Study on the body surface temperature variation patterns of the meridian acupoints related to the physiological status of the uterus / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: By observing the body surface temperature changes of different meridian acupoints located at the same or adjacent spinal segments of the uterus during the whole storing and releasing process of the uterus under normal physiological condition by the infrared thermal imaging technology, to explore the specific patterns that the functions of Zang-fu organs are reflected on the biophysical characteristics of acupoints, and to enrich the functional specificity theory of the meridian acupoints, thus to provide a reference for discussing the biophysical characteristics of meridian acupoints associated with the menstrual cycle in healthy female college students. Methods: Ninety healthy subjects were included. Infrared thermal imaging device was used to detect the body surface temperature of the Yuan-Primary points, the Xi-Cleft points, the crossing points, the non-specific points, the unrelated meridian acupoints and the non-meridian non-acupoint points of the three yin meridians of foot located at the same or adjacent spinal cord segment with uterus, during the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase and the luteal phase. The absolute skin temperature difference between the left and right acupoints with the same name was used as the main outcome indicator. Results: The temperature difference between left and right Diji (SP 8, the Xi-Cleft point of the Spleen Meridian) during the ovulation phase was significantly higher than that during the other 3 phases (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the temperature difference between the other meridian acupoints and non-meridian non-acupoint points during the 4 phases (all P>0.05); the absolute temperature difference value of each meridian acupoint was not statistically different from each other in the same phase (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The temperature of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the onset of ovulation, and the thermal characteristics of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the physiological changes of uterus. The meridian acupoints reflecting the performance of Zang-fu function is not only associated with the spinal cord segment innervating the acupoints, but also associated with the characteristics of the acupoints and the meridians to which the acupoints belong.