Introduction: This research is a pilot, single-blinded study investigating heart rate variability (HRV) during auricular acupressure at the left sympathetic point (AH7) in healthy volunteers.
Methods: There were 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes (heart rate, blood pressure) within normal ranges, randomly divided into two groups AG and SG (in each group having a gender ratio 1:1, aged 20-29), to receive either auricular acupressure using ear seed (AG) or sham method using adhesive patches without seed (SG) at the left sympathetic point while lying in a supine position. Acupressure intervention lasted 25 min, and HRV was recorded by a photoplethysmography device-namely, Kyto HRM-2511B and Elite appliance.
Results: Auricular acupressure at the left Sympathetic point (AG) led to a significant reduction in heart rate (HR) (p < 0.05) and a considerable increase in HRV parameters demonstrated by HF (High-frequency power) (p < 0.05), compared to sham auricular acupressure (SG). However, no significant changes in LF (Low-frequency power) and RR (Respiratory rate) (p > 0.05) were observed in both groups during the process.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that auricular acupressure at the left sympathetic point may activate the parasympathetic nervous system while a healthy person is lying relaxed.
Keywords: Vaccaria ear seed; auricular acupressure; heart rate variability; sympathetic point; vagus nerve.
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