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Abstract
Cumulative evidence suggests that immunologic responses are under the regulation of
the autonomic nervous system. Since acupuncture has recently been reported to modulate
the autonomic nervous system, we investigated the possibility that acupuncture eventually
modulates the immune system. In the present study, electro-acupuncture was applied
in young volunteer subjects. As for the proportions of granulocytes and lymphocytes
in the blood, there were three groups: (1) granulocytosis and lymphocytopenia; (2)
granulocytopenia and lymphocytosis; and (3) normal pattern. Interestingly, with the
administration of acupuncture, the status of subjects with relatively low levels of
granulocytes and high levels of lymphocytes shifted to Group 1, whereas that of subjects
with high levels of granulocytes and low levels of lymphocytes shifted to Group 2.
In other words, acupuncture tended to normalize the pattern of leukocytes. We confirmed
that acupuncture induced parasympathetic nerve stimulation, resulting in a decrease
in the heart rate. These results suggest possible mechanisms underlying how acupuncture
ameliorates the condition of patients with many chronic diseases.