Study on the Specificity of Meridian Points Via the Effect of Acupuncture at the Primary Points of the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot on Blood Pressure in an Animal Model of High/low Blood Pressure / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot on blood pressure in an animal model of high/low blood pressure and explore the specific effect of the meridian points-the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot.Methods The study included the parts of hypertension and hypotenstion. Both parts were allocated to the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot, non-acupoint, model and blank groups, six rats each. Except the model and blank groups, all the groups were given acupuncture treatment for seven consecutive days. Blood pressure was measured after the completion of treatment. Five consecutive measurements were made in each rat. Mean values of blood pressure were taken.Results For the part of hypertension, blood pressure at each time point was higher in the acupuncture groups than in the blank control group and lower than in the model group, and there were statistically significant differences (P0.05). The hypotensive effect of Taibai was equal to that of the non-acupoint (P>0.05). For the part of hypotension, blood pressure at each time point was lower in the acupuncture groups than in the blank control group and higher than in the model group, and there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05), indicating that acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot has a pressor effect. The pressor effect was worse in the the non-acupoint group than in the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot group (P<0.05). The pressor effects of Taibai and Taixi were equal but worse than that of Taichong (P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot has a specific bidirectional regulating effect on blood pressure. Of them, point Taichong produces a best bidirectional regulating effect on blood pressure.