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PubMed2002

Head-centred meridian effect on auditory spatial attention orienting.

Six experiments examined the issue of whether one single system or separate systems underlie visual and auditory orienting of spatial attention. When auditory targets were used, reaction times were slower on trials in which cued and target locations were at opposite sides of the vertical head-centred meridian than on trials in which cued and target locations were at opposite sides of the vertical visual meridian or were not separated by any meridian. The head-centred meridian effect for auditory stimuli was apparent when targets were cued by either visual (Experiments 2, 3, and 6) or auditory cues (Experiment 5). Also, the head-centred meridian effect was found when targets were delivered either through headphones (Experiments 2, 3, and 5) or external loud-speakers (Experiment 6). Conversely, participants showed a visual meridian effect when they were required to respond to visual targets (Experiment 4). These results strongly suggest that auditory and visual spatial attention systems are indeed separate, as far as endogenous orienting is concerned.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Infrared thermography fails to visualize stimulation-induced meridian-like structures.

BACKGROUND: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the vital energy flows through a system of channels also called meridians. Generally accepted proof for meridians cannot be considered as being given. Goal of this study was to examine whether possible stimulation-induced meridian-like structures, as recently described by other authors, can be visualized and objectified simultaneously at different infrared wavelength ranges. METHODS: The study analyses evidence for the existence of acupuncture-specific, meridian-like artifacts in 6 healthy volunteers (mean age +/- SD 28.7 +/- 3.7 years; range 25 - 35 years). Two infrared cameras at different wavelength ranges were used for thermographic control of possible stimulation effects (moxibustion-cigar, infrared warmth stimulation, needle and laserneedle stimulation). In addition to thermography, temperature and microcirculatory parameters were registered at a selected point using laser-Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After moxibustion (or infrared light stimulation) of the body at 2 - 5 microm and 7.5 - 13 microm ranges, different structures appear on thermographic images of the human body which are technical artifacts and which are not identical to what are known as meridians in all textbooks of TCM. Further scientific studies are required regarding the possible visualization of meridians.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1983

[Characteristics of contralateral suppression along the vertical meridian].

A hypothesis has been advanced which suggests that the magnitude of suppression in binocular rivalry along the horizontal meridian is stronger at the center of the rivalrous pattern than at its peripheral. It was tested whether this hypothesis can be extended to the vertical meridian. Accuracy in detecting a briefly flashed target superimposed upon the completely suppressed pattern during binocular rivalry was measured at each of two target positions combined with two fixation positions along the vertical meridian (Exp. I). As a control experiment, target-detection performance in monocular observation was examined (Exp. II). The results obtained from one of the two subjects supported this hypothesis, although the effect of position within the rivalrous pattern was less marked than that obtained along the horizontal meridian. The results obtained from the other subject suggested that there was little difference in suppression effect between the center and the upper end of the pattern. These results suggest that the variation in suppression effect within the pattern along the vertical meridian is smaller than that along the horizontal meridian.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A study of electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction.

This study was designed to investigate the electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction. Ten obese including overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI > 26) and 30 healthy (non-overweight) people were recruited from Chung Yuan Christian University. The obese subjects were instructed to follow a weight reduction program that included diet control, exercise and oral intake of Prozac. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductances in 24 meridians of the obese group was statistically different from that of the healthy group (p < 0.05); (2) the average coefficient of variation of electrical conductance in the obese after weight reduction was significantly decreased than before the weight reduction program (p < 0.05); (3) the BMI and the electrical conductance of meridian was correlated in the obese (r = -0.77, p < 0.001) as well as in the healthy group (r = -0.92, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that electrical conductance of meridians can be a parameter to monitor weight, especially for obese people.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of acupuncture effect to chronic myofascial pain syndrome in the cervical and upper back regions by the concept of Meridians.

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the cervical and upper back regions is a common medical problem. The involved muscles include trapezius, multifidi, splenius cervicis, levator scapulae, supraspinatus or infraspinatus. Acupuncture is a well-known method for relief of chronic pain. In this study, we evaluated the effect of acupuncture in MPS and its durability by using the concept of meridians. Twenty-nine patients with chronic MPS in the upper back and cervical regions received acupuncture 2 times per week for 3 weeks. According to the pathways of the meridians, we chose acupuncture points by the pain regions located in which parts of meridian passing (i.e. "Where the meridian passes, where to treat the disease."). We evaluated the intensity of pain by visual analog scales (VAS) and active range of motion (ROM) of neck before and after therapy. After receiving acupuncture for 3 weeks, VAS of pain fell significantly from 9.0+/-1.0 to 4.9+/-2.5 and active ROM of neck significantly increased from 35.8+/-10.2 degrees to 61.3+/-9.4 degrees (p<0.05). The onset of symptom relief was gradual and duration of symptom relief after a course of acupuncture was average 5.3+/-1.2 days. In conclusion, acupuncture is a somewhat effective method for pain relief of patients with chronic MPS in the cervical and upper back regions. However, the effect of acupuncture with the concept of meridians on MPS is insidious and the duration of the relief is not long enough.

Acupuncture↗
PubMed2007

[Diuretic effect of injecting furosemide into low hydraulic resistance point Shuifen along the conception meridian in pigs with acute edema].

OBJECTIVE: To observe whether injection of medicine into low hydraulic resistance point along meridian brings about higher medicinal effect and to explore the efficacy of the theory that meridians are made up of channels featuring low hydraulic resistance by observing the diuretic effect of injecting furosemide or saline into the low hydraulic resistance point Shuifen (CV 9), vein and Zusanli (St 36) respectively. METHODS: Acute edema was induced in pigs by rapid intravenous injection of 2 000 ml normal saline. The pigs were divided into four groups: Shuifen (CV 9) injection of half dose furosemide group (SFF group), intravenous injection of full dose furosemide group (VF group), Zusanli (St 36) injection of full dose furosemide group (ZSLF group), and Shuifen (CV 9) injection of half dose normal saline group (SFS group). The accumulated urine quantity and the urine quantity generated in every 15-minute period were measured in each group respectively, every 15 minutes after injection, and the measurement lasted for two hours at one experiment. Each group involved eight times of experiments with one pig used for one experiment, which means the whole observation involved 32 times of experiments. RESULTS: The accumulated urine quantities observed in both SFF group and VF group were higher than those in the ZSLF group and the SFS group all through the measurement, showing significant differences during the period from the 15th minute to the 45th minute (P<0.05). But no significant difference was observed between the SFF group and the VF group during the whole 2-hour measurement (P>0.05). Analysis of urine quantity generated in every 15-minute period showed that diuretic effect climaxed during the 15th minute to the 30th minute in both SFF group and VF group. By contrast, ZSLF group reached diuresis climax during the 45th minute to 60th minute and no diuresis climax was observed in the SFS group all through the measurement. CONCLUSION: Injection of medicine into low hydraulic resistance point along meridian generates faster and more powerful medicinal potency, and this is likely to be applied to clinical practice. The theory that meridians are channels featuring low hydraulic resistance is important to the elucidation of meridians.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed2001

Forty-five cases of apoplexy treated by electroacupuncture at the points of yin meridians.

Forty-five cases of apoplexy were treated by electroacupuncture only at the points of Yin Meridians (i.e. the Hand- and Foot-Taiyin Meridians), and the other 30 cases as the controls were treated only at the points of Yang Meridians (i.e. the Hand- and Foot-Yangming Meridians). The total effective rate was 91.1% in the former and 86.7% in the latter, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups, indicating that acupuncture only at the points of Yin-Meridians is also an effective therapy for apoplexy.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed2003

[A new approach for exploring the essence of meridian].

The paper includes a brief review and evaluation of the progress in the research of the essence of meridian in China in the last two decades, in which the author suggests that more effort at all levels involving multiple disciplines needs to be investigated in the pursuit of this issue after the failure of prolonged research in the fields of histological anatomy. Microcosmic investigation, in particular, should be pursued making full use of the available achievement in molecular cell biology, genome research, biophysics and biochemistry and so forth, so as to build a solid plateform for making a breakthrough. The author urges the importance of research in the information carrier that regulates the meridian physiological network of the body. Based on the theories in cellular signal transduction and relevant experimental data, the author points out that the signal amplitude and frequency of intracellular Ca(2+) oscillations and intercellular Ca(2) wave elicited by specific acupuncture may contain information of the meridian routes and physiological function regulations. Through its binding proteins, Ca(2+) participates in almost all the physiological processes such as reproduction, metabolism, muscle contraction to cognition and memory. It is therefore hypothetically believed that Ca(2+) and inositol trisphosphate (IP(3), which is required for the propagation of intercellular Ca(2+) waves) can be the long-quested information carriers of the meridian physiological network, and they in conjunction with the gap-junction protein (connexon) build the material bases of the meridian. The author also specifies some possible directions of further study and experimental methods.

Calcium Signaling↗
PubMed2005

[Study on theory and clinical application of meridians (III)].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into essence of meridians. METHODS: To examine meridians, acupoints, brain and relative organs by SQUID and fMRI, and to analyze the results. CONCLUSION: A relative stable circular current of electromagnetic and chemical oscillation along the low electric resistance pathway was found. Competition of different frequency oscillation often yield resonance in some positions of the human body so as to form "oscillatory network" and "strange point" with the electromagnetic and chemical oscillation circulating dominant position in the body, which is possibly meridians and acupoints with regulative actions. The brain is the center of meridians. In different physiological or pathological process, characteristic changes and negatively correlative phenomenon of electromagnetic spectrum at acupoints and the brain are possibly key mechanisms in dynamic regulation of meridians.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed2006

[Impressions of reading "A new way for study of Meridian essence"].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into essence and concept of Meridian, and discuss with the author of the paper "A new way for study of Meridian essence". METHODS: Review courses of studies on Meridian and collaterals in the half century, and look up and analyze the literature. CONCLUSION: Theories of Meridian and Collaterals originate from Yin and Shang Dynasties, and are perfected in two Han Dynasties. Explaining the linking interiorly with zang- and fu-organs in the theories of Meridian and collaterals by means of modern anatomical physiology is inheriting the regulative theory of the urinary Bladder Channel of the Foot-Taiyang--the vegetative nerve.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

[Study on the visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body].

OBJECTIVE: To study on visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body. METHODS: Tube model-building method and computer technique were used, and data came from Voxel-Man dummy human body development platform. RESULTS: The visual effect of re-building Meridian is very good and it can display the different layers of anatomic structures on the Meridian lines. CONCLUSION: The visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body is preliminary realized, which provides data carriers for establishing the platform of Meridian study.

Human Body↗
PubMed1993

[Influence of mechanical pressure applied on the stomach meridian upon the effectiveness of acupuncture of zusanli].

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that meridians is the regulative system of the functional activity of the human body. According to the theory of meridians there is a relatively specific connection between the acupoint and viscus. Not a few researchers have paid much attention to this problem. Our previous report showed the mechanical pressure could block the borborygmi caused by puncturing Zusanli (ST 36) in the subjects with marked propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). This paper deals with experiments to compare the influence of pressing the meridian course and non-meridian point on electrogastrogram (EGG) during puncturing Zusanli in 33 subjects without PSM. The acupoint Liangqiu (ST 34) was selected as a compressed point and the points on its either side as controls. EGG was recorded with surface non-polarizable electrode from two abdominal points corresponding to the areas of corpus ventriculi and antrum pyloricum. The effect of acupuncture on EGG appeared in two kind of responses which depended on the amplitude of EGG before acupuncture. The amplitude of EGG increased if it was low before acupuncture. On the contrary, it decreased. The response was bi-directional. It is particular to be noticed that the acupuncture effect was markedly influenced by mechanical pressure. When the pressure was applied on acupoint Liangqiu the acupuncture effect markedly decreased, even disappeared. Whereas mechanical pressure was applied on the both side of Liangqiu, an influence on acupuncture effect of EGG could not be found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1996

Nasotemporal overlap at the retinal vertical meridian: investigations with a callosotomy patient.

To evaluate nasotemporal overlap at the retinal vertical midline, we asked a callosotomy patient to compare the orientation of square wave gratings that were presented in his opposing visual fields. The gratings were horizontally or vertically oriented and had spatial frequencies ranging from 1 to 8 cycles per degree (cpd). Retinal stabilization ensured the gratings remained properly lateralized during sustained presentations. In accord with previous investigations, when the gratings were presented for only 200 msec, or their medial edges were 2 from the vertical meridian, performance was generally at chance. However, when presentations lasted 2 sec and the medial edges of the gratings were 1 from the vertical meridian, above chance performance was obtained. Accuracy rates were highest with 2 and 4 cpd gratings, and dropped at 1 and 8 cpd. Unexpectedly, the subject performed significantly better when the gratings were offset vertically from each other than when both were displayed on the horizontal meridian. Since this improvement did not occur when gratings were presented horizontally aligned above or below the horizontal meridian, it must be distributed to the relative offset between the gratings. The data suggest a narrow zone of nasotemporal overlap at the retinal vertical midline where very limited visual information is encoded by crossed temporal and uncrossed nasal retinal ganglion cells. An experiment in which only one grating in a pair was close to the vertical meridian indicates that this zone may be more pronounced in the nasal hemiretina.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in human short-wavelength-sensitive and achromatic resolution acuity with retinal eccentricity and meridian.

Psychophysical measurements using achromatic grating resolution acuity in peripheral vision show a prominent retinal asymmetry in acuity which is consistent with predicted values based on available estimates of midget ganglion cell density. Recent studies have shown that peripheral grating resolution acuity values for short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) isolating gratings in normal observers are closely related to predicted values based on the underlying small bistratified ganglion cell density. By measuring SWS resolution acuity at different locations across the visual field, we wished to see if any significant acuity asymmetry exists for the short-wavelength system. In addition to this, we wanted to compare SWS and achromatic resolution acuity at different retinal locations of equal eccentricity. SWS and achromatic grating resolution acuity was measured in two observers at a number of different retinal meridians of 10- and 25-deg eccentricity from the fovea, and out to 35-deg eccentricity along the horizontal meridian. Achromatic resolution acuity was higher than SWS resolution acuity at all locations. At 10-deg eccentricity there was slight radial asymmetry in SWS and achromatic acuity, both displaying highest acuity along the horizontal meridian. At 25-deg eccentricity, SWS and achromatic acuity showed significant asymmetry with acuity being higher in the nasal retina compared to the temporal retina and with higher acuity in the superior retina compared to the inferior retina. At 35-deg eccentricity, the acuity asymmetry along the horizontal meridian was maintained with acuity for both significantly higher in the nasal retina. The SWS acuity changes with eccentricity and meridian were qualitatively similar to that found for achromatic acuity at the majority of retinal locations. Like achromatic acuity, SWS acuity shows significant asymmetry at different retinal locations of equal eccentricity. This suggests that both the midget and small bistratified ganglion cell population density changes significantly with retinal location and eccentricity. SWS acuity appears to change in parallel with achromatic acuity for the majority of retinal locations measured, although the amount of nasotemporal asymmetry appears to be slightly less for the SWS system at 25- and 35-deg eccentricity.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Development of the meridian-visualizing system that superimposes a bio-signal upon a body image.

The precise selection and the identification of acupuncture points are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in Oriental medicine. In this study, we have developed a meridian identification system using Single-Power Alternating Current (SPAC), which discriminates between true acupoints and non-acupoints. The SPAC system is not affected by skin resistance or pressure and is more accurate than the existing meridian location system, which uses direct current (DC) excitation current. The accuracy of the meridian location is ensured with the SPAC system because it has the highest sensitivity and the lowest effect on the human body. A microprocessor is used to enhance reliability and increase the accuracy of the SPAC measurements. Current distribution is displayed using an image that overlays the measured skin current on the body image. The positions of the acupoints are then displayed on the body image. This method visualizes the meridian by measuring skin current with an improved electrode using the acupoint discrimination system. A computer display shows the transmitted current as a color related to the electrode position. We demonstrated that by changing the point of measurement on the skin and tracing the electrode on the screen, it is possible to visualize acupoints and meridian phenomena using the color display.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1983

Changes in the electrical skin resistance on meridians during gastric surgery under general anesthesia.

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate how the skin resistance on accumulation points is modified by general anesthesia in gastric surgery and whether the stomach meridian shows particular changes or not. Ten patients were inducted with 5 mg/kg of thiopental and maintained with nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane. The skin resistance on 12 meridians decreased gradually from an average of 432 K alpha before anesthesia to an average of 266 K alpha at the end of surgery. However, the kidney and the bladder meridians showed a trend to exceptional increase by a maximum of 100 and 73 percent, respectively. The skin resistance on the stomach meridian showed only a 23 percent decrease and no particular changes. No significant difference was noted in the change rate of meridians between the Yin and Yang groups. Comparison of these changes with those under acupuncture or local anesthesia during ophthalmic surgery was discussed.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2005

[The effects of abdominal meridian massage on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea in full-time employed women].

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effects of abdominal meridian(Kyongrak) massage on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea. METHOD: Eighty-five women (of 110 screened) enrolled in this study and were employed full-time with more than 6.0 points (in 0-10.0 VAS scale) in menstrual cramps or more than 20 points on the dysmenorrhea scale (range 13-52). The forty-two participants in the experimental group received abdominal meridian massage for 5 minutes per day during 6 days from the fifth day before menstruation to the first day of menstruation and the forty-three participants in the control group didn't receive any treatment. Data were collected from June 1st to August 30th, 2003 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi2-test, and t-test. RESULT: Menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea of the experimental group were significantly lower after abdominal meridian massage than those of the control group (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Abdominal meridian(Kyongrak) massage was very effective for relief of menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea. Therefore, we suggest that abdominal Kyongrak massage can be a useful nursing intervention for women with menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1992

Practical application of meridian acupuncture treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.

This report evaluates the effect of meridian acupuncture treatment on trigeminal neuralgia. Ten patients aged 26 to 67 years (mean 55.4 years) who visited the outpatient Dental Anesthesiology Clinic at Tsurumi University Dental Hospital from 1985 to 1990 were studied. Five of the patients suffered from idiopathic and five from symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia. The patients underwent meridian treatment by acupuncture alone or acupuncture combined with moxibustion. The acupuncture method used was primarily basic treatment employing only needles without electrical stimulation. Meridian acupuncture treatments were repeated from two to four times a month. Five patients were restored to a pain-free state. The other five patients noted a decrease in pain, but with some level of pain remaining (significant pain in one patient). It is concluded that meridian acupuncture treatment is useful and can be one therapeutic approach in the management of trigeminal neuralgia.

Acupuncture Therapy↗