The effects of Fire point(LR2).Water point(LR8) through Reinforcement-Reduction acupuncture stimulation on ANS & EEG

Objectives : The aim of this experiment was to investigate the influences of Autonomic Nervous System and EEG by conducting Reinforcement-Reduction(補瀉) acupuncture stimulation to compare the changes in acupoints on the body before and after treatment of acupuncture at Xingjian(LR2) being referred as Fire-point(火穴) and Ququan(LR8) being referred as Water-point(水穴) of Yin Liver Meridian(足厥陰肝經). Methods : This study was carried out on 30 healthy female volunteers in their 20's. There were four tests conducted throughout and the period for each test was between 2 to 5days. HRV and EEG were measured for 5 minutes before acupuncture stimulation was conducted on LR2-Reinforcement, LR2-Reduction, LR8-Reinforcement and LR8-Reduction at random. During the 20 minutes of acupuncture treatment, same subjects were measured simultaneously to observe any significant changes in acupoints. Again, the same subjects were measured for 5 minutes after removing the acupuncture in order to perform a comparative analysis. Results : The measurement of HRV showed that LF, LFnorm and LF/HF ratio increased significantly(p wave decreased and high wave increased significantly at LR2-Reinforcement during post-acupuncture period compared with acupuncture stimulation period. Both LR2-Reduction and LR8-Reinforcement developed significantly low wave and high wave. High wave increased significantly at LR8-Reduction during the acupuncture stimulation in comparison with pre-acupuncture period. Conclusions : The manipulation of acupuncture stimulation at LR2-Reinforcement and LR8-Reduction enhanced the activity of sympathetic nerves and the state of arousal while that of para sympathetic nerves declined. On the other hand, LR2-Reduction and LR8-Reinforcement developed the levels of para sympathetic nerves and relaxation.