Light propagation along the pericardium meridian at human wrist as evidenced by the optical experiment and Monte Carlo method.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of light propagation along the Pericardium Meridian and its surrounding areas at human wrist by using optical experiment and Monte Carlo method. METHODS: An experiment was carried out to obtain the distribution of diffuse light on Pericardium Meridian line and its surrounding areas at the wrist, and then a simplified model based on the anatomical structure was proposed to simulate the light transportation within the same area by using Monte Carlo method. RESULTS: The experimental results showed strong accordance with the Monte Carlo simulation that the light propagation along the Pericardium Meridian had an advantage over its surrounding areas at the wrist. CONCLUSION: The advantage of light transport along Pericardium Merdian line was related to components and structure of tissue, also the anatomical structure of the area that the Pericardium Meridian line runs.

Effect of Ren meridian acupoints moxibustion on light propagation along the pericardium meridian at human wrist.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between acupoints and meridians. METHODS: Researches were performed on 45 healthy people under the same conditions. The diffuse light intensity of the Pericardium meridian and its surrounding areas were measured before and after warming moxibustion on three acupoints [Shimen (RN5), Qihai (RN6), and Yinjiao (RN7)] of Ren meridian below umbilicus in the same way. Then two sets of data of each sample were used for statistics and analysis, as well as the three-dimensional distribution figures. Statistical definition of probability value was used to evaluate the effect made by moxibustion. RESULTS: After moxibustion, the diffuse light intensity presented significant changes in 25 samples (P<0.05), enhanced in 15 people (P<0.05) and decreased in 10 (P<0.05). It was consistent with the classification by questionnaire interviews of somatotypes. In addition, diffuse light changed more obviously on Pericardium than non-meridian areas. It was distinct in the three-dimensional distribution figures. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse light changes happened in entire measure sites demonstrated that acupoints of Ren meridian moxibustion could affect the light propagation of wrist, especially on the Pericardium meridian. It gave an expression to meridians interconnection as said in the Chinese medicine theory. The two classifications made by light propagation changes were experimental corroboration of that personal physical differences affected the manipulation of Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. These above provided some implications or new directions to future meridian researches.

Effects of laser irradiation of acupuncture points Shenshu on ovariectomized rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effect of laser acupuncture on obesity in postmenopausal women remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this form of treatment using an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into seven groups: normal control (Normal), sham-operation control (Sham), ovariectomized (OVX) control rats (OVX), OVX rats treated with estrogen (OVX + E), and three groups of ovariectomized rats treated with laser acupuncture (OVX + L). Bilateral ovaries were removed to decrease estrogen levels. After 2 wk, semiconductor laser irradiation was administered to bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) acupoints of rats in the three OVX + L groups at 12, 30, and 60 J/cm(2), respectively. Changes in body weight and pituitary estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA expression were analyzed. Morphological differences in the uterus and pituitary glands were also observed. RESULTS: The OVX group exhibited marked weight gain and a significant decrease in pituitary ERα mRNA expression. Semiconductor laser irradiation at 30 J/cm(2) reduced body weight and increased ERα expression compared with the control, whereas irradiation at 12 or 60 J/cm(2) presented slightly weaker effects. Significant differences in pituitary ERß mRNA were not observed due to lack of optical density data. CONCLUSIONS: The semiconductor laser irradiation of bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) acupoints can exert beneficial effects on OVX rats through reducing body weight and increasing pituitary ERα expression, and 30 J/cm(2) was the most effective dose among those used.