• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.25-35
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• 2000

Objectives : The characteristic of meridian system has been similar to this of electric potentials in human body. Therefore to measure the electric potentials in healthy volunteers and patients, and to find out the characteristic of meridian system and also to do that of differences between them. Methods : Twenty-nine healthy volunteers, thirty patients diagnosed as a cerebral infarction and wind-syndrome caused by hyperactivity of the liver-yang(肝陽化風) were examined into electric potential of well(井穴) and sea(合穴) points in branches of the twelve meridians by physiograph. Results : Measurements were analyzed by factor analysis, then we obtained that both the right and the left electric potential of well and sea points in branches of the twelves meridians in healthy volunteers were divided into two factors, hand meridian and foot meridian. Where as the left electric potential of those in patients with cerebral infarction were divided into three factors, one is foot meridian, another is hand meridian with the exception of large intestine meridian, and the other is large intestine meridian and also the right electric potential were divided into three factors, foot meridian, hand meridian with the exception of large intestine and lung meridian, and large intestine and lung meridian. Conclusions : In the results, healthy volunteers differ from patients in characteristic of electrical potentials, which means that we are able to catch the characteristic of meridian system by electrical potentials of well and sea points.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2000

Objectives : Assuming that the characteristic of meridian system has been similar to this of electric potentials in human body and that measurements of electric potential at well(井穴) and sea(合穴) points in branches of the twelve meridians will be representative of measurements of the twelve meridians, to measure the electric potentials in three patient groups with arrhythmia(AP group), with arrhythmia and cerebral infarction(CI group), and with arrhythmia and hemorrhage(CH group), and then to find out the characteristic of meridian system among 3 groups. Methods : Thirty arrhythmic patients diagnosed by EKG, CT, and deficiency of the heart blood(心血虛症) were divided into 3 groups(AP, CI, CH group). Their electric potential of well and sea points in the meridians were measured 3 times by physiograph. Results : Measurements were analyzed by statistical factor analysis, we obtained that the left side electric potential of well and sea points in branches of the twelves meridians in AP group was divided into two factors, which were the hand meridian without the lung meridian, the foot meridian and the lung meridian, but the right side electric potential was divided into the hand and the foot meridian. In CH group both the left and the right side electric potential was divided into three factors. In CI group the left side electric potential was divided into three factors, but the right side electric potential was divided into two factors. Conclusions : In conclusion, their electrical potentials were different each other among 3 groups. Thus electrical potentials of well and sea points might be the representative meridian to show their characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2000

Objectives : Assuming that the characteristic of meridian system has been similar to this of electric potentials in human body and that measurements of electric potential at well(井穴) and sea(合穴) points in branches of the twelves meridians will be representative of measurements of the twelve meridians, to measure the electric potentials in twenty healthy volunteers when they were sleeping or waking respectively, to do significance test for electric potential of meridian system between hand and foot meridian, yin and yang meridian, exterior and interior of the body, and among the five elements. Methods : When twenty healthy volunteers were sleeping, their electric potentials of well and sea points in branches of the twelve meridians were simultaneously measured by physiograph. After a minute we measured them again, totally 5 times. And then when they were waking, their electric potentials were measured 5 times by the above method. Results : Measurements were analyzed by statistical t-test, we obtained that the left side electric potential of hand or yin meridian was significantly different from that of foot or yang meridian both sleeping and waking. The right side of electric potential was the same result as the left side's. Most of the t-test was significant between exterior and interior of the body, and among the five elements. That meaned that it was partly possible to apply the ancient theory of meridians to the study of electric potential at well and sea points in branches of the twelves meridians.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2005

Background and purpose: The measurement of direct current (DC) potential on skin area of meridian has recently been adopted to explore the electrophysiological characteristics of meridian system, But there exists two problems to be explained; the entity of the DC potential to be measured and the characteristics of electrode gel interface of measurement system, It is not clear whether the DC potential reflect, at least hypothetically, the entity of meridian, and if there exist any unstable factor in the DC potential measurement system. Methods: In this study, we designed an electronic circuit model of skin and applied known DC potential sources $({\pm}10.75mV,\;0mV)$ to the electrode interface of the skin model. Results: The result showed that the measured DC potential changed according to the time, and the same phenomenon was observed when the electrode gel was replaced with an electric condenser. It is suggested that the measurement of DC potential on electrode gel interface is very difficult and produces unstable values due to the capacity effect of electrode gel. Conclusion: Further studies on the DC potential evaluation in the context of meridian study should consider and bypass this problem.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.41-48
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to explore the passive multi-channel time series analysis method by measuring bio-potentials of acupuncture point and the peripheral region Methods : Bio-potential was measured at ST36 and the peripherical region of ST36 of 5 healthy volunteers at three times. The diagram of the potential changes over time were smoothed by moving average method and similarities of ST36 and the other points were calculated. Results : In the normal weight group, bio-potential similarity tended to decrease in proportion to the distance from the acupuncture point. In the obesity group, bio-potential similarity appeared in a very wide area. Bio-potential similarity had positive correlation with BMI value. Conclusions : The passive multi-channel time series analysis method showed the possibility be appropriate for the electrical characteristics study of meridians.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.29-41
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• 2005

Objectives : Although previous anatomic, physiological and biophysics studies have examined the acupuncture meridian system, much remains unclear and controversial. This study was undertaken to examine electrical potential aspects of the meridian system. Electric potential was measured at the well and sea acupoints on the twelve acupuncture meridians (AM), on forty patients half with loin lesions, and pain of loin and lower extremities(LL) and half with shoulder lesions, and aching of shoulder and arm(SA). The object was to determine to what extent electric potential is an important risk factor between LL and SA. Methods : At the left and the right side with each of twenty LL and twenty SA patients, physiograph was used to measure electric potentials of AM ten sessions. T-test was used to compare the mean of electric potential between the two different pain groups and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the risk of the 24 electric potentials measured. Results and Conclusions : In the LL, the only electric potential that was statistically significantly greater than SA was the bladder meridian on the left side. On the contrary, electric potentials in SA, which includes the large intestine, pericardium, triple burner, spleen, stomach, kidney and gallbladder meridians, were statistically larger than those of LL at the same side. On the right side, the five kinds of electric potentials(lung, large intestine, small intestine, pericardium and gallbladder meridian) of LL were statistically larger than those of SA. On the triple burner, stomach and kidney meridians electric potentials of SA were larger than those in LL. After adjusting for 24 electric potentials, pain risk factors, and different illness categories, multiple stepwise selection logistic regression modeling, resulted in the final selection of a total of 13 statistically significant electric potentials. These were 7 electric potentials at left side - small intestine, triple burner, spleen, stomach, bladder, liver and gallbladder meridian, and 6 at rght side - lung, large intestine, heart, pericardium, kidney and bladder meridian.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Objectives : Assuming That the Characteristic of Meridian System Has Been Similar to This of Electric Potentials in Human Body and That Measurements of Electric Potential at Well and Sea Points in Branches of the Twelve Meridians Will Be Representative of Measurements of the Twelve Meridians, to Measure the Electric Potentials in Healthy Volunteers(HG), Patients Diagnosed As a Cerebral Infarction(CG), a Arrhythmia(AG), a Other Intervertebral Disc Disorder(IG), and a Joint Disorder(JG), and Then to Find Out the Characteristic of Biophysical Meridian System, Finally to Compare with the Results of the Electric Potential in Those Groups. Methods : We Selected Who HG Were Diagnosed by a Blood Test, Urine Examination and Differentiation of Syndromes by Five Viscera among Volunteers, CG by CT and Wind-Syndrome Caused by Hyperactivity of the Liver-Yang, AG by EKG, CT, and Deficiency or the Heart Blood, IG by X-ray or CT and Pain in Waist, and JG by X-ray and Knee Pain. Their Electric Potential of Well and Sea Points in the Meridians Were Measured by hysiograph. Results and Conclusions : Measurements Were Analyzed by Factor Analysis, Analysis of Variance, and Logistic Regression Model, We Obtained That Most of the Results, In Conclusion, Hold Good for the Classical Meridian Doctrine.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.670-678
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• 2004

In oriental medicine, meridian is pathway of bio-energy, and basic an object of diagnosis/therapy. But, in western medicine, meridian has been accepted as action pathway of nerve-endocrine-immune system. Acupuncture effect has been regarded as not effect by transmission of bio-energy but action or response by stimulation. In this paper, when an acupuncturist's bio-energy is passed on(non-insulation) and when is not(insulation), we analysed electric potential on meridian/non-meridian to verify effect of acupuncture therapy. In the results, when bio-energy isn't passed on, bio-potential is reacted to only the first of 4 times acupuncture operating. But when bio-energy is passed on, it is reacted to 4 times, and potential on meridian is higher than that of on non-meridian. Electric potential for same acupuncture operating is different on non/meridians, which implies that physiological construction and bio-energy transmission material is different respectively. When is extracting acupuncture method, potential is higher than that of injection one. It implies that extracting method is more effect than injecting one, in aspect of acupuncture therapy effect. Therefore, acupuncture therapy effect is verified as effect of response by acupuncturist's bio-energy transmission rather than that by only acupuncture stimulus.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.436-441
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• 2007

Background: As patients are positioned at insulated bed and practitioner are positioned at insulated floor or shoes, it could be a cause of lessening effect in acupuncture practice. We investigated how Ground connection could influence on the electrical meridian potential between practitioner and patient during acupuncture practice. Method: We treated 30 normal healthy subjects with acupuncture and measured changes in the electrical potential between the stomach meridian points ST-39 and ST-37 in response to light touch after insertion of a needle at ST-36. At first, we stimulated needle and measured electrical potentials for non ground, patient ground only, practitioner ground only, all ground, respectively. Result: All ground subject elicited positive mean potential $44.6{\pm}19.2{\mu}V$ and showed $181.4{\pm}59.7{\mu}V$ peak to peak potential. practitioner ground only showed negative mean potential $-51.5{\pm}9.3{\mu}V\;and\;367.4{\pm}27.8{\mu}V$ of peak to peak potential. Patient ground only revealed no mean potential as $2.9{\pm}1.3{\mu}V,\;16.4{\pm}11.9{\mu}V$ of peak to peak potential. All ground showed no mean potential as $1.6{\pm}0.7{\mu}V,\;3.3{\pm}1.9{\mu}V$ of peak to peak potential. respectively.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.21-30
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• 2004

Objectives : Assuming that the characteristic of meridian system has been similar to this of electric potentials in human body and that measurements of electric potential at well(井穴) and sea(合穴) points in branches of the twelve meridians(WSBTM) will be representative of measurements of the twelve meridians, to measure the electric potentials of 13 patients with Arthroncus of Knee(슬안풍<膝眼風>, AK), to find out the characteristic of meridian system in patients with AK. Methods : Electric potentials of well and sea points in the meridians in twenty one patients with the pain in the lion diagnosed as AK were repeatedly measured by physiograph(PowerLab). Measurements of those electric potentials were analyzed by factor analysis. Results : Their electric potentials at the left and right side were factors which are different from each side. In the left side, Factor 1 included Small Intestine, Pericardium, Spleen, Kidney meridian, and Factor 2 included Heart, Tripple Energizer, Bladder, Liver meridian. Factor 3 included Large Intestine, Stomach, Gall bladder meridian, and Factor 4 included Lung meridian. In the right side, Factor 1 included Heart, Pericardium, Tripple Energizer, Spleen, Bladder meridian and Factor 2 included Lung, Liver, Gall bladder meridian. Factor 3 included Small Intestine, Stomach, Kidney meridian and Factor 4 included Large Intestine Meridian. Conclusions : The electric potentials of AK differ from those of normal bodies as well as of bodies with other diseases-shoulder lesions, waist lesions, Lumbago due to Strain and Contusion-. Thus electric potentials of well and sea points might be the representative meridian to show their characteristics.