OBJECTIVETo summarize recent studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints, so as to provide a basis and thinking for scientific studies.

METHODSTwenty-nine papers about biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints were reviewed from studies of electricity, heat, sound, light, magnetic and radionuclide.

RESULTSThe biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have been proved in different domains, and meridians and acupoints objectively exist.

CONCLUSIONScientific studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have vast vistas.

Through literature review of acupoint electric characteristic (AEC) detection, some problems in the traditional method of AEC detection were found. The major reasons were lack of distinguishing the relationship between the acupoint and "skin on the acupoint" in the electric characteristics, which can not solve those objective and subjective interferential factors in acupoint detection. Therefore, the traditional acupoint detection method is not stable, and its repeatability is no good. The conception to design the probe of acupoint characteristic detection is put forward, which can give a real time and dynamic detection for the electric characteristics of the acupoint's various anatomic layers. Meanwhile, the circumstance of the body tissue is relatively stable, so the detection method can avoid those interferential factors.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians

Based on the traditional theory in (), the acupuncture effects of non-acupoints on the body surface were explored. There are the effects of the non-acupoints on meridians, the effects of five tissues (local effects, resonance effects, five- effects and particular effects) and regional effects (nearby effects, structural corresponding effects, holistic effects and the special effects on the specific regions), etc. The innovative recognitions are proposed. ① Stimulating the non-acupoint sites on the body surface generates definite effects, not limited to the local nearby effects. For example, the resonance effects and five- effects are generated by stimulating five tissues. The counter-acting force presents between five tissues and five- organs. ② The regional effects are rich in content and its mechanisms on the induction, coordination and correspondence are not in reference to , meridian and collateral, but are related to the characteristics of activity of the regional body itself. ③ Acupuncture presents not only the effects of the abstract meridian-collateral and the acupoints, but also the effects of concrete five tissues and regions. Acupuncture therapeutic effects may result from the cumulative effects, especially related to the stimulation of the strength by the needle tip. ④ Regarding the differences in the effects between the meridian points and non-acupoint stimulation, the former attaches the importance on " ", which is abstract and dynamic and the later on "shape", which is concrete and static.
Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Moxibustion

In this paper, scientific theory was used to prove that the meridian was the resonant channel of information energy of life, and experiment and demonstration was performed to reveal meridians to explore the significance of revealing meridian. Based on the theory of physics, biochemistry, molecular biology and information theory, the essence of meridian was demonstrated in theory. According to TCM meridian theory, acupuncture was applied at selected acupoints; the infrared thermograms of stomach meridian of foot , large intestine meridian of hand , small intestine meridian of hand , pericardium meridian of hand , heart meridian of hand , triple energizer meridian of hand , liver meridian of foot , bladder meridian of foot were recorded before and after acupuncture. As a result, thermogram recorded and showed the visual image of the meridian. It is indicated that an energy transmission network which cannot be dissected existing in the body, which was believed to be meridian. It was the resonant channel of information energy of life, and could be shown by thermogram. These experiments and theory have significance in science.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians

With retrieval of the ancient medical classics, the descriptions on meridians and collaterals are checked, and the different methods, way of thinking and presuppositions on experiment of propagated sensation along meridian are studied and compared in this paper. The result shows that the basic feature of meridians and collaterals is based on not the propagated sensation along meridian, but the arteriopalmus. Therefore, propagated sensation along meridian can not reflect the entity of meridian. It is the abuse of inference to conclude that the result of "experiment of progated sensation along meridian" equals to meridians and collaterals. The experimental methods are difficult to be applied on part of the meridian theory that is gained through experiences and practice. Thus, a new foothold should be taken as the basis of study on essence of meridians.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians ; Sensation

The new teaching mode of based on the practice platform was explored so as to promote the mutual benefits for both teaching and learning. As the basic course of acupuncture-moxibustion and specialty, is the core theoretical and practical course. Through the establishment of on-campus practice platforms, e.g. the Technique Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and , physical therapy room of acupuncture-moxibustion and and the practical platform for promoting outside-campus medical service, in accordance with the teaching mode of "theory → practice → re-theory → re-practice", the class teaching of theory and the skill training were optimized, the three-dimensional practice platforms for teaching was constructed, meaning "class teaching → on-campus practice → social service". This teaching mode motivates the enthusiasm of teaching and learning, improves the teaching quality of , enhances the professional theoretical level as well as the clinical practice ability. Such teaching mode plays a positive role in the cultivation of talents of acupuncture-moxibustion and .
Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Teaching

's acupuncture technique is a kind of special acupuncture methods developed and improved by . It has unique curative effects on hysterical paralysis, schizophrenia, madness, epilepsy and traumatic paraplegia, etc. This acupuncture technique has the characteristics of "deep" "transparent" "moving" and "sensing". The acupoints selection is different from that of twelve meridian acupoints. The deep insertion of acupuncture needles is applied at acupoints located in the wrist joint, ankle joint and below, while the penetration needling method is applied at acupoints located in the area which has relatively thick muscles, and where meridian and -meridian are symmetric with each other. The horizontal and deep connection of acupoints and the adjustment effect of -blood and - are emphasized during treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVE: To verify that whether or not through the effects of the externally and internally related meridians in treatment, Lieque (LU 7) is adopted specially for the disorders of the head and neck. METHODS: A total of 36 healthy volunteers were collected from the students of Gansu University of CM and were divided into a Lieque group and a Jingqu group according to the random number table, 18 cases in each one. In the Lieque group, Lieque (LU 7) on the unilateral side was punctured in the subjects. In the Jingqu group, Jingqu (LU 8) was taken as the control because it was located close to Lieque (LU 7) and on the same meridian. Before and after acupuncture in the two groups, separately, the infrared thermography was adopted to determine the temperature changes at the acupoints of the lung meridian of hand-, i.e. Jingqu (LU 8), Lieque (LU 7), Kongzui (LU 6), Chize (LU 5) and Tianfu (LU 3) as well as the acupoints of the large intestine meridian of hand-, i.e., Wenliu (LI 7), Shousanli (LI 10), Quchi (LI 11), Shouwuli (LI 13) and Binao (LI 14). RESULTS: After acupuncture stimulation at Lieque (LU 7), the temperature at the acupoints of the lung meridian of hand-, i.e. Jingqu (LU 8), Lieque (LU 7), Kongzui (LU 6), Chize (LU 5) and Tianfu (LU 3) and the acupoints of the large intestine meridian of hand-, i.e. Wenliu (LI 7), Shousanli (LI 10), Quchi (LI 11), Shouwuli (LI 13) and Binao (LI 14) was all higher obviously as compared with the temperature before acupuncture stimulation (all <0.05). After acupuncture stimulation at Jingqu (LU 8), the temperature at the acupoints of the lung meridian of hand- was all increased obviously as compared with the temperature before acupuncture stimulation (all <0.05), but there was no significant difference in the temperature at the large intestine meridian of hand- (all >0.05). CONCLUSION For the disorders of the head and neck, acupuncture at Lieque (LU 7) achieves the stimulation and communication of both the lung meridian and the large intestine meridians, so that it is applicable for the disorders of the externally and internally related meridians.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians ; Thermography

Through sorting out the development of meridian points and the standardization of extraordinary points in dynasties, two objectives are discovered in the standardization of extraordinary points starting from the Tang Dynasty. The points with extraordinary effect are selected points and transferred to meridian points and the commonly-used key points are selected and developed to be standardized acupoints. Hence, 3 approaches are summarized. Approach No.1: a large number of "meridian-outside" points that are the potential supplementation but not included yet in meridian points are supplemented to meridian points. Approach No.2: based on the specified requirement, the key points are selected from the acupoints with determined locations and names, which is developed to be the standard of acupoints. Approach No.3: the acupoints with extraordinary effect are selected from the "meridian-outside" points and these points are collected for the formulation of the standard of extraordinary points. The latter two approaches provide for the development direction of teaching and standardization in the future.
Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Reference Standards

Academician SHI Xue-min emphasizes application of spirit in acupuncture technique, and considers that keeping spirit is the first task for acupuncture, reaction of spirit is a guarantee for producing the effect, acupuncture must require the reaction of spirit in needling, and raises location, governing, disease, and treatment of the spirit. Thus, the intension of the spirit is analyzed from physiology, pathology and treatment of the spirit, forming academic system of the spirit.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians