本研究主要在探討心率變異度(Heart Rate Variability)、脈波傳遞速度(Pulse Wave Velocity)、脈壓(Pulse Pressure)在針刺內關穴前後的動態變化。6位沒有神經疾病的自願者參與這次研究. 實驗總共進行了18次。為了減少實驗誤差，受測者皆保持著穩定清醒的狀態，此外，受測者的眼睛是閉上的。我們將針垂直刺入內關穴並且用手加強力道刺激此穴位約15秒以達到得氣狀態。針刺激持續30分鐘，最後移除。選擇內關穴是因為它和心血管循環系統有關並且可以運用在冠狀動脈的治療。我們將針灸中的數據對比背景數據，發現心率變異度，脈波傳遞速度，脈壓和脈波分形維度有明顯的變化。
在本篇論文中，我們經由心電(ECG)和脈波資料可以得到以下實驗結果。第一，脈波傳遞速度和脈壓有明顯的上升或下降。第二，心率變異度的頻譜在扎針之後會有顯著的改變。第三，脈壓的分形維度值在針灸刺激之後有顯著的下降。第四，心率的頻率改變也是很明顯的。我們假設這些效果對於身體平衡是有助益的，並且和自律神經系統調控機制相關。未來將會研究這些生理現象的意義並且探討其他穴位和內關穴之關聯性。

關鍵字: 針灸，分形維度，心率變異度，脈波傳遞速度，脈壓。

The objective of this research is to investigate the dynamic changes of human heart rate variability (HRV), pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure before and after manual stimulation of the PC 6 (Neiguan) acupuncture site. Six healthy volunteers with no neurological conditions participated in this study. A total of 18 trials were obtained before, during and after acupuncture stimulation. In order to minimize artifacts, all data were collected with the subjects alert but eyes closed. Acupuncture needle was inserted perpendicularly into the PC 6 acupuncture site and manually stimulated about 15 seconds to achieve De Qi sensation. Needles were left in place for 30 min and then removed. This point was chosen because it is associated with circulatory system and has been used in the treatment of coronary heart problem. Analysis of the data due to acupuncture was compared with the baseline data to show any significant changes over the human heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, pulse pressure and fractal dimension of pulse.
In this thesis, the following results using the electrocardiogram (ECG) and pulse data are obtained. First, significant increase or decrease both in pulse wave velocity and pulse pressure is observed. Secondly, significant changes in the spectra of HRV during and after acupuncture have been detected. Thirdly, decrease in fractal dimension of pulse pressure is also prominent. Fourthly, the frequency shifts of the heart rate are also obvious. We hypothesize that these effects will be beneficial for physiological homeostasis. Further studies on the meanings of these physiological conditions will be studied in the future.

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