For the purpose of establishing a method for evaluation of crude drugs, we demon strated the effect of aqueous extracts from the roots of seven different (types of) Angelicae (“Toki”) and rhizomes of seven different (types of) Atractylodes (lancea) (“Jutsu”) on the binding of immune complexes to macrophages. Among the extracts from “Toki”, extract of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa (harvested in Nara Prefecture and the Hokuriku district in Japan) had the most potent enhancing activity on the binding. Among the extracts from “Juste”, extract of Atractylodes lancea DC, (An Hui Sheng in China) had the most potent enhancing activity. However, when the extracts were made from the codecoction of Angelica and Atractylodes lancea, the enhancing activities were varied. These results suggest that the combination of crude drugs tays an important role in the appearance of the pharmacological activities.

The authors' developed a new methods of preparing and inserting intradermal needles for small experimental animals.
To create the new type of needle, the tip of a filiform needle (0.14mm in diameter) was pinched into a wavy shape using mosquito forceps. A length of about 1.5mm of this wavy section was then cut off and used as an intradermal needle.
Designated areas of the mice were depilated, and the acupoints marked. For insertion, an injection needle (27 gauge) was used to penetrate directly beneath the marked point, starting from slightly above the marking. The wavy needle was then inserted into the tip of the injection needle and a filiform needle (0.18mm in diameter; adjusted length) used to push the wavy needle out, thereby inserting it into the intended point.
Using this method, insertion of the needles was easily carried out, and they stayed in places. This method therefore seems to be highly applicable for the insertion of intradermal needles in experimental animals.