Very cool research being done studying the effects of acupuncture and blood flow...
"A new study finds that acupuncture affects
sympathetic nervous system tone and increases peripheral blood flow.
Researchers measured the physiologic effects of applying acupuncture to
acupoint LV3 (Taichong). LV3 is located on the dorsum of the foot in the
depression distal to the junction to the first and second metatarsal
bones. The scientists created a study to measure the exact effects of
needling a single acupuncture point on radial artery hemodynamics. Using
high-resolution ultrasound with automated echo-tracking, the
researchers discovered that applying acupuncture to LV3 causes an
initial decrease in radial artery blood flow volume during the
acupuncture treatment. Next, the radial artery blood flow volume
significantly increases after completion of the acupuncture needling.
The researchers also noted that acupuncture decreases systolic blood
pressure following acupuncture treatments. Heart rate significantly
decreased during acupuncture and returned to baseline approximately
three minutes following the treatments."
Full article can be read here
