RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the specificity of the relevant points along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis through the synchronous observation of the tenderness reaction and tenderness threshold on the back along the governor vessel in the volunteers with chronic gastritis and make the comparison with healthy volunteers. METHODS: A chronic gastritis group and a healthy volunteer group were prepared, 30 cases in each one. Using synchronous comparison, the tenderness reaction at the point inferior to each of the spinous processes from T1 to L3 along the governor vessel was observed. The mechanical pressure pain threshold was determined. RESULTS: Regarding the tenderness reaction at the point inferior to each spinous process on the back along the governor vessel, the occurrence rate was different significantly between the chronic gastritis group and the healthy volunteer group (P<0.01). The tenderness threshold at the point inferior to each spinous process from T1 to L3 along the governor vessel in the chronic gastritis group was lower than the healthy volunteer group, the tenderness thresholds from T4 to T9 and T12 were different significantly between the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The tenderness reaction at the point inferior to each spinous process on the back along the governor vessel presented the significant negative correlation with the tenderness threshold in the chronic gastritis group (P<0.01), and the correlation was not displayed in the healthy volunteer group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The point inferior to the spoinous process of T4 on the governor vessel, Shendao (GV 11, T5) and Lingtai (GV 10, T6) are the points with the high specificity in chronic gastritis, which provides the reference to clinical treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion. The occurrence rate of high tenderness reaction and the low tenderness threshold may be the important manifestation of the point specificity on the back along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis.