The di-zhen (DZ) is an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back more than 2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted subcutaneously, and is safely and commonly used at the bedside. The mechanisms underlying its effects are not known. In this study, we measured sublingual and cutaneous body temperature, pulse rate, oxygen pressure (PO 2 ), oxygen saturation (SO 2 ) and carbon dioxide pressure (PCO 2 ) before and after DZ application in 25 healthy male volunteers. Serum levels of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine) and white blood cells (WBCs; ratio and number) were traced for one week. Soon after DZ application, pulse rate, body temperature, PO 2 and SO 2 all decreased. The serum levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline increased, indicating sympathetic dominance, and the number of granulocytes was elevated. One week after DZ application, the number of lymphocyte increased. We therefore suggest that DZ affects body temperature, pulse rate, catecholamine secretion and immune function by inducing transient sympathetic dominance via actions on the autonomic nervous system. These effects are similar to the effects observed with modern needles, which are inserted subcutaneously. Therefore, we consider DZ treatment to be advantageous and safe in modern clinical practice, especially in postsurgical and terminal care, as it avoids the issues with infection and tissue damage sometimes seen with modern acupuncture needles.

The di-zhen (DZ) is an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back to more than 2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted subcutaneously and is considered to be safe for common use, even at the bedside of terminally ill patients. In this case study, DZ application was selected and applied 14 times on a 92-year-old patient who had suffered severe oliguria along with administration of diuretics. Urine volume increased 12 out of 14 times following DZ treatment; however, the other two times it was ineffective. To investigate the reason and the differences in effective/ineffective DZ application, two internal conditions (effective vs ineffective) were compared by analyzing daily nursing reports (vital signs such as blood pressure, urine volume and body temperature) and weekly clinical data (including renal, liver and immune function, urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, AST, the ratio and number of leukocytes, erythrocytes). DZ application increased urine volume via a transient modification of the autonomic nervous system when internal homeostasis was maintained. Aging populations, who often have several diseases and medications, are rapidly increasing in developed countries. Therefore, the study and application of DZ may contribute to a reduction in medical costs, which have been rapidly and heavily expanding recently.

Skin rubdown using a dry towel (SRDT) to scrub the whole body is a traditional therapy for health promotion. To investigate its mechanism, 24 healthy male volunteers were studied. Body temperature, pulse rate, red blood cells (RBCs), serum levels of catecholamines and cortisol, blood gases (PO 2 , sO 2 , PCO 2 and pH), lactate and glucose, and the ratio and number of white blood cells (WBCs) were assessed before and after SRDT. After SRDT, pulse rate and body temperature were increased. PO 2 , sO 2 and pH were also increased and there was no Rouleaux formation by RBCs. Lactate level tended to increase, whereas that of glucose did not. Adrenaline and noradrenaline levels increased, indicating sympathetic nerve (SN) dominance with increase in granulocytes. WBC number and ratio were divided into two groups according to granulocyte ratio (≤ or < 60%) before SRDT: a normal group and a SN group. Only in the SN group did the granulocyte ratio decrease and the lymphocyte ratio and number increase after SRDT. It is suggested that SRDT is a mild aerobic, systemic exercise that might affect the immune system via the autonomic nervous system. Skin rubdown using a dry towel (SRDT) to scrub the whole body, called 'kanpu-masatsu' is popular in Japan. It is said that it became common in 1940 as a prevention against infectious respiratory diseases in elementary educational institutions; however, its origin is unknown (6). At present, officer candidates in the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force practice it every morning, as do students in elementary schools and kindergartens, where it is required as part of the winter daily schedule to prevent asthma and colds. SRDT thus remains popular nationwide as a health promoting therapy.SRDT has parallels with other traditional oriental therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, all of which stimulate the skin. These therapies have much supporting evidence for their effects in preventing colds, enhancing immunity, increasing blood flow, activating natural killer cells via somato-autonomic reflexes, and improving metabolism via the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (5,8,9,12,(22)(23)(24). However, there have been insufficient studies of the effects of SRDT. There is a report that SRDT activates natural killer cells (6), but the subjects of that study were limited to bedridden elderly patients, and SRDT was performed not by the subjects themselves but by their nursing personnel. In the present study, healthy volunteers were investigated. We assessed body temperature