In this issue of the journal, recommended articles are selected from the Journal of Meridian and Acupoint (ISSN: 1229-7933) and from the Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute (ISSN: 1226-4849), which were published in the Korean language.
(1) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Vol 26, No. 4, 1–11, 2009
A Distribution Chart Analysis of Electric Energy at Specific Acupoints on the Same Meridian Pathway
Soo-Byung Kim, Choong-Ki Min, Na-Ra Lee, Seung-Wook Lee, Tae-Kyu Shim, Yun-Kyoung Yim, Yong Heum Lee
Abstract
Objective: The object of this study is to measure the energy (skin capacitance) distribution on specific acupionts and to analyze changes in patterns of the meridian energy according to time or synchronous time.
Methods: To check the energy distribution using a meridian energy measurement system (DMM-1000), we chose ten specific acupoints (ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, ST42, ST43, ST44, ST45, BL21, CV12). The energy distribution and analyzed the patterns of change before and after meal, as well as the state of the energy of the ST meridian, which is thought to be related to stomach organ activity were checked. Based on the hypothesis regarding an energy difference due to Qi flow, we compared the energy potentials at the 10 specific acupoints.
Results and Conclusion: Electric energy of each specific acupoint varied with subject and time. Through this study, we propose an indispensable condition of the energy difference due to Qi flow through a meridian.
Keywords: Acupoint, Meridian potential, Qi difference, Skin capacitance
(2) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Vol 26, No. 4, 23–38, 2009
Effect of Acupuncture With Tonification and Sedation Manipulation at LI4 and KI7 on Induction of Sweating in a Cold Environment
Chan-Hun Choi, Dae-Hwan Youn, Young-Sun Kim, Min-Sun Song, Chang-Su Na
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of tonification and sedation manipulation for LI4 and KI7 on the lack of sweating in a cold environment.
Method: Participants were divided into 3 groups: one group without acupuncture; an acupuncture group being inserted and twisted with LI4 tonificaton and KI7 sedation method (LI4-tonify, KI7-purge); and an acupuncture group being inserted and twisted with LI4 sedation and KI7 tonificaton method (LI4-purge, KI7-tonify). We obtained baseline data under a cold condition at 14±1°C. After making the participant stay in the cold for 10 minutes, we measured sweating rate on the surface of skin, body temperature, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and subcutaneous deoxy-Hb and oxy-Hb.
Results: After acupuncture in a cold environment, the sweating rate on the surface of skin was significantly decreased in the KI7-purge and LI4-tonify group compared to the control groups. The body temperature were significantly increased in groups of the LI4-tonification, the KI7-purge and the LI4-purge, and KI7-tonification groups compared with the control group. The oxygen saturation significantly increased in the LI4-tonification and KI7-purge group.
Conculsions: These findings indicated that LI4 tonificaton and KI7 sedation method (LI4-tonification and KI7-purge) may be effective for the induction of sweating in a cold condition.
Keywords: Acupuncture points, Sweating rate, Oxygen saturation, Tonificaton, Sedation manipulation
(3) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Vol 26, No. 4, 39–52, 2009
Inhibitory Effect of Acupuncture at HT7 on Sympathetic Alterations due to Smoking-related Visual Cues During Smoking Cessation
Younbyoung Chae, Jeong-Chan Lee, Kyung-Mo Park, Hyejung Lee, O-Seok Kang, Song-Yi Kim, Hwa-Jin Lee, Chang-Sik Yin, Hi-Joon Park
Abstract
Objectives: Cue reactivity is a key factor that modulates motivational goal-directed behavior associated with compulsive drug-taking and relapse. We investigated whether acupuncture attenuated the skin conductance response and the heart rate response to smoking-related visual cues in smokers.
Methods: Twenty-nine smokers were treated with real acupuncture (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA). The stress response inventory was measured on the fifth day after smoking cessation. Skin conductance rate and heart rate were measured to evaluate the autonomic changes to smoking-related visual cues on the same day.
Results: The sympathetic alterations in skin conductance and the heart rate induced by the smoking-related visual cues were significantly lower in the RA group, as compared to the SA group. The stress response inventory, such as somatization and frustration, in the RA group was significantly lower than that of the SA group.
Conclusion: Acupuncture ameliorated the stress symptoms as well as the sympathetic alterations due to smoking cues during withdrawal. These findings indicate that acupuncture might be a useful tool in smoking cessation due to its inhibitory effect on smoking-cue-induced autonomic responses.
Keywords: Acupuncture, Smoking, Skin conductance response, Heart rate, Stress
(4) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Vol 26, No. 4, 53–66, 2009
Effect of Sa-am Acupuncture on Knee Osteoarthritis
Moo-Hong Min, Yeong-Gon Choi, Yun-Ju Kim, Hi-Joon Park, Sam-Chool Lee, Ho-No Joo, Seung-Moo Han, Sabina Lim
Abstract
Objectives: Acupuncture has been widely used throughout the world for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated whether acupuncture, particularly Sa-am acupuncture, could be effective in relieving pain from and improving the symptoms of knee OA.
Methods: This study was conducted as a prospective, randomized, controlled double-blind clinical trial. Forty volunteers with knee OA participated in the study. All participants were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-four participants completed the clinical trial. In total, 40 subjects were randomly selected to receive Sa-am acupuncture. Eight sessions of acupuncture were given at the contralateral side of the problematic knee for four weeks. Korean translations of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) scores were measured twice: at the beginning and the end of the clinical trial period. Both the Patient Global Assessment and Physical Health Scores based on the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey were used to measure the results.
Results: Compared to the pre-trial scores, the Sa-am acupuncture group (n = 34) showed a significant decrease in KWOMAC total scores according to a paired t test. The Sa-am acupuncture group also showed significant improvement in the Patient Global Assessment when compared to the pre-trial assessment.
Conclusion: Sa-am acupuncture for knee OA resulted in an improved KWOMAC total score. This was mostly driven by the function component score, which was greatly affected by acupuncture. However, further studies with a larger sample size are needed to provide further evidence.
Keywords: Acupuncture, Osteoarthritis, KWOMAC, SF-36, Patient Global Assessment
(5) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Vol 26, No. 4, 195–209, 2009
Herbal Acupuncture with Nidus Vespae Suppresses c-Fos Expression Caused by TNBS-induced Colitis in Rats
Jeong Bang Song, Jae Hyo Kim, Yu Lee Kim, Yu Ree Park, Seong Hun Ahn, In Chul Sohn
Abstract
Objectives: Transient inflammation has been demonstrated to alter visceral sensory function in animal models, while acute mucosal inflammation may precede the manifestation of visceral hyperalgesia. In this study, we compared the effects of herbal acupuncture of Nidus Vespae (NV) applied to different acupoints in cases of acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) in tracolonic injection in rats.
Methods: TNBS (5 mg/kg) was infused intrarectally through a silicon rubber catheter into the anus under isoflurane anaesthesia in male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250–400 g. Under general anesthesia, the LI4 (Hapkok), SI25 (Cheonchu), ST36 (Joksamni) and BL25 (Daejangsu) acupoints were intramuscularly injected with NV. Expressions of c-Fos protein in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus of the solitary tract (Sol), and the 6th lumbar spinal cord (L6) were observed 24 hours after TNBS-induced colitis by using immunohistochemistry.
Results: The expressions of c-Fos protein in L6, Sol, LC and PAG were increased 24 hours after TNBS injection into colorectum as compared to rats with no TNBS injection. NV herbal acupuncture inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in Sol, but not in L6, LC or PAG. NV to ST36 significantly inhibited the c-Fos expression in Sol and PAG. NV to ST25 inhibited the c-Fos protein expression over the entire observation area. NV to BL25 showed inhibitory effects in all areas except LC. To determine the role of endogenous opioids, we applied intrathecal injection of naltrexone (30 ug/30 ul) before the second herbal acupuncture treatment, 24 hours after TNBS-induced colitis in rat. Naltrexone reversed the inhibition of c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord and brain stem under different conditions, such as the type of herbal acupuncture compound used or the choice of acupoint.
Conclusions: In summary, these data show that herbal acupuncture with NV inhibits signal pathways, such as the spinal cord and the brain stem, thereby increasing the hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS-induced colitis. This effect may be mediated by using acupoints through the endogenous opioid system involving pain modulation.
Keywords: Herbal acupuncture, Nidus Vespae, Colitis, Rat, c-Fos
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