Objective:To observe the underlying mechanism of acupuncture technique for ventilating the lung

invigorating the spleen and tonifying the kidney in the treatment of bronchial asthma(or asthma for short).Methods:According to the severity of the disease during the persistent stage and paracmasis

71 outpatients and inpatients were randomized into treatment group(n=40)and control group(n=31).Patients of treatment group were treated with acupuncture of Quchi(LI 11)

Lieque(LU 7)

Yuji(LU 10)

Neiguan(PC 6)

Zusanli(ST 36)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

Taixi(KI 3)

etc.

once daily and those of control group treated with anti-asthma drugs as Cromolyn sodium

Albuterol

fenoterol

etc.Before and after 12 days of the treatment

heart rate variability(HRV)and pulmonary function were detected respectively.Results:In paracmasis and mild type asthma patients

self-comparison indicated that after the treatment

total power(TP)

very low frequency(VLF)

triangular index(TI)and the percentage of the adjacent R-R intervals(PNN50)of HRV

and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1)(%PRED)

forced expiratory flow(FEF)0.2-1.2(L/s)

FEF75%-85%(L/s)

peak expiratory flow(PEF)(%PRED)

FEF25%(%PRED)in treatment group increased significantly(P<0.05

0.01)

while no significant changes of various components of both HRV and pulmonary function were found in control group(P>0.05).Comparison between two groups showed that after the treatment

the values of TP

VLF

TI and PNN50 of HRV

and FVC(%PRED)

FEV1(%PRED)

FEV1/FVC(%PRED)

FEF0.2-1.2

FEF25%-75%

PEF(%PRED)and FEF25%(%PRED)in treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05).In moderate and severe type asthma patients

self-comparison showed that after the treatment

TP

LF

LFnorm

VLF

LF/HF

VLF/HF

(LF+VLF)/HF

TI and PNN50 of HRV

and FVC(%PRED)

FEV1(%PRED)

FEV1/FVC(%PRED)

FEF0.2-1.2

FEF25%-75%(%PRED)

FEF75%-85%

PEF(%PRED)

FEF25%(%PRED)

FEF50%(%PRED and FEF75%(%PRED)of the pulmonary function all increased remarkably(P<0.05

0.01

0.001);while in comparison with control group

LF

LFnorm

VLF

(LF+VLF)/HF and TI of HRV

and all the parameters of the pulmonary function except FEV1/FVC were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05

0.01

0.001).No significant changes of various components of both HRV and pulmonary function were found in control group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture is significantly superior to medication in improving the pulmonary function of asthma patients with different state of disease

which is related to its function in regulating activities of the autonomic nervous system.