In order to study the hemodynamic effect of electrical acupuncture (EAP), we have investigated the changes of cephalic vein blood flow (V_BF), capillary blood flow (C_BF), bilateral palm temperature (PT), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) due to EAP (at LI_4-10) and compared them with the changes due to a rapid infusion (0.4ml/kg/min) of 3.5% modified gelatine solution (Haemaccel^®).
V_BF, C_BF, PT were decreased immediately after EAP and thereafter increased. Besides, EAP induced an increase of impedance SV (117.6±6.60% at the maximum) and Haemaccel infusion caused an increase of impedance SV (116.33±11.57% at the maximum). From the above experimental results, it may be asserted that the increase in SV would be the most important factor upon an increase of peripheral blood flow due to EAP, and then the degree of the cardiovascular effect of the EAP was quantitatively evaluated to be equipotential to the volume loading due to Haemaccel infusion with the amount 0.4ml/kg/min for ten minutes.