The properties of acupuncture points and meridians have been
investigated extensively over the past 50 years. Research
has shown the acupuncture points to exhibit unique electrical, thermal
and chemical properties:
Electrical Properties of acupuncture points:
- High electric capacity (0.1-1 micro-farad).
- High electric potential (up to 350mV).
- Low electric resistance, explored either by DC or AC current (20 to 250
kilo-ohms). Acupuncture points have lower skin electrical resistance versus
other sites on the body, that is, they conduct electrical current better.
- The resistance changes with disease states,
sleep, meals, physical exercise, and changes in the
external environment, temperature, season, time of day, etc.
- This lowered skin resistance is measurable
EVEN AFTER DEATH AND EMBALMING, suggesting some
intrinsic electrophysiologic quality to the tissue
comprising acupoints.
Biochemical / Physiological Properties of acupuncture points:
- There are measurable changes in the sodium/potassium
concentration in an acupoint, at a depth under the skin,
as compared to the tissue around the point.
- Increased "cutaneous respiration" (great uptake of CO2 at the level of the points).
- High local temperature.
- Low threshold of painful sensitivity.
Histological Properties of acupuncture points:
On biopsies, there is a structure described as
a "neurovascular hemolymphatic complex":
- a plexus of arteriovenous capillaries;
- a rich lymphatic drainage;
- cutaneous nerves (myelinated and unmyelinated)
emerging from deep fascia, from bone foramina,
and motor points of neuromuscular attachments.
- Acupuncture points are rich in Ab neural fibres
(thick, medullated and fast) which are responsible for transmitting the
touch and tactile signals.
- They are poor in Ad (medullated), and c
(non medullated) neural fibres (thinner, slower), which are responsible
for transmitting the sensation of pain.
Specifically, Ad fibres are responsible for acute
localised pain, while c fibres transmit diffused
blunt pain.
This explains why acupuncture is generally painless; inactive acupuncture
points do not have many neural fibre endings that transmit pain signals.
Anatomical Properties of acupuncture points:
- The acupuncture points and meridians lie along the
fascial planes, the cleavage or dividing planes between
muscle groups and tissues.
- Point maps correspond to motor points, neurovascular points, and trigger points.
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- Darren Starwynn; Electrophysiology And The Acupuncture Systems;
Medical Acupuncture, Volume 13 / Number 1
(read the article)
- Harry Lazoura, Irena Cosic;
Low Level Laser Radiation as a Stimulant in Acupuncture;
2nd International Conference on Bioelectromagnetism. p171-172. 1998.
(read the article)
- Thalia Kritidou;
Modern Neurophysiological Theories on the Effects of Acupuncture for
the Treatment of Dental Pain; The Web-Journal of Acupuncture
(read the article)
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