Review Article

Exploring Heart Rate Variability as a Biomedical Diagnostic Tool for the Disympathetic Dimension of Eight-Constitution Medicine

Table 1

Summary of studies investigating the correlation between Heart Rate Variability and Korean Constitution Medicine (ECM or SCM).

ReferenceNo.MedicinePopulation (age range)Autonomic stimulusDuration and HRV measuresOther measures

[33]1ECM42 patients (14–73)Eight-constitution acupuncture5 min, frequency domainBMI
[34]2SCM32 healthy students (20–30)Paced breathing in specific respiration rate5 min, time and frequency domainRespiration rate
[35]3SCM60 healthy students (20–30)Ratio of inhalation and exhalation, posture (sitting, standing)Time and frequency domainSelf-evaluation for physical condition (scale 10 cm)
[36]4SCM78 healthy students (20–30)Breath-counting meditation5 min, time and frequency domainSkin conductance, temperature, abdominal amplitude, thoracic amplitude
[37]5SCM78 studentsMeditation program (α version)Time and frequency domainBDI (depression), STAXI (anger), STAI (anxiety) questionnaires
[38]6SCM16 healthy TE constitution (20–60)Taegeuk acupuncture5 min, frequency domainNone
[39]7SCM6 healthy SE constitution men (20–30)Taegeuk acupuncture5 min, frequency domainNone
[40]8SCM63 fatigue and nonfatigue subjects (40–60)None5 min, time and frequency domainBMI, biochemistry analysis, pulse wave analysis, nail fold capillary microscopy, questionnaires (FSS, GSRS, SF-MPQ, PSQI, SF-12)
[41]9SCM8 healthy SY constitution women (20–30)Taegeuk acupuncture5 min, frequency domainNone
[42]10SCM47 healthy subjects (29–66)Forrest healing program (aroma, foods, tea by constitution + trekking)5 min, time and frequency domainBMI, body temperature, vital sign (BP, SpO2), electroencephalography, biochemistry analysis, blood cell count, stress hormone test
[43]11SCM665 subjects (39–72)None5 min, time and frequency domainBMI, BP, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, abdominal obesity
[44]12SCM20 healthy subjects (18–30)Bee venom acupuncture5 min, time and frequency domainPulse wave analysis, cerebral blood flow
[45]13SCM103 idiopathic facial palsy patients (10–79)None5 min, time and frequency domainFacial electromyography
[46]14SCM10 TE constitution patientsHerbal formula for TE constitution (Jowisengcheong-tang)5 min, time and frequency domainNone
[47]15SCM30 healthy men (20–26)Acupuncture at LI45 min, time and frequency domainNone
[48]16SCM39 patients (20–59)Autogenic training5 min, time and frequency domainMBTI questionnaire (extraversion, introversion)
[49]17SCM8498 workersNone5 min, time and frequency domainNone
[50]18SCM44 healthy subjects (20–30)Emotional stimulus (horror film)120 sec, 197 sec, 120 sec, time and frequency domainNone
[51]19SCM86 subjects (22–25)Electroacupuncture30 sec, time domain (SDNN)None
[52]20SCM19 healthy subjectsAcupuncture at LI4 and LR35 min, time and frequency domainBP, BMI

ECM, Eight-Constitution Medicine; SCM, Sasang Constitution Medicine; CM, Constitution Medicine; HRV, Heart Rate Variability; MHR, mean heart rate; BMI, body mass index; TE, Taeumin constitution; SY, Soyangin constitution; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; GSRS, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale; SF-MPQ, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; PSQI, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; SF-12, Short-Form Health Survey; BP, blood pressure; SpO2, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation; APG, Accelerated Plethysmogram; MBTI, Myers–Briggs Type Indicator.