Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Randomized controlled trials show therapeutic effectiveness often for both verum and sham acupuncture. Yet, limited research suggests that verum acupoints are electrophysiologically distinguishable from sham points.
Objective:
This work investigates changes in the bioelectric potential at acupoints and control sites at site of stimulation and distal to that site.
Design, Setting, and Subjects:
At the New England School of Acupuncture, needles were inserted at four sites on 14 healthy volunteers, two proximal sites (PC 4 and PC 4cont [control]), and two distal sites (PC 6 and PC 6cont). Bioelectric potentials from all four sites were measured.
Main Outcome Measures:
Bioelectric potential (peak voltage in mV) during the three stimulations was averaged to provide a single measurement.
Intervention:
PC4 and PC4cont were stimulated three times in random order with a 3-minute interval between stimulations; each stimulus lasted 10 seconds.
Results:
A translation phenomenon (an induced polarization) was seen at the distal site when the proximal site was stimulated. At PC 6 with PC 4 stimulated there was a larger amplitude (p<0.05), compared to the control response.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest electrophysiological uniqueness in the form of a greater bioelectric potential amplitude when a proximal acupoint is stimulated and the response is measured at a distal acupoint along the associated meridian.
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