Abstract
This study was examined for effects of acupuncture of Zusanli (ST36) on the facial thermography in health subjects. The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 mins in room temperature (23-$25^{\circ}C$) before the examination and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and administration of drug for the previous day. The thermography of face was taken using Infra-Red Imaging System (IR 2000, MEDI-CORE Co., Korea) by time interval of 15 minutes at 15 min before, just before and 15 min after, 30 min after and 45 min after acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture was applied to the left ST36 for 30 mins. The results showed that acupuncture of ST36 significantly decreased the temperature of all the areas of facial surface comparing to those of control group. Also, it was observed that the quantities of thermal changes following acupuncture of ST36 been increased significantly at the A1, A4, A6, A7 and A9 ROIs (region of interest) comparing that of control group. Observed the thermography classified by ROI, it was clear the fact that acupuncture of ST36 could modulate the specific areas concerning to the facial pathway of Stomach Meridian, because the thermal responses following acupuncture of ST36 were specific at the A1, A2, A5 and A9 ROIs, relatively. These results suggest that acupuncture of ST36 may modulate thermal distributions and changes of facial areas concerned with Stomach Meridian.
