In this study we investigated the effects of electric acupuncture on in vivo function of cell-mediated immunity, especially Mountoux reaction (PPD skin test) in normal individuals.
Normal young adults were inserted Chinese needles into two specific needle points, which were determined by means of chinese diagnostic procedures of radial arteries. The electric current were 5Hz, 2volt for 5 minutes.
One of the normal individuals showed negative reaction of PPD skin test, and 6 of them showed weak positive reaction. These 7 persons were done the second PPD skin test at 2 months after initial skin test, and they were treated with electric acupuncture immediately before skin test. 3 of them showed strong positive reaction of second skin test with electric acupuncture. Moreover, area of erythema induced by skin reaction become larger than first skin test in all of them. These results suggested that electric acupuncture would augment the in vivo cell-mediated immune reaction.