Effect of Acupuncture with Different Lifting-thrusting and Twirling Intensities at Point Housanli on Blood Pressure in Hypertension Rabbits

Objective To investigate the real time effect of different frequencies of lifting-thrusting and twirling manipulation(stimulation parameters) on blood pressure in experimental hypertension rabbits and explore the intensity-effect relationship of acupuncture manipulation.Methods Fifty New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to five groups: blank,model and treatment(high,moderate and low stimulation intensity).Point Housanli(ST 36) was acupunctured with high,moderate and low stimulation intensities of lifting-thrusting and twirling manipulation using an in vivo twirling manipulator in the treatment groups of rabbits.Rabbit blood pressure was recorded by common carotid artery catheterization throughout the experiment.The changes were observed and analyzed.Results At 1.5～2 min after twirling the needle,the effect of reducing systolic pressure occurred in the moderate stimulation group(P0.05) and the effect of reducing diastolic pressure occurred in the weak stimulation group(P0.05).The effects of reducing both systolic and diastolic pressures occurred in the moderate stimulation group during 20 min retention of needle(P0.05).In the weak stimulation group,the effect of reducing systolic pressure occurred during 0～10 min and 15～20 min after the beginning of needle retention and the effect of reducing diastolic pressure,during 0～10 min(P0.05).The effect of reducing systolic pressure during 10～20 min and the effect of reducing diastolic pressure during 5～10 min were better in the moderate stimulation group than in the weak stimulation group(P0.05).After needle withdrawal,only the effect of reducing systolic pressure occurred in the moderate stimulation group during 20 min(P0.05).No marked effects of reducing systolic and diastolic pressures occurred in the strong stimulation group throughout the experiment(P0.05).Conclusions Different stimulation intensities of twirling manipulation have different degrees of impact on blood pressure in hypertension rabbits.Moderate and low stimulation intensities produce a hypotensive effect but high stimulation intensity does not.Of them,moderate stimulation intensity has the marked therapeutic effect of reducing systolic pressure and low stimulation intensity has the more marked therapeutic effect of reducing diastolic pressure.