The measurement of heart rate variability(HRV)has the advantages of noninvasiveness and simple operation and is widely used in clinical trials and scientific research for assessing reactions of the autonomic nervous system.More and more studies on acupuncture also take HRV as an important index.In addition to the definition

origin

analytical methods

and significance of time domain and frequency domain parameters of HRV

we reviewed the situations of application of HRV to acupuncture research in recent years

analyzed the influence of acupuncture and sham acupuncture

different acupuncture methods

and different acupoints on HRV

and confirmed the role of HRV in reflecting the effect of acupuncture on the vagal and sympathetic systems.However

various interference factors for HRV measurement and diverse methods for data analysis may lead to great differences in the experimental results of HRV and the interpretation of parameters.Therefore

careful analysis is needed in future studies on acupuncture with HRV as an observation index.