2011drmoriphd_dissertationpublicversion

8/6/2019 2011DrMoriPhD_DissertationPublicVersion

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Dissertation for Public Reference

Dr. Kazuhito Mori 2004 All Rights Reserved

Notice:1. Unauthorized change or citation of this dissertation without documented permission(s) from the

author in advance to aforementioned desired action(s) of yours may be charged with violation ofintellectual property in the court of justice according to the law of the city, region, county,province, prefecture or country where lawsuit is held.

2. Should one be able to cite this paper as such, you must contact with the author prior to yourcitation. Address and other necessary information for such scientific and medical correspondenceare listed at the end of this dissertation so that you may utilize.

3. You may need to contact with the California Institute for Human Science (701 Garden View

Court, Encinitas, CA 92024, United States of America) with respect to the device referred in thisdissertation, the AMI. The author assumes no liability for the commercial aspects of the devicesuch as marketing issues that includes your purchase.


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To Merciful Readers;

Hello. I am truly grateful that you showed somescientific and clinical concerns to this dissertation

that otherwise could have been buried in my drawer

and computer. It was literally honorable that I was

able to engage in the replication of a study

conducted by a pioneer and the Father of Modern

Energy Medicine, Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D., Litt.D.

for many reasons that go beyond any description.

This study, I believe, would be of paramountimportance in terms of modern medicine and human

biology. First of all, contemporary medicine believes

that the effect of acupuncture and other acupoints

utilizing modalities make use of the Autonomic

Nervous System. This study showed that the A.N.S. and

the Meridian system, upon which Acupuncture,

Moxibustion and Acupressure are based, are completely

different by distinguishing between responses

conveyed by the A.N.S. and those by the Meridiansystem by replicating the aforementioned study.

Secondary, the implication of this study is the

existence of the Meridian system as an independent

entity from the A.N.S. We may soon have to revise our

textbooks that we use for the education of human

biology, thus basic and clinical medicine.

Again, I would like to show appreciation to you.

I hope and wish that you would enjoy the study.Sincerely Yours, Dr. Kazuhito Mori


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ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ACUPUNCTUREMERIDIANS AND THE EFFECT OF MOXIBUSTION

UTILIZING SSVP [SINGLE SQUARE VOLTAGE PULSE]METHOD

~ Differentiation of the Acupuncture Meridian in TraditionalChinese Medicine from the Autonomic Nervous System ~

Dr. Kazuhito Mori, M.Sc., Ph.D.

A Dissertation Project

Submitted in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Science

California Institute for Human Science

701 Garden View Court

Encinitas, CA 92024, U.S.A.

June 2003


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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: ITRODUCTIO, PURPOSE OF THE STUDYA) GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTi. Brief History of Holistic Rudimentary Medicine in Western Civilization & Summary

ii. Studies on Acupuncture and Meridian System & SummaryB) STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM (Problems, Hypotheses, Questions)C) THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKHypotheses, Basic Assumptions

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A) RELATED SOURCESB) BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

A) RESTATEMENT OF PROBLEMSB) RESTATEMENT OF HYPOTHESESC) SUBJECTS ISSUESD) EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL

a) Deviceb) Device Mechanism and Electrophysiology of the Skinc) Subjectsd) Stimuluse) Stimulation Locus & Measurement Loci

E) DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICSa) Basic Research Designb) Statistical Analysis

I. Overall Analysis DesignII. Analysis and Physiological Meaning

1. Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.A.b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian

2. A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine3. A Study on Laterality in the Meridian System

CHAPTER 4: RESULT

4.1. Overall Analysis4.2. Categorization of the data4.3. Results from Factor Analysis4.4. Results from Laterality Analysis

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIO

1. Behaviour of BP values and AP values2. Stimulation on UB22 (Triple Heater meridian Back-shu associate point)3. Answers to the questions risen before4. Conclusion


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CHAPTER 1: ITRODUCTIO, PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

A) GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

A-i) Brief History of Holistic Rudimentary Medicine in Western Civilization

In the history of mankind, we all human beings have been struggling with many diseases from the

beginning. We are destined to live with sufferings, such as diseases and death as we grow and age. This is

the unavoidable cycle of human life as stated by ancient sages or philosophers.

In order that we are able to fight against curable or incurable diseases, art of medicine has to be

developed throughout the world regardless of ethno-cultural conditions of people, ecological conditions of

the environment in which those people dwell. For instance, ancient life science of India, Ayurveda,

recommends we be able to have access to locally grown crops and herbs and eat or use them.

Nowadays, the word medicine can almost read as one that is based upon western intellectual

tradition and we call it conventional, orthodox or allopathic medicine, as opposed to alternative,

complementary medicine that we shall discuss. We owe most of our conventional medicine to a famous

and historical Greek physician, the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates from the 5 th century B.C. in Greece.

He described the very human nature such as the developmental stages of the embryo, and he would later

be succeeded by the famous philosopher known as the teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle. (Moore,

1988)

Natural philosophers such as Aristotle or Galen who insisted on the very intriguing humoral

theory, could be of much importance in terms of the formation and early development of rudimentary

biopsychology, not only the formation of medicine, all of which can be branches of what we call Human

Science. The formation of what we believe as Medicine has occurred within such holistic studies of

human beings as a whole. However, reductionistic thoughts such as the atomic theory of Democritus was

simultaneously influencing the rudimentary science of those days (Magner, 1992), i.e. conventional


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medicine may have been destined to have a reductionistic aroma of conventional science from the very

beginning of its history, in spite of the holistic discourse of the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates himself

clearly stated; It is more important to know the person who has the disease than the disease the person

has. (Alternberg, 1998) This Hippocratess discourse is of much importance today, since the significance

of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that holds holistic view of human beings is getting

more professional and scientific attention among societies of science and medicine as well as laypeople

who have already accepted the idea and have been utilizing modalities of CAM.

Meanwhile, there have been a slew of therapeutic modalities in Eastern Tradition as well,

regardless of their form, be it esoteric or exoteric, scientific or metaphysical. Practitioners of those

rudimentary therapies, healers, have been maintaining, protecting, and improving these systems of

knowledge and fostering students for such a long time for the benefit of the next generations of the society

in which this system was born and cultivated. Just as the Indian tradition of yoga has the concepts of Prana

and Nadhi as the fundamental vital force or vital energy, Chi and its pathways, meridians, also

characterize Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM includes several different exercises, such as Tai

Chi, Qi-Gong and different forms of massage. Those energetic healing modalities have been getting

popular among our contemporaries. Acupuncture is also one of them, sharing the same concept of vital

force and its pathways with others. It is described that rudimentary Acupuncture treatments may have

already existed even 5,000 years ago (Gerber, 2000). In other words, in spite of skepticism and debates

around the modality in our contemporary society, Acupuncture has probably survived the test of time for

such a long period, even before the formation of conventional allopathic medicine. This point should be

emphasized, since the system of knowledge that claims the other is doubtful has only less than half the life

of the other. If you consider the fact that contemporary molecular medicine based upon molecular biology


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has almost only 50 years of its history since the discovery of the double helical structure of the DNA, the

chronological distance between the history of modern medicine and that of TCM would be much further.

Now, here is one aspect that characterizes Eastern medical traditions, that is, the energetic view of

life and living forms. The energetic view of life had been regarded as the equivalent to vitalism in western

tradition. Vitalistic explanations of life and therapeutic systems based upon that philosophy have been

rejected or ignored by the majority of the academic and medical society even though western medical

terminology does have the equivalent of vital force in TCM in their system. For instance, vis vitae in

medical Latin means vital power or vital force. Quite surprisingly, nisus formativus means the vital

power in the organs of the body to perform their specific functions (Stone, 1999). This is quite interesting,

because the connotation that this terminology has could probably be the same as Chi-energy in TCM. This

terminology does not only describe what the energy is, but also shows us the way that the energy behaves.

Nisus formativus is not merely vital force as seen in every single different cultures of the world, but

also has its primary and ultimate function, which is to be destined to work inside each internal organ in

order to make those organs coordinate with others acting on the principle of homeostasis. Since it is not

the main aim of this paper to find out the historical linkage of those two medicines in terms of philology,

semantics and so forth, further description about the origin of words should be refrained from here. Thus,

the vitalistic, energetic view of life has been hidden in the very depth of western tradition until very

recently.

Nevertheless, there is one more thing to be mentioned here. That is the interesting relationship

between vital force and the blood in early Greco-Roman Medicine. Erasistratus, who invoked the atomic

theory of Democritus, supported the idea that the function of arteries was to carry pneuma (air=vital

force) rather than blood. This idea seems quite similar to the relationship between Qi energy and blood

that is created by the previously referred energy in Traditional Chinese Medicine.


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Summary

Both Western and Eastern traditions that back up medical sciences in each culture and civilization,

have the notion of functional vital force and pathways for the force. The force is called Prana, Pneuma,

Vis Vitae, Nisus Formativus, Qi or Ki in each tradition respectively. In spite of differences in the

nomenclature of the energy pathways, the existence of the paths is not doubted throughout the world

regardless of the East or the West. Likewise, there is a similarity of the relationship between the vital force

and blood in the West and the East. In spite that rudimentary medicine in the early ages embraces a

holistic view of human beings, the development of pre-modern and modern western science lost this

holistic flavor from philosophy, science and the art of medicine.


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A-ii) Studies on Acupuncture and the Meridian System

Nowadays, Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely utilized throughout the

world as one of the effective treatment modalities in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(CAM). However, many aspects of this treatment modality remain unknown, such as its efficacy, side

effects and above all, the physiological mechanisms underlying the action of the specific procedures.

For instance, needling and moxibustion, which utilize so-called acupuncture points on the surface

of the skin, require more clinical studies in order to be built into mainstream medicine. Dose-response

effects that leads to the whole safety issues including the optimum degree of reception for treatment,

lethal dose and so forth, all of which could also measure cost-effectiveness of treatment, determination

and differentiation of short-term and long-term effects and the putative different mechanisms involved,

should be carefully evaluated by virtue of skillfully constructed research designs. This trend can be

easily guessed by an unprecedented amount of research funding in this area. However, due to the

character of clinical research designs such as sham intervention or placebo, scientific studies of

acupuncture are facing many obstacles and difficulties. (Hammerschlag, 2001) Therefore, studies on

acupuncture focusing on the effects of needling are not as easy as we could think.

As opposed to the aforementioned difficulties in the scientific studies of acupuncture focusing on

needle manipulation, the action of needling and the effect of moxibustion, emphasizing on the electric

or biophysical properties of the skin, are being explained in terms of neurohumoral, pharmacological

or other reductionistic mechanisms together with the rise of interdisciplinary studies of neural

function, so-called neuroscience in our contemporaries. Thus, Acupuncture has been scientifically

investigated for decades. The most dominant theoretical backbones borrowing from neurophysiology,

neuroendocrinology or pharmacology partially succeeded in the explanation of the effects of

acupuncture treatments; thus this mainstream research has churned out quite a bit of data and many


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scientific papers, then reviews. (White, A., 1999), (Filshie, J and White A., 1998), (Stux, G and

Hammerschlag, R, 2001). For instance, dominant theories underlying the mechanism of acupuncture

are:

a) Pain and the underlying nociceptive control system (i.e., C fibres, A delta fibres, A beta fibres,

Serotoninergic system, Noradrenergic system) convey the effects of acupuncture

b) Neurotransmitters, hormones or autacoids or other neurohumoral factors (i.e., Opioid peptide

secretion, Cholecystokinin, Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT], Oxytocin) (White, A.,

1999), play a major role.

However, these approaches are inappropriate when it comes to point-to-point linkage that has no

anatomical or neurological connection between them.

In addition, the speed of propagation of information in the nervous system is too fast to explain

long-term effects of acupuncture treatments. Therefore, there seems to be a necessity to postulate the

existence of a non-neural informational system because,

1) The efficacy of Acupuncture treatments means that there is somehow a direct or indirect

connection between the areas stimulated with a thin needle at the surface of skin and the

corresponding internal organ that has no neural or anatomical connection in between.

2) Information processing of acupuncture needling does not have to be quick, rapid, or short-term

manner just as nervous system for there are long-term effects in acupuncture treatment.

By the way, Hofbauer et al. (2001) pointed to putative skin and organ interconnections with very

intriguing evidences. According to his study, high incidence of skin cancers occurred after renal

transplantation. A practitioner who has proper training in Traditional Chinese Medicine will interpret


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this phenomenon as a deficiency of vital force, which is supposed to be stored in its proper energy

resource organ, the kidney. Vulnerability of the organ will cause immunodeficiency or suppression

after organ transplantation since defensive Qi energy, Wei Qi is a part of the energy functioning as a

sort of defense mechanism in the human body. However, this kind of explanation is still

phenomenological and will not exceed metaphysical comprehension, despise that this explanation

completely fulfills the criteria as mentioned above in (1) and (2).

Now, in addition, for the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of the whole acupuncture system

and eventually to establish a science of Acupuncture, the mysteries that we must uncover would be

summarized into 3 parts.

a) Existence, Physical Properties and Biological Effect of Vital Force [Chi Energy / Ki Energy]

b) Histochemical and Biophysical Properties of Acupuncture Points and Meridians

c) The Functional Meaning of Acupuncture Needling and Subsequent Biological Effects

Neurophysiological or endocrinological models cannot explain entire aspects of the meridian system.

In the current study, each of these 3 issues will be respectively considered prudentially by evaluating

on-going scientific validation of the acupuncture system.

In spite of its apparent local plausibility, the traditional system of knowledge that embraces the

notion of vital force and the interaction of internal organs that correspond to specific areas of the skin

still somehow seems to be valid from an empirical viewpoint.

In fact, this cannot be too emphasized: acupuncture treatments and other modalities utilizing

acupuncture points, such as moxibustion and acupressure, have been adopted as decent medical

interventions in China or Japan from the date of their birth until now. For instance, this is a famous


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story: the Chinese communist leader Mao was utilizing acupuncture treatments during the anti-Japan

war as a pain coping procedure, which he believes is against his materialistic philosophy. Remarkable

and amazing effects of acupuncture supposedly led to the survival of the modality even under the

influence of communism in the country, contrary to the natural consequence or sort of destiny that

could have otherwise been. Even Japan, right after the coup detat by bourgeois class bureaucrats

and feudalistic knights in those days, this modality, i.e., acupuncture survived and coexisted with

modern reductionistic chemical medicine that excludes and does not require any energetic view of life.

However, on the other hand, this is also true: acupuncture was almost forced into extinction, at least as

a part of mainstream orthodox medicine.

In spite of its miraculous survival in those days, however, as it is mentioned at the beginning of

this paragraph, scientific approaches to the explanation of the action of needling and herbs burning on

acupuncture points still elude scientist for these treatments. The scientific approach seems to reach this

point; e.g., Macdonalds paper referred to two different kinds of analgesic effects of acupuncture

points via meridian points, a segmental effect and a non-segmental effect (Macdonald, A.J.R., 1998);

these are: analgesia in regions of the body far distant from the site of the needle (non-segmental effect)

and analgesia in the immediate vicinity of the needle (segmental effect) In spite of their nice trial,

modern anatomy or neurophysiology, including classical neurophysiology and molecular

neurophysiology, cannot cover the whole explanation about the linkage between each acupuncture

point or meridian point and the corresponding internal organs as completed by traditional thinkers and

practitioners.

This means that our conventional scientific explanations based on neurophysiology and

neuroendocrinology are still deviated from the explanation of the entire human physiological system

that ancient systems had already done a long time ago.


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Therefore, in this study, the investigator tries to validate the traditional system of knowledge by

showing the linkage between acupuncture points that cannot be explained by the conventional

neurophysiology by virtue of electrophysiological measurements with the moxibustion stimulation,

with the aid of the previous study upon which this study is based.

Basically, this study is to replicate a previous study (Motoyama, 1997) to give it more validity and

assurance, therefore, as a matter of course, also the reproducibility of the study. However, in order to

assure its originality, the investigator decided to see the effect of moxibustion on the meridian system

that is not recognized by western medical science as well as the primary task of this research as a

replication study.

Summary

Many schools of thoughts exist, as to the scientific explanation of the action of acupuncture

needling or moxibustion. Some of them seem to have partial validity in terms of the so-called segmental

effect of acupuncture or moxibustion among the scientific or medical community. However, this could

probably be explained by the paracrine secretion of autacoid or local hormones; neurophysiology or

neuroendocrinology can only cover this type of segmental effects. Nevertheless, there still exists an

unknown wilderness of this scientific odyssey; i.e., the skin-organ information pathways. These pathways

are recognized as the meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine or nadhis in the Yogic medical

science from India. However, the current study focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine to see the

interaction between meridian points or acupuncture points and to see their existence as shown in previous

studies primarily done by Motoyama.


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C) THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Hypotheses, Basic Assumptions

a) There exist informational pathways embedded in the skin besides the nervous, the

endocrine, the immune and the vascular systems, which is called collectively The Meridian

System or merely Meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

b) Several loci on the surface of the skin are interconnected via the aforementioned meridian

system in order to convey biologically and physiologically important information just as the

Internet network does convey bits of information.

c) The action of acupuncture or moxibustion is propagated through the meridian system,

whose behaviour is different from that of the nervous system.

d) The physiological meaning of the Five Element Theory would be partially clarified in

terms of electrophysiology by measuring several points that belong to different elements of

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Their relationships, interactions will be evaluated

utilizing statistical methods such as Simple Regression Analysis, t-Test or Chi-Square test.

e) Laterality of the meridian system would also be indicated in terms of electrophysiology.

This would approach the question why we have many symmetrical organ systems in our body

trunk.


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CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A) RELATED SOURCES

II-1 Evaluation of Studies on Acupuncture Points and Meridians using Radioactive Tracers

There are many studies describing the behavior of radioactive tracers when injected into

acupuncture points so far. Wu, C.C., Chen, M.F. and Lin, C.C. (1994) confirmed that the absorption of

radioactive tracer (Technetium 99) via acupuncture points was better than non-acupuncture points by

showing higher peak activity and greater absorption rate of radioactive Technetium at acupuncture points.

His group then used this technique as a new method for radionuclide venography by subcutaneous

injection of the tracer. Lazorthes, Y. et al. (1990) insisted as a conclusion of his study that the radioactive

path due to the injection of radioisotope from acupuncture meridian actually corresponded to vascular

drainage of the radiotracer. Those authors conducted radiobiological experiments without any

consideration for chemical, electrical and histological properties of the skin for subcutaneous inorganic

compounds injection. Such attitudes could sometime bring one to no substantial conclusions.

Edelberg, R. (1971) introduced several previous works on this issue by saying that although

radioactive tracer thorium-X did not diffuse passively through the stratum conjunct of the skin, the tracer

diffused through the layer only if the tracer was iontophoretically driven. The tracer invaded the

germinating layer to the dermoepidermal boundary and even penetrated the corium though to a lesser

extent. In other words, thorium-X in his study went all the way to the level of dermis by penetration.

He indicated the existence of a second barrier in the region of the dermoepidermal junction, saying

simultaneously that the main barrier was possibly at the basement membrane of the germinating layer or

the basal cell layer itself. He also showed supporting facts that the long-term exposure to thorium-X tracer


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without iontophoresis for 48 hours, radiation tracks might be found in the germinating layer but not in the

dermis, getting to the conclusion that the dermoepidermal boundary thus appeared to be an effective

barrier against this ion as it was against some inorganic compounds.

Studies on acupuncture point using radioactive tracer must have faced above-mentioned facts.

Since those who studied on acupuncture point or meridian using radioactive tracers did not drive

radiochemical substances iontophoretically to go through the barrier membrane between the epidermis and

the dermis. (Wu, C.C. et al, 1994, Lazorthes, Y. et al., 1990), we should not conclude that the meridian

system does not exist in terms of their experimental methods or their assumptions, which is lack of

consideration for the previously explained dermoepidermal barrier for ion movements. Therefore, it is still

possible that the tracer might have different behaviour when injected beneath the dermis. The studies of

the dermis for the explanation of acupuncture treatment will be discussed later.

In addition, explanations based upon the experiment using Tc-99m do not guarantee the behavior

of bioelectricity in vivo. For instance, Edelberg, R. (1971) was also alarming that experiments with a large

ion molecule such as thorium might not necessarily generalize to the Na and Cl ions, which probably

account for most of the electrical transfer in the skin or other living tissues. Same thing can be said to the

experiments using radioactive Technetium 99. In other words, one truth for Technetium 99 may or may

not be the truth for bio-electrically significant ions that are essential in the electrolytes and for the

conductance of the electricity such as Na, Cl and so forth.

Consequently, we may at least be able to conclude that higher affinity of skin tissues for

radioactive tracers in the area of acupuncture needling, i.e., acupuncture points compared with adjacent

non-acupuncture points. This fact indicates special electromagnetic characteristics of acupuncture points

among the whole surface area of the skin. In addition, this characteristic could probably be seen from the

very surface of the skin to the dermis if we consider the existence of boundary membrane for large ion


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movements between the epidermis and the dermis. Nevertheless there is no crucial conclusion so far to

determine whether acupuncture meridian exists or not in terms of radioactive tracer studies. Therefore we

can only make partial conclusion so far as mentioned above.

II-2 Evaluation of Electrophysiological properties of skin

Electrophysiological properties of skin surface and underlying tissues are also well studied as well

as radioactive tracer studies by many researchers, ranging from electrical engineering to

psychophysiology. (Tregear, R.T., 1966b) In this section, the author will explain briefly about the

electrophysiological properties of skin from the surface to the deeper layer of the skin.

II-2-a) Current pathways in the skin

Reichmanis et al. (1976) showed that local DC skin conductance variations in the vicinity of

acupuncture loci was found to differ significantly from that of anatomically similar control areas and also

found that many acupuncture loci were distinct local conductance maxima, thus those loci had an

objective existence in terms of electricity.

In the study, they used the Triple Heater (or Burner) and Lung meridians. There is another study

by the same group (Becker et al, 1976) using Large Intestine and Pericardium meridians, showing

statistically significant conductance maxima at acupuncture points when compared with non-acupuncture

points. They were convinced that a discrete structure with highly specific electrical properties existed,

superficially located at or near to the center of the field plot and coinciding with the classical acupuncture

points by the analysis of the plots of equi-conductance lines around the valid points of acupuncture

meridians.


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Meanwhile, Hyvarinen and Karlsson (1977) found similar electric characteristics at the surface of

the skin. They investigated hands, face and ears in five subjects and noticed low-resistance skin points

were repeatedly found in particular area, which accidentally coincided with classical acupuncture points.

Even though the index that Hyvarinen and Karlsson used and that of Reichmanis or Beckers group are

different, because one is resistance and the other is conductance, both are mathematically interchangeable

if only we treat those values carefully considering that sometime one can get different number just by

taking the reciprocal of one of each. This issue is discussed in Hassett (1978). However, skin resistance

and conductance in reality can be treated as almost equal.

Aside from the study of the surface layer of the skin, Edelberg, R. (1971) introduced an experiment

of non-radioactive substance propagation after the statement At a certain point the subject reports the first

sensation of mild pain and as the pipette (microelectrode) is pushed slightly further the resistance suddenly

falls essentially to the magnitude of the electrode resistance alone. and suggested the sudden fall might

have occurred at the level of the epidermis or dermoepidermal boundary.

He said, the corium is relatively rich in intercellular spaces through which ions may pass freely.

Its ready permeability to ions has been observed by Papa and Kligman who found that the cationic dye,

ethylene blue, when driven into the sweat gland by strong electrical currents, migrates down the duct to

the level of the corium whence it passes laterally. Its diffusion through the connective tissue is so rapid

that its coloration can barely be seen in the neighborhood of the duct. Once the ionic current has reached

the corium, one may regard it essentially as being inside the body. Free passage through this volume

conductor means that most of the potential drop in the current path occurs in the layers above the corium.

Again he showed the barrier function of the basal membrane between the epidermis and the dermis as well

as putative horizontal electric current pathway at the level of the dermis. It should be emphasized that the

current sources in any life form are ions and ion movement.


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As Edelberg, R. (1971) and Tregear, R.T. (1966b) both mentions respectively conduction of

electricity is a parallel process to the penetration of ions: it is a measure of the ease of movement of

endogenous ions through the least conductive layer. (By Edelberg) and the electrical conductivity of any

structure is directly related to its ionic permeability. (By Tregear) In the studies of molecular movement

in the skin, Tregear, R.T. (1966a) showed impermeability of the epidermis to diffusion of water

mentioning the increment of the permeability of the skin after stripping the surface with adhesive tape.

This was observed also for ions by reference from impedance.

All those studies strongly suggest poor conductivity of electricity in the epidermis as electric

current pathway compared with deeper layers and that there is current pathway due to the ion movement

within the dermis, which is electrochemically divided by the basal membrane from the epidermis.

(Edelberg, R., 1971, Tregear, R.T., 1966a and 1966b, Reichmanis, M et al, 1976, Becker, R.O. et al, 1976)

In spite of above mentioned poor electrical conductivity in the epidermis, only acupuncture loci showed

local conductance maxima compared with adjacent area of the skin surface.

These studies indicate the existence of vertical structure whose electric conductance is higher than

adjacent area, which is also connected to the deeper horizontal electric current pathway in the level of

dermis. In other words, conclusions from those studies well coincide with clinical and empirical

description on acupuncture points and the meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

II-2-b) Current Measurement in the Skin

There is an intriguing behavior of electric current in electric measurements through the skin. Skin

tissue will respond to the electrical stimuli showing both AC and DC properties. Tregear showed the

current that flows immediately after the application of a Square Wave voltage is a form of charging

current and is related to the AC properties of the tissue. When a small electromotive force is applied


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across skin, current initially passes very rapidly and then slows down over a period of 0.01-0.1 sec to

reach a quasi-steady value (Tregear, R.T., 1966b). The exponential decay of current shown here seems to

consist of two different factors coinciding with the study by Tiller (1987). He concluded through both

theoretical and experimental studies that skin exhibited such features to allow a low frequency and a high

frequency current.

In other words, the initial current right after the square voltage application is a sort of AC current

with very high frequencies; meanwhile the current at quasi steady state is low frequency or DC current.

His analysis went on and he proposed a new model of RC circuit to explain these high and low frequency

properties of skin tissues. According to his model, there is one RC circuit near the surface of the skin, and

the other RC components lie at the basal membrane.

All these description above coincide with the studies of Motoyama (1984 and 1997). He observed

the same phenomenon, as did Tregear (1966b). In other words, Motoyama also confirmed the existence of

two components in current after voltage application.

However, the difference between Motoyama and Tregear is that Motoyama discovered a Yin-Yang

relationship of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the initial current right after the application of a 3V

rectangular square wave, when the voltage was applied at acupuncture points at fingertip and foot. This

notion might have some novelty in the scientific community; therefore a brief explanation should be

presented here. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each organ has its peculiar meridian and its energy

pathway. Each organ belongs to different polarity attribution, Yin or Yang. Thus there is Yin organs and

Yang organs as such. Whenever Motoyama applied a 3V rectangular square voltage to the acupuncture

points, well points in particular, the current responses obtained were always higher from the points

belonging to Yin organs than those from their corresponding Yang organ.


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He attributed two components of current reaction to the polarization at the basal membrane

between the epidermis and the dermis by conducting adhesive tape stripping experiment. He observed that

even after stripping the skin surface with adhesive tape until bleeding, initial current did not change at all.

This means the initial high frequency current is flowing within the dermis for the bleeding due to

capillaries woven in the depth of dermis. Now he called the initial current BP (Before Polarization

current), meanwhile quasi steady low frequency current AP (After Polarization current), distinguishing

both completely. This discovery brought him into the invention of medical diagnostic device called AMI

(Apparatus for Meridian Identification).

According to Kenyon, J. (1994), there are many medical diagnostic devices using acupuncture

point, but only Motoyama`s apparatus makes use of the initial current before polarization and the rest of

the devices are based on the current reaction after polarization. This is interesting, since according to

Motoyama (1997) only before polarization current shows Yin-Yang relationships that are well described

in Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, after polarization quasi-steady current did not show this

tendency. The initial Before Polarization current obtained from a Yin meridian point is always bigger than

that from the paired Yang meridian point among medically and actually healthy people. For instance, the

before polarization current measured at Lung meridian point is bigger than that from Large Intestine

meridian. This pattern was also seen between Spleen and Stomach, Heart and Small Intestine, Kidney and

Urinary Bladder and so forth. Therefore, this initial current flow can be regarded as actual index of energy

flow in acupuncture meridian.

Chen, K.G. (1996) explained that less polarization occurred along meridians; the effect of this

property was that meridians had a smaller dielectric constant than adjacent tissues. The author continued

that this made acupuncture meridian to allow electromagnetic wave movement faster than through non

meridian tissue. Electromagnetic wave propagation will be discussed in the following section.


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In this section, morphological or histochemical studies focusing upon electrochemical properties of

the tissues of the skin will be reviewed with an attempt to answer this question. Actually, not so many

papers are talking about this issue. However, the studies of Lun, F. et al. (1998) are quite intriguing and

seem to be of value in the scientific elucidation of acupuncture meridians in terms of physical or

biological sciences. What they found was that elements of Ca, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, etc are found

concentrated in deep connective tissue structures in locations corresponding to acupuncture points. They

insisted on that physical basis that the specific waveband of high efficiency for transmission of infrared

rays exists in the collagenous fibre in a liquid crystal state from their previous study. Then, they suggested

the possibility of the existence of microstructure of super lattice that produces the effect of photon soliton

and spontaneous radiation, indicating the possible existence in human bodies of a biophotonic system,

which plays a very important role in the physiological activities such as propagation of energy and

transportation of bioinformational message.

III-1 Electromagnetic Wave Propagation along Meridians and High Frequency Currents

Acupuncture loci and underlying tissues until the level of the dermoepidermal boundary

membrane, and subsequent the electric current network that constitutes acupuncture points and the area of

acupuncture meridians within collagen fibres of the dermis of the skin seems to have different properties

from anatomically similar adjacent areas of tissues in the following aspects.

1) Affinity, Permeability for Radioactive substances

2) Specificities in Electromagnetic Wave Propagation (EMWP)

3) Structure and Function in Biophysical Chemistry or Histochemistry


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III-2 Summaries of Previous Items

III-2-1 Studies on Acupuncture Point and Meridians using Radioactive Tracers

Acupuncture points on the surface of the skin have higher affinity for radioactive tracers compared

with adjacent non-acupuncture points in the vicinity, indicating that special high energy electromagnetic

characteristics of those examined acupuncture points among the whole surface area of the skin. And this

characteristic could probably be seen from the very surface of the skin to the dermis if we consider the

existence of boundary membrane for large ion movements just as radioactive tracers between the

epidermis and the dermis in terms of bioelectricity.

III-2-2 Electrodermal studies at Acupuncture points and Current flow measurement

Acupuncture points on the surface of the skin were; 1) Local conductance maxima, and 2) Low-

resistance skin points, in terms of electrophysiology. Both are mathematically interchangeable because

they are reciprocal to the other number only if carefully considering the possibility of getting unexpected

result through taking the reciprocal of other number as discussed by Hassett (1978).

From dermatological experiment, it is indicated:

1) Sudden fall of electric resistance to the magnitude of the electrode resistance alone after the

injection of the pipette electrode seemed to have occurred at the level of the epidermis or

dermoepidermal boundary.

2) An experiment of dye injection onto skin showed the existence of lateral pathway of the dye

below dermoepidermal boundary and the flow of the dye was too rapid to see its coloration. The

connective tissue of the dermis down below the dermoepidermal boundary is rich in intercellular

spaces through which ions and water molecules may pass freely.


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3) The connective tissue of the dermis could be regarded as ionic pathway of the human skin as

suggested by Edelberg (1971), considering the fact that electrical conductivity of any structure in

living body is directly related to its ionic permeability. In other words, if there were big current

flow through human skin, it would probably be flowing through intercellular spaces of the dermis

below the dermoepidermal boundary. In addition, Tregear (1966a) showed clearly the

impermeability of the epidermis to diffusion of water through skin stripping experiments with

adhesive tape. This result had consistency with the result for ions from impedance measurement.

4) The existence of exponentially decaying current after the application of square wave voltage

onto the skin is experimentally shown, and concluded that the huge current that flows right

immediately after the application of the voltage is a form of charging current and is related to the

AC properties of the tissue (Tregear, 1966b). According to Tiller (1987) this exponential decay of

current consists of two different factors. Motoyama (1994) prudentially analyzed and concluded

the first huge current with very high frequency obtained from classical acupuncture points actually

reflects visceral conditions from internal organs corresponding with those acupuncture points used

for measurements. Motoyama (1997) continued his research and ended up with the invention of the

device that can actually measure visceral conditions through the electro physiological

measurements at acupuncture points of fingertips or toes, regarding the first high frequency current

right after the application of single square voltage as actual Ki or Chi energy index described in

Traditional Chinese Medicine upon the ground those current showed Yin-Yang relationship in the

system of ancient Chinese medical science.


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Summary

Studies on acupuncture and meridians have been being performed in various areas such as

electronic engineering, psychophysiology, radiology and histochemistry. Those studies are mainly focused

on the verification of the biophysical properties of acupuncture points. (Zhang, 1999; Chen et al, 1993;

Wu et al, 1994, Lun et al, 1998; Reichmanis et al, 1976; Reichmanis et al, 1978; Becker et al, 1976,

Hyvarinen and Karlsson, 1977) and have actually indicated specific electrical properties of acupuncture

points

Several different attempts were made by virtue of radiology with an intention to prove the

existence of the meridian system as a line, not as a consequence of the summation of those points,

however, one seems to be successful (De Vernejoul et al, 1985), the other contradicts the previous study

(Lazorthes et al, 1990) Other means such as thermography seems to be valid as a methodology for the

purpose of this attempt (Grigorescu et al, 1996). In fact, this method allowed us to see the flow of heat

visually and clearly. As to electrophysiology, there are interesting results that actually can show the

features of acupuncture meridians as described by Traditional Chinese Medicine (Lu, 1999; Chen, 1996).

Given that the existence of the meridian system is partially proven, we still have no idea how we

can explain the very basic questions in acupuncture medicine. That is, how our internal organs are

corresponding to the surfaces high conductivity loci? How different points are connected to each other?

In fact, few studies actually focused on the direct linkage between the internal organ system and the

integument system, and some of them are actually successful in explaining the missing linkage

(Comunetti, 1995; Rosenblatt, 1982). However, how two different acupuncture points are connected via

putative energy pathways so-called the meridian system still remains an open question for the

conventional scientific community.


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3) Since the device gives different indices corresponding to different current one of which

is equivalent to GSR reaction, differentiation of current responses will also enable us to

see the difference between the nervous reaction and what we call meridian reaction.

4) Judging from previous studies, BP value will increase during the experiment, AP value

will first decrease then increase due to the experimental intervention. Those changes will

be statistically significant in terms of T-test following simple regression analysis

(P


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C) SUBJECTS ISSUES

Seventeen (17) healthy subjects were recruited for the purpose of this study. Subject resources varied,

from friends and acquaintance; to whosoever is interested in this study gathered by advertisement or other

advertisement means. The means of advertisement also varied such as paper flyers, Internet advertisement

utilizing e-mails and so forth. Exclusion criteria were that they should not have life threatening severe

chronic diseases, they should have healthy extremities since they were examined in the current study to

see the meridian function, they also should have enough motivation and stamina to stay 2hour 30 minutes

in the Biofeedback and Electrophysiology Lab in the research site.

Prior to their participation, informed consent was taken from subjects. The form told them possible

side effects of the study as well as the benefits. In return for their participation, free medical diagnosis

from a local M.D. were guaranteed to them according to the investigators personal contract with the

medical doctor.

The doctors procedures do not merely include conventional diagnosis, but also includes a consultation

on supplement and vitamins as well. The entire diagnosis/consultation fee has a value of almost $100, but

is free for subjects.

The investigator paid attention to the medical condition of subjects, acting on medical ethics widely

adopted by any medical research institutes or clinical pharmaceutical trials.

As such, confidentiality of personal information, privacy issues and any other things related to subjects

human rights were seriously taken into consideration.

The author is certified Biofeedback therapist and clinical volunteer at a certain major hospital in local

community, already having gone through bioethics course including medical ethics in both undergraduate

and masters program.


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charge accumulation. Based upon the current response, accumulated charge will be mathematically

calculated utilizing integral calculus. The area that the initial current and the steady current make above

zero is the indication of this electric charge. In other words, the area that the level of steady current and

the level of zero will be subtracted from the entire area. Since this value is utilized for the immune system

evaluation, and is important, the device will show the data to operators as well as two major parameters,

that is, BP value and AP value. Explanation will be provided as to values in the following paragraphs.

As you can see in Figure 1, the entire integument system is shown as photograph. The skin can be

divided into two major components, the epidermis and the dermis. The structure that divides those two

regions of the skin is called the basal membrane. The membrane can be seen with the light microscope. As

one applies 3V rectangular square pulse to anywhere on the skin, the first phenomenon that happens is a

current generation and it flows to the level of the dermis. This will give observer a big current even

beyond the capability of the internal processor in the AMI machine; computation error will occur.

Therefore in the latest AMI device, initial 2 data points are omitted from the reading. This will be

explained later.

Once the current flows in the level of dermis, reverse polarization potential will occur in the

direction against the coming current into dermis. This polarization occurs at the basal membrane, thus

creating a sort of electrical barrier at the membrane. The current no longer flows into dermis; it only flows

within the epidermal area. This current flow right after polarization is therefore called after polarization

current, AP.

A comprehensive picture is drawn in Figure 2. Each data point is a current occurring during 1

sec. 1024 data points are obtained and the average of the last 64 points is utilized for the determination of

the AP value. First 3 data points after the initial 2 omitted points are utilized to calculate the average. This

value is called the BP value.


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intervention statistically clear manner. (Table 3) BASELINE group consists of 2 control phases, Control 1

and Control 2 (i.e., C1-C2); likewise, PRIMARY group was Control 2 and Experimental phase 1 (i.e., C2-

E1), SECONDARY group had Experimental phase 1 and experimental phase 2 (i.e., E1-E2).

In any statistical analysis, BP value or AP value from the AMI machine as to each measured point

was utilized as variables, such as data from non-acupuncture point, Large Intestine meridian well point,

Heart Constrictor meridian well point, and Triple Heater meridian well points.

I Categorization of the data

1. BASELINE C1-C2

2. PRIMARY C2-E1

3. SECONDARY C2-E2

As described in Table 2, the difference between C1 and C2, C2 and E1, C2 and E2 were respectively

named as BASELINE, PRIMARY and SECONDARY to see the effect of experimental intervention

statistically clear manner. BASELINE group consists of 2 control phases, Control 1 and Control 2 (i.e.,

C1-C2); likewise, PRIMARY group was Control 2 and Experimental phase 1 (i.e., C2-E1),

SECONDARY group had Experimental phase 1 and experimental phase 2 (i.e., E1-E2).

Right after stabilization phase, subjects were going through BASELINE measurements. By

definition, Baseline phase took 10 minutes, the ground being in the experimental design described in the

Chapter 3. Therefore all the changes here were occurrence within 10 minutes after the onset of the

continuous measurements. Likewise, other category such as PRIMARY and SECONDARY follow the

same principle.

Upon the basis on the aforementioned research design, statistical analysis will be performed

utilizing commercially obtained computer software such as Microsoft Excel and Statistica. Basically,


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2. Significance Test (t-Test)

Once independence of each phase was confirmed, the investigator was able to go into the

next analysis, which is what we call t-test. This is to see that there is statistically significant

difference between Control phase and Experimental phase, which will explain that the

manipulation on subjects cause changes in parameters being measured.

In current study, the differences between E1 and C2 and E2 and C2 had to be observed.

However, we cant be assured unless we see the probability as to the statistical significance.

Therefore, probability on each significant data was carefully examined. BP was expected to

increase during Primary phase, however, it was also expected to increase slightly during Baseline

phase as well according to one of previous studies on BP and AP (Motoyama, 1999).

AP on the other hand, was primarily expected to increase during Primary phase on the ground

there must be an autonomic nervous reaction due to the heat stimulation on the acupuncture point.

In any cases, one-tail T-test was utilized since the tendency in changes of BP and AP were

clear to the investigator.

3. Chi-square test

Having t-test done, Chi-square test was to be performed based upon categorization of

parameters examined. For instance, BP value of the AMI device is measured from a subject during

C1, C2, E1 and E2 phases. Lets say we observe statistical significance between E1 and C2 on a

particular acupuncture point. Now we would categorize this result into several groups such as

Significant and Non-Significant. Chi-square test is the best analytical method for such nominal

data analysis. In any cases, quantitative analysis and categorization of them into nominal data

should always be performed prior to this process. In spite of description about this test, the


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CHAPTER 4: RESULTS

4.1. Overall Analysis

4.1.1. Analyses on Experimental Intervention Phases

The results of the experiments were calculated and presented as summarized analyses in Table 3 of

the Appendix. Statistical analyses were performed to see the difference between each phase. The phases

are C1-C2, C2-E1, and C2-E2 respectively. The naming and categorization of each phase is based upon

Table 2. For the sake of convenience of analysis, each phase was combined with another and the

combination was categorized and then named as Baseline, Primary and Secondary (see chapter 3,

Statistical Analysis). The first phase group stands for Baseline measurement, the others for primary

stimulation with burning moxibustion, and for secondary stimulation with the same moxibustion

stimulation. (See Table 3)

The results of simple regression analyses are presented in the first 3 rows of Table 3 below the

measurement phase (C1-C2, C2-E1 or C2-E1) as F values, Significance F and Dependence. The next

cluster of rows presents the results for t-tests (t-scores), and are labeled P-value, Critical value for one-tail

T-test, Significance and Tendency of change during measurement phase. These analyses were performed

for BP values and AP values respectively. Data for simple regression and t-test analyses were collected

from each acupuncture point, processed and presented in Table 3. This table shows results of analyses for

Non-Acupuncture point, Large Intestine well point, Heart Constrictor well point, Triple Heater well point,

respectively.

At first, simple regression analyses were performed to see the correlation between each phase of

the experiment described above. This procedure was to insure whether there were independent changes

between each phase. If statistical significance was found between each phase, this could be due to natural

increment or decrease of the values obtained through the continuous AMI measurement set-up. Another


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merely natural occurrence. BP value from non-acupuncture point was also increased going beyond the

level of natural occurrence; in addition, AP from the same location was increased during this phase.

As a summary, contra-lateral meridian reactions and bilateral autonomic nervous reactions via the

meridian system were found here. It should be noted that both acupuncture points that belong to the

same meridian actually reacted to the stimulus given to their associated point that has no anatomical

connection or neurological innervations. In addition, this reaction was statistically significant.

6. SECODARY (C2-E2)

In this phase group, the application of the stimulation by burning moxibustion is now in secondary

phase, in addition to the one in the previous phase. Overall pattern of reaction was quite similar to that

in Baseline group. This is very interesting, since the application of the stimulation still existed in this

phase.

Among BP values, all the points measured showed Dependency in terms of regression analysis.

All the changes during this phase are actually derived from the previous stage. Most of them except

Triple Heater meridian well point on the left showed increment, the exceptional point showed slightly

decrease compared with the control; however, this change was not statistically significant.

Of all AP values, non-acupuncture point and Triple Heater well point on the right side showed

independent change compared with the control, in addition, these changes were statistically

significant. (Non-acupuncture point; P=5.01729E-07, Triple Heater well point right; P=0.025252148).

In spite of its dependent change in Triple Heater well point on the left as compared with its control

value, the change was not statistically significant.

In addition, Large Intestine and Heart Constrictor meridian well points did not show any

statistically significant change in terms of t-test following the previous regression analysis test.


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4.3. Results from Factor Analysis

In addition to Continuous AMI data, all data from Snapshot AMI were collected. Then, the data

were calculated by utilizing commercially obtained statistics software, Statistica. In order to determine

the contribution of each meridian to the overall changes in BP and AP values, Factor analysis was

performed for BP values and AP values. The result of the calculation was ranked and numbered. This

ranking came to provide very intriguing consequence. Table 2 shows the result of factor analysis arranged

from Table 3 and Table 4, both of which are raw data.

According to Table 2, the behavior of BP values and AP values turned out to be completely

different. For instance, where BP increases, AP decreases, and vice versa. For most meridians where BP

increase or decrease, AP decrease or increase providing a negative relationship between BP and AP. Since

this ranking is a relative number, one meridians increment means many other meridians decrease. Where

BP ranking increase or decrease, AP ranking increase or decrease, again showing that the behavior of BP

values and AP values are different.

As to meridians utilized for the experiment, ranking of BP values from Large Intestine was

decreased. Meanwhile, ranking of Heart Constrictor and Triple Heater was increased. As to AP values,

ranking of Large Intestine increased, Heart Constrictor increased, Triple Heater decreased.

4.4. Results from Laterality Analysis

As mentioned before, Left-Right differences as to either BP values or AP values was analyzed.

(Table 7). BP values obtained from acupoints on the left side of the subjects showed statistically

significant increase. (P=3.34E-06) The same value from the right side was also increased, however the

increment was not as drastic as the left side. (P=0.024704).


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CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIO

1. Behaviour of BP values and AP values

It is indicated by the regression analysis performed on each phase categorized in Table 3 that

changes in BP values from acupuncture points of the second phase can be explained by the preceding

them (e.g. Changes in C2 in the Baseline can be explained by that of C1). Increments or decreases in

BP values were gradual phenomena. This tendency of BP values is almost consistent among all these

three phases (Baseline, Primary and Secondary). According to a study on AMI values (Motoyama,

1999), BP is known to increase during and after the meditation process. The present study showed

statistical evidence that BP values will change gradually.

Having going through 25 minutes of stabilization phase, all subjects had an additional 5 minutes of

control phase (C1) and another 5 minutes of control phase (C2). As a total, subjects had 30 minutes of

resting state prior to the application of the experimental stimuli. In the aforementioned study of

Motoyama, changes in BP values were gradual during the meditation process without the application

of any other external stimuli; this result from the present study is also consistent with Motoyamas

findings, gradual change is a characteristic of BP values in the absence of external stimuli.

On the other hand, all those AP values showed statistically significant decreases during stable

control phases. This result is also consistent with Motoyamas study. AP started decreasing right after

the onset of meditation in his study. Considering AP values to be an index of the autonomic nervous

system, higher AP means sympathetic dominance, lower AP for parasympathetic dominance. Thus it

is concluded that statistically significant AP decreases during control phases were due to the activation

of the parasympathetic nervous system, i.e., the inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system that

results in a so-called relaxation response.


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3. Answers to the questions risen before

Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.

The meridian system exists and it is characterized by the changes in BP values of the AMI device.

The behaviour of the values is completely different from the other parameter that shows the A.N.S.

reaction. The meridian system and the autonomic nervous system are different, showing an negative

correlation, however, both are cooperating with each other to maintain the homeostatic status of the

human body physiology.

a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.S.

In addition to the meridian reaction, the dermatome reaction was also observed. In fact, in the

secondary phase (Table 3), only the measured point that belongs to the same dermatome as the

point of stimulation showed the autonomic nervous system reaction.

b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian

San Jiao or Triple Heater meridian exist. In addition, related organs behave accordingly when the

associate point for Triple Heater meridian was stimulated (See Table 4). BP ranking for Upper Jiao

organs was reversed; Middle Jiao reversed and Lower Jiao also reversed. It is very intriguing since

the way this meridian regulates the Qi energy is found in terms of BP value.

Rise up energy in one organ and decrease in another, by doing so, Triple Heater as Zang-Fu organ

system regulates and controls the energy.


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A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Stimulation on the Triple Heater associate point caused reaction from Triple Heater well point.

Now this effect caused intriguing response (Table 4).

In the factor analysis, the contribution of the Large Intestine meridian in the determination of the

whole body BP values was decreased from rank 6th to 11th out of 14 meridians. On the contrary, the

contribution of the Heart Constrictor meridian in BP values was drastically increased. In addition, the

contribution of the Triple Heater meridian was increased from ranking 10th to 3rd out of 14 meridians.

Since Triple Heater meridian belongs to Fire element as well as Heart Constrictor meridian, this

result is very interesting because paired meridians that belong to the same element had similar reaction in

terms of BP values and AP values. The reason being it is written as paired is that this phenomenon was not

seen from Heart meridian or Small Intestine meridian that belongs to Fire element. Nevertheless, no

matter how intriguing the observation on this paired organ in terms of Five-element theory might be, we

cannot conclude the validity of Five Element theory here. In fact, Motoyama pointed out that the validity

of this theory actually is still in controversy even nowadays; therefore some practitioners do not credit this

theory for their education and practice (Motoyama, 2003, Personal communication)

The Large Intestine meridian that belongs to C6 in terms of the dermatome had little contribution

to the overall BP changes. However, the Heart Constrictor meridian that belongs to C7 dermatome had

greater contribution to the determination of the overall BP changes. So did the Triple Heater meridian

after the experimental intervention. It should be emphasized that the Large Intestine Meridian belongs to

the Metal element; Heart Constrictor and Triple Heater belong to Fire Element.

Now, each meridian belongs to C6, C7 and C8 Dermatome segments respectively. Based upon the

fact that each acupuncture point belongs to the different dermatome segment, increments on the

contribution of the determination in the overall BP after the stimulation of the point that is connected to


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4. Conclusion

1. The behaviour of BP value and AP value is completely different, showing a negative

relationship. Where and when BP increases, AP decreases and vice versa.

2. The above-mentioned behaviour is found among acupuncture points, not from non-acupuncture

point showing the difference between measured acupuncture points and non-acupoint.

3. There were differences in AMI readings between utilized acupuncture points and non-

acupuncture point in terms of BP and AP reaction.

4. BP is not an index of the autonomic nervous system considering AP as GSR

5. Changes in BP in the absence of any external stimuli are gradual, not a spontaneous process.

6. Changes in AP in the absence of external stimuli are rather spontaneous and rapid processes.

7. When the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant over the sympathetic system;

a. AP values drastically decrease

b. BP values gradually increase

8. The effect of moxibustion on the associated point for the Triple Heater meridian on the right

side was statistically significant at the left side of the Triple Heater meridian well point.

9. The effect of moxibustion showed contra-lateral responses. Stimulation on the right side caused

more reactions on the left side rather than the right side.

10. Stimulation point and response point had no anatomical or neurological connection. This could

explain one of Non-Segmental Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. The only

plausible explanation is by virtue of the meridian theory. The existence of meridian connections

were observed, the meridian system did exist.


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Functions of Skin. J.F. Danielle (ed). Academic Press, London and New York, pp 96-113


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TABLE 5: FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING RAW DATA

FCT-ANA BP-PRE BP-POST BP H/L BP H/L AP-PRE AP-POST AP H/L AP H/L

MERIDIAN RANK RANK RANK CHANGE RANK RANK RANK CHANGE

LU 13 10 3 Higher 9 12 3 Lower

LI 6 11 -5 Lower 10 1 9 Higher

ST 2 5 -3 Lower 11 5 6 Higher

SP 7 2 5 Higher 3 6 -3 Lower

HT 8 12 -4 Lower 4 14 -10 Lower

SI 5 6 -1 Lower 8 7 1 Higher

UB 11 14 -3 Lower 2 10 -8 Lower

KI 3 1 2 Higher 1 3 -2 Lower

HC 10 3 7 Higher 12 4 8 Higher

TH 9 7 2 Higher 5 8 -3 Lower

GB 1 4 -3 Lower 13 11 2 HigherLV 4 9 -5 Lower 7 9 -2 Lower

DI 12 8 4 Higher 14 13 1 Higher

SB 14 13 1 Higher 6 2 4 Higher

FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING

OVA BP PRE POST OVA AP PRE POST

RANK MERIDIANMERIDIAN RANK MERIDIANMERIDIAN

1 GB KI 1 KI LI

2 ST SP 2 UB SB

3 KI HC 3 SP KI

4 LV GB 4 HT HC

5 SI ST 5 TH ST

6 LI SI 6 SB SP

7 SP TH 7 LV SI

8 HT DI 8 SI TH

9 TH LV 9 LU LV

10 HC LU 10 LI UB

11 UB LI 11 ST GB

12 DI HT 12 HC LU

13 LU SB 13 GB DI

14 SB UB 14 DI HT


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FIGURE 2: CURRENT RESPONSE OF THE AMI (SSVP METHOD)[SSVP=Single Square Voltage Pulse]


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FIGURE 3: TEMPERATURE CHANGE AT BURNING MOXIBUSTION


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2011drmoriphd_dissertationpublicversion

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