Journal of Meridian and Acupoint

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Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Volume 26, No. 1, 1-25, 2009

A Study on Medical Qigong in Mawangdui Daoyintu

Hwa-Jin Lee, Hi-Joon Park, Younbyoung Chae, You-Sang Baik, Chang-Shik Yin, Mu-Won Park, Hyejung Lee

Abstract

Objectives: Medical Qigong, originating from Mawangdui Daoyintu, consists mainly of meditation, physical movements and breathing exercises. It has been widely used to cure a variety of diseases as part of a regimen in Oriental medicine. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of medical Qigong movements in the Mawangdui Daoyintu and to observe a link between each medical Qigong movement and meridian system.

Methods: We extracted 14 medical Qigong movements from 44 figures in Mawangdui Daoyintu. We compared the 14 movements of the Mawangdui Daoyintu with other types of movements used in medical Qigong methods. We also analyzed each movement of medical Qigong in Mawangdui Daoyintu in relation to meridian systems.

Results: We found that there were common features between the medical Qigong movements of the Mawangdui Daoyintu and movement types seen with other medical Qigong methods, including Yukjagyeol, Paldangum, and Yukgengyeng. From the comparison of each movement and meridian qi flow, we found several movements related to the liver meridian and one movement related to several meridians.

Conclusions: Our findings assist in the understanding of the movements of medical Qigong in Mawangdui Daoyintu and their relationship to the meridian system. This information allows the development of new medical Qigong movements that apply the meridian qi system for health and healing.

Keywords: acupuncture, five elements, high fat diet, rats

Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Volume 26, No. 1, 41-49, 2009

An Overview of Patterns and Results Obtained From Moxibustion-Derived Clinical Trials

Chang-Gue Son

Abstract

Objective: To create a comprehensive picture of moxibustion clinical trial results to date that may help design a strategy for moxibustion-derived clinical studies in the future.

Methods: Surveyed literature included randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) from PubMed and Korean journals. Analysis was performed according to distribution mainly by study subject, target diseases, study design and efficacy.

Results: Fifty-two studies were selected according to the inclusion criteria of randomized controlled clinical study. Moxibustion-derived RCT have rapidly increased in 2003 since the first was published in China in 1992. The main subjects of RCT have been associated with immunity, cancer, arthritis, chronic colitis and urogenital disorders, which are connected to cold-related pathogenesis. The average number of subjects was 94, and direct moxibustion was mainly applied. The control groups consisted of conventional therapy, herbal medicine, acupuncture or only observation. Most RCT showed positive results.

Conclusion: This study would be helpful for designing or conducting RCT to allow the scientific development of moxibustion.

Keywords: CAM, clinical trial, moxibustion, Oriental medicine, RCT

Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Volume 26, No. 1, 79-84, 2009

A Morphology Study of Organ Surface Bonghan Ducts and Corpuscles

Seong-Hun Ahn, Min-Su Kim, Sang-Hun Lee, O-Sang Kwon, Jae-Hyo Kim, Kwang-Sup Soh, In-Chul Sohn

Abstract

Objective: In the 1960s Bonghan Kim's team found Bonghan (BH) ducts which were presumed to be acupuncture meridians and BH corpuscles. They asserted BH theory and SanAl theory which was involved in cell division and cell restoration. However, many other experiments which were performed to demonstrate and find the existence of BH ducts failed because of the secret of blue stain used. During the last several years, BH theory has been revived through studies to find the anatomical structures of BH ducts and corpuscles by Soh's Biomedical Physics Lab. Soh's research team performed staining with Janus Green B, Alcian blue, nanoparticles and Acridine Orange. We used DAPI staining to find the existence of BH ducts and corpuscles, and to observe nuclear arrangements.

Methods: We used Japanese white rabbits as experimental animals. BH ducts and corpuscles were stained with DAPI. The nucleus configuration in BH ducts stained with DAPI was observed using microscopy.

Results: We found thread like structures, silver-white in color, distinguished from the blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels. These thread-like vessels, with a linear duct shape, were connected to a ball shaped, similar colored mass. The thread-like structures we found could be separated easily from the surrounding organ mass. The nuclei of the thread-like structure in DAPI staining were about 10-20 μm in length, were rod shaped and had a linear arrangement.

Conclusion: We concluded that the thread-like structures we found were Bonghan ducts and corpuscles, in agreement with Soh's research team.

Keywords: Bonghan corpuscle, Bonghan duct, DAPI staining

Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Volume 26, No. 1, 125-137, 2009

Effect of Cinnamomi Ramulus Herbal Acupuncture on Type 1 Hypersensitivity

Dong-Hoon Kim, Choon-Ho Song

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the anti-allergy effects of Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR) herbal acupuncture and CR extract.

Methods: Animals were herbal-acupunctured with CR at both ST36s three times for 5 days in vivo. Active systemic anaphylactic shock was induced using compound 48/80 in ICR mice, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis using anti-DNP IgE in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release and expressions of IL-4, TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells after treatment of various concentrations of CR extract were assessed in vitro.

Results: CR herbal acupuncture pretreatments at ST36s inhibited compound 48/80-induced active systemic anaphylactic shock. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis was inhibited by CR herbal acupuncture pretreatments at both ST36s and optional points. CR extract treatments did not affect cell viability and inhibited β-hexosaminidase release. CR extract treatments also decreased the expression of IL-4, TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells.

Conclusion: These results suggest that CR herbal acupuncture and CR extract may be beneficial in the inhibition of the allergic inflammatory response.

Keywords: acupuncture, pregnancy, safety, survey