Preliminary Observation on Imbalance Degree of Blood Perfusion on the Twelve Yuan-source Points in Healthy Subjects / 针刺研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To lay a foundation for meridian diagnosis by measuring the blood perfusion (BP) on yuan-source points of twelve meridians and calculating the normal range of imbalance degree (IBD) of left and right meridian (IBD-LRM), IBD of exterior-interior meridian (IBD-EIM) and IBD of hand-foot of the same name meridians (IBD-HFM) in healthy subjects. METHODS: BP at yuan-source points of twelve meridians was measured on 31 healthy volunteers by a Laser Doppler Line Scanner (LDLS). BP distribution and IBD-LRM, IBD-EIM, IBD-HFM were calculated. RESULTS: (1) Of the twelve meridians, BP was almost equal between the left and right of the same meridian. The mean value of IBD-LRM was (0.8±7.0)%. The absolute value of IBD-LRM ranged from (13.2±12.0)% to (22.9±15.6)%, with the mean value of (16.2±4.1)%, the IBD of gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang was the highest. (2) Of the six pairs of exterior-interior meridians, five pairs manifested as the interior (yin) meridians being larger than the exterior (yang) meridians in BP. The mean value of IBD-EIM was (-11.4±10.4)%. The absolute value of IBD-EIM ranged from (16.6±12.1)% to (36.6±15.6)%,with the mean value of (25.2±8.0)%, the IBD between pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin and triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang was the highest. (3)All of the hand-foot of the same name meridians were found hand meridians being larger than foot in BP. The mean value of IBD-HFM was (38.8±18.2)%.The absolute value of IBD-HFM ranged from (34.4±20.9)% to (59.6±12.0)%, with the mean value of (43.8±13.3)%, and IBD between heart meridian of hand-shaoyin and kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin was the highest. (4) The order of IBD absolute value in BP was the same as transcutaneous CO2 emission (TCE) measured before, and their IBD-LRM absolute values were close to each other. However, the absolute values of IBD-EIM and IBD-HFM existed some differences. CONCLUSIONS: The IBD-LRM of the twelve yuan-source points in BP of healthy subjects is small and in a balance state, but IBD-EIM and IBD-HFM are relatively high.