The purpose of the present paper is to clarify the differences between two techniques, the sohri-kifu technique (i. e. to tap into the depth of 1-2mm) which is often used in meridian therapy and the jakutaku technique (i. e. sparrow pecking, to reciprocate a needle frequently) which is often used in modern acupuncture therapy. We also examined the effects of locations and of sticking pain.
METHODS
Subjects were 10 normal adults who were familiar with acupuncture therapy. They lay in the supine or prone position, and the sori-kifu technique and the jakutaku technique were separately perfomed for one minute on the following 8 points (one point a day): Zhongchong (PC9), Daling (PC7), Shanzhong (JM17), Jueyinshu (VU14), Yinbai (LP1), Taibai (LP3), Chongmen (LP12), Pishu (VU20). Instantaneous heart rate and pulse wave height of the finger were measured with a 4 channel polygraph. Amount of sticking pain was rated on a 4 grade (0-3) basis. Statistical analysis was done with the control data obtained during the control sessions, in which the two techniques were not performed, whereas other conditions were similar to those in the experimental sessions.
RESULT
(1) Both sohri-kifu and jakutaku technique caused decrease in heart rate and pulse wave height.
(2) The decrease in heart rate lasted even after needle withdrawal, whereas the decrease in pulse wave height stopped immediately after the needle withdrawal.
(3) In comparison between the sohri-kifu and jakutaku techniques, the former was more effective in reducing heart rate than the latter, and the latter in lowering pulse wave height.
(4) In the jakutaku technique, the more painfull it was, the less decrease in heart rate and the more decrease in pulse wave height.
(5) The difference between the two techniques, mentioned in (3), was less in the trunk and larger in the extremities.
(6) The change in heart rate with the grades of sticking pain, mentioned in (4), was less in the trunk and larger in the extremeties.
(7) No distinct differences were found between the Pericardium and Spleen groups, between the upper extermities and the lower ones, or between the back points and the accumulation points.

Ten healthy adults lying in the supine position underwent ‘painless sohri-kifu technique’, ‘Oshide only’, ‘acupuncture only’ and ‘painfull sohri-kifu technique’ on the left ‘Tai-en’ point for one minute. Instantaneous heart rate was measured with a polygraph. Statistical analysis showed that ‘sohri-kifu technique’ and it's constituent—‘Oshide only’, and ‘acupuncture only’ caused significant the decrease of heart rate. The painless sori-kifu technique was more effective than ‘Oshide only’ and ‘acupuncture only’ in decreasing the heart rate. The ‘painful sori-kifu technique’ caused no significant change of heart rate. Sticking pain seems to effective in suppressing the decrease of heart rate.

Comparative trials were undertaken using 16 types of guide-tubes of different caliber and external diamter: small caliber (1.35mm) and large cliber (1.80mm) tubes of eight types of external diameter (i. e, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0mm). 540 tappings was performed with a hard needle (length: 58.0mm, diameter: 0.16mm, head diameter: 1.25mm).
The result can be summarized as follows:
1. Among the six small guide-tubes with 2.5-5.0mm external diameter, the larger external diameter was, the less sticking pain was experienced.
2. The four small caliber guide-tubes with 4.5-6.0mm external diameter caused significantly less sticking pain compared with the four small caliber guide-tubes of 2.5-4.0mm and the four large guide-tubes of 4.5-6.0mm.