Effects of acupuncture on potential along meridians of healthy subjects and patients with gastric disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in bio-potential in the stomach meridians of 20 normal healthy control subjects (NHC) and 20 patients with gastric disease (PGD). We measured changes in potential between ST-39 and ST-37 on the stomach meridian in response to invasive insertion of a needle at ST-36. The response patterns of NHC were regular in both the left and right meridians, whereas the response patterns of PGD were irregular. The potential of the NHC was significantly higher than that of the PGD group. The potential values in the left and right meridians of NHC were the same. However, the potential in the right meridian was significantly higher than that in the left meridian of PGD (p < 0.001). This study indicates that there may be changes in Qi or in the electrical properties of meridians according to health status, reflected in the regularity of the response to acupuncture or in the level of potential along meridians. Therefore, it may be possible to make a diagnosis from the state of a meridian by comparing levels of potential difference and its regularity.

Differences in electrical conduction properties between meridians and non-meridians.

Therapy using the acupuncture meridian system is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrical conduction properties of the meridians. The current conduction and potential profiles were compared after switching the current direction in the Hegu (LI-4) and Quchi (LI- 11) meridians and over a non-acupuncture point 1 cm from Quchi (LI-11) in 20 healthy subjects. Both meridians demonstrated significantly higher conductivity between Hegu (LI-4) and Quchi (LI-11) than between Hegu (LI-4) and the non-acupuncture point. The direction of current, peak frequency and absolute potential values in the direction Hegu (LI-4) to Quchi (LI-11) differed significantly from those in the direction Quchi (LI-11) to Hegu (LI-4). These results suggest that the conducting pathways are stronger in the meridians than in the non-meridians and that preferential conduction directions exist between two acupuncture points. These results are consistent with the theories of Qi-circulation and traditional Chinese medicine.

Nonlinear analysis of heart rate variability during Qi therapy (external Qigong).

Heart rate variability (HRV) was compared in 30 subjects receiving external Qi therapy (EQT) or placebo control therapy, in a crossover design experiment. Subjects who received the EQT reported more pleasant and calm emotions than did the placebo group. Qi therapy reduced the heart rate and increased HRV as indicated by a reduced low frequency/high frequency power ratio of HRV. With nonlinear analysis, the Poincaré plot index of HRV and approximate entropy was greater in the EQT group than in the control group. These findings suggest that EQT stabilizes the sympathovagal function and cardiac autonomic nervous system by inducing more positive emotions than the placebo therapy. In conclusion, EQT may act by stabilizing both the autonomic nervous system and the emotional state.

Development of a system and improvement of the stimulus pattern to discriminate the acupuncture point and meridians.

The conventional acupuncture-point stimulus pattern uses direct current (DC) to discriminate acupuncture point and meridian lines, which are fundamental to diagnosis and treatment in Oriental medicine. However, DC is insufficiently reliable in discriminating these acupuncture points and lines. To overcome these problems, the authors extracted optimal parameters (e.g., squarelike waveform with a frequency of 4 kHz) with a single power alternating current (SPAC) stimulus pattern of 1.28 V. The SPAC stimulus pattern has little or no effect on cells and the body's physiological state and minimizes polarization and ionization of cells because it uses low voltage and alternating current. The authors developed a new meridian discrimination system that can be used with the SPAC.

Is there any energy transfer during acupuncture?

Acupuncture therapy is based on the principle of restoring equilibrium of the body's energy state by regulating the flow of Qi in the corresponding meridians and acupoints. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bio-energy transfer occurs during acupuncture of the meridians. We treated 20 normal healthy subjects with acupuncture and measured changes in the direct current (DC) potential between the stomach meridian points ST-39 and ST-37 in response to invasive insertion of a needle at ST-36. Using a crossover study design, the practitioner performed the procedure on each subject once with bare (uncovered) hands (ABH) and once wearing surgical gloves (ASH) to shield the electric energy transfer. ABH produced a response pattern to each stimulation, whereas ASH produced a response pattern only to the first step. ABH elicited a significantly higher response potential than did ASH (p < 0.001). These results suggest that there may be bio-energy (Qi) transfer during acupuncture along the meridians. This transferred bio-energy (Qi) seems to act as an electromotive force, which is purported to remove the stagnation or blockage of energy and restore an equilibrium state.

An exploratory study of the relationship between the midday-midnight law and electrical conduction properties of corresponding acupuncture points.

The midday-midnight law is a well-known empirical law in Oriental medicine stating that the circadian rhythm of internal organs influences their paired organs according to the time of day. However, there has been little research to test the purported relationship between the time of day and organ function. The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate whether the midday-midnight law applies to the meridian activity and the electrical conduction properties of the acupuncture points. We used the digital readout instrument (MERIDIAN) to measure electrical conduction properties at 12 acupuncture points corresponding to the 12 meridians at four times: 12:00, 14:00, 22:00, and 24:00 hours. There were no significant differences in the electrical current values measured at the four times in any meridian. However, the mean current values of 12 acupuncture points changed significantly over time (P < 0.0001). The mean current values were significantly higher at 14:00 (P < 0.001), 22:00, and 24:00 hours (P < 0.001) than at 12:00 hours. The highest current value occurred at 22:00 hours and was significantly higher than 24:00 hours (P < 0.05). Although these do not conclusively support the traditional midday-midnight theory, our data suggest the existence of some type of daily variability in electrical current.

Development of the meridian-visualizing system that superimposes a bio-signal upon a body image.

The precise selection and the identification of acupuncture points are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in Oriental medicine. In this study, we have developed a meridian identification system using Single-Power Alternating Current (SPAC), which discriminates between true acupoints and non-acupoints. The SPAC system is not affected by skin resistance or pressure and is more accurate than the existing meridian location system, which uses direct current (DC) excitation current. The accuracy of the meridian location is ensured with the SPAC system because it has the highest sensitivity and the lowest effect on the human body. A microprocessor is used to enhance reliability and increase the accuracy of the SPAC measurements. Current distribution is displayed using an image that overlays the measured skin current on the body image. The positions of the acupoints are then displayed on the body image. This method visualizes the meridian by measuring skin current with an improved electrode using the acupoint discrimination system. A computer display shows the transmitted current as a color related to the electrode position. We demonstrated that by changing the point of measurement on the skin and tracing the electrode on the screen, it is possible to visualize acupoints and meridian phenomena using the color display.

An examination of the relationship between five oriental musical tones and corresponding internal organs and meridians.

The Yellow Emperor's Internal Medicine (Nei-Jing) describes the relationship between five internal organs corresponding to five different meridians and five oriental musical tones such as Gung (spleen), Sang (liver), Gak (liver), Chi (heart), Wu (kidney). However, there has been little research to test this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine this relationship through applying sound stimulation for 60 seconds, comprising various frequencies produced on an electric organ(Gung: 261.6 Hz; Sang: 293.7 Hz; Gak: 329.6 Hz Chi: 392.0 Hz and Wu: 440.0 Hz), to 20 healthy adults by stimulating their ears (via headphones), skin (via speakers) and both. A significant relationship was found between the tones and the meridians as they are described in Nei-Jing. The greatest response rates were found in the following corresponding organic and musical tones: spleen/Gung, lung/Sang, liver/Gak, heart/Chi, and kidney/Wu. The traditional descriptions of Yellow Emperor's Nei-Jing are therefore consistent with the findings of this study. Further basic research may lead to the application of clinically appropriate tones in an acoustically suitable room following oriental medical diagnosis.

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.

Measurement of subcutaneous impedance by four-electrode method at acupoints located with single-power alternative current.

A Single-Power Alternating Current (SPAC) instrument was used to measure the low-impedance acupoints around Ho-Ku (LI-4), Yang-Hsi (LI-5), Yang-Ch'ih (TB-4), Yang-Ku (SI-5), T'ai-Yuan (Lu-9), Ta-Lung (EH-7) and Shen-Men (He-7). A four-electrode instrument was used to measure the subcutaneous impedance at these low-impedance acupoints and adjacent control points on 12 healthy people. The mean subcutaneous impedance at the acupoints was 49.8+/-8.4 omega, significantly lower than the impedance of 53.5+/-omega 9.3 omega for the control points (P < 0.005). Of the seven acupoints, five (71%) had significantly lower impedances than the mean impedance for the adjacent control points. Seven of the 14 control points had significantly higher impedances than the adjacent acupoints, with most control points (93%) having higher impedances than adjacent acupoints. In conclusion, subcutaneous impedance is lower at the low-impedance points as measured with the SPAC two-electrode method. One interpretation of these results is that more interstitial fluid lies beneath the low-impedance acupoints.

Nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by Ixeris dentata in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Using mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have examined the mechanism by which Ixeris dentata (IXD) regulates nitric oxide (NO) production. When IXD was used in combination with recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma), there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production. However, IXD had no effect on NO production by itself. The increased production of NO from rIFN-gamma plus IXD-stimulated cells was almost completely inhibited by pre-treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Furthermore, treatment with IXD alone or rIFN-gamma plus IXD in peritoneal macrophages caused a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production. PDTC decreased TNF-alpha production induced by IXD significantly. These findings demonstrate that IXD increases the production of NO and TNF-alpha by rIFN-gamma-primed macrophages and suggest that NF-kappaB plays a critical role in mediating these effects of IXD.

Ixeris dentata green sap inhibits both compound 48/80-induced aanaphylaxis-like response and IgE-mediated anaphylactic response in murine model.

We studied the inhibitory effect of the green sap of Ixeris dentata (IXD) on compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis-like response in a murine model. IXD dose-dependently inhibited the anaphylaxis-like response induced by compound 48/80 in mice. IXD inhibited the anaphylaxis-like fatal response at the dose of 0.1 g/kg by 75%. IXD had a significant inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced ear swelling response at the doses of 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg. IXD (0.1 g/kg) also inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis mediated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE by 81.45%. When IXD was given as a pretreatment at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.1 g/l, the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that IXD may possess antianaphylactic activity.