We examined the effects of acupuncture on patients with head numbness of unknown cause, using changes in auricular blood flow and heart rate variability as endpoints for symptom change.
Acupuncture was applied to BL10 and GB21, and acupuncture to BL13 and BL43 for 10 minutes to relieve tension in the cervicobrachial muscles, improve scalp circulation, and reduce psychosomatic hypertonia.
Patients were evaluated using heart rate variability (HRV), earlobe blood flow, and head numbness levels.
Her HRV and HF increased after acupuncture. On the other hand, LF/HF ratio, earlobe blood flow, and head numbness decreased. No significant changes were observed in the other outcomes.
The reduced blood flow to the head and increased parasympathetic activity in the heart may have been related to the disappearance of numbness in the patient.
Mikako Tsunematsu, Daiyu Shinohara, Kenji Imai
