Though I have been an acupuncturist, I was given an opportunity to study the effects of acupuncture to neurotransmitter, peripheral blood flow, heart stroke volume and immunological changes using noninvasive method in human beings.
However, from the view of my daily clinical work, I have a question whether the effects of acupuncture can be proved using this kind of modern scientific method or not.
In contrast to modern science, according to the basic theory of acupuncture moxibustion, we see a body and a spirit exist simultaneously in human being, not be able to separate. Moreover, acupuncture requires not only theory but also meticulous techniques to treat patients. I have tried to comprehend the real meaning of acupuncture by studying Qui from literature and I found out Qui was not understandable in the Western medicine.
Therefore, in my opinion, modern science is obviously necessary and important for studying the effects of acupuncture, however, it seems almost impossible to resolve the real effects of acupuncture using modern scientific methods.
To become possible to resolve this problem, new method of study which includes ideas of Michael Polani's “tacit dimension” and Imanishi Kinji's analogy needs to develop in the near future.

we have studied changes in both cardiac performance and the peripheral circulation in order to investigate cardiovascular influences due to electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAP) at the two meridian acupoint (Pericadium and Large Intistine) related to cardiovascular activities.
1) No significant changes were seen in blood pressure and heart rate after EAP at NAIKANGEKIMON (P4-6). However, the impedanve SV and CO were increased markedly with the same consition of EAP.
2) As for stroke volume and cardiac output, EAP had greater effects than dopamine 4μg/kg/min and dobutamine 8μg/kg/min and had almost the same effect as Haemaccel 2ml/kg.
3) No significant changes were seen in blood gas tensions or electrolytes but plasma colloidal osmotic pressure tended to decrease.
4) After EAP at GOKOKU-TESANRI (LI4-10), radial artery was Belated: and the constrictive response of radial artery under the influence of autonomic nerves remained as normal.
5) Sequential changes capillary blood flow were increased as same as the radial artery flow by the effect of EAP.
6) Concerning EAP effects on cardiac performance and peripheral blood circulation EAP at P4-6 LI4-10 induced significant changes but at non-acupoint had no significant effects.

The relationship between the Thalamus and the Meridians has been studied using Bi-Digital O-Ring test and the neurotransmitters (GABA, Adrenalin, Noradrenaline, Serotonin, Acetylcholin and Dopamin).
Hypothalamus tissue was added to the neurotransmitters in order to increase the response.
The Thalamus was divided in the six anatomically groups: Anterior, Medial and Lateral nuclear group, Medial and Lateral geniculate body and Pulvinar.
The Lung, Heart, Small Intestine, Sanjiao and the Liver Meridians were found to be connected to the Lateral geniculate body.
The Large Intestine, Spleen, Kidney and the Gall Bladder Meridians were found to be connected to the Medial geiculate body.
The Stomach, and Bladder were found to be connected to the Medial nuclear group. The Pericardium were found to be connected to the Lateral nuclear group.
The results indicate that the Meridians are connected to the Central Nervous System.

The relationship between the Cerebral Cortex and the Meridians was studied using Bi-Digital O-Ring test plus neurotransmitter and tissue from Hypothalamus or from the Paraventricular nucleus and Supaoptic nucleus.
The Lung meridian is found to be connected with the Brodmann-area 38, the, Hert with area 10, the Small Intestine with area 5, the Sanjiao with area 45, the Liver with area 17, the Large Intestine with area 44, the Spleen with area 23, the Kidney with area 20, the Gall Bladder with area 3, the Stomach with area 40, the Bladder with area 22 and the Pericardium with area 6.

The course of the Spleen Meridian has been studied using to different test: Bi-Digital O-Ring Test plus the neurotransmitter adrenalin or tissue from spleen and pancreas.
No difference was found between the two tests and both were found to connected to the Medial Geniculate Boddy of the thalamus and area 23 of the Cerebral Cortex.
In the peripheral course of the meridian the result of the test was identical except from one part.
When pancreas tissue was used, the spleen meridian was found to start at the hallux. When spleen tissue was used, the spleen meridian was found to start 2mm from the lateral border of the hallux.
In both cases the course of the meridian followed the Large Intestine Meridian.
A branch was found to go from Large Intestine 6 to Pericardiur 4.
The spleen-pancreas meridian ended at Large Intestine 1, although in some cases it ended on the medial side of the finger.
In both cases the course of the spleen meridian continued to the head.
Between triple heater 17 and small lntestine 17 their course was found to be mutual. At this point the spleen-pancreas test-meridian stopped, while spleen-spleen test meridian continued to stomach 9.

The imaging of governor and conception vessel meridians was carried not by bi-digital-O-ring test (ORT) using neurotransmitters.
Governor vessel meridian and conception vessel meridian reacted to the hypophysis (GABA) and the hypophysis (adrenalin), respectively.
Centers of the former and latter meridians corresponded to subthalamic nucleus, and cerebrum corresponded to Brodmann's area 46.
Points of intersection of governor and conception vessel meridians in the cephalic region intersected Paihui, in the genital region, they intersected the dorsal root region of penis for male and the dorsal root region of clitoris for female.
For Paihui, external and internal circumferential circles reacted to hypophysis and Central gray respectively, and anterior and posterior halves of the remaining inner part reacted to substantia nigra and liver, respectively.
Bladder meridian does not intersect Paihui, but branch pulse of bladder (GABA) meridian entered from the rear (near Lochueh). Central gray runs oblique-anteriorly from Paihui and intersected bladder meridian.
The reactive point of hippocampus corresponds to just below Naohu, i. e. below protuberantia occipitalis externa, and circumferential circle reacts to medulla at hypophysis (GABA); superior and inferior halves of the inner part react to medulla and hyppocampus, respectively.
The reactive point of corpus amygdaloideum corresponds to subnasal point, which is somewhat above point, and the circumference of meridian point corresponds to hypophysis (adrenalin); superior and inferior halves of the inner part react to corpus amygdaloideum and sinoatrial node (heart constrictor meridian), respectively.

Imaging of the brain was carried by means of the bi-digital-O-ring test (ORT) with tissue in each region using neurotransmitters.
Frontal lobe (Brodmann's area 11) starts around Hsinhui, runs oblique-extero-posteriorly in parallel to the bladder (GABA) meridian and arrives at or around the area above Tienchu.
Parietal lobe (Brodmann's area 4) starts from around Chienting, runs oblique-extero-posteriorly through the inner side of the frontal lobe (meridian) and arrives at or around the area above Tienchu.
Central gray indicates Paihui. Central gray runs from Paihui oblique-extero-anteriorly, intersects the bladder (GABA) meridian around Chengkuang (Tungtien in some cases), runs further oblique-extero-posteriorly, intersects the bladder meridian (serotonin), and runs all over the body.
Mesencephalon (tissue excised along the line including red nucleus) starts from around Chiangchien, runs oblique-entero-posteriorly, intersects the bladder meridian and arrives at or around Fengchin.
Occipital lobe (Brodmann's area 17) starts from the intermediate of Chiangchien and Naohu, ruus oblique-extero-posterioly, intersects the bladder meridian, and arrives at or around Fengchin.
Pons (tissue excised along the line including nucleus ceruleus) starts from around Naohu, and arrives at Fengchin in the same manner as noted with the occipital lobe.
Medulla (tissue excised along the line including inferior Olivary nucleus at the swollen part) starts from immediately below external occipital protuberance, and arrives at or around Fengchin in the same manner as noted with the occipital lobe. The upper half of this meridian point reacts with medulla, while the lower half of the same reacts with hippocampus.
Temporal lobe (Brodmann's area 21) starts from around Hsuanlu, runs through the temple, and arrives at or around Wanku, or in some cases joins to the bladder (serotonin).
Cerebellum (tissue excised along the line including dentate nucleus) starts from the Governor vessel meridian at a level of the second cerebral vertebra, and arrives at the level of the 4th cervical vertebra.
From the above it was suggested that meridians on the Governor vessel of the cephalocervical region, the meridian above Tienchu, Tienchu, and Fengchin are useful for treatment of diseases related to the central nerve system.

So far when the ORT has been used for identification of meridians and acupoints a piece of the palm of the test person.
In the present study we examined the usefullness of adding a neurotransmitter (dopamine, adrenalin, noradrenalin, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine) to the tissue sample.
It was found that this procedure led to an increased accuracy in the identification of meridians and acupoints.
The study suggests that sdding neurotransmitters to the tissue sample improves the usefullness of the ORT.

In order to study the hemodynamic effect of electrical acupuncture (EAP), we have investigated the changes of cephalic vein blood flow (V_BF), capillary blood flow (C_BF), bilateral palm temperature (PT), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) due to EAP (at LI_4-10) and compared them with the changes due to a rapid infusion (0.4ml/kg/min) of 3.5% modified gelatine solution (Haemaccel^®).
V_BF, C_BF, PT were decreased immediately after EAP and thereafter increased. Besides, EAP induced an increase of impedance SV (117.6±6.60% at the maximum) and Haemaccel infusion caused an increase of impedance SV (116.33±11.57% at the maximum). From the above experimental results, it may be asserted that the increase in SV would be the most important factor upon an increase of peripheral blood flow due to EAP, and then the degree of the cardiovascular effect of the EAP was quantitatively evaluated to be equipotential to the volume loading due to Haemaccel infusion with the amount 0.4ml/kg/min for ten minutes.