We have investigated that individual properties and irritability to the electrical stimulation of Wenliu (Li-7) were determined by acupuncture of Hegu (Li-4) and Quchi (Li-11) as the strength-duration relations.
Results showed that reobase (27.8±1.09V, n=114), utilization time (1.38±0.13ms, n=114) and chronaxie (0.031±0.002ms, n=114), were interestingly similar as previous results of in vitro studies.
Value of chronaxie of female subjects (0.021±0.001ms, n=21) was significantly lower than male (0.053±0.010ms, n=36). So that acupuncture stimulation influenced to the chronaxie.
Hegu stimulation significantly (p<0.05) shortend than Quchi stimulation as compared to intact control group.
These results might be suggested that it has to considered responses to stimulation in the sex differences when determination of acupuncture effects in the clinical and/or research studies.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Needles

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the depth of skin press in blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles on patient blinding and its relationship to needle diameter.

METHODSForty healthy volunteers were enrolled as subjects for patient blinding. Four acupuncturists applied the following needles randomly at three points in each forearm: 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter penetrating needles inserted to a depth of 5 mm, and 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter skin-touch needles depressing the skin at the acupoint to a depth of 1 mm and 2 mm from the skin surface. The subjects reported their guesses at the nature of needles they received, and rated needle pain and de qi. A blinding index was calculated to define the success of blinding for subjects.

RESULTSThe blinding status of subjects for 1 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was "random guess", but "unblinded" for 1 mm press needles of 0.25 mm diameter. For 2 mm press needles of both diameters, the blinding status was "opposite guess" and the blinding status for penetrating needles of both diameters was "unblinded." The percentages of "felt pain" with 2 mm press needles of both diameters were similar to that with penetrating needles, but those were not similar for 1 mm press needles. The frequency of de qi occurrence with 2 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was similar to that of penetrating needles of both diameters.

CONCLUSIONPlacebo needles of 2 mm press made more subjects guess that the needles penetrated the skin than 1 mm press needles. The use of small diameter needles increased patient blinding.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; statistics & numerical data ; Placebo Effect ; Sensation ; Young Adult