SUBSCRIBE
Search JIM Advanced Search

Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2012, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (2): 186-192.doi: 10.3736/jcim20120209

• Original Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Specificity of auricular acupoints in reflecting changes of qi and blood measured by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Liu Han-ping1,2(),Liang Bo3,Zhang He-ming1,Liu Xiao-yan1,2,Liu Song-hao1,2   

  1. 1. Laboratory of Photonics Chinese Medicine, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China
    2. Tertiary Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Photonics of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China
    3. School Hospital, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2011-09-17 Accepted:2011-11-14 Online:2012-02-20 Published:2018-10-09

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

58

Like

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the specificity of auricular acupoints in responding to changes of qi and blood which, in traditional Chinese medicine, are considered as the fundamental substances in the human body for sustaining normal vital activity.
METHODS: A miniature fiber optic system was used to invasively measure the diffuse reflectance spectra of three auricular acupoints, namely, Uterus (TF2), Gan (CO12) and Neifenmi (CO18), at different stages of menstruation, when the female body exhibits regular changes of qi and blood. The spectra of different acupoints were compared to find their difference in responding changes of qi and blood, especially the reflectivity of absorption peaks of hemoglobin.
RESULTS: The reflectivity of the same auricular acupoint during menstruation is higher than that before and after menstruation, and this trend is more obvious for the Uterus point compared with the points Gan and Neifenmi. The average reflectivity of the Uterus point during menstruation was significantly higher than that before or after menstruation (P<0.01). The D-values during and after menstruation of the Uterus point were greater than those of the points Gan and Neifenmi at 544.06 and 577.47 nm, respectively (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The diffuse reflectance light of auricular acupoints changes as qi and blood fluctuates, and there is relative specificity among different auricular acupoints in reflecting changes of qi and blood. The Uterus point may be the most sensitive auricular acupoint in reflecting uterus function and subsequent changes of qi and blood.

Key words: otopoint uterus SV, spectrum analysis, reflectance spectrum, menstruation, qi-blood

Figure 1

Schematic plot of the instruments used in this study A: Sketch of experimental system for detecting diffuse reflectance spectrum in auricular acupoints. B: The beam path in spectrometer. 1: Fiber; 2: SMA905 connector; 3: Collimating lens; 4: Raster; 5: Condenser lens; 6: Charge-coupled device."

Figure 2

Diffuse reflectance spectra of auricular acupoints A: The diffuse reflectance spectra of Gan of the 24 participants before menstruation, the dark line shows the mean spectrum. B: The peaks of diffuse reflectance spectra. C: The mean spectra of Gan at three stages of menstruation. D: The mean spectra of the three auricular acupoints."

"

Wavelength (nm) n Reflectivity of Gan Reflectivity of Neifenmi
Before During After Before During After
544.06 24 36.80±7.44 40.01±7.36 39.02±9.52 31.75±7.45 34.62±5.93 30.03±8.16
555.17 24 37.69±7.29 41.10±7.23 39.79±9.44 32.91±7.53 35.63±5.73 31.06±8.09
577.47 24 34.89±7.13 37.83±6.79 37.04±9.02 30.32±7.10 33.20±5.95 28.75±7.87
Wavelength (nm) n Reflectivity of Uterus
Before During After
544.06 24 37.08±7.98** 41.49±5.94 34.18±9.29**
555.17 24 37.43±7.72** 41.65±5.94 34.42±8.83**
577.47 24 35.55±7.88** 39.79±5.60 32.77±8.95**

Figure 3

Comparison of D-A values among auricular acupoints D-A: Dvalues of during and after menstruation."

Figure 4

Comparison of D-B values among auricular acupoints △P < 0.05, vs TF2 at 544.06 nm; ▲P < 0.05, vs TF2 at 577.47 nm. D-B: D values of during and before menstruation."

[1] Gori L, Firenzuoli F . Ear acupuncture in European traditional medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007; 4(Suppl 1) : 13-16.
doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem106 pmid: 2206232
[2] Usichenko TI, Kuchling S, Witstruck T, Pavlovic D, Zach M, Hofer A, Merk H, Lehmann C, Wendt M . Auricular acupuncture for pain relief after ambulatory knee surgery: a randomized trial. CMAJ. 2007; 176(2):179-183.
doi: 10.1503/cmaj.060875 pmid: 17224599
[3] Wang SM, Peloquin C, Kain ZN . The use of auricular acupuncture to reduce preoperative anxiety. Anesth Analg. 2001; 93(5):1178-1180.
doi: 10.1097/00000539-200111000-00024 pmid: 11682391
[4] Cui CL, Wu LZ, Luo F . Acupuncture for the treatment of drug addiction. Neurochem Res. 2008; 33(10):2013-2022.
doi: 10.1007/s11064-008-9784-8
[5] Smith MO. Ear acupuncture in addiction treatment. In: Brizer D, Castaneda R. Clinical addiction psychiatry. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010 : 230-250.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-0338-9_61
[6] Romoli M, Allais G, Bellu D, De Ramundo B, Gabellari IC, Giommi A, Benedetto C . Ear acupoint detection before and after hysteroscopy : is it possible to clarify the representation of the uterus on the outer ear? Acupunct Med. 2010; 28(4):169-173.
doi: 10.1136/aim.2009.002196
[7] Jin BX, Lai XS, Tang CZ . Progress in researches on the specificity of acupoints. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2008; 33(2): 135-138. Chinese with abstract in English.
金炳旭, 赖新生, 唐纯志 . 腧穴特异性研究进展.针刺研究. 2008; 33(2):135-138.
[8] Wei JZ, Zhang AM, Shen XY, Zhou Y, Zhao L, Zhou Y . Volt-ampere characteristics of Yuan points of three yin channels of hand in women before, during and after menstruation. J Chin Integr Med. 2006; 4(3): 260-264. Chinese with abstract in English.
魏建子, 张爱梅, 沈雪勇, 周钰, 赵玲, 周愉 . 月经前后手三阴经原穴伏安特性.中西医结合学报. 2006; 4(2):260-264.
[9] Ahn AC, Colbert AP, Anderson BJ, Martinsen OG, Hammerschlag R, Cina S, Wayne PM, Langevin HM . Electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians : a systematic review. Bioelectromagnetics. 2008; 29(4):245-256.
doi: 10.1002/bem.20403 pmid: 18240287
[10] Tang YX, Geng EG, Dang Y, Sun YL. Acupuncture and moxibustion. Beijing: Academy Press. 1999: 273-293. English-Chinese.
唐玉秀, 耿恩广, 党毅, 孙一莲 .针灸学 .北京: 学苑出版社. 1999: 273-293.
[11] Zhang R, Verkruysse W, Choi B, Viator JA, Jung B, Svaasand LO, Aguilar G, Nelson JS . Determination of human skin optical properties from spectrophotometric measurements based on optimization by genetic algorithms. JBiomed Opt. 2005; 10(2):024030.
doi: 10.1117/1.1891147
[12] Zhang ZD, Guo ZY, Wei HJ, Liu HP, Zhong HQ, Yang HQ, Xie SS, Liu SH . Comparative study of reflectance spectroscopy of human Laogong acupoint and non-acupoint tissues irradiated by near-infrared laser. Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2009; 29(11): 2930-2933. Chinese with abstract in English.
张祖德, 郭周义, 魏华江, 刘汉平, 钟会清, 杨洪钦, 谢树森, 刘颂豪 . 近红外激光照射人体劳宫穴和非穴位区的反射光谱特性的比较研究.光谱学与光谱分析. 2009; 29(11) : 2930-2933.
[13] Jiang XH, Liu HP, Guo ZY, Meng YY, Zeng CC, Liu SH . Comparative study of reflectance spectroscopy of women’s acupoints around menstruation. Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2010; 30(12) : 3338-3342. Chinese with abstract in English.
蒋兴慧, 刘汉平, 郭周义, 孟耀勇, 曾常春, 刘颂豪 . 月经前后足部原穴反射光谱特性比较.光谱与光谱学分析. 2010; 30(12):3338-3342.
[14] Shen XY, Ding GH, Deng HP, Wei JZ, Zhao L, Zhang HM, Fei L . Analysis on pathological information of infrared radiation spectrums at acupuncture point Neiguan(PC6) for patients with coronary heart disease. Hong Wai Yu Hao Mi Bo Xue Bao. 2006; 25(6) : 443-446. Chinese with abstract in English.
doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-9014.2006.06.011
沈雪勇, 丁光宏, 邓海平, 魏建子, 赵玲, 张海蒙, 费伦 . 冠心病患者内关穴红外辐射光谱病理信息分析.红外与毫米波学报. 2006; 25(6):443-446.
doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-9014.2006.06.011
[15] Mallia R, Thomas SS, Mathews A, Kumar R, Sebastian P, Madhavan J, Subhash N . Oxygenated hemoglobin diffuse reflectance ratio for in vivo detection of oral precancer. J Biomed Opt. 2008; 13(4):041306.
doi: 10.1117/1.2952007 pmid: 19021314
[1] Zhi-rong Zhu, Chang-chun Zeng, Li Yang, Han-ping Liu, Song-hao Liu. Influence of brightness value of supranasal point and apex nasi on dominant wavelength and excitation purity in complexion inspection of healthy adults. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2011, 9(12): 1333-1338.
[2] Zhao-guo Li. Comparative study on WHO Western Pacific Region and World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies international standard terminologies on traditional medicine: an analysis of the Essence, Spirit, Qi, Blood, Fluid and Humor. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(10): 1090-1093.
[3] Hua-fa Que, Jie Xing. Effects of reinforcing qi and nourishing blood recipes on vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel count in granulation tissue in rats with chronic skin ulcers. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(10): 1049-1053.
[4] Jian-zi Wei​, Ai-mei Zhang​, Xue-yong Shen​, Yu Zhou​, Ling Zhao​, Yu Zhou​. Volt-ampere characteristics of Yuan points of three yin channels of hand in women before, during and after menstruation. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2006, 4(3): 260-264.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] Wei-xiong Liang. Problems-solving strategies in clinical treatment guideline for traditional Chinese medicine and integrative medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 1-4
[2] Zhao-guo Li. Discussion on English translation of commonly used sentences in traditional Chinese medicine: part one. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 107-110
[3] Jun Hu, Jian-ping Liu. Non-invasive physical treatments for chronic/recurrent headache. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 31
[4] Xue-mei Liu, Qi-fu Huang, Yun-ling Zhang, Jin-li Lou, Hong-sheng Liu, Hong Zheng. Effects of Tribulus terrestris L. saponion on apoptosis of cortical neurons induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation in rats. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 45-50
[5] . Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals: Writing and editing for biomedical publication (Chinese version, part two). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1001-1005
[6] Daniel Weber, Janelle M Wheat, Geoffrey M Currie. Inflammation and cancer: Tumor initiation, progression and metastasis,and Chinese botanical medicines. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1006-1013
[7] Hong Liu , Guo-liang Zhang, Li Shen , Zhen Zeng, Bao-luo Zhou, Cheng-hai Liu, Guang Nie . Application and evaluation of a pseudotyped virus assay for screening herbs for anti-H5Nl avian influenza virus. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1036-1040
[8] Zhao-guo Li . A discussion of English translation of 1995 and 1997 Chinese National Standards of Traditional Chinese Medical Terminologies for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1090-1096
[9] Rui Jin, Bing Zhang. A complexity analysis of Chinese herbal property theory: the multiple formations of herbal property (Part 1). Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1198-1205
[10] Hui-min Liu, Xian-bo Wang, Yu-juan Chang, Li-li Gu. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of integrative medicine therapy for treatment of chronic severe hepatitis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1211-1228
Journal of Integrative Medicine, ISSN: 2095-4964 CN 31-2083/R
Copyright © Journal of Integrative Medicine
Powered by Beijing Magtech Co. Ltd
沪公网安备31010602003416号      沪ICP备18017633号-3