Effects of Acupuncture at Hap-Kok(LI4) on the Skin Temperature Changes of face divided by 17 area randomly in Man

합곡(合谷) 자침(刺鍼)이 면부(面部)의 구역별(區域別) 영역(領域) 온도변화(溫度變化)에 미치는 영향(影響)

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of acupuncture at LI4 on temperature changes of the facial surface randomly divided into 17 areas. The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 min in room temperature ($23-25^{\circ}C$) before acupuncture and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and drug for the previous one day. The Temperature of facial surface was measured by using Digital Thermography IR 2000 (Meridian Co., Korea) at 5 min before and immediately, 5, 10, and 15 min after acupuncture on LI4. The results of this study showed that there was no significancy in thermal changes of facial surface randomly divided into 17 areas, but different significantly in the aggregate changes at the difference of the thermal changes on facial surface (p < 0.001). The difference of aggregate change was increased time-dependent and the changes at 1st, 3rd, and 13th area were comparatively smaller than the other areas. However, the changes at 6th, 8th, 10th and 15th area were more increased than the others. This study suggests that acupuncture at LI 4 help human being increase the reaction to maintain thermal homeostasis in facial surface and the ability to treat at these area's disease.