To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the immune system, the leukocyte, monocytes, lymphocyte and lymphocyte surface markers, CD2, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD16, CD19 and CD56 in the peripheral blood of seventeen healthy volunteers were counted. The leukocyte above CD⁺ cell counts significantly increased after acupuncture. The results indicate that acupuncture may regulate the immune system and can increase the activity of cellular and humoral immunity and NK cell.
According to the percentage of lymphocytes or granulocytes, volunteers were divided into two types, those with more than 70% of granulocyte were recognized as G type and those with more than 40% of lymphocyte were divided into L type. Interestingly, before and after the treatment of acupuncture, the number of granulocytes and lymphocytes had a negative relationships. Namely we found an increase in the lymphocytes as well as a decrease in the granulocytes in the G type. On the other hand in the L type, we found an increase in the granulocytes and a decrease in the lymphocytes. Therefore we suggest that acupuncture can enhance the activity that maintains the balance of the immune function.