Autonomic Activity (HRV) and PMS: Sa.Sc edition
As per this previous post about altered autonomic activity in patients with PMS, this data is from a new patient who has extremely severe premenstrual syndrome. She has breast tenderness, irritability that can lead to depression so severe that she stays in bed. Her last period, after starting acupuncture, was quite dramatic with severe cramping…
Read MoreAuriculo Micro Testing of the Ear for Autonomic Activity
I copied a fair amount of this article because the methodology is of interesting to me because I’ve always wondered if the response to needling itself (seconds to minutes) tells us anything about the patient’s susceptibility to treatment or even innate resilience. This study discussed previously, touches on this idea. unfortunately, the researchers did not…
Read MoreTAVNS (transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation) and HRV: Jo.Ru., La.Ja. edition
As blog readers may know, I’ve been experimenting with TAVNS in patients, not only to see how they feel with/after treatment, but also to study their HRV (stress levels) with it. As with most of my clinical work, the results are always somewhat equivocal. Since I can never tell if the result is real, ie….
Read MoreStress Monitoring (HRV), Acupuncture and Migraine: Sh.Pa. edition
This data is from a relatively new patient with migraines. She has had few migraines since starting acupuncture treatment, but it’s early yet, so hard to know for sure. This data represents overall stress levels. Parasympathetic Activity represents “rest and digest” autonomic nervous system…
Read MoreImprovement in Cognitive Function with 3 times per week Electroacupuncture for one month
This study shows an improvement in brain activity with 3 times a week, low frequency electroacupuncture at Ki6 and Bl 62. (Acupuncturists will recognize both of those points as opening points for “Special” meridians.) The P300 is an actual measure of brain activity which correlates with cognitive activity, not a questionnaire or memory cognitive test….
Read MoreModulation of brainstem activity and connectivity by respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation in migraine patients.
This study combines two key areas I’m interested in. One is using auricular vagal stimulation, and the other is migraine. Napadow has been a colleague of mine for over 10 years and he does brilliant work. He’s an expert in brain imaging and fMRI. Frankly, I’ve hesitated to use ear stim in migraine patients because…
Read MoreHypertension and Stress Levels: HRV Ro.La. edition
More data from recent patients. This is some nice preliminary data from a patient being treated for hypertension. I’m including the same data as in the previous blog post, ie complexity and parasympathetic activity and sympathetic activity. His blood pressure has remained under control, though it’s early yet.
Read MoreAlternating Auricular Vagal Stimulation, HRV Data: De. Bo edition
I haven’t been sharing much data lately, just due to other projects and travel. Here is some data from a patient who values electrical ear stimlulation that provides increased vagal activity, ie increased “rest and digest” and has a unit at home to use. Though she’s not gotten around to use it much recently, we…
Read MoreHRV and Acupuncture: Sino-Austrian Study Planned
What I love best about this paper is the title i.e “prevention of lifestyle disease.” Yes! That is a key aspect of acupuncture treatment, true prevention. This study is planned, not yet completed. They will be comparing Heart Rate Variability (measure of stress levels via autonomic balance) and Heart rate and symptomatology comparing different acupuncture…
Read MoreAcupuncture and Weight Loss
(I link to this with caveats. As I’ve said many times over the years, if acupuncture was the answer for weight loss, I’d be a billionaire. But, nonetheless, to be thorough, I’m linking to this study since it’s in the news.) The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) of Hong Kong Baptist University recently completed a…
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