Auricular Acupuncture at the “Shenmen” and “Point Zero” Points Induced Parasympathetic Activation
Kristen Sparrow • May 11, 2019
This is an article from 2013, so not new, but shows that auricular acupuncture improves HRV (stress levels) after hemicolectomy which is major surgery! No idea if this has ever been repeated, but interesting nonetheless. Increasingly patients are asking for ear tacks, a form of wearable auricular acupuncture, maybe they are perceiving this decrease in stress.
Auricular Acupuncture at the “Shenmen” and “Point Zero” Points Induced Parasympathetic Activation
Abstract
Purpose. Since auricular acupuncture is a diagnostic and treatment system based on normalizing the body’s dysfunction, auricular acupuncture has been applied for pain relief, relaxation, and so on. These techniques would modulate the autonomic nerve system, thereby inducing the above-mentioned effects. The aim was to see the effect of auricular acupuncture applied to the “Shenmen” and “Point Zero” points on the postoperative heart rate variability (HRV). Methods. Twenty-six patients who underwent hemicolectomy under general anesthesia were randomized into the control or the acupuncture group. After the operation and before emergence, the acupuncture group received auricular acupuncture. An electrocardiographic unit was placed for recording the autonomic nervous activities. Results. The low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio of HRV increased (P = 0.0007) in the control, but the ratio in the acupuncture did not change. There were significant differences between the ratios of the two groups at 3 : 00, 4 : 00, and 5 : 00. HF of the acupuncture group tended to be higher. HFs of the acupuncture group were significantly higher than those of the control group at 3 : 00, 4 : 00, and 5 : 00. Conclusion. Auricular acupuncture kept the LF/HF ratio at lower levels and HF at higher levels during postoperative period in the patients who had undergone hemicolectomy.
