General introduction on Acupoint research

Prof. Huang Yong, SMU

General introduction of Acupoint research

• morphosis study of points• speciality of point• biophysics speciality of point• diagnosis application of point

Morphosis study of points

(1) anatomy observation(2) histology observation

Anatomy observationPoints and nerves

309 points 152 right on the nerve trunk 49.18%

157 nearly to the nerve trunk 50.81%

361 points 205 points had relation with nerves 56.8%

Anatomy observation• same spinal segment • point organ

• Ren Meridian• RN3, RN4, RN6-----kidney• RN8, RN12----stomach and spleen• RN17, RN22----lung

• 1st line of bladder meridian • BL13----lung• BL15----heart• BL17----diaphragm• BL20----spleen• BL23----kidney

Anatomy observation• Points and blood and lymphatic vessels

• 309 points• 24 points right on the artery trunk 7.26%• 262 points close to artery and vein trunk 84.36%

• 361 points• 58 near to the artery trunk 16.1%• 87 near to superficial vein 24.7%

• points were observed by electrophoresis• some points right on the local lymph tissues

Anatomy observation• Points and muscles and tendons

• 62.5% of points right on the border of muscles

• the others were on the beginnings and endings of muscles and tendons or in the muscles and tendons

Histology observationST 36 and some other 34 points were observed byBlue-spot methodAll the blue spot were distributed in the deeptissues

Then observed the area 1.5 mm around blue spotNerves were seen 4 times, blood vessels were seen26 times

Conclusion: blood vessels had relation withneedling sensation

• LI4 and other 23 points • the areas 1.5mm around the needle

• the small nerve-tract, free nerve endings, small blood vessels and the nerves on their walls, corpuscula lamellosa and nerve trunks

• conclusion: the needling sensation was produced by the co-operation of many structures around the point

Speciality of point

• ST36, non-stomach meridian point, and a non-acupoint point

• effect on the frequency and amplitude of gastric peristaltic wave, gastric-tension and gastric emptying

• ST36 was the best

Speciality of point

• ST36 and BL57 of healthy people

• Post-meal serum gastrin

• ST36 serum gastrin increased remarkably

• BL57 changed a little

Speciality of point

• 37 women in child-birth with weakness of uterus contraction received needling on SP6, GB39 and ST36

• observed the height, width and distance between 2 waves of uterus contraction

• The result showed needling could increase the contraction

• SP 6 had the better effect than GB39 and ST36

Speciality of point

• Observed the surface electric resistance during menstruation circle

• the resistance increased obviously on SP6 during the stage of discharging an egg

Speciality of point

• Rabbits with slow heart rate caused by intravenous injection of acetylcholine

• PC 6 LU 7 a non-acupoint-point

• PC 6 > LU 7 • non-acupoint-point not any effect at all

Biophysics speciality of point

• Point and surface electricity• point and surface temperature

Point and surface electricity• PC6• non-acupoint-point on pericardium

meridian 5 cun above PC6• 1cm radial to PC6 • 1 cm radial to the non-acupoint-point

• Electric resistance • 2 points on the meridian < 2 non-

meridian points

Point and surface electricity• 15 healthy people • 15 patients with upper respiratory tract

inflammation • electric resistance determined on both

sides’ points of lung meridian• healthy people: same• patients: obvious difference

Point and surface electricity• 40 normal people • 40 gastritis patients • resistance determination on 12 Yuan points• normal people: same• patients: Yuan points of stomach and

spleen meridians were different from that of others

Point and surface electricity• 744 times’ observation on 31 rabbits• 676 lower resistance points

• conclusion: point has the speciality of lower resistance

Point and surface temperature• needling on GB34 with even

manipulation

• surface temperature

• GB40 and 1 cun below GB34: increased• LR4 and LI 3: without any change

Point and surface temperature

• 60 cases suffered from dampness-heat in liver

• 20 healthy people • surface temperature • LR3: patients’ temperature increased

1.55℃ than healthy people• BL18: patients’ temperature increased

0.70℃ than healthy people

Point and surface temperature• 38 cases with cancer and ulcer• back Shu points’ infrared photograph• coincide rate 95.12%

Diagnosis application of point

• 109 cases had tenderness on RN12, ST21 (right side) and BL50 (right side)

• 107 cases were diagnosed as duodenal ulcer by X-ray

Diagnosis application of point

• 105 cases of gastric diseases (gastritis, ulcer, cancer, etc.)

• tenderness

• ST36 and BL21 had higher positive rates• RN12 and GB34 were lower• BL20, RN13, SP9 and SP8 were lowest

Diagnosis application of point• both sides’ Xindaxi and Xinnexi to screen

cancers• positive: the difference of both sides’

temperature > 0.5 ℃ • Accuracy: 77.4%

• Xindaxi: 0.5 cun exterior and inferior to the midpoint of BL36 and BL40

• Xinneixi: 1 cun interior to Xindaxi

Summery