Effect of acupuncture on capillary refill time in healthy adults: A clinical study

Background: Pulse examination, which reveals information about bodily qi and blood circulation, is an essential diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine. Capillary refill time (CRT) is a simple test parameter for assessing circulation status. Examining the root of pulse and measuring CRT are extremely similar procedures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on CRT. Methods: Three acupoints were selected to evaluate the effects of CRT. CRT, quantitative CRT, heart rate, core body temperature, and blood pressure were measured before acupuncture and immediately after removal of needles and 30 min after removal of needles. A total of 15 healthy adults representing both sexes were prospectively included in the study. The acupoints selected were bilateral Taixi (KI3), Hegu (LI4), and Zusanli (ST36). Each participant received acupuncture three times, interventions were separated by at least 2 days, and acupuncture was performed on only one acupoint at each intervention. Results: CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on only KI3. Quantitative CRT decreased significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and LI4. Heart rate changed significantly after acupuncture on KI3 and ST36. Conclusion: Acupuncture on KI3 can reduce CRT in health adults.