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Anesth Analg 2007;104:312-317
© 2007 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000250911.43942.4e

AMBULATORY ANESTHESIA

Acupressure on the Extra 1 Acupoint: The Effect on Bispectral Index, Serum Melatonin, Plasma ß-Endorphin, and Stress

Argyro Fassoulaki, MD, PhD, DEAA*, Anteia Paraskeva, MD, DEAA*, Georgia Kostopanagiotou, MD*, Eleftheria Tsakalozou, MSc{dagger}, and Sophia Markantonis, PhD{dagger}

From the *Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School; and {dagger}Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Address correspondence to A. Fassoulaki, MD, PhD, DEAA, 57-59 Raftopoulou St., 11744 Athens, Greece. Address e-mail to afassou1{at}otenet.gr or fassoula{at}aretaieio.uoa.gr.


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
BACKGROUND: Acupressure on the "extra 1" point decreases bispectral index (BIS) values and stress.

METHODS: We investigated the BIS, melatonin, ß-endorphin, and verbal stress score values before, after 10 min of acupressure application on the extra 1 point, on a sham point, after no acupressure, and 1 h after completion of each intervention in 12 volunteers.

RESULTS: The BIS and verbal stress score values were decreased after acupressure on the extra 1 point (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.008, respectively), but melatonin and ß-endorphin did not change.

CONCLUSION: Acupressure on the extra 1 point has no effect on melatonin and ß-endorphin levels.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Acupuncture techniques may be used perioperatively (1). Pressure application to the acupuncture extra 1 point decreases bispectral index (BIS) and stress values (2,3). The primary objective of our study was to investigate whether these decreases are associated with changes in melatonin and ß-endorphin levels.


   METHODS
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 METHODS
RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
After obtaining approval from the Hospital Ethics Committee as well as written informed consent from the subjects, four men and eight women, ASA I, aged between 28 and 35 yr were studied. Exclusion criteria included intake of any drugs with effect on the nervous system, insomnia, smoking, alcoholism, and familiarity with acupuncture.

The style of intervention was acupressure and the point used for treatment was the extra 1 point. The rationale for acupressure on the extra 1 point is based on the results of a previous study (2) in which acupressure on this point decreased BIS values and stress (STRICTA guidelines) (4).

Each volunteer received three treatments in a randomized manner. Each treatment was performed 1 day after the earlier treatment. Treatment A consisted of acupressure applied to the extra 1 acupoint. Treatment B consisted of pressure applied on a sham point located 2 cm from the lateral end of the eyebrow. Treatment C, the control, involved no pressure application.

Each subject was connected to a BIS monitor (2,5). Baseline values were obtained from three measurements 1 min apart, and averaged. For each measurement we recorded the median of three consecutive BIS values. The extra 1 point is located midway between the medial ends of the two eyebrows. The sham point was located 2 cm from the lateral end of the left eyebrow (Fig. 1). Pressure was applied by the thumb for 10 min while performing circular movements at a rate of 20–25 min–1. Every 30-s three consecutive BIS values were read and the median value was recorded. When each intervention was completed, the BIS values were recorded as before treatment. Each of the subjects scored their stress levels before and after treatment, based on a verbal stress score (VSS, 0 = no stress to 10 = maximum stress).


Figure 116
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  		Figure 1. The Yingtang or "extra 1" point and the sham point.

 

Blood samples were collected before each treatment, after the conclusion of treatment, and 1 h after discontinuation of the treatments, centrifuged at 3000 rpm and kept at –80°C. Melatonin serum samples were analyzed by an enzyme immunoassay method (IBL Immunological Laboratories, Hamburg, Germany, http://www.IBL-Hamburg.com) (6). ß-Endorphin plasma samples were analyzed by a competitive radioimmunoassay method using antibodies against synthetic human ß-endorphin immunoassay (IBL Immunological Laboratories) (7).

Analysis of power for one-way design, assuming an {alpha} error 0.05, showed a power of 0.081. BIS values were analyzed by cohort analysis for every 2.5 min intervals, using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures after logarithmic transformation. For melatonin and ß-endorphin levels, we calculated the differences from baseline to the end of intervention as well as to 1 h for each subject and compared these differences among the three groups with two-way ANOVA.

The VSS values within each intervention (before and 10 min after) were compared with the Wilcoxon's signed rank test and among the three interventions before and after treatment with the Kruskal–Wallis test. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.


   RESULTS
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 METHODS
 RESULTS
DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
The age of the 12 volunteers was 31 ± 2.2 yr, the body weight 66 ± 13 kg, and the height 169 ± 9 cm. Values are mean ± sd.

The BIS values before, during, and after interventions are shown in Table 1 and in Figure 2. These values differed among the interventions (P = 0.0001) for the time effect (P = 0.0001) and for intervention effect (P = 0.0001).


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  		Table 1. Cumulated BIS Values Before Applying Pressure on the "Extra 1" and on the Sham Points, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10.0 min During Pressure Application as well as 3 min After Pressure Release

 

Figure 216
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  		Figure 2. The individual bispectral index (BIS) values for each intervention, thus pressure on the "extra 1" point, on the sham point, or no pressure application (control).

 

The differences in melatonin and ß-endorphin from baseline immediately after the intervention and at 1 h after are shown in Table 2 and in Figures 3 and 4. There was no statistically significant effect of the intervention on the change.


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  		Table 2. Melatonin (pg/mL) and ß-Endorphin (pmol/L) Levels Before, at the End of Each Intervention (Pressure Applied on the "Extra 1" Point, on a Sham Point, and No Pressure Application), as well as 1 h Later

 

Figure 316
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  		Figure 3. The individual melatonin values (pg/mL) obtained before, immediately at the end, and 1 h after each intervention, thus pressure on the "extra 1" point, on the sham point, or no pressure application (control).

 


Figure 416
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  		Figure 4. The individual ß-endorphin (pmol/ L) values obtained before, immediately at the end, and 1 h after each intervention, thus pressure on the "extra 1" point, on the sham point, or no pressure application (control).

 
The VSS baseline values (median (range) 5, (5) 4.5 (8), and 3.5 (6) for the extra 1, the sham point, and no intervention, respectively) did not differ before the interventions (P = 0.260). These values immediately after the interventions were 1 (3), 3 (10), and 2.5 (5), respectively, (P = 0.008) (Fig. 5). VSS values differed after acupressure on the extra 1 point and after no pressure (P = 0.002 and P = 0.011, respectively), but not after acupressure on the sham point (P = 0.169).


Figure 516
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  		Figure 5. The individual verbal stress scores (VSS) obtained before and immediately after each intervention, thus pressure on the "extra 1" point, on the sham point, or no pressure application (control).

 


   DISCUSSION
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
 
Our results show that acupressure on the extra 1 point decreased BIS and VSS values, but had no effect on the melatonin and ß-endorphin levels. Auricular acupressure decreases anxiety in patients during their transport to the emergency department (8) and preoperatively in outpatients undergoing ambulatory surgery (9).

The background of the practitioner can influence the outcome of the treatment. All interventions were applied by the first author who studied acupuncture 10 yr ago in Athens and in Beijing at the College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics (STRICTA guidelines, as shown in Ref. 4).

We did not record the duration of decreased stress postintervention. We measured the stress by the VSS used in previous studies (2,3,8,10). The state trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scoring preoperative anxiety (11) may be a preferred tool. However, the VSS in volunteers may not be comparable with those of patients waiting for surgery.

We found no changes in melatonin and ß-endorphin, although endorphin release is a mechanism of action of acupuncture analgesia. This hypothesis is supported by the antagonism of the analgesic effect of acupuncture by naloxone (12). The acupuncture point and the type and duration of treatment may affect the intervention outcome (13,14). Whether acupressure differs from acupuncture in the type and size of response is unknown. Our negative results may have been due to the variability of melatonin values, to the limited number of time points we collected blood samples, and/or to the lack of adequate power. We, therefore, consider these results to be preliminary. The random application of the interventions allowed for the applications to occur in all possible orders, minimizing the possibility of carryover effects among treatments.

In conclusion, acupressure on the extra 1 point had no effect on melatonin and ß-endorphin levels. However, as it was successful in producing stress relief, the technique can be used as a form for premedication in ambulatory patients.


   Footnotes
 
Georgia Kostopanagiotou, MD, is currently at Department of Anesthesiology, Attikon Hospital, Haidari, Greece.

Accepted for publication October 9, 2006.

Supported by Research Committee Grant 70/4/6596, and annual Departmental sources from the Medical School, University of Athens.

No reprints will be available from the author.


   REFERENCES
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 

  1. Chernyak GV, Sessler DI. Perioperative acupuncture and related techniques. Anesthesiology 2005;102:1031–49.[ISI][Medline]
  2. Fassoulaki A, Paraskeva A, Patris K, et al. Pressure applied on the extra 1 acupressure point reduces bispectral index values and stress in volunteers. Anesth Analg 2003;96:885–90.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Litscher G. Effects of acupressure, manual acupuncture and laser needle acupuncture on EEG bispectral index and spectral edge frequency in healthy volunteers. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2004;21:13–9.[ISI][Medline]
  4. MacPherson H, White A, Cummings M, et al. Standards for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture. Acupunct Med 2002;20:22–5.[Medline]
  5. Paraskeva A, Melemeni A, Petropoulos, et al. Needling of the extra 1 point decreases BIS values and perioperative anxiety. Am J Chin Med 2004;32:789–94.[ISI][Medline]
  6. Follenius M, Weibel L, Brandenberger G. Dinstict modes of melatonin secretion in normal men. J Pineal Res 1995;18:135–40.[ISI][Medline]
  7. Bramnert MI, Ekman R, Larsson I, Thorell JI. Characterization and application of a radioimmunoassay for ß-endorphin using an antiserum with negligible cross reactivity against ß-lipotropin. Regul Pept 1982;5:65–75.[ISI][Medline]
  8. Kober A, Scheck T, Schubert B, et al. Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety in prehospital transport settings. Anesthesiology 2003;98:1328–32.[ISI][Medline]
  9. Wang SM, Peloquin C, Kain ZN. The use of auricular acupressure to reduce preoperative anxiety. Anesth Analg 2001;93:1178–80.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Agarwal A, Ranjan R, Dhiraaj S, et al. Acupressure for prevention of preoperative anxiety: a prospective, randomized placebo controlled study. Anaesthesia 2005;60:978–81.[ISI][Medline]
  11. Wang S, Gaal D, Maranets I, et al. Acupressure and preoperative parental anxiety: a pilot study. Anesth Analg 2005;101: 666–9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Mayer DJ, Price DD, Rafii A. Antagonism of acupuncture analgesia in man by the narcotic antagonist naloxone. Brain Res 1977;121:368–72.[ISI][Medline]
  13. Ulett GA, Han S, Han JS. Electroacupuncture: mechanisms and clinical application. Biol Psychiatry 1998;44:129–38.[ISI][Medline]
  14. Chen XH, Geller EB, Adler MW. Electrical stimulation at traditional acupuncture sites in periphery produces brain opioid-receptor mediated antinociception in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996;277:654–60.[Abstract/Free Full Text]



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Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press