Analysis of Meridian Flow Direction by Electrical Stimulation Method

Author: Yan-Wen Liu#1, Chuan-Wei Kuo#2, Ting-Chang Chang3,4, Yu-Chiang Hung5,6, Yung-Fang Tan2, Chia-Chuan Wu7, Chien-Hung Lin1, Wen-Chung Chen2, Wen-Long Hu1,8,9,10, Tsung-Ming Tsai2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Dapi Road, Kaohsiung, 83301, Taiwan. <sup>2</sup> Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan. <sup>3</sup> Department of Physics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lien-hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan. tcchang3708@gmail.com. <sup>4</sup> The Center of Crystal Research, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan. tcchang3708@gmail.com. <sup>5</sup> Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Dapi Road, Kaohsiung, 83301, Taiwan. hungyuchiang@gmail.com. <sup>6</sup> School of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan. hungyuchiang@gmail.com. <sup>7</sup> Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan. <sup>8</sup> School of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan. <sup>9</sup> Kaohsiung Medical University of Medicine, 100, Shiquan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan. <sup>10</sup> Fooyin University College of Nursing, 151, Jinxue Rd., Kaohsiung, 83102, Taiwan.
Conference/Journal: Nanoscale Res Lett
Date published: 2022 Jul 8
Other: Volume ID: 17 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 64 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s11671-022-03694-4. , Word Count: 175


Meridians constitute the theoretical foundation of acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and they have been described for 2000 years. Classical TCM advocates for the directionality of meridians. Finding an accurate method to verify this directionality is an important goal of TCM doctors and researchers. In this study, we objectively explored the physical properties of meridians, such as response current from electrical stimulation, to explore their directionality. The Agilent B1500A semiconductor measurement analyzer was utilized to input the alternating current waveforms and detect the response current on the meridians. The results showed that the direction of the meridians influences the intensity of the response current. Therefore, the mechanisms behind the directions of ion transportation and the meridians were investigated using the response time and the intensity of the response current. Thereafter, we propose a model to explain this mechanism. Afterward, a comparison between the direction of the meridian in this experiment and ancient Chinese medicine classics was performed.

Keywords: Drift current; Electrical acupuncture; Meridian directionality; Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

PMID: 35802273 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-022-03694-4