Acupuncture Improves Circulation

Acupuncture Improves Circulation

Acupuncture significantly enhances peripheral blood flow. Photoplethysmography results published in Electron Devices and Solid-State Circuits demonstrates that acupuncture induces “significant elevation of peripheral blood flow.” The research team making this discovery notes that a prior investigation using single-channel photoplethysmography demonstrates that acupuncture enhances “local microvascular blood flow in tissue surrounding Zusanli after acupuncture at that site.” The new research takes the investigation another step further. Using multi-channel photoplethysmography, the researchers demonstrate that needling acupuncture point ST36 (Zusanli) induces “significant elevations in whole body peripheral blood flow and parasympathetic activities after acupuncture at Zusanli.”

The ancient principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) posit acupuncture as a means to regulate qi and blood flow throughout the body through a transporting network of meridians and acupuncture points along those meridians. The researchers note that the study “reinforces the theory of traditional Chinese medicine….” The researchers measured acupuncture’s ability to induce “significant elevations in peripheral blood flow over the upper and lower limbs during and after acupuncture.” Based on the findings, the researchers conclude that “the results of this study support the theory of Chinese medicine that acupuncture at Zusanli augments systemic gastrointestinal and circulatory functions.”

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