With the aim of investigating the effect of drop in blood pressure of the Zusanli (ST36), a multi-center randomized controlled trial was conducted with the envelope method. Patients showing the high blood pressure condition were divided into 2 of the group treated with use of the Zusanli point and the group with non-use of Zusanli point.Changes in blood pressure were then measured.The present results show no significant difference was seen between the 2 groups, thus did not find the Zusanli point to be effective.

At the 45th Japanese National Acupuncture and Moxibustion Conference, Kitakoji et al. of the Research Committee's Urology Group reported the results of controlled clinical trials, using the envelope method, on the effectiveness of acupuncture for urinary dysfunction. This was presented as a case in which the “Guidelines and Recommendations for clinical Trials in Acupuncture” were applied in actual clinical research. A controlled investigation was carried out by the Information and Evaluation Group, Research Section, Aichi Regional Association, at multiple institutions (9 hospitals and clinics) on the effectiveness of the zhongji (cv-3) point for urinary dysfunction, using the envelope method of Kitakoji et al. Although the zhongji (cv-3) point was not found to be effective against urinary dysfunction, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to conduct controlled clinical trials at multiple institutions based on soft data.