• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2023

Objectives : There are many variations in the ST36 acupoint location. The purpose of this article is to suggest a method of locating the ST36 acupoint. Methods : Based on the available research and the neuroanatomical characteristics of the underlying acupoint, we summarized the proper procedure for finding the ST36 acupoint. Results : ST36 is 3 B-cun inferior to ST35 and is vertically situated on the line that connects ST35 and ST41. The ST36 acupoint corresponds to the deep peroneal nerve, which is situated in the tibialis anterior muscle's back. The neurovascular bundles that are located on the interosseous membrane between the interosseous crests of the tibia and fibula include the deep peroneal nerve, anterior tibial artery, and anterior tibial vein. According to both classical and modern literature, this acupoint can be found horizontally between the two muscles, tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus. Conclusions : Based on a review of the literature and neuroanatomical features, we suggest that ST36 can be positioned horizontally between tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus. Additional imaging studies and clinical proof are required to determine ST36 acupoint.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2000

Ge-Fu(歌賦) means prose and poetry individually, and they both have a meaning of all the rhythmical poetrical compositions making it ease for people to remember the content. All the Ge-Fus used in oriental medicine are made in Yuan(元), Mine(明)and Qing(靑)dynasty, and they have been largely used in most of all the fields of medicine such as Ben-Cao(本草), Tang-Ye(湯液), Zhen-Jiu(鍼灸), Zhen-Duan(診斷). Zhen-Jiu-Ge-Fu(鍼灸歌賦) has about 90 poetries and 10 proses and they contain the names of meridian; courses of meridian streams; accurate positions of acupuncture points; functions; effects; meanings of the name of acupuncture points; usages and effects of special points; manipulations of reinforcing and reducing method; contraindications of acupuncturing; principles of selections and orders of acupuncture points in therapy; and eight diadgoses. Zhen-Jiu-Ge-Fu is subdivided into Jing-Xue(經穴歌), Zhi-Jiu-Ge(刺灸歌), Shu-Xue-Ge(輸穴歌), Zhi-Liao-Ge(治療歌). And In Zhi-Liao-Ge, the most brief and essential Ge-Fu-Si-Zong-Sue-Ge- contains theraputic designs using far apart acpuncture points from the right painful areas in the body. In this study, the author opinionated the Si-Zong-Sue-Ge can be the prototype of the distant needling; the research on this can open the importance of Ge-Fus. On conclusion, 1. "Upper and lower Abdomen - Zu-San-Li($S_{36}$) (肚腹三里留)" means when there are problems and disorders in upper and lower abdomen, distinctively, such as gastric pain, maldigestion, flatulence, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, menstrual disorer, knee pain and tonic functioning, 족삼리 can be a right choice for distant needling point for treating. 2. "Face and Eye-He-Gu($Li_4$) (面目合谷收)" means when there are problems and disorders in facial, eye, ear, nose, throat, mouth regions, distinctively, such as facial edema, toothache, headache, sore throat, rhinorrhea, frontal headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, He-Gu can be a right choice for distant needling point for treating. 3. "Upper and lower back - Wei-Zhong($B_{40}$) (腰背委中求)" means when there are problems and disorders in upper and lower back, distinctively, such as upper back pain, lumbargo, hamstring muscle pain, popliteal region pain, lower extremity compartment syndrom, Inguinal region pain, muscle twitch, vomiting and diarrhea, hemorrhoidal bleeding, skin rash, Wei-Zhong can be a right choice for distant needling point for treating. 4. "Head and neck - Lie-Que($L_7$) (頭項審列缺)" means when there are problems and disorders in capital and nuchal area, distinctively, such as migraine, frontal headache, rhinorrhea, asthmatic dyspnea, aphasia, coughing, neck stiffness, occipital headache, upper extremity pain, Lie-Que can be a right choice for distant needling point for treating.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.788-796
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various electroacupuncture duration induced by acupuncture point-Zusanli ($S_{36}$) electrical stimulation on inhibition of amplitude of digastric electromyogram (dEMG) evoked by noxious electrical stimuli around the mental foramen. intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital in an initial dose of 50mg/kg and maintenance doses of 4.5mg/kg/h were given through a cannula in the femoral vein using a constant infusion pump. A pair of stimulating electrodes were inserted for noxious stimuli around the mental foramen. An irritant electronic stimuli pulse (0.2 Hz, 0.1 ms duration) was produced with an intensity of about $1.5{\times}2$ times threshold for evoking the dEMG. The anterior belly of the digastric muscle was exposed and a pair of 0.1mm wire electrodes were inserted for dEMG recording. Acupuncture point stimulation on Zusanli (2 Hz, 250 ${\mu}s$, biphasic pulse, 2 V) was delivered by Dental Electronic Anesthesia (3M, U.S.A). For periods of electronic stimulation of 10, 20, and 30min, the amplitudes of dEMG were measured on the oscilloscope and on the monitor connected to the amplifier. The following results were obtained: The dEMG was decreased to 73.4% of that in the control set after 10 min electroacupunture stimulation (Group I); The dEMG was decreased to 77.1% (10min), 54.0.% (20min) of that in the control set after 20minutes of electroacupunture stimulation (Group II). The dEMG was decreased to 73.3% (10min), 61.9% (20min), 76.2% (30min) of that in the control set after 30 min of electroacupunture stimulation (Group III). From these results, it may be that in the electroacupuncture stimulation on the Zusnali resulted in a reduction of amplitude of dEMG and that the most effective electroacupuncture stimulation period was 20min.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.97-110
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• 2002

목적 : 본 연구는 (a) 저빈도 전침의 만성 단발성 관절염에 대한 치료 효과와 (b) 척수에서 동통과 관련되는 지표인 P 물질과 trk A mRNA의 발현조절에 미치는 영향을 연구하기 위해 실행되었다. 방법 : Complete Freund's adjuvant를 실험동물의 우측 경족근관절에 주입하여 관절염을 유발시키고 9주 동안 관찰하였다. 만성 관절염의 최적의 치료조건을 찾기 위하여 각각 세 종류의 경혈(환도, 용천, 족삼리)과 전침자극강도(0.5, 1, 2 mA)를 사용하여, 행동학적 지표로서 동통을 측정하였다. 측정 결과 가장 큰 효과를 나타낸 군을 선택하여 RT-PCR 방법을 사용하여 P 물질 및 trk A mRNA의 변화를 척수 후각과 후근신경절에서 측정하였다. 결과 : 관절의 굴신을 통한 통증 검사와 족과관절 둘레 길이 측정을 통하여 관찰한 결과 원위부에 위치한 환도에 저강도의 자극을 시행한 경우(환도, 0.5 mA)가 가장 우수한 치료 효과를 나타내었다. RT-PCR을 시행한 결과, 환측 후근신경절의 P물질이 관절염 유발 대조군의 경우 정상군에 비해 증가하였고 환도-0.5mA 군에서 다시 감소하는 것을 관찰하였으며, trk A는 관절염 유발군의 경우 척수 후각에서 양측성 증가를 나타내었고 이는 전침치료에 의해 다시 감소되는 것을 관찰하였다. 결론 : 환도 0.5mA의 저빈도 전침은 관절염을 효과적으로 감소시킬 뿐 아니라 관절염으로 증가된 후근신경절의 P 물질과 척수후각의 trk A mRNA 발현을 효과적으로 감소시켰으며, 이는 원위취혈로 선혈된 환도혈의 만성관절염에 대한 치료효과를 분명히 보여준다고 할 수 있다.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2014

Here we described 2 cancer patients treated by acupuncture for abdominal pain as a complication of bowel obstruction. The patient 1, 43-year-old man was treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for rectal cancer. Two years after surgery, he complained of acute abdominal pain due to small bowel adhesion band. Bowel obstruction and symptoms were not improved by conservative therapy like as fasting, keeping Levin tube, and fluid therapy. 4 months later, he could eat a little rice water, but ileus and abdominal pain persisted despite of applying opiod drug and patch. Got started on acupuncture, electroacupuncture(ST-36) and moxa treatment, pain was relived gradually. He could stop opioids 1 month later and ileus was improved after acupuncture therapy for 2 months. The patient 2, 65-year-old woman got hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and chemotherapy with cholangiocarcinoma. 6 months after surgery, she got laparotomy again for biopsy of new mass around ascending colon. She started eating after gas passing, but felt abdominal distension. Diffuse paralytic ileus was diagnosed by abdominal X-ray, and she got started conservative therapy. During ST-36 electroacupuncture therapy, symptoms like abdominal pain and distension were improved and could stop opiod patch. But eating aggravated ileus again and clinical finding of mechanical bowel obstruction was appeared. Based on these cases, acupuncture and moxa therapy could be helpful for improving abdominal pain and ileus, but possibility of malignant bowel obstruction should be considered especially in cancer patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.462-468
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• 2012

The present study was conducted with the object of examining how ST36 and LR3 electro acupuncture affects the injured side and the intact side in rats with sciatic nerve injury. For this study, we divided rats into a control group that were injured but not treated, experimental group I that were injured and had electro acupuncture on the intact side, experimental group II that were injured and had electro-acupuncture on the injured side, and experimental group III that were injured and had electro-acupuncture on both the intact side and the injured side, and performed behavioral and immunohistochemical tests. The results of this study are as follows. In the results of hot plate test, on Day 1 of experiment, experimental group I did not show a statistically significant difference but experimental group II and III showed a statistically significant difference, and on Day 2 and 3, all of experimental group I, II and III showed a statistically significant difference. In the results of SFI test, on Day 7 of experiment, experimental group I did not show a statistically significant difference but experimental group II and III showed a statistically significant difference, and on Day 14 and 21, all of experimental group I, II and III showed a statistically significant difference. In the results of immunohistochemical test, the expression of c-fos decreased gradually on Day 1, 2 and 3 in all the experimental groups, and the decrease was larger in the experimental groups that had electro-acupuncture than in the control group. In the results of immunohistochemical test, the expression of BDNF increased gradually on Day 7, 14 and 21 in all the experimental groups, and the expression was higher in the experimental groups than in the control group. Summing up the results, ST36 and LR3 electro acupuncture was effective when it was applied to the injured side and to both sides after sciatic nerve injury, but it was also effective in pain relief and nerve regeneration when it was applied to the intact side.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.341-352
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was carried out to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on reactive gliosis expressing GFAP in rat with transient global cerebral ischemia. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and a electroacupuncture group on ST36, LI11 and SP9 with 2 Hz and 1 mA. The rats were sacrificed on 1, 3 and 7 days after transient cerebral ischemia using ligation of left common carotid artery. After making brain slide sections, they were immunostained with GFAP antisera(1:2,500). The results were as follows: The numbers of astrocytes of electroacupuncture group were decreased than those of control group at every 1, 2 and 7 days. Especially, the numbers of astrocytes at 3 days(p<0.01) and 8 days(p<0.05) were different statistically. And astrocytes had resting, hypertrophic and moving types on cerebral cortex. The decrease of numbers of astrocytes expressing GFAP showed that electroacupuncture could localise and minimize the brain damage by transient cerebral ischemia and cause brain cell plasticity.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2004

Objective : Acupuncture has been used for treatment of numerous disorders, especially for pain control in Oriental Medicine. However, the mechanism of pain control by acupuncture was not clear until now. This study was performed to prove analgesic mechanism of acupuncture treatment at acupoint $ST_{36}$ by observing the changes of abdominal pain and c-Fos expression in the thalamus. Methods : Abdominal pain was induced by acetic acid, and the changes of writhing reflex after acupuncture treatment on $ST_{36}$ and non-acupoints were measured. c-Fos immunohistochemistry was also performed to study the changes of the neuronal activity in the thalamus. Results : The writhing reflex decrease significantly after acupuncturing at $ST_{36}$ compared with control group(p<0.05). The changes of the writhing reflex by non-acupoint acupuncture treatment also showed significant decrease compared with control group(p<0.05). c-Fos expression in the thalamus, especially periventricular part was significantly decreased after acupuncturing as $ST_{36}$ compared with control groups(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study shows that the acupuncture has the analgesic effect in the abdominal pain induced by acetic acid and the thalamus might be a important area for this mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2007

Purpose: We investigated the effects of the combined therapy in rats with rheumatoid arthritis induced by type II collagen for 28 days, which consisted of the oral administration of the AR and EA applied to zusanli acupoint(ST36). Methods: Normal group was oral administered with 0.9% NaCl $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to normal rats. Control group was oral administered with 0.9% NaCl $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to arthritic rats. Group I was oral administered with AR 500 mg/kg $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to arthritic rats. Group II was given 2 Hz EA of ST36 in the test group for 30 min/day to arthritic rats. Group III was oral administered with AR 500 mg/kg $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ and 2 Hz EA of ST36 in the test group for 30 min/day to arthritic rats. We Observed effect of the histopathological changes by H&E stain of liver, kidney, knee joint and ELSIA of cytokines($TNF-{\alpha}$). Results: 1. The vacuolization of liver tissue was decreased in group I, II, III comparing with control group. 2. The glomerular sclerosis of kidney tissue was decreased in group I, II, III comparing with control group. 3. The erosion of arthritic site of knee joint tissue was decreased group I, II, III comparing with control group. In particular group III was the most effective comparing with group I, II on the histopathological view. 4. In the ELSIA test of $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration, Control group significantly increased in the concentration more than group I, II, III. The rate of increase in concentration slowed down in group III more than group I, II(p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that 500 mg/kg of AR extracts and EA have clear therapeutic effect on the rheumatoid arthritis.