Regional heterogeneity of acupoints stimulation in the modulation of autonomic nerve system

Abstract

Acupoints on the different parts of the body surface vary in regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS), exhibiting differences in the acupoint specificity in terms of the distributing directions of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. The paper introduces the rules of acupoints on the corresponding body surfaces in modulating ANS based on their location at four limbs, abdomen, sacrum, head and face, suboccipital and lateral cervical region and auricle (concha). The fundamental rule of acupoint heterogeneity in ANS regulation is that: all acupoints can induce somatic-sympathetic reflex. The regional heterogeneity of acupoints in ANS is shown: by the fact that stimulation beyond a certain intensity can induce systemic autonomic effects. The acupoints on the abdomen act on the sympathetic nervous system, those at concha on the vagal system and those on the sacral region on the sacral parasymathetic system. The heterogeneity of acupoints in regulating ANS refers to co-effects of acupoints specific effect (within segments) and its systemic effect (whole body), which embodies the specificity of acupoints structure. The acupoints on the same body surface regions display the homogeneity of modulation. Mastering the heterogeneous characteristics of acupoints in modulating ANS is particularly conductive to constructing the theoretical basis of acupoints in clinical acupuncture treatment for systemic diseases.