In order to, when administering moxibustion therapy, reach the effective temperature as quickly as possible with as litte as possible injury to the surface of the skin, we devised a heat-sense moxibustion apparatus using thermo-modules.
In patients such as those with a predisposition to diabetes mellitus, there is a danger that a burn on the surface of the skin may cause serious complications. The use of this apparatus limits or removes such dangers and makes it possible to elevate the therapeutic results. This apparatus, in order to reduce burn injuries immediately switches to cooling when the effective heat stimulation level is reached, thus continuous burn therapy is being administered.
We will report on the influences on the sugar tolerance capacity at the time of stimulation at ST-36 using this machine.

The two-point fused sensory area (fused area) was calculated from two-point fused distance. The fused area was enlarged by acupuncture stimulation. This enlargement of the fused area by acupuncture was explained on the point of the central nervous mechanisms.
Applying the two points of touch and pressure stimuli to the skin, the threshold separation required for the two stimuli to be noticed as one rather than two points was determined. On the same region of the body, three longitudinally combined points and one transversally combined point were measured and the area which was surrounded by them was calculated.
The fused area was more enlarged through the touch stimuli than through the pressure ones. On the upper limbs, the shape of the fused area was like an oblong and the area was smaller at the peripheral part than the central part. Acupuncture stimulation enlarged the fused area. This was concerned that the lateral inhibition could not be worked in the tract by impulses which were generated by acupuncture.

It is said that the key to effective acupuncture is to perform appropriate stimulation of the best combinations of meridian points which directly or indirectly affect the disease.
In order to determine the difference in the efficacy between combinations of clinically important meridian points, this study examined the effect of two-point acupuncture stimulation on the exteroceptive vibration-induced finger flexion reflex (Eklund et al., 1978).
METHOD
Subjects were six healthy adults of both sexes between 20 and 35 years of age. Two-point combinations were made of IC₄ Hegu (standard point) with each of the following points: IC₆ Pianli, P₇ Lieque, C₃ Shaohai, TM₂₀ Baihui, VU₁₃ Feishu, VU₂₅ Dachangshu, G₃₆ Zusanli. Perception threshold electrical stimulation of each combination was performed at 45Hz for 5min. using subcutaneous needles. The finger flexion reflex was induced by a tapping vibrator applied to the palm and recorded through a pressure transducer.
RESULTS
1) The combination of adjacent points on the hand: Stimulation of Hegu together with Pianli, both of which are on the Large Intestine meridian, caused a strong inhibition of the reflex. The inhibition lasted about twice as long as that caused by stimulation of Hegu alone. However, neither Hegu and Lieque not Hegu and Shaohai stimulation caused prolongation of the inhibition.
2) The combination of the hand and the back: Neither Hegu and Feishu nor Hegu and Dachangshu stimulation caused any prolongation of the inhibition.
3) The combination of the hand and the leg: Hegu and Zusanli stimulation caused marked inhibition, which lasted about four times as long as that caused by Hegu-alone stimulation.
4) The combination of the hand and the head: Hegu and Baihui stimulation caused no or much less inhibition that caused by Hegu-alone stimulation.
5) Examination of difference among stimulating methods: Electrical stimulation through surface electrodes (A), Retained subcutaneous needles (B), Electrical stimulation between a subcutaneous needle and the indifferent electrode. (C), Electrical stimulation between subcutaneous needles (D). The intensity of the inhibition effect of these methods can be expressed as follows:
D>C>B>A
DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION
The reflex inhibition caused by the standard point stimulation was strengthened or weakened by simultaneous stimulation of an additional point. Based on our examination of the characteristics of the inhibition, it was thought that not only mutual interference of impulses at the spinal level but also humoral factors and some polysynaptic reflex mechanism in the higher center level participate in this effect.

The positional relation between the point Jingei and the bifurcation of the common carotid artery was investigated with dissection of the neck after inserting a needle into the bilateral Jingei, using nineteen Japanese cadavers. We determined first the position of the point Futotsu as a point in the sternocleidomastoid lying about 10cm lateral to the laryngeal prominence along the neck wrinkle, and defined the location of Jingei in the cadavers as the mid-point between the laryngeal prominence and Futotsu mentioned above. The common carotid artery shows a dilatation, termed the carotid sinus, at its point of division into the external and internal carotid arteries. The needle did not prick the carotid sinus in all of the thirty-eight cases of insertion; it pricked the common carotid artery at a lower level than the carotid sinus in four of these cases, and in the other cases the needle did not prick the vessel, but rather a portion of the neck medial to the vessel at the lower level, similarly as in the former cases. The points of division of the common carotid arteries of the cadavers dissected were all located at a considerably higher level than the laryngeal prominence; the average level was 32.8mm higher than the prominence on the left, with maximum and minimum values of 52 and 11mm, respectively, and 29.9mm upper on the right (maximum and minimum values: 45 and 8mm). Furthermore, it was suggested that the insertion of a needle at the level of the hyoid bone has a higher possibility of reaching the carotid sinus than that at the level of the laryngeal prominence in acupuncture of the sinus.

The posional relation of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery to the needle which was inserted to the position of the bifurcation presumed from the level of the hyoid bone, as well as its relation to the hyoid bone and the transverse process of the cervical vertebra, has been studied bilaterally with dissection of 19 cadavers.
Though most of the inserted needles missed medially from the bifurcation of common carotid artery, all of them were located about the level of the bifurcation in the up-to-downward direction, with two cases directly pricking the bifurcation.
The bifurcation of the common carotid artery was mostly located about the level of hyoid bone. Thus, 17 cases out of 19 on the right side and 13 cases out of 18 on the left side were within a range of 1.0mm above or below the hyoid bone.
The height of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery against the cervical vertebrae was mostly located between the transverse process of the 3rd and that of the 4th cervical vertebra, 21 cases out of 28 being included within this range.

A symposium was held to focus attention on the position of the meridian point GV 14, which has been con-troversial over the centuries.
To summarize the symposium opinions : (1) Since the positions of meridian points have changed with time and culture and according to the therapeutic target, objective, and instruments, the changes of the position of GV 14 from above the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra to between the spinous processes of the 6 th and 7 th cervical vertebrae and to between the spinous processes of the 7 th cervical and the 1 st thoracic vertebrae are not exceptional. (2) If the position of GV 14, which is a standard for the determination of meridian points on the back, changes, its clinical value is nullified. It should be, therefore, standardized as being between the spinous processes of the 6 th and 7 th cervical vertebrae. (3) The 6 th cervical vertebra is important in body surface clinical science, and the 7 th cervical vertebra is important in the mobility and anatomical segmentation of the spine. However, in consideration of the development processes of acupuncture, it is more reasonable to determine the position of GV 14 on the basis of clinical effects. (4) The proposed international standardization of the position of GV 14 as between the spinous processes of the 7 th cervical and 1 st thoracic vertebrae is acceptable, because there has been no objection from China or Korea.
No agreement was reached in this symposium, but the position of GV 14, which bears great clinical significance, must be evaluated further.

The scientific basis of moxibustion using moxa was investigated, focusing on the characteristics and thermal stimulation properties of moxa, its biochemical characteristics and actions, and morphological changes in skin tissue treated with moxibustion. The presentations by and viewpoints of the symposists are outlined below:
1) Characteristics and thermal stimulation properties of moxa:The thermal stimulation properties of Artemisia princes Pamp., moxa, materials other than Artemisia princes Pamp., and materials similar to moxa were presented. Re-investigation of the results of common views of Artemisia princes Pamp. and moxa by experiments and a survey were also presented.
2) Biochemical characteristics and actions of moxa:Chemical substances contained in Artemisia princes Pamp. and moxa, and diverse physiological actions of moxa, such as an anti-oxidative stress action, signal transduction, activation of energy metabolism, and anti-inflammatory action, were presented with viewpoints. In addition, biochemical actions were reviewed based on the extraction of new chemical components.
3) Morphological changes in skin tissue treated with moxibustion:Moxibustion-induced morphological changes in the epidermis, connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerve tissue were presented. Regarding skin tissue regeneration, viewpoints were presented, emphasizing that actions of corneocytes and fibroblasts are particularly important, in addition to revascularization, nerve fibers are not regenerated unless the skin tissue is repaired to a certain degree.