In Vivo Visualization of the Pericardium Meridian with Fluorescent Dyes.

Tongju Li,Qingchuan Hu,Wei-Bo Zhang,Bruce Qing Tang,Andrew Ahn,Minyi Zhao,Slim Smaoui

doi:10.1155/2021/5581227

Abstract

The anatomical basis of acupuncture meridians continues to be enigmatic. Although much attention has been placed on potential correlations with inter/intramuscular fascia or lower electrical impedance, animal studies performed in the past 40 years have shown that tracer dyes—specifically Tc-99m pertechnetate—injected at strategic skin points generate linear migrations closely aligning with acupuncture meridians. To evaluate whether this phenomenon is also observable in humans, we injected two fluorescent dyes—fluorescein sodium and indocyanine green (ICG)—into the dermal layer both at acupuncture points (PC5, PC6, and PC7) and a nonacupoint control. Fifteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Of the 19 trials of fluorescein injected at PC6, 15 (79%) were associated with slow diffusion of the dye proximally along a path matching closely with the pericardium meridian. Furthermore, the dye emerged and coalesced proximally at exactly acupoint PC3. Injections of ICG at the acupoints PC5, PC6, or PC7 showed a similar trajectory close to the injection site but diverged when migrating proximally, failing converge on acupoint PC3. Injections of either dye at an adjacent PC6-control did not generate any notable linear pathway. Both ultrasound imaging and vein-locating device did not reveal any corresponding vessels (arterial or venous) at the visualized tracer pathway but did demonstrate correlations with intermuscular fascia.

Highlights

IntroductionTo many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, acupuncture meridians are not mere conceptual constructs but physically authentic anatomical structures
Meridian theory is a fundamental part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Despite these years of effort to date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians [4]. e challenge in substantiating something as elusive as the acupuncture meridian arises from the fact that the physiological basis of acupuncture therapy itself remains unclear [1]. e search for acupuncture anatomy becomes an endeavor to identify physical anatomical correlates and gain physiological insights into how acupuncture may mechanistically operate [5]. us far, three prominent hypotheses have emerged as potential candidates

Summary

Introduction

To many TCM practitioners, acupuncture meridians are not mere conceptual constructs but physically authentic anatomical structures. Others focused on anatomical correlates, including primo vessels (“Bonghan ducts”) [2], intermuscular fascia [2], and neurovascular bundles [3]. Despite these years of effort to date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians [4]. E search for acupuncture anatomy becomes an endeavor to identify physical anatomical correlates and gain physiological insights into how acupuncture may mechanistically operate [5]. Despite these years of effort to date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians [4]. e challenge in substantiating something as elusive as the acupuncture meridian arises from the fact that the physiological basis of acupuncture therapy itself remains unclear [1]. e search for acupuncture anatomy becomes an endeavor to identify physical anatomical correlates and gain physiological insights into how acupuncture may mechanistically operate [5]. us far, three prominent hypotheses have emerged as potential candidates

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Conclusion