The fickleness of data: Estimating the effects of different aspects of acupuncture treatment on heart rate variability (HRV). Initial findings from three pilot studies

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the interplay between sympathetic and parasympathetic influences on heart rate. Higher HRV is usually associated with relaxation and health benefits, lower HRV with stress/pathology. HRV is used increasingly in acupuncture research. Electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) are frequently used variants of manual acupuncture (MA).