This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (16) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fassoulaki, A. Articles by Kostopanagiotou, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fassoulaki, A. Articles by Kostopanagiotou, G. Related Collections Anesthetic Techniques Monitoring (Non-cardiac)

---

GENERAL ARTICLES

Pressure Applied on the Extra 1 Acupuncture Point Reduces Bispectral Index Values and Stress in Volunteers

Argyro Fassoulaki, MD PhD, DEAA^*, Adia Paraskeva, MD, Konstantinos Patris, MD, Theodora Pourgiezi, MD^*, and Georgia Kostopanagiotou, MD^*

*Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion Hospital; and Department of Anesthesiology, St Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece

Address correspondence and reprint requests to A. Fassoulaki, 57-59 Raftopoulou St., 11744 Athens, Greece. Address e-mail to afassou1{at}otenet.gr

We investigated the effect of pressure application on the acupuncture point "extra 1" and on a control point on the bispectral index (BIS) values and on stress in 25 volunteers. In each volunteer, pressure was applied on the extra 1 point for 10 min and on a control point for 5 min on different days and in a randomized manner. The BIS value was recorded before applying pressure on the extra 1 point, during pressure application every 30 s for 10 min, and after pressure release. Regarding the control point, BIS values were recorded for 5 instead of 10 min during pressure application because acupressure on that point was associated with an unpleasant feeling. Each volunteer was asked to score stress before and after pressure application from 0 to 10. The BIS values were significantly reduced 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 min during pressure application on the extra 1 point (P < 0.001 for each comparison, respectively) and returned to the baseline values after pressure release. Pressure application on the control point decreased BIS values (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 at 2.5 and 5 min, respectively). However, these values were maintained close to 90% and were significantly higher than those obtained during pressure on the extra 1 point (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 for the 2.5- and 5-min comparisons). The verbal sedation score values obtained after pressure application on the extra 1 point were also lower when compared with the values obtained after pressure application on the control point (P < 0.001).

IMPLICATIONS: This crossover study investigated the effect of pressure application on the acupuncture "extra 1" point in healthy volunteers. Acupressure applied for 10 min on the extra 1 point significantly reduced the BIS values and the verbal stress score when compared with acupressure applied on a control point.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-C. P. Arai, A. Ito, S. Hibino, S. Niwa, and W. Ueda Auricular Acupunctures are Effective for the Prevention of Postoperative Agitation in Old Patients Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., October 29, 2009; (2009) nep172v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-C. P Arai, T. Ushida, T. Matsubara, K. Shimo, H. Ito, Y. Sato, Y. Wakao, and T. Komatsu The Influence of Acupressure at Extra 1 Acupuncture Point on the Spectral Entropy of the EEG and the LF/HF Ratio of Heart Rate Variability Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., September 30, 2008; (2008) nen061v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-M. Wang, S. Escalera, E. C. Lin, I. Maranets, and Z. N. Kain Extra-1 Acupressure for Children Undergoing Anesthesia Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2008; 107(3): 811 - 816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-C. P. Arai, T. Ushida, T. Osuga, T. Matsubara, K. Oshima, K. Kawaguchi, C. Kuwabara, S. Nakao, A. Hara, C. Furuta, et al. The Effect of Acupressure at the Extra 1 Point on Subjective and Autonomic Responses to Needle Insertion Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2008; 107(2): 661 - 664. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. White Use of Alternative Medical Therapies in the Perioperative Period: Is It Time to Get on Board? Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2007; 104(2): 251 - 254. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Fassoulaki, A. Paraskeva, G. Kostopanagiotou, E. Tsakalozou, and S. Markantonis Acupressure on the Extra 1 Acupoint: The Effect on Bispectral Index, Serum Melatonin, Plasma {beta}-Endorphin, and Stress Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2007; 104(2): 312 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-M. Wang, D. Gaal, I. Maranets, A. Caldwell-Andrews, and Z. N. Kain Acupressure and Preoperative Parental Anxiety: A Pilot Study Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2005; 101(3): 666 - 669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Dullenkopf, A. Schmitz, G. Lamesic, M. Weiss, and A. Lang The Influence of Acupressure on the Monitoring of Acoustic Evoked Potentials in Unsedated Adult Volunteers Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2004; 99(4): 1147 - 1151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. I. Usichenko, D. Pavlovic, and A. Fassoulaki Suggesting the Optimal Control Procedure for Acupressure Studies * Response Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2003; 97(4): 1196 - 1197. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Chernyak and A. Fassoulaki Tender Active Acupoint Is Not an Ideal Control for Acupressure Study * Response Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2003; 97(3): 925 - 926. [Full Text] [PDF]