, such as detection of cardiac fre quency and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the sympathetic elect rical response. The experiments were performed on 29 healthy volunteers. Ba sal values of these parameters were recorded, and also after orthodox Nei-K uan acupuncture, non-acupunctural point puncture, supine lying by 15 min, C hu-Tze (EH-3) acupuncture and bipolar electrical stimulus of the median ner ve at the Nei-Kuan level in the wrist. Such conditions were designed to eva luate non-specific puncture, repose and direct median nerve stimulation inf luences in the effects of Nei-Kuan acupuncture. We conclude that Nei-Kuan acupuncture strongly inhibits sympathetic tone, w ith reduction of cardiac frequency, systolic blood pressure and an importan t reduction of the amplitude of the sympathetic electrical response; the la tency of the electrical response was also prolonged. Some weak effects on b lood pressure and cardiac frequency were observed also, as non-specific eff ects of puncture and median nerve stimulation. From previous anatomical dat a, we hypothesize that the level of such actions is suprametameric, with st rong implication of the diencephalon and cerebral cortex.