The influence of different methods of acupuncture on skin surface perfusion

• Published in: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 40 - 44
• Main Author: 黄涛 王瑞红 张维波 韩彬 王广军 田宇瑛 张宇沁
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Meridians; Regional Blood Flow; Skin - blood supply; Young Adult; 微血管; 投影面积; 激光多普勒; 生物学机制; 皮肤表面; 血流灌注; 血流量; 针灸
• ISSN: 0255-2922; 0254-6272
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-6272(12)60029-6

OBJECTIVE：To compare the effects on the body surface of different kinds of placebo/sham acupuncture with that of traditional needling sensation acupuncture.METHODS：Point Neiguan（PC 6） of 29 healthy subjects,19 males and 10 females,was stimulated with needling sensation,shallow,placebo and deep acupuncture at the non-acupoint.After stimulation with different methods of acupuncture,the change in perfusion of the micrangium in the skin surface around the elbow joint,with Point Quze（PC 3） as its center,was observed with laser Doppler blood-flow imaging.RESULTS：Judging from the absolute value of perfusion of the skin surface micrangium,several methods of acupuncture can cause change in blood flow.The ratio of blood-flow perfusion in the meridian area in and around Quze declined before and after needling insertion in needling sensation acupuncture and shallow acupuncture.This observation did not occur in placebo and non-acupoint acupuncture.Needling sensation acupuncture at an acupoint can relatively reduce the perfusion ofthe micrangium in the projective area of the meridian where the acupoint is located on the body surface（P0.05）,indicating the specificity of meridians.CONCLUSIONS：Stimulation of an acupoint or a point on the body surface with any type of acupuncture can cause change in blood flow in the skin near the needling point.However,the biological mechanism underlying this phenomenon needs to be further explored.