OBJECTIVETo find out the regular pattern of pain reaction by pressing along the Governor Vessel at the levels of T3 to L4 on the back in patients with digestive system disease, so as to provide references for diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSThirty patients diagnosed with digestive system disease by gastroscopy and colonoscopy as well as 16 patients with digestive symptoms without accurate diagnosis by endoscopy checks were observed. Pressing was applied from Zhiyang (GV 9) to Yaoyangguan (GV 3), including non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel. Positive reaction was recognized since pain, soreness or distension sensation appeared in the space between the spinous process.

RESULTSThe positive ratios of 30 patients with endoscopy checks and 16 without the check accounted for 100.0%. The tender spots, usually 5 to 9 in number, were mainly focused on the relative acupoints and non-acupoints along the Governor Vessel from T6 to T10.

CONCLUSIONThe pain reaction from Lingtai (GV 10) to Zhongshu (GV 7), which are at the level of T6 to T10, along the Governor Vessel is closely related with digestive system disease. And it can be regarded as function criterion of the digestive system and important reference of auxiliary diagnosis.