236-239In a recent
study, the possible effect of acupuncture in modulating heart rate variability
(HRV) in both healthy and non-healthy subjects were reported, while previous
review reported that acupuncture did not have any convincing effect on HRV in
healthy subjects. We aimed to reinvestigate the
possible helpful effect of acupuncture on HRV parameters and to test the
possible differences between acute and long term (20 minutes) acupuncture
applications. Twenty
nine female subjects were participated in this study. For the acupuncture
therapy, HT 7 acupuncture point (shen men) was selected. Acupuncture needle was
placed for 1 minute in acute acupuncture application and 20 minutes in long
term acupuncture. The recording ECG (HRV) was applied before and after acute
and long term acupuncture therapies. Almost all HRV
parameters increased after the acute acupuncture and some HRV parameters after
the long term acupuncture compared to before therapy in healthy persons. There
were no differences between acute and long term applications. These results indicate that
acupuncture might be cardio protective and might restore sympathovagal
imbalances by stimulating the peripheral nervous system. Also, the long term
acupuncture application is not essential for the cardio protective effect