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Acupoint specificity is a key scientific issue in acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupoint electric resistance is a commonly-used biophysical index to study the functional specificity of acupoints. The non-linear characteristics of acupoint electric resistance have great impacts on the measured values, but it has been greatly ignored. By analyzing the non-linear characteristics of acupoint resistance and its application in the study of acupoint function specificity, a new idea of introducing chaos theory and technology into the study of acupoint function is proposed. more...

Objective: To examine the bone proportional measurement standard on the chest and abdomen of modern women., Methods: The height, weight and distances of bone proportional measurement chest and abdomen of 101 young females were measured. The height was divided by 75 to calculate the data of bone proportional measurement, and compared with the national standard published in 2006 and the ancient literature of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu ., Results: The bone proportional distances between two nipples and two coracoid processes of women were 8 cun and 12 cun respectively, which were in line with the 2006 national standard. The bone proportional distance from navel to superior margin of pubic symphysis ( Qugu ) was 6.5 cun , which was consistent with the ancient literature of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu . The bone proportional distance from suprasternal fossa to the middle point of xiphisternal synchondrosis ( Qigu ) was less than 9 cun , while the bone proportional distance from Qigu to navel was more than 8 cun , resulting in the ratio less than 9︰8. The bone proportional distance from suprasternal fossa to the middle point of xiphoid process was 9 cun , corresponding to the ratio of 9︰8 when comparing with the measurement from the middle point of xiphoid process to navel., Conclusion: The bone proportional distance measurement between two nipples and two coracoid processes of women should follow the 2006 national standard, and the bone proportional distance measurement from navel to superior margin of pubic symphysis should follow the standard of Miraculous Pivot: Gudu . The middle point of xiphisternal synchondrosis should be replaced by the middle point of xiphoid process. more...

Borrowing the open system interconnection (OSI) model of internet protocol and the 5W theory in communication studies, the links in the international communication of acupuncture-moxibustion can be classified into seven layers: physical layer, data link layer, network layer, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer and application layer, therefore it is built an OSI model of international communication system of acupuncture-moxibustion. It is pointed out that present international communication system of acupuncture-moxibustion is similar to the user datagram protocol (UDP) in internet technology. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) plays a key role to modernize acupuncture- moxibustion theory based upon its clinical effects. According to phenomenon-taking by classified analogy, it is found that the PICO model of EBM agrees pretty well with the "three-way handshakes" mechanism of the internet transmission control protocol (TCP), which is promising to construct an international discourse of acupuncture-moxibustion compatible with western medicine. Thus it will benefit to explore the scientific connotation of acupuncture-moxibustion theory and significantly improve the international prestige of acupuncture-moxibustion. more...

The origin and basis of wrist-ankle acupuncture were discussed based on the theory of huan in bamboo slip and silk medical book Mai Fa ( Pulse Method ), theory of maikou , "meridian points", and theory of origin, junction, branch and trunk. The huan in bamboo slip and silk medical book Pulse Method is the wrist and ankle, and the position of wrist-ankle acupuncture is close to the huan . The theory of maikou reflects the pulse method which could be used not only in diagnosis but also in treatment, and the acupuncture points of wrist-ankle acupuncture are corresponding to the position and the main indications of maikou . The acupuncture points of wrist-ankle acupuncture are close to the locations and indications of "meridian points", as well as the points of Liu , Zhu and Xiaru of the theory of origin, junction, branch and trunk. The acupuncture points of wrist-ankle acupuncture are distributed in the range of " ben " in the theory of origin, junction, branch and trunk and five- shu points. The operation of wrist-ankle acupuncture is consistent with the theory of shallow needling at defensive - qi . more...

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of the temperature-time curve in warm needling manipulation with the acupuncture needles made of copper, silver, gold and stainless steel and explore the applicable temperature range and most suitable needle materials of warm needling manipulation in clinical practice., Methods: A total of 10 healthy subjects were included. Using the digital thermometer, with different moxibustion dose (1.2 g or 1.5 g, moxa), the temperature was measured at the site where the skin contacts with the needle body during the warm needling manipulation with stainless steel needle, copper needle, gold needle and sliver needle separately. The initial heat pain threshold (the temperature when hot feeling started) and the burning pain threshold (feeling very hot but tolerable) were recorded when using the different needles mentioned above. Through the subject questionnaire, the comfort degree, the heat sensation, the adverse reaction and the acceptability to warm needling manipulation with the different needles were investigated., Results: During the warm needling manipulation, the initial heat pain threshold was (42.8±2.7) ℃ and the burning pain threshold was (46.7±2.9) ℃. The strongest warm stimulation was presented in the warm needling manipulation with 1.5 g moxa and silver needle and the highest temperature was (55.5±6.3) ℃, followed by (52.9±4.2) ℃ with 1.2 g moxa and silver needle, (46.6±3.7) ℃ with 1.5 g moxa and gold needle, (46.6±1.9) ℃ with 1.5 g moxa and copper needle, (43.1±1.5) ℃ with 1.2 g moxa and copper needle and (41.7±0.9) ℃ with 1.5 g moxa and stainless steel needle. The sequence of the maintaining time of the initial heat pain threshold over 43℃ was 480 s with silver needle and 1.5 moxa, 325 s with silver needle and 1.2 g moxa, 270 s with gold needle and 1.5 g moxa, 185 s with copper needle and 1.5 g moxa, 42 s with copper needle and 1.2 g moxa and 0 s with stainless steel needle and 1.5 g moxa successively. The heat score graded by the subjects to the warm needling manipulation with different needles, from high to low, was presented in the manipulation with 1.5 g moxa and silver needle, 1.2 g moxa and silver needle, 1.5 g moxa and copper needle, 1.5 g moxa and gold needle, 1.2 g moxa and copper needle and 1.5 g moxa and stainless steel needle. The VAS score was different significantly in comparison among the six needles in warm needling manipulation ( P <0.001). The comfort degree of the subjects in the warm needling manipulation with silver needle and 1.5 g moxa was significantly lower than the warm needling manipulation with the other 5 materials ( P <0.05). Three subjects complained that the warm needling manipulation with silver needle and 1.5 g moxa was too hot to be tolerable and the most of subjects were willing to accept warm needling manipulation with these 6 materials (acceptability 70.0% to 100.0%). Except blisters presented in 9 subjects after warm needling manipulation with silver needle and 1.5 g moxa, no severe adverse reaction occurred in warm needling manipulation with 6 materials., Conclusion: In the warm needling manipulation in the human body, the initial heat pain and the burning pain threshold were 43 ℃ and 47 ℃ respectively, which is the applicable temperature range of moxibustion in clinical practice. The warm needling manipulation with silver needle induces a quite strong heat stimulation and the discomfort may be caused when the temperature is exceeded to some threshold. The warm needling manipulation with copper needle generates the onset temperature, without inducing adverse reactions, e.g. discomfort and burning in the subjects. more...

Objective: To observe the effects of forearms devascularization on the volt-ampere (V-A) characteristics of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) so as to investigate the relationship among functions of acupoints, qi and blood in human body and V-A characteristics of acupoints., Methods: Either forearms of 23 healthy volunteers were devascularized and the changes of V-A characteristics in ipsilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) in normal and devascularization statuses were detected by home-made intelligent V-A detecting system., Results: Compared with the normal status, both range-increasing and range-decreasing V-A areas of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) were significantly increased in devascularization status (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the change rates of these two V-A areas of Neiguan (PC 6) were larger than those of Taiyuan (LU 9) (both P < 0.05). The inertia areas of Neiguan (PC 6) but not Taiyuan (LU 9) became significantly larger after devascularization (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The changes in V-A characteristics of Neiguan (PC 6) and Taiyuan (LU 9) can reflect the alteration of local blood supply, and Neiguan (PC 6) is more sensitive to changes of blood flow than Taiyuan (LU 9). more...

Objective: To observe the temperature change of traditional silver needle in the human body during the burning of moxa ball., Methods: Thirty-six healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a single-needle group and a multi-needle group, 18 cases in each group. For both groups, one silver needle (18 cm in length, 1.1 mm in diameter), which was adopted in this research to measure the temperature change, was punctured in the insertion point of the volunteer (inside the top of the left buttock, 7 cm under the edge of the highest point of the iliac crest, 7 cm lateral to the dorsomedian line), then another four silver needles were punctured 2 cm respectively anterior, posterior and lateral to the insertion point in the multi-needle group, and all the silver needles were inserted with 6 cm depth. Afterigniting the 1.3 g moxa ball on the needle tail, the temperature of the measuring points that were 3 mm, 33 mm, and 63 mm above the silver needle tip were recorded separately by digital temperature measuring instrument., Results: The peak temperature of the three measuring points in the single-needle group was all around 41 degrees C, while those in the multi-needle group were around 43 degrees C, which had significant differences (all P < 0.05), but no significant differences among the highest temperature of the measuring points in the same group could be found (all P > 0.05). The highest temperature of moxa ball in the single needle group was (611.16 +/- 6.91) degrees C, while that of the central moxa ball in the multi-needle group was (628.94 +/- 8.99) degrees C, the difference of which was significant difference (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The temperature conductivity of the silver needle is very well, so the heat of the moxa ball could pass from the tail of needle to the tip during the warming treatment. The peak temperature on the body, tip of the silver needle in the multi-needle group is higher than those in the single needle group. Also, the peak temperature of multi-moxa ball is higher than that of single moxa ball. more...

The questionnaire and the result of 2010' Hwato Cup National University Students' Acupuncture Manipulation Skills Competition were analyzed in this paper. It was showed that the competition achieved the significant effects of enhancing acupuncture manipulation skills for the university students and promoting the standardization on teaching acupuncture manipulation skills. The teachers and students were not very satisfied with the current acupuncture manipulation skill education. In the competition, only the item of reciting the classics achieved more than 90 scores, which just displayed the memory ability. The results of the manipulation competition were generally not very high. It is suggested that concerning to teaching acupuncture and moxibustion in the future, the ratio of class time for improving the practice ability on the human body should be increased and the practice on some manipulation techniques such as inserting the needle by holding the needle tip with the pressing hand, reinforcing-reducing technique by twirling and rotating the needle and warming needle technique should be intensified. It is necessary to enhance the interpretation, emphasis and supplementation on the keys and details of some manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion. more...

Objective: To observe the efficacy of moxibustion on the improvement in pain, stiffness and motor disturbance for the patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion therapy., Methods: Fifty-nine cases of knee OA were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (31 cases) and a placebo moxibustion group (28 cases), in which moxa cone and placebo moxa sticker were applied to Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and Ashi points separately, 3 cones on each point in each treatment. The treatment was given once every two days, 3 times per week, continuously for 6 weeks. The follow-up visit was performed in 6 weeks after the end of treatment. The Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the time of 46-meter walking at the fastest speed were adopted to evaluate the recovery of joint function. UT-325 digital thermal detector was used to record the temperature change at the most apparent pain points of knee joint before and after moxibustion treatment., Results: In moxibustion group, the scores in WOMAC were reduced apparently in 3 and 6 weeks treatment and during follow-up visit, separately (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). In placebo moxibustion group, during follow-up visit, the score of stiffness was lower as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). In 6 weeks of treatment and during follow-up visit, the scores of pain, stiffness and motor disturbance in moxibustion group were reduced much more remarkably as compared with placebo moxibustion group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In moxibustion group, after treatment for 6 weeks,the time of 46-meter walking at the fastest speed was shorter apparently as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01), but there was no apparent improvement after treatment in placebo moxibustion group (P > 0.05). The difference was not significant statistically in group comparison (P > 0.05). After moxibustion, the temperature at treatment point was (49.81 +/- 3.10) degrees C in moxibustion group and was (40.98 +/- 1.67) degrees C in placebo moxibustion group. The local skin temperature increased apparently as compared with that before treatment in either group (P < 0.001, P < 0.01), but the temperature increasing in moxibustion group was much more remarkable (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Moxibustion can obviously improve in the clinical symptoms for the patients with knee osteoarthritis, such as pain, stiffness and motor disturbance. It is a safe and effective therapy. more...

Objective: To explore the effects of combined laser on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type., Methods: Forty-one cases with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type were randomly divided into a combined laser group (n = 22) and a red light group (n = 19), with combined laser and red light irradiation on Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), respectively. They were treated for 6 weeks. The scores of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities' Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC VA3. 1) were used for assessment of therapeutic effects., Results: After treatment for 2 weeks and 6 weeks, the WOMAC scores significantly decreased in the two groups as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). The mean improvement rate of WOMAC scores in the combined laser group was better than those in the red light group., Conclusion: Combined laser irradiation can improve the pain, stiffness and functional limitation of patients with knee OA of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type. more...

Infrared radiation temperature and characteristics of infrared spectrum of meridians and acupoints are summarized in this article. The infrared radiant track along the running course of meridians might be a ubiquitous phenomenon of the vital activity. The high temperature bands below the meridian lines at the cuticular layer are often taken as the manifestation of the tract. It could be induced by various stimulations on acupoints with warm-needling as the best causative method. High temperature and low resistance are considered as 2 features of the acupoint zone. The adenosine-triphosphate energy metabolism of the acupoint zone is higher than the non-point zone, which indicates that essential physiological and pathological information are carried by infrared radiation temperature of acupoint and infrared spectrum of acupoint. However, it is realized that study on characteristics of infrared radiation only is far from enough to reveal the essence of meridians and acupoints. And much still remains to be done in strengthening basic studies of characteristics of infrared radiation, structure pattern of meridians and acupoints as well as volt-ampere characteristics. more...

Through combing the academic development of acupuncture in recent ten years, objectively reflects the real development status of acupuncture subject on these aspects sucl as basis, clinic, equipment, teaching and standardization, etc., shows the scientific and technological achievements and the highlights of the acupuncture academic development, analyzes the bottleneck and dilemma of the acupuncture academic development. It is indicated that there are several problems existed in acupuncture researche at present, such as the scale and the input of the acupuncture theory research are not enough, the basic research and clinical application is disjointed, the correlation between the acupoints and viscera need more systematic and further researches, the design level of clinical research on acupoints' main indications should be improved. From now on we should follow the inherent rule of the traditional theory of Chinese medicine and the way of integrated thinking, explore the new rule of acupuncture academic development, in order to fit the new historical period, and comprehensively promote the sustainable and coordinated development of acupuncture science. more...

Objective: To observe the analgesic effects of single-and combined-laser irradiation with low-intensity applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats, and their relation to degranulation of mast cells., Methods: Sixty-six SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group (Group NC), model control group (Group MC), sham irradiation group (Group SI), 10.6 microm laser irradiation group (Group 10.6 microm LI), 650 nm laser irradiation group (Group 650 nm LI) and combined (10.6 microm + 650 nm) laser irradiation group (Group CLI). Complete Freund's Adjuvant (0.05 mL) was injected into the left ankle joints of all the rats except those in Group NC to cause acute adjuvant-induced arthritis. In treatment, laser irradiation was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 minutes in all the rats except those in Group NC and Group MC. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radian heat was used to compare analgesic effects among the groups. By means of toluidine blue, dyed slices of local tissues of "Zusanli" (ST 36) were used to observe changes of mast cell degranulation before and after laser irradiation., Results: The pain thresholds to irradiation of the rats in Group 650 nm LI and Group CLI were significantly higher than those in Group MC and Group SI (P < 0.01), and the mast cell degranulation rate in Group 650 nm LI and Group CLI were also significantly higher than that in Group MC and Group SI (P < 0.001). The pain threshold and mast cell degranulation rate in Group 10. 6 microm LI were not significantly different from those in Group MC and Group SI. There was a linear correlation between mast cell degranulation rate and PWL with 0. 737 in coefficient (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Single 650 nm laser and combined 650 nm + 10.6 microm laser with low intensity irradiated at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in acute adjuvant rats can provide remarkable analgesic effects, and there was a positive correlation between mast cell degranulation rate and analgesic effects, which plays an important part in laser irradiation-induced analgesia. more...

Objective: To compare differences of surface infrared radiation spectrums between Danzhong (CV 17) A high-sensitive PHE and non-acupoint control point in the patient of hyperplasia of mammary glands., Methods: 201 surface infrared spectrograph was used to detect infrared radiation spectrums of Danzhong (CV 17) and non-acupoint control point at 1.5-16.0 microm wave band in the patient of hyperplasia of mammary glands., Results: The shape of the infrared spectrums of Danzhong (CV 17) was similar to that of the non-acupoint control point, but with lower radiation intensity. Of the 59 wavelength spots detected, 13 (6.75-8.25 microm, 9.00 microm, 9.25 microm, 9.75 microm, 13.25-13.75 microm) had significant differences in infrared radiation intensity between Danzhong (CV 17) and non-acupoint control point (P<0.05)., Conclusion: The intensity of infrared radition of Danzhong (CV 17) is lower and Qimen (LR 14) is higher than that of the non-acupoint control point in the patient with hyperplasia of mammary glands, showing that different channels are at different states of deficiency and excess under pathological condition of hyperplasia of mammary glands. more...

Objective: To probe the diagnostic value of the infrared radiation spectrum of acupoint for ulcerative colitis (UC)., Methods: A high sensitivity PHE 201 infrared spectrum instrument was used to determine the infrared radiation spectrum of Hegu (LI 4) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) in 34 cases of UC., Results: Of 59 waves detected, there were significant differences in infrared radiation intensity of 28 different waves between the healthy people and the patients with UC in right Hegu (LI 4) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and 13 waves in left Hegu (LI 4) (P < 0.05); there were significant differences in 16 different waves in right Shangjuxu (ST 37) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and in 17 waves in left Shangjuxu (ST 37) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); there was a significant difference in 18 waves between right and left Hegu (LI 4) of the patients (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and 7 waves between right and left Hegu (LI 4) of the healthy people (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in 4 waves between right and left Shangjuxu (ST 37) of the patients and one wave between right and left Shangjuxu (ST 37) of the healthy people (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Both Hegu (LI 4) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) show changes of infrared radiation spectrum when the intestine gets lesion, and Hegu (LI 4) can better show the change. more...

Based on the literature review and theories of biophysical theory, the pathway and mechanism of the heat of sandwiched moxibustion stimulating acupoints are analyzed. It is concluded that the heat of sandwiched moxibustion is transferred to the skin of acupoints by heat conduction and thermal radiation. The heat conduct from the skin to deep tissues and other parts was carried out through the biological heat conduction systems. The investigation combined with theories of biological heat conduction was benefit to the research on clinical mechanisms of indirect moxibustion. In addition to heat effect, the infrared resonance of indirect moxibustion and acupoints may be the base of clinical effects of indirect moxibustion. more...

Objective: To study on basic Volt-ampere (V-A) characteristics of human acupoints and the changes with physiologic and pathologic changes, and probe their biophysical basis., Methods: The research works of this research group about V-A characteristics of acupoints in recent 10 years were systematized and analyzed., Results: V-A characteristic curve of human acupoints is of the both characteristics of non-linear and inertia. Compared with controlled point, the lower electric resistance characteristic of acupoints is not popular and the lower inertia is popular. V-A area of acupoints has no obvious circadian rhythms and the inertia area of a large part of acupoints has obvious circadian rhythms, with the phase of peak value corresponding to the phase of valley value of body temperature rhythms. V-A characteristics of acupoints in the patients of heart disease or stomach diseases changes obviously, and these changes have a certain specificities of acupoints. After remission of the lesion, the V-A characteristics of acupoints restore normal. The V-A area and the inertia area of acupoints in the corpse are obviously smaller than the normal person, with disappearance of the characteristics of both the non-linear and inertia of the normal person., Conclusion: Human acupoints have characteristics of non-linear and inertia, and the non-linear characteristic reflects complexity of physiology and behavior, while the inertia characteristic is related with energy metabolism of acupoints. The inertia area can more sensitively reflect human physiologic and pathological changes as compared with the V-A area, so it is an important index for the studies on electric characteristics of acupoints in the future. more...