刘里远

本文三要点：

  一、针刺后，针刺效应呈周期性波动，其周期约为28分。中医经气一日一夜行全身五十周，平均每周28.8分。二者竟高度一致。

二、针刺效应呈双向调节，同样的刺激，既使过高的功能活动降低，又使过低的功能活动增加。因此，针刺既是自动调节，又是双向调节。

三、双向和自动调节的机制就是其波动性或振动性。针刺后，全身功能出现周期性的波动变化，在波动过程中，身体的各器官找到各自的平衡点，回到正常状态，并相互适应。因此，使过高的功能下降，使过低的功能上升，且各器官功能间协调和谐。这种周期性波动的调节机制称为振动调节。

      总之，针刺调节的特征和机制可描述为：自动调节、双向调节和振动调节。自动的原因表现为双向，双向的原因是振动。

 The Periodicity of Acupuncture Effect and the Mechanism of Vibrating Regulation of Acupuncture. Adaptive Medicine

 Li-Yuan Liu. The Periodicity of Acupuncture Effect and the Mechanism of Vibrating Regulation of Acupuncture. Adaptive Medicine, 6(4): 168-177, 2014

     这是应《调适医学》杂志约稿的文章， 发表关于针刺效应周期性和针刺的振动调节的研究文章。2014年底发表了，现在原文帖出来，以便有兴趣者参阅。

      很意外，这篇字符数也不足万个的文章，系统竟提示超过十万字，不能发表。看来搜弧博客问题越来越严重了。还好，QQ空间可以正常发表，有兴趣的朋友，烦请到QQ空间查看全文。

The Periodicity of Acupuncture Effect and the Mechanism of

Vibrating Regulation of Acupuncture

Li-Yuan Liu

 College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, 100875

Abstract

In order to explore any regularity and characteristics of the effect of acupuncture, it was observed as detailed as possible. After acupuncture at the acupoints (Zusanli) in rabbits, the pain threshold (PT) and heart rate (HR) of the rabbits were observed discontinuously, and the intestinal peristalsis was observed continuously. The effects after acupuncture increased and decreased significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01) and repeatedly, forming upward peaks or downward valleys. The effect-curve waves periodically, with a common periodicity of 28 min. The 28min-periodicity is curiously coincides with the 28.8 min-periodicity of the circulation of Qi along Meridians throughout the body in the traditional Chinese medicine. A regulative mechanism of vibration of acupuncture has been speculated, in which the bodily function is regulated by vibrating the various functions of all systems and all organs in the body to find individual balance point and adequate level automatically in the process of functional oscillation. In summary, acupuncture is a technique of auto-regulation, and bi-directional regulation and vibrating regulation.

Key words: Acupuncture effect, Periodicity, Vibrating Regulation, Acupuncture analgesia, intestine peristalsis.

Introduction

 Acupuncture originated in ancient China and evolved into the modern world as a form of complementary medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The advantages of acupuncture are its effectiveness, simplicity and safety. Acupuncture is the stimulation by a variety of techniques at specific anatomical locations on or under the skin (usually called acupoint), aiming to treat a range of clinical conditions, most commonly used for pain relief (2-8, 10, 17, 19, 39-42). These efficacies are generally called acupuncture effect and acupuncture analgesia. The acupoints mostly locate along certain pathways along skin, so called Meridians or Jin-luo (Chinese name). However, any evidence on the acupuncture effect is variable and inconsistent for all conditions (13, 15).  A 2010 review found that the acupuncture effect to treat depression is indistinguishable from placebo effects (14).

 Acupuncture has been the subject of active scientific research both in regard to its basis and therapeutic effectiveness since the late-20th century. The animal model is more reliable for estimating the effectiveness of acupuncture. However, whether the acupoint is precisely defined, and whether the manual manipulation of the needle is adequate, all influence the result remarkably. Especially, graduate students and other researchers in laboratory generally lack the experience of technical training inacupuncture. Upon the respect of strictly scientific methodology, what is acupuncture effect; whatcharacteristics does the acupuncture effect possesses; and whether the acupuncture effect has any regularity? All these have not been carefully studied and defined, let alone the mechanism of acupuncture and the essence of Meridians. Many investigators are initially interested in the essence of Meridians, because of the sufficient confidence on the acupuncture effect. At beginning, an animal model was endeavored to be established to study the acupuncture effect, and then to observe themechanism of acupuncture effect in details. In all acupuncture effects, acupuncture analgesia is absolutely effective (10, 17, 40, 41) and is the most reliable efficacy. Finally, the rabbit’s model of acupuncture analgesia was developed. The model also noticed the periodicity of acupuncture effect.

Materials and Methods

Observation of Pain Threshold and ECG after Acupuncture

Chinese white rabbits, each 2±kg in weight, and equal number of males and females, were selected in this experiment. The rabbits were hung in a thick bag, with their legs and heads exposed. The hairs around the cheek outside of the mouth corner were shaved. An acupoint (Zusanli, ST 36) was selected for acupuncture, which is located at the depressed dent below the tibial tuberosity and between the anterior border of the tibia and the tibialis anterior muscle (22). A non-acupoint was located 2cm away from the acupoint (Fig. 1 A).

Measurement of Pain threshold The heat-pain threshold (PT) of animals was measured to estimate the effect of acupuncture analgesia. When focused light-heat from a Heat Radiation Apparatus (the diameter of the focus is about 5mm) is irradiated on the cheek outside of rabbit’s mouth corner, the pain-induced time of latency of throwing-head reflex was recorded as PT. Before acupuncture, the basic value of pain threshold (BPT) was measured 3 times at 5-min intervals, with the mean calculated. After acupuncture, the PT was measured immediately at 5-min or 7-min intervals. If the PT was over 200% BPT,the irradiation was stopped to avoid serious burns (3, 18, 36).

Acupuncture An acupuncture needle was inserted into the acupoint at a depth of 4-5mm and wastwirled around once per second for 10 min. The needle must be twined with the skin tissue and a tight feeling or a resistance is required. That is to say, the manual manipulation must act on the acupoint, so called De-Qi (9, 11, 26).

Record of electrocardiogram (ECG)  As an additional index, the rabbits’ heart rate (HR) was recorded about 10 seconds before measuring PT. When reading ECG, the mean of every 10 heart beats was calculated as the frequency of HR.

Fig. 1 A, diagram of the acupuncture analgesia in rabbits. The dotted line is the line of Stomach Meridian: (1), acupoint (Zusanli); (2) non-acupoint. B, recording model of intestinal peristalsis