The Effects of Natural Chinese Medicine Aconite Root, Dried Ginger Rhizome, and Coptis on Rectal and Skin Temperatures at Acupuncture Points

Abstract

The 4 properties of Chinese materia medica refer to cold, hot, warm, and cool. In the present study, the effects of the Coptis, the prepared aconite root, and dried ginger rhizome were compared with regard to the rectal and skin temperature changes of the related body surface acupuncture points (Dazhui, Zhiyang, Mingmen, Zhongwan, and Shenque). The investigation aimed to explore the thermal sensitive points, which can reflect the cold and hot properties of the Chinese herbs. This study showed that the prepared aconite root and dried ginger rhizome exhibited a warming effect on the body temperature, whereas the warming sensitive points were Zhongwan, Shenque, Dazhui, and Zhiyang. Coptis exhibited both a warming and a cooling effect on the body temperature, and the cooling sensitive point was Dazhui. The concomitant effect of these three Chinese herbs on the regulation of the body temperature was reflected by Dazhui. However, there are still some limitations and one-sidedness. For instance, the cold and hot property of some herbs cannot be fully reflected through relevant acupoints on the conception and governor vessels. More detecting sites such as ears and internal organs will be selected for further exploration of Chinese herbs' cold and hot property.

The Yin-Yang Property of Chinese Medicinal Herbs Relates to Chemical Composition but Not Anti-Oxidative Activity: An Illustration Using Spleen-Meridian Herbs

“…In order to maintain a homeostasis in our body, the herbs with cold nature, also known as Yin-stimulating herbs, were generally used to treat hot diseases like inflammation, while the herbs with nature of warm and hot, belonging to Yang-stimulating herbs, were good for various types of deficiency ( Fu et al, 2017a ). In recent years, the works on chemical properties of TCMs has made a significant progress, and new ideas have been proposed, e.g., molecular drug hypothesis ( Fu et al, 2017b ), biodynamics ( Yang et al, 2017 ), genetic hypothesis ( Rezapour-Firouzi, 2017 ), transient receptor potential channel hypothesis ( Bishnoi et al, 2018 ). Indeed, many of these newly proposed methods have been adopted and improved, including micro-calorimetry ( Gao et al, 2014 ), mathematical modeling ( Ramirez-Rodrigues et al, 2011 ), biophoton detection ( Han et al, 2011 ; Zhao and Han, 2013 ).…”