Objective To observe the influence of different acupuncture manipulations at Zusanli(ST 36) on blood perfusion of skin microcirculation in healthy volunteer subjects.Methods A total of 10 healthy volunteers were recruited in the present study.Acupuncture manipulations of lifting-thrusting reinforcing and reducing

uniform reinforcing-reducing

and simple needle insertion were applied to right Zusanli(ST 36) for 2 min.Changes of blood perfusion in the right Zusanli(ST 36) area were detected 1 min

5 min

10 min

15 min

20 min

25 min and 30 min after acupuncture stimulation

respectively by using a Pericam Perfusion Speckle Imager.The interval between two detections for different needling manipulations was 2 days at least.Results In comparison with pre-acupuncture stimulation

the blood perfusion levels of the skin microcirculation around the right Zusanli(ST 36) region were significantly increased from 1 min to 10 min following simple needle insertion

from 5 min to 30 min after uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulation

from 1 min to 30 min after reinforcing manipulation

and from 1 min to 25 min following reducing manipulation

respectively(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the effects of reinforcing manipulation were apparently superior to those of the reducing

uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulations and simple needle insertion in upregulating blood perfusion level(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion Lifting-thrusting reinforcing

reducing

uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture needle

and simple needle insertion at Zusanli(ST 36) can obviously increase blood perfusion level in normal volunteer subjects

and the effect of reinforcing manipulation is apparently better.