Biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints: a systematic review.
Author: Li J, Wang Q, Liang H, Dong H, Li Y, Ng EH, Wu X.
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Key Discipline and Clinical Base, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, 150040 Harbin, China.
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2012
Other:
Volume ID: 2012 , Pages: 793841 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2012/793841 , Word Count: 124
As an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture is a convenient and effective therapy with fewer adverse effects. Recently, researches on meridian essence have become core issues of modern TCM. Numerous experiments have demonstrated the objective existence of meridians by different technologies since 1950s, such as biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. In this paper, we review biophysical studies on electric, acoustic, thermal, optical, magnetic, isotopic, and myoelectric aspects of meridians and acupoints. These studies suggest that meridians/acupoints have biophysical characteristics which are different from nonacupuncture points. Owing to the limitations of previous studies, future research using high-throughput technologies such as omics and multicenter randomized controlled trials should be performed to explore the acupuncture's mechanisms of action and demonstration of efficacy.
PMID: 23346214
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