Pericardium Meridian Research Articles

艾灸前后手厥阴心包经及其周边非经络组织的光传输特性探究

艾灸前后手厥阴心包经及其周边非经络组织的光传输特性探究

艾灸前后手厥阴心包经及其周边非经络组织的光传输特性探究

艾灸前后手厥阴心包经及其周边非经络组织的光传输特性探究

Effects of Different Acupuncture Stimulations on NO Content in Acupoint Areas

To study the effects of different acupuncture stimulation on nitric oxide (NO) content in acupoint areas. The experiment was performed in 47 healthy volunteers providing informed consents. Both males and females were included in each group: 11 cases in electro-acupuncture group, 13 cases in manual-acupuncture group, 16 cases in warm-moxibustion group, and 7 cases in control group. Stimulations were given at Jianshi (PC 5) of the Pericardium Meridian and Chengshan (BL 57) of the Bladder Meridian with manual-acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and warm-moxibustion respectively. NO was collected from Ximen (PC 4) and Chengjin (BL 56) areas on the ipsilateral meridians, and the content was detected. The content of NO in the warm-moxibustion group was higher than that in the electro-acupuncture group, the content in electro-acupuncture group was higher than that in the manual acupuncture group (P < 0.05). All the three stimulations can raise NO levels on acupoint areas significantly, and the effect moxibustion is superior to that of electro-acupuncture and manual acupuncture.

经络与周边非经络组织的光传输特性探究

According to the principle of light propagation,an automatic measurement system for scattering light survey of meridian and surrounding non-meridian at 808 nm central wavelength was designed and the effect of laser power on light decay rate of tissue were discussed.The diffusion theory of light transporting in biological tissues was used to analyze the experimental results.The results showed that there were statistical differences between meridian and surrounding non-meridian(P0.05).We also found the differences in optical parameters that the average attenuation factor value of pericardium meridian was lower than spleen meridian.In this article,our study showed laser power had no influence on attenuation of light in biological tissues that proved the attenuation is determined by tissue optical characteristics.

Discrimination of Real and Sham Acupuncture Needles Using the Park Sham Device: A Preliminary Study

Tan C-W, Christie L, St-Georges V, Telford N. Discrimination of real and sham acupuncture needles using the Park sham device: a preliminary study. To evaluate the blinding effectiveness of the Park sham acupuncture device using participants' ability to discriminate between the real and sham acupuncture needles. The design was a yes-no experiment. Judgments were made on whether the real or sham acupuncture needle was administered. University laboratory. Healthy, acupuncture-naive university students and staff (N=20; median age, 22y; range, 18-48y) recruited through convenience sampling. Participants made yes-no judgments on whether the real or sham needle was administered to 8 acupoints (4 traditional and 4 nontraditional) along the Pericardium meridian (Pericardium 3 to Pericardium 6) on the dominant forearm. The accuracy index, d', of participants' ability to discriminate between the real and sham needles (discriminability) was computed for the traditional alone, the nontraditional alone, and a combination of both types of acupoints. The participants' d' between the real and sham needles was not statistically significant from d' equal to 0 for the combined traditional and nontraditional acupoints comparison and the nontraditional acupoints alone comparison (combined, t(19)=1.20, P=.25; nontraditional, t(19)=.16, P=.87). However, the participants' d' was statistically significant from d' equal to 0 for the traditional acupoints comparison (t(19)=2.096, P=.049). The Park sham acupuncture device appears to be effective in blinding participants to real acupuncture intervention when it is applied to the nontraditional acupoints and when traditional and nontraditional acupoints are combined on the forearm along the pericardium meridian. However, the sham device does not appear to blind participants effectively when traditional acupoints alone are used for the same context.

The Distribution of Transcutaneous CO 2 Emission and Correlation With the Points Along the Pericardium Meridian

This study aimed to understand energy metabolism distribution along the pericardium meridian and verify the correlation between the body surface (points), and classic meridian theory. A highly sensitive CO 2 instrument was used to measure the transcutaneous CO 2 emission at 13 points along the pericardium meridian line (12 points on the line and one point beyond the line) and 13 control points beside them. Results showed that the distribution of transcutaneous CO 2 emission is highly related to the position on the body. Transcutaneous CO 2 emission is significantly higher at P7 and P3, than the control points beside them. The points along the meridian and the points beside them were clustered with relative distance by SAS statistics software. Two distance matrixes were then obtained. The correlation coefficients between the points along the line and between the control points were calculated. The results showed that the 13 th point beyond the line was far from the 12 points on the line (distance, 0.24), while acupoints on the line clustered earlier when compared with the non-acupoints. The average correlation coefficients among the acu-points was 0.65 which was significantly higher than 0.56, among the non-acupoints. No such characteristics were found among the control points. It was concluded that there is a strong correlativity of energy metabolism activity between the body surfaces along the meridian, and an even stronger correlativity between the acupoints on the meridian.

人体经脉光传输特性的无损测量

To confirm the existence and properties of human meridians, the optical transport properties along the pericardium meridian and tissues around the pericardium meridian are studied noninvasively on twenty healthy volunteers in vivo and then compared with each other. Our study shows that the light propagating along the meridian and non-meridian directions both conform to the Beer's exponential attenuation law. However, statistical analysis of the results suggests that the optical transport properties of human meridian differ from those of the surrounding tissues over a low modulated frequency range (Pl0.01), and light attenuation along the pericardium meridian is significantly less than that along the non-meridian direction. These findings not only indicate the existence of acupuncture meridian from the point of view of biomedical optics, but also shed new light on an approach to investigation of human meridians.

Evidence of enhanced non-enzymatic generation of nitric oxide on the skin surface of acupuncture points: An innovative approach in humans

The present study quantified total nitrate and nitrite ( NO x - ) collected from the skin surface along acupuncture points (acupoints) and determined whether non-enzymatic reduction of nitrate by bacteria is involved in chemical generation of nitric oxide (NO) on acupoints. A small plastic tube (0.5 × 7 cm) cut in half lengthwise was taped to the forearm or leg in 50 healthy volunteers. NO-collecting solutions with NO-scavenging compounds, hemoglobin or 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide, was placed inside the tubing attached to the skin surface for 20 min. The concentrations of NO x - in the collected samples were quantified by using chemiluminescence. NO x - concentration was significantly enhanced in four acupoints on the pericardium meridian and in two acupoints on the bladder meridian compared with those collected on non-meridian control areas. The time intervals of NO x - levels were significantly higher at the first 20 min of acupoint collection, but the concentrations were similar among the study groups collected at 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 min. NO x - concentrations and numbers of bacteria colonies detected on the skin surface were markedly reduced by pretreatment of skin with sodium hypochlorite compared to water treatment. This is the first evidence showing that NO has been successfully quantified on skin acupoints by a non-invasive device in humans. We conclude that NO is physiologically released from the skin surface with a higher level at acupoints, and that the non-enzymatic reduction of nitrate by bacteria is involved in chemical generation of NO on skin acupoints in addition to l-arginine-derived NO synthesis.

Differences in Optical Transport Properties between Human Meridian and Non-meridian

This study is to present a new scheme for the detection of human meridian system non-invasively. The optical transport properties along the pericardium meridian and a non-meridian path about 1 cm away from the meridian were measured non- invasively on 20 healthy people in vivo. 633 nm, 658 nm and 785 nm red lasers were used for irradiation, and the diffuse light emittances at different points on meridian and non-meridian directions were collected respectively and compared. Our study suggested that the light propagation characteristics along both the meridian and non-meridian directions conformed to the Beer's exponential attenuation law. Statistical analysis of the results suggested that the optical properties of human meridian differ from those of the surrounding tissue (p < 0.05), and the light attenuation is less when propagating along the pericardium meridian than along the non-meridian direction. These findings not only confirmed the objective existence of acupuncture meridians, but also shed new light on the understanding of meridians.

Electrical impedance along connective tissue planes associated with acupuncture meridians

BackgroundAcupuncture points and meridians are commonly believed to possess unique electrical properties. The experimental support for this claim is limited given the technical and methodological shortcomings of prior studies. Recent studies indicate a correspondence between acupuncture meridians and connective tissue planes. We hypothesized that segments of acupuncture meridians that are associated with loose connective tissue planes (between muscles or between muscle and bone) visible by ultrasound have greater electrical conductance (less electrical impedance) than non-meridian, parallel control segments.MethodsWe used a four-electrode method to measure the electrical impedance along segments of the Pericardium and Spleen meridians and corresponding parallel control segments in 23 human subjects. Meridian segments were determined by palpation and proportional measurements. Connective tissue planes underlying those segments were imaged with an ultrasound scanner. Along each meridian segment, four gold-plated needles were inserted along a straight line and used as electrodes. A parallel series of four control needles were placed 0.8 cm medial to the meridian needles. For each set of four needles, a 3.3 kHz alternating (AC) constant amplitude current was introduced at three different amplitudes (20, 40, and 80 μAmps) to the outer two needles, while the voltage was measured between the inner two needles. Tissue impedance between the two inner needles was calculated based on Ohm's law (ratio of voltage to current intensity).ResultsAt the Pericardium location, mean tissue impedance was significantly lower at meridian segments (70.4 ± 5.7 Ω) compared with control segments (75.0 ± 5.9 Ω) (p = 0.0003). At the Spleen location, mean impedance for meridian (67.8 ± 6.8 Ω) and control segments (68.5 ± 7.5 Ω) were not significantly different (p = 0.70).ConclusionTissue impedance was on average lower along the Pericardium meridian, but not along the Spleen meridian, compared with their respective controls. Ultrasound imaging of meridian and control segments suggested that contact of the needle with connective tissue may explain the decrease in electrical impedance noted at the Pericardium meridian. Further studies are needed to determine whether tissue impedance is lower in (1) connective tissue in general compared with muscle and (2) meridian-associated vs. non meridian-associated connective tissue.

Treatment of dormant papule with acupuncture in ancient times

The information concerning dormant papule in 93 ancient medical books is statistically computerized and shows that there are totally 29 items of information and 25 acupoints (55 times in frequency) in connection with dormant papule. The commonly used acupoints, are Quchi (LI 11), Jianyu (LI 15), Tianjing, (TE 10), etc, which are around joints, on the upper body, on, the lateral aspect or on the ends of the limbs. The commonly used meridians are Large Intestine Meridian, Pericardium Meridian, Triple Energizer Meridian, and Gallbladder Meridian. The commonly used parts are the lateral aspect of arm, the dorsum of hand, the external aspect of leg, the medial aspect of arm, and the palm.

Hydrodynamic Analysis of Waveforms Induced by Vibrational Stimuli at Meridian and Non-meridian Points

Meridian theory is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although acupuncture has been accepted in many countries, the nature of the meridian theory and the principles of acupuncture are still unclear in the modern scientific view. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in wave propagation of mechanical vibrations (optimal stimulator frequency of 40 Hz) through the pericardium meridian [EH-4 (Chieh-Men) and EH-5 (Chien-Shih)] and adjacent control regions in 20 subjects using hydrodynamic analysis. The mean transfer speed was significantly lower in the meridian (4 m/s) than in the adjacent control region (8.5 m/s, P < 0.001). There were also significant differences between the meridian and control points in the attenuation rate (P < 0.001) and peak amplitude (P < 0.001). In conclusion, these results imply that the substance of the meridian differs from that of the adjacent control regions.

Study of Propagation of Light along an Acupuncture Meridian

Propagation of light along a pericardium meridian is measured and compared with that along a non-meridian path one cm away from the meridian. Source-light is illuminated on the Nei-Guan(PC6) and propagated light is detected at three points along the meridian. Four reference points are one cm away from the corresponding meridian points, respectively. Light propagates better along the meridian than the reference path with more than twenty percent difference for all the subjects tested.

Analysis of characteristics of depression treated by acupuncture in ancient times

Information of the acupuncture treatment of depression in 93 ancient books has been made statistics with computer. Results showed that Heart Meridian, Pericardium Meridian, Bladder Meridian, Governor Vessel, Conception Vessel, Spleen Meridian and Stomach Meridian have been used frequently; as to areas, the medial aspect of upper limbs, head and face, medial aspect of legs, upper back, chest and abdomen have been mostly selected; as to treatment methods, needling, moxibustion and blood-letting therapies have been utilized.

Traditional Chinese channel diagnosis, myofascial pain syndrome and metacarpophalangeal joint trauma in the horse

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Thoroughbred racehorses in training using traditional oriental techniques for meridian or channel diagnosis (CD) before and after intra-articular (IA) therapy of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and to determine the incidence and significance of channel abnormality in the diagnosis of fetlock disease. Background: In traditional oriental channel diagnosis, key diagnostic acupoints are palpated and evaluated for sensitivity. Pathological sensitivity of acupoints is referred to as channel imbalance in oriental medicine, and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with trigger points (TrP's) in western medicine. If there is an abnormally sensitive acupoint, and the sensitivity can be changed markedly by the IA injection of a diagnostic or therapeutic medication, then the mechanism for the propagation of the observed channel imbalance must be related to an intra-articular phenomenon. Design and Patients: Three hundred twenty-seven (327) Thoroughbred racehorses were evaluated for abnormal reactivity of the specific acupoints: Large Intestine (LI) 18, Small Intestine (SI) 16, Triple Heater (TH) 15, Urinary Bladder (UB) 42, a Lung Meridian Associated Point, and Urinary Bladder (UB) 14, a Pericardium Meridian Associated Point. Acupoint reactivity was graded on a scale of I–IV, where GdI=normal sensitivity, GdII=slight sensitivity, Gd III=pain or abnormal sensitivity, and Gd IV=active evasion by the horse. Grades III and IV were considered to be pathological. The evaluations were unblinded in that pre-and post-treatment evaluations were made by the same examiner. All horses whose medical and working history and acupuncture evaluation suggested pain referable to the fetlock(s) were injected intra-articularly with either a local anesthetic or an articular therapeutic product. The horses were subsequently evaluated for a change in acupoint sensitivity, either ten minutes for the local anesthetic or twenty-four hours for the medications, after the initial injection. Results: Intra-articular medication of the fetlock joint markedly changed the pathological channel imbalance in 176 (54%) racing horses in training. The majority of these, 111 (63%) were not lame. Eighteen (10%) were frankly lame (≥ Gd II/V) and became sound with IA anesthesia of the fetlock joint. The remaining 47 (27%) were lame as a result of extra-articular or nonfetlock pain and were not made sound with IA fetlock anesthesia despite a marked change in acupoint sensitivity. The diagnoses were made with conventional regional nerve blocks. Of the 176 horses with channel imbalance, LI/LU was involved in 100%, 158 (90%) had involvement of SI/HT, 46 (26%) involved TH, and 16 (9%) involved the PC channel. Channel imbalance was defined as the presence of one or more of the described acupoints in excess, that is with a Gd III–IV sensitivity. Each point in excess reflected abnormality in either the actual channel, LI, SI, and TH, or in the case of the associated points, UB 42 and UB 14, the LU and PC channels, respectively. Concomitant sources of foreleg pain were found. Seven (4%) horses with fetlock related channel imbalance also had interphalangeal related imbalance, and 7 (4%) had carpal related imbalance as well as fetlock imbalance. Ninety-three (53%) had imbalance related to the hind legs. Five (3%) were lame due to IA fetlock pathology yet had no channel imbalance. Conclusions: Thoroughbred horses in training had a consistently high percentage of CD imbalance with TrP's that could be directly related to IA structures of the fetlock and alleviated with IA drugs. The distribution of channel imbalance suggested the site of fetlock pathology, with LI/LU (dorso-medial and medial) > SI/HT (dorso-lateral and lateral) > TH (dorsal midline) > PC (caudal midline). Extra articular fetlock pathology did not result in CD imbalance. CD is an additional method of evaluating the influence of medications, shoeing, and training regimes on most of the innervated structures of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

UNIQUE CHANGES FOUND ON THE QI GONG (CHI GONG) MASTER’S AND PATIENT’S BODY DURING QI GONG TREATMENT: THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO CERTAIN MERIDIANS & ACUPUNCTURE POINTS AND THE RE-CREATION OF THERAPEUTIC QI GONG STATES BY CHILDREN & ADULTS

Changes taking place in both Qi Gong Masters and their patients during Qi Gong treatment were evaluated using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. During the Qi Gong state, on the Qi-Gong Master's body, as well as the body of the patient being treated, acupuncture points CV5 (Shi Men) and CV6 (Qi Hai)-- located below the umbilicus-- show changes from +4 in the pre-Qi Gong state to between -3 and -4 during the Qi Gong state. Before and after the Qi Gong, there is a normal +4 response to the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test at these acupuncture points. Similar changes were also observed on acupuncture points CV17 (Shan Zhong), CV 22 (Tian Tu), Yin Tang (at an area just between the eyebrows: the pituitary gland representation area, colloquially known as the "third eye") and GV20(Bai Hui), the entire pericardium meridian & triple burner meridian, their acupuncture points, the adrenal glands, testes, ovaries and perineum, as well as along the entire spinal vertebrae, particularly on and above the 12th thoracic vertebra, medulla oblongata, pons, and the intestinal representation areas of the brain located just above and behind the upper ear. Using these findings as criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of reaching the Qi Gong state, we were able to reproduce during the experimental trials similar changes in ourselves and the patient being treated with therapeutic effects comparable to those of the Qi Gong Master. Beneficial effects of external Qi Gong treatment given by a Qi Gong practitioner 1 to 3 times for 10-20 seconds each (although most Qi Gong masters take 3-20 minutes per treatment) often resulted in improvement of circulation and lowering of high blood pressure, as well as relaxation of spastic muscles, relief of pain, and enhanced general well-being, all of which resemble acupuncture effects. In order to reproduce the same procedure with others, we selected 4 children ranging between 8 and 11 years of age who had no knowledge of Qi Gong or Oriental medicine. One of these four children, the 8 year old, was able to consistently reach the same Qi Gong state after less than a half day and another child, 11, after less than 2 days. Within a week, the other two were sometimes able to reproduce the Qi Gong state but not always. Using the Qi Gong state thus obtained, it was found that this type of Qi Gong energy is directed to specific directions from the hand and can even penetrate wooden or metal doors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Meridian-like networks of internal organs, corresponding to traditional Chinese 12 main meridians and their acupuncture points as detected by the "Bi-Digital O-Ring Test imaging method": search for the corresponding internal organ of Western medicine for each meridian--Part I.

The "Bi-Digital O-Ring Test" imaging method has been successfully used not only to outline the internal organs but also malignant tumors as long as identical reference control tissue is available, regardless of whether it comes from the same individual or others, without exposing the patient to undesirable radiation from X-Rays, strong magnetic field or ultra-sound. While imaging the outline of the internal organs the author found that, from the surface of each organ, lines or networks of lines extend to other parts of the body. Such a line closely resembles well-known lines of meridians of major internal organs in Oriental medicine. This meridian-like network of each internal organ can be imaged using a microscopic slide, dessicated tissue or raw tissue of the same internal organ as reference control substance in "Bi-Digital O-Ring Test" imaging method. In previous papers, among meridians of 12 main internal organs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the author was able to find which meridian corresponds to which internal organ of Western Medicine as in 10 meridians by "Bi-Digital O-Ring Test" imaging with corresponding internal organs as reference control substances, with the exception of "Pericardium Meridian", and "Triple Burner Meridian". In this study we were able to confirm that the "Pericardium Meridian" can be imaged mainly using adrenal gland as a reference control substance and "Triple Burner Meridian" can be imaged by the ovary or adrenal gland in the female and also can be imaged by the testes or adrenal gland in the male. Thus, the author was able to confirm, for the first time, the corresponding internal organ of Western Medicine for each one of the 12 main meridians. During this study, when actively imaging the meridian-like network, the author found bulging areas of the meridian-like network at specific locations, and found that these bulging areas correspond to specific acupuncture points. The area or average diameter of these acupuncture points often increased in the abnormal area and returned relatively small normal diameter by acupuncture given on certain acupuncture points of the same meridian. Thus, one can find the exact location of the meridian-like network and specific acupuncture points along the network. Therefore, it is now possible to re-evaluate true effects of giving acupuncture on these specific points as well as some of the other classical concepts of acupuncture.

Electrical correlates of acupuncture points.

Employing a Wheatstone bridge, skin conductance was measured over those putative acupuncture points on the large intestine and pericardium meridians lying between the metacarpophalangeal joints and the elbow. Results were compared to those from anatomically similar locations devoid of acupuncture points. At most acupuncture points on most subjects, there were greater electrical conductance maxima than at control sites.