[Understanding of the theories of biaoben, genjie and qijie in the correlation with meridians and zangfu organs].

Based on the original text of Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the theories of biaoben, genjie and qijie are analyzed deeply and the practical significance is explored on the correlation with meridians and zangfu organs. Biaoben, genjie and qijie represent respectively the relevant rules between the body surface and internal organs in different patterns and they are the foundation of the multiple correlations of the upper and the lower, the internal and the external and the horizontal and the transverse between meridians and zangfu organs. The understanding above not only contributes to the recognition and the exploration of the relevant essence of meridians and zangfu organs, but also provides the theoretic guidance to the acupoint selection, diagnosis and treatment of zangfu disorders in clinical practice.

Effect of acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) moxibustion on the first stage of labor and uterine contractive pain in primiparae.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) moxibustion (S-Mox) on the duration of the first labor stage and uterine contractive pain in primiparae. METHODS: Sixty primipara women in labor were equally assigned according to their choice to three groups: women in the S-Mox group received bilateral S-Mox for 30 min, women in the non-acupoint group received moxibustion (Mox) applied on non-acupoints for 30 min, and those in the control group did not receive Mox intervention. The duration of the first labor stage was recorded and the degree of labor pain was estimated by a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after Mox. RESULTS: The duration of the first stage active phase in the S-Mox group was significantly shorter than that in the other two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the VAS score after Mox was lower in the S-Mox group, showing a statistical difference in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Applying S-Mox could markedly shorten the active phase of the first stage of labor and lower the VAS score of uterine contractive pain, which means alleviating the pain caused by vaginal delivery. Its mechanism is worthy of further study.

[Effect of needling "Housanli" (ST 36) with different retaining-needle time on the pain threshold of mice using the hot water tail-flick test].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of needling "Housanli" (ST 36) with different retaining-needle time on the pain threshold of mice using the hot water tail-flick test, and investigate the relationship between the retaining-needle time and the therapeutic effect. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy mice were randomly divided into four groups: no retaining-needle group (group A), retaining-needle 10 min group (group B), retaining-needle 20 min group (group C) and retaining-needle 30 min group (group D), with 6 mice for each group. After acupuncture "Housanli", the tail of mouse was put into the hot water at 50 degrees C, and the intervening time from the tail entered water to the tail flicked out of water was recorded and analyzed for each group. RESULTS: After acupuncturing "Housanli", the pain threshold was significantly improved with the hot water tail-flick test in both group A and group C (both P<0.01), however, there was no significant difference in both group B and group D (both P>0.05). Within 30 min of retaining-needle, the effect curve of acupuncture analgesia was showed in a waved line. In contrast, the maximum value of latent period on the tail-flick was detected in the group C that was the biggest effect of acupuncture analgesia among the four groups. CONCLUSION: The best retaining-needle time of hand-acupuncture for acupuncture analgesia is 20 min.