Comparison between cardia point and lung point on auricular acupuncture / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Purpose<br>In the 31st and 32nd conference of the J. S. A., we reported that stimulation of an electrodermal point (i. e. the lung point) in the cavity of the concha depressed appetite and affected the metabolism of water. Since there are, however, so many electrodermal points, the question arises as to whether stimulation to any other electrodermal point has the same effect as this lung point. The purpose of this study is to clarify this question.<br>Method<br>Forty-two cases (men and women aged 18 to 50) of simple obesity (over+10% of standard body weight) were randomly divided into two groups the group of the Cardia point stimulation (L-group), and the group of the cardia point stimulation (c-group). An intracutaneous (subcutaneous) needle was inserted in the point and kept there for two weeks, renewed once a week. The effects on depressing appetite and the metabolism of water were analysed as follows The questionnaires for changes of the food intake, the feeling of hunger, the feeling of plenitude, the water intake, and the urinary output were given to the subjects, and they rated their responses into 4-6 grades according to our criteria. The body weight, serum osmotic pressure, and the concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was measured before and after the stimulation.<br>Result<br>The following changes were seen in both L- and C-group the food intake decreased; the feeling of hunger decreased; the feeling of plenitude increased; the water intake decreased. The body weight decreased 0.8±0.1kg for L-group and 1.2±0.3kg for C-group. There was no significant intergroup difference. The urinary output showed a tendency to increase in L-group (p<0.10).<br>The serum osmotic pressure and ADH decreased significantly in L-group (p<0.02, p<0.02), while there was no significant change in C-group. However, there was no significant intergroup difference.<br>Conclusion<br>Stimulation applied to the lung point or the cardia point, which are electrodermal points in the cavity of the concha, was equally effective in depressing appetite and caused the same amount of weight loss. Stimulation to the lung point caused the decrease of the serum osmotic pressure and ADH, and the upward tendency of the urinary outout, while stimulation to the cardia point showed no significant change.<br>On the basis of this result, it is reasonable to presume that there is some difference between the lung point and the cardia point in affecting the metabolism of water, and that these two electrodermal points have different meanings.