Effects of Combined Far-Infrared Radiation and Acupuncture at ST36 on Peripheral Blood Perfusion and Autonomic Activities

Cheng-Chan Yang; Gen-Min Lin; Jen-Hung Wang; Hsiao-Chiang Chu; Hsien-Tsai Wu; Jian-Jung Chen; Cheuk-Kwan Sun

doi:10.1155/2017/1947315

Effects of Combined Far-Infrared Radiation and Acupuncture at ST36 on Peripheral Blood Perfusion and Autonomic Activities

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017:2017:1947315. doi: 10.1155/2017/1947315. Epub 2017 Aug 13.

Authors

Cheng-Chan Yang^{1

2}, Gen-Min Lin^{1

3

4}, Jen-Hung Wang⁵, Hsiao-Chiang Chu¹, Hsien-Tsai Wu¹, Jian-Jung Chen^{6

7}, Cheuk-Kwan Sun⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Electrical Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 97401, Taiwan.
² Department of Chinese Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien 97002, Taiwan.
³ Department of Medicine, Hualien-Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien 97144, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Medical Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien 97002, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Chinese Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung 42743, Taiwan.
⁷ School of Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97002, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.

Abstract

Using four-channel photoplethysmography (PPG) for acquiring peripheral arterial waveforms, this study investigated vascular and autonomic impacts of combined acupuncture-far infrared radiation (FIR) in improving peripheral circulation. Twenty healthy young adults aged 25.5 ± 4.6 were enrolled for 30-minute measurement. Each subject underwent four treatment strategies, including acupuncture at ST36 (Zusanli), pseudoacupuncture, FIR, and combined acupuncture-FIR at different time points. Response was assessed at 5-minute intervals. Area under arterial waveform at baseline was defined as Area_Baseline, whereas Area_Stim referred to area at each 5-minute substage during and after treatment. Area_Stim/Area_Baseline was compared at different stages and among different strategies. Autonomic activity at different stages was assessed using low-to-high frequency power ratio (LHR). The results demonstrated increased perfusion for each therapeutic strategy from stage 1 to stage 2 (all p < 0.02). Elevated perfusion was noted for all treatment strategies at stage 3 compared to stage 1 except pseudoacupuncture. Increased LHR was noted only in subjects undergoing pseudoacupuncture at stage 3 compared to stage 1 (p = 0.045). Reduced LHR at stage 2 compared to stage 1 was found only in combined treatment group (p = 0.041). In conclusion, the results support clinical benefits of combined acupuncture-FIR treatment in enhancing peripheral perfusion and parasympathetic activity.