Blood Flow Effect of Acupuncture on the Human Meridian

Abstract

Background: It has been known for thousands of years that humans have meridian lines. Objective: To understand the effects of induction of Qi by acupuncture in the meridians. Design, Setting, and Patients: The study was performed in 56 healthy volunteers who were randomly selected from the university population at Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Taiwan. Blood flow at the acupoints of Lieque (LU 7) and Chize (LU 5) of the right hand, or a nonacupuncture point chosen freely near LU 5, was recorded. Intervention: Acupuncture stimulation of a human LU 7 point for about 15 seconds, until the De Qi sensation was achieved. Main Outcome Measure: Skin blood flow detected using a laser Doppler flowmeter. Results: When LU 7 was stimulated by acupuncture, the blood flow was increased after the De Qi sensation; as long as the participant was getting the emergence of a strong De Qi feeling or feeling a flow of numbness to reach LU 5, there was a visible peak of upward LU 5 blood flow. Conclusions: This hot, numb feeling that developed within a few minutes after acupuncture was most likely caused by the circulation of tissue fluid inside the meridian.

Plausible Biomedical Consequences of Acupuncture Applied at Sites Characteristic of Acupoints in the Connective-Tissue-Interstitial-Fluid System

“…Blood flow in the palmar subcutaneous tissue of the acupunctured arm was also increased [79]. Moreover, acupuncture was performed at LU7 of 56 subjects [80], and the skin blood flow was found to be raised along the track from LU7 to LU5, using a laser Doppler flowmeter.…”

A mathematical model of mast cell response to acupuncture needling

“…Some stimulants aim at triggering action potential to nearby nerve endings, that can lead for example to liberate opioids and analgesic in the brain [6]. Some stimulants increase the blood vessel lumen as well as its permeability and increase blood flow rate after reaching the heart [12] [13]. Then, to maintain a high level of the acupuncture response of mast cells, the chemoattractant participates in cell recruiting of neighbouring mast cells.…”