Stimuli-induced NOergic Molecules and Neuropeptides Mediated Axon Reflexes Contribute to Tracers along Meridian Pathways.

An abundance of studies from different international groups have demonstrated tracers along linear pathways resembling meridians over the body surface of humans. All experiments of the studies have been conducted by injection of a radiotracer solution or tracer dyes in a volume of solution into acupuncture points (acupoints). The solution injected into acupoints produces much stronger mechanical stimuli than acupuncture, which causes axon reflex. Anatomical studies have demonstrated that acupoints/meridians exist higher number of small nerve fibers and blood vessels with rich nitric oxide (NO) and neuropeptides in the cutaneous tissues as structures for the biomolecules mediated axon reflexes. Recent advances have determined that NO and calcitonin generelated peptides play crucial roles in the comprehension of the axon reflex. The stimuli-evoked axon reflex and NOergic biomolecules/neuropeptides increase local blood flow with higher levels in acupoints/meridians, which move radioactive substances or tracer dyes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue under a linear path resembling acupoints and meridians, the important phenomena of meridians induced by the stimuli. The evidence and understanding of the biomolecular processes of the tracers along linear pathways resembling meridians have been summarized with an emphasis on recent developments of NO and neuropeptides mediating stimuli-evoked axon reflexes to increase local blood flow with higher levels in acupoints/meridians, which move radioactive substances or tracer dyes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue contributing to tracers along linear pathways resembling meridians in this mini-review.

Comparison of the Effects of Myofascial Meridian Stretching Exercises and Acupuncture in Patients with Low Back Pain.

Background: Acupuncture and myofascial meridians show great anatomical and clinical compatibility. Objectives: We aimed to compare the effects of myofascial meridian stretching exercises and acupuncture in patients with low back pain. Methods: We randomized 81 subjects with acute/subacute low back pain into three groups: an acupuncture (A) group, a myofascial meridian stretching (MMS) group, and a control (C) group. We recorded the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Roland- Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) scores at baseline and weeks two and six. We evaluated posterior pelvic tilt and transversus abdominis muscle strenghth with a pressure biofeedback unit, back extensor muscle strength by the Sorenson test, and lumbar range of motion (ROM) with an inclinometer. Group A received acupuncture (BL 57 and BL 62 acupoints) and stretching exercises according to the posterior superficial line were applied to the MMS group. Results: Improvements in the NRS score were more prominent in group A than in group C (p = 0.004). The RMQ score improvement between baseline and weeks two and six was more prominent in groups A and MMS (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). The Sorenson test showed significant improvement between the baseline and week two in groups A and MMS (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, respectively). The increase in lumbar ROM measurement in the MMS group between baseline and week two was significantly higher than in groups A and C (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Stretching exercises according to the myofascial meridian system and acupuncture contributed to improved symptoms in the first two weeks in patients with acute/subacute low-back pain.

[Study on the white channel system carved on the wooden acupoint figurine of Laoguanshan: comments on lacquer-coating acupoint figure].

There are two systems as the red channel system and the white channel system carved or painted on the wooden figurine of Laoguanshan of Benque school. The two systems are horizontally staggered each other without overlapped. The red channel system, similar to Shuangbaoshan wooden figurine, have channels, but without points. For the white channel system, the running courses of channels result from the sensation distributions of the points after optional stimulation. The Laoguanshan wooden figurine focuses on the illustration of the white channel system, named as white channel figurine. Compared with the Shuangbaoshan red channel figurine, together with examples, such as the running course of the white channel related to the meridian of heart-transfer-point, the white channel related to the belt vessel linking to lung-transfer-point, stomach-transfer-point and kidney-transfer-point, as well as the corresponding photographs. It is indicated that the Laoguanshan white channel figurine is a training aid for testing the sensation marching along channel (SMC) caused by transfer-point stimulation. The white channel system is a flexible way of channel. The study aims to observe the QI/SMC reaching the affected area and contributes to clinical practice. This discovery is not related to the "intermediate link theory" in the Yellow Emperor meridian system.

[Hypothesis of "sinew-meridian system"].

The author provides the hypothesis on the "sinew-meridian system" in terms of the physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of meridians and sinew-meridians. Meridians are nourished with blood and sinew-meridians are softened with yang qi. Meridians are circulated in linear form and sinew-meridians are distributed in centripetal state. Meridians are communicated externally and internally and sinew-meridians are connected with tendons and bones. Meridians pertain to zangfu organs and sinew-meridians stabilize zangfu organs. Meridians nourish five sensory organs and sinew-meridians moisten nine orifices. Meridians are characterized as nourishment and sinew-meridians as solidity. Meridians emphasize the conditions of either deficiency or excess, and sinew-meridians as either cold or heat. The meridian disorder is located deeply and of complex and sinew-meridian's is located superficially and of simplicity. The meridian disorder is difficult to treat and with poor therapeutic effect and the sinew-meridian disorder is easy to treat and with rapid therapeutic effect. The "sinew-meridian system" composes of meridian-collateral system and tendon-skin system, in which the meridian-collateral system includes the twelve meridians, eight extra meridians and fifteen collaterals, being relevant with nutrition and blood, acting on transporting qi, blood and message; the tendon-skin system includes twelve sinew-meridians and twelve meridians of cutaneous regions, being relevant with defensive qi, acting on governing the motor function and protecting the body.

Acupuncture Meridian of Traditional Chinese Medical Science: An Auxiliary Respiratory System.

The acupuncture meridian system (AMS) is the key concept of Traditional Chinese Medical Science (TCMS). It is a natural network formed by the tissue space that connects human viscera and skin. In this article, a new hypothesis that the AMS is an auxiliary respiratory system is presented. The AMS collects the CO2 that is produced by tissue supersession and that cannot be excreted via blood circulation, and discharges the CO2 through the body's pores, thus preventing a pressure increase in the internal environment. Thus, local blood circulation will not be blocked, and the body will remain healthy. In addition to neuroregulation and humoral regulation, AMS regulation is an important method of physiological regulation. Furthermore, the pathological principle of the AMS, therapies of TCMS, and the excellent future of the AMS are discussed.

The mechanism of auriculotherapy: a case report based on the fractal structure of meridian system.

BACKGROUND: Chinese meridian system of acupuncture has recently been deciphered as the fractal continuum of neurovascular bundles and its smaller branches. The corresponding acupuncture mechanism of therapeutics has been attributed to the magneto-electric inductive effects of the meridian system via chaotic wave of nerve innervations and blood flow. Hence, based on the proposed theory, the important sensory organ of the ears should be able to exert its influence on visceral organs and peripheral limbs. This investigation aims to verify if such a possible correlation exists between an external region of the ear and the muscle of biceps brachii in the French auriculotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A region between the points of elbow and shoulder in the scaphoid fossa (upper arm), was chosen. Before the recording of surface electromyograms (EMGs), of the muscle of biceps brachii, two subjects were asked to carry out maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs), of the arm. In addition, the same volunteers would be served as control group. Consequently, each subject was required to perform the three treatments of control, sham, and acupressure in random order. EMG signals were recorded for later analysis. RESULTS: Results indicate that the acupressure with finger at a specific point which bears possibly with a somatopic relation to the biceps brachii muscle can, in a man, modify the response of the EMGs associated with the corresponding muscle while the response of the acupressure of a sham point has different responses. Moreover, the MVIC parameters were higher in acupressure treatment than those of control and sham treatments for both subjects. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the analysis of the findings permits us to speculate that the stimulation with the fingers in the scaphoid fossa of the ear presents electromyographic responses related to the biceps brachii muscle. Hence, the mechanism of French auriculotherapy could be derived from the same principle as that of the Chinese acupuncture.

A study of Sa-Ahm's thoughts on the four-needle acupuncture technique with the five-element theory.

In order to study Sa-Ahm's underlying thoughts on the basis of Yin-Yang and the five-element theory, the 12 acupuncture meridian systems and eight extra meridian systems were investigated in detail. The clinical acupuncture points for Sa-Ahm's four-needle acupuncture technique were also reviewed. The forms of the combinations using the five Shu acupuncture points, which are based on the promotion and control cycles with tonification and sedation, were shown to connect to the acupuncture points, which represent the meridian system itself. However, not all of Sa-Ahm's clinical cases were fully explained by this doctrine, so the five correlations among the meridian systems and the acupuncture points that affect the clinical treatment and the occurrence of disease were determined. The mutual efficacies for Sa-Ahm's clinical cases can be analyzed and explained with correlativity diagrams that include five interrelations.

The meridian system and mechanism of acupuncture: a comparative review. Part 3: Mechanisms of acupuncture therapies.

The human body is a hierarchical organism containing many levels of mutually interacting oscillatory systems. From the viewpoint of traditional Chinese medicine, health is a state of harmony emergent from the interactions of these systems and disease is a state of discord. Hence, human diseases are considered as disturbed functions rather than changed structures. Indeed, the change from normal to abnormal structure may be beneficent rather than maleficent. For example, when one kidney becomes twice the normal size following the destruction of the other kidney, it is good and not bad for us because we might be dead otherwise. Therefore, in Part 3 of this three-part series, emphasis is mainly laid on the acupuncture mechanisms of treating disturbed physiological functions rather than disordered structures. At first, the basic tenets of conventional neuroscience and cardiology are reevaluated so that clear understanding of how nervous and cardiovascular systems work together can be obtained. Then, the general principles of diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine from the integrative perspective of complex dynamic systems are proposed. Finally, mechanisms of acupuncture therapies for treating 14 different categories of disorders will be elucidated via the magneto-electric inductive effects of the meridian system.