침구와 자율신경계의 조정
<침구와 자율신경계의 조정>
2017.02.11 New Indian Express (뉴 인디안 익스프레스)
뉴 델리의 병원의 침술 국장, 라만 카불 박사.. 침구 치료에 의한 자율 신경계의 조정에 관하여 영국의 일간지 '뉴 인디안 익스프레스'인도 판에서 설명..
자율 신경이라고하는 것은, 혈압이나 체온, 심장의 움직임 등에 자동적으로 작동하는 신경을 말하며, 교감신경과 부교감신경으로 구분되며 대체로 각각 반대 역할을 하여 신체의 상태를 조정한다.
침구치료는 자율신경계의 불균형을 조정하는 것으로 알려져 있긴 하지만, 그에 의해 유발되는 자율신경 반응에 대한 과학적 연구는 충분히 이루어지지 못한 상태이다. 이와 관련한 연구로 일본 쓰쿠바대학 Kazushi Nishijo씨의 자율신경 반응에 대한 연구를 들며, 그가 환자의 생물학적 리듬을 적극적으로 이용하여 부교감 신경의 활성화를 유도하는 방법을 발견했다고 소개하고 있다.
침구를 통해 부교감신경의 활성화하는데 중요한 요소가 3가지 있음을 지적하며, 이 3가지에 의거해 시술하는 것이 중요하다고 지적한다.
첫째, 부교감신경계를 원심경로로 사용하는 자극수용체가 포함되도록 함에 있어, 자극 부위는 피부나 피하 조직에 한정된다.
둘째, 자율 신경계는 앉은 자세에서 더욱 활성화된다.
셋째로, 호흡 상태도 중요하다.... 등
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원문은 아래
New Indian Express
Breathing relief into the body through acupuncture
By Dr Raman Kapur | Express News Service | Published: 11th February 2017
In the practice of acupuncture, there are very few conditions that are not related to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In fact, acupuncture helps regulate the imbalance in the ANS. Very little scientific study, however, has been conducted to investigate the autonomic response induced by various technical applications of acupuncture that have been traditionally handed down from generation to generation without scientific evaluation. Due to the recent work of Professor Kazushi Nishijo at Tsukuba College of Technology in Japan, the understanding of various autonomic responses induced by acupuncture has been substantially advanced.
Nishijo discovered a specific method that positively utilises the patient’s biological rhythms to induce consistent, prolonged parasympathetic activation. In brief: Following the discovery of various autonomic activities dependent on the respiratory state and posture through experiments utilising ganglion blocking agents, Nishijo conducted a study on nine subjects using combinations of factors, such as different posture (sitting, lying) and respiratory states (exhalation, inhalation) during acupuncture stimulation (superficial, deep). Each subject’s response following acupuncture under these different conditions was analysed and, based on the results, Nishijo concluded that only superficial needling during the subject’s exhalation phase in a sitting position (SES) induces a consistent parasympathetic activation response.
According to Nishijo, there were three important factors behind parasympathetic activation following SES administration: First, the stimulation site must be superficial e.g., restricted to skin and subcutaneous tissue because they contain receptors of stimulation using the parasympathetic system as a centrifugal path. Second, the ANS is further activated in a sitting position. The third factor is the respiratory state. During the exhalation phase, parasympathetic activity is elevated; this is in contrast to the suppression of parasympathetic function during inhalation. By combining and coordinating these three factors, the action of acupuncture stimulation can synchronise with a patient’s physiological state, which in turn causes parasympathetic activity.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is responsible for the regulation of visceral function. Activation of the parasympathetic system affects the relaxation response. Increase in PNS activity decreases the heart rate and blood pressure, and positively influences many stress-related conditions. Many people experience lack of energy and restlessness. Nishijo found that in majority of such cases parasympathetic system is inhibited. Since the parasympathetic system regulates internal function and influences the state of our mind and body, it is reasonable to presume that prolonged parasympathetic inhibition eventually suppresses the body’s own healing ability. Therefore in the practice of acupuncture, the knowledge of a specific method to induce consistent parasympathetic activation is important.
(The author is Head of Acupuncture at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi)