Narrow Results

This study was designed to investigate the electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction. Ten obese including overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI > 26) and 30 healthy (non-overweight) people were recruited from Chung Yuan Christian University. The obese subjects were instructed to follow a weight reduction program that included diet control, exercise and oral intake of Prozac. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductances in 24 meridians of the obese group was statistically different from that of the healthy group (p<0.05); (2) the average coefficient of variation of electrical conductance in the obese after weight reduction was significantly decreased than before the weight reduction program (p<0.05); (3) the BMI and the electrical conductance of meridian was correlated in the obese (r=-0.77, p<0.001) as well as in the healthy group (r=-0.92, p<0.001). These findings suggest that electrical conductance of meridians can be a parameter to monitor weight, especially for obese people.

The precise selection and the identification of acupuncture points are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in Oriental medicine. In this study, we have developed a meridian identification system using Single-Power Alternating Current (SPAC), which discriminates between true acupoints and non-acupoints. The SPAC system is not affected by skin resistance or pressure and is more accurate than the existing meridian location system, which uses direct current (DC) excitation current. The accuracy of the meridian location is ensured with the SPAC system because it has the highest sensitivity and the lowest effect on the human body. A microprocessor is used to enhance reliability and increase the accuracy of the SPAC measurements. Current distribution is displayed using an image that overlays the measured skin current on the body image. The positions of the acupoints are then displayed on the body image. This method visualizes the meridian by measuring skin current with an improved electrode using the acupoint discrimination system. A computer display shows the transmitted current as a color related to the electrode position. We demonstrated that by changing the point of measurement on the skin and tracing the electrode on the screen, it is possible to visualize acupoints and meridian phenomena using the color display.

Meridian theory is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although acupuncture has been accepted in many countries, the nature of the meridian theory and the principles of acupuncture are still unclear in the modern scientific view. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in wave propagation of mechanical vibrations (optimal stimulator frequency of 40 Hz) through the pericardium meridian [EH-4 (Chieh-Men) and EH-5 (Chien-Shih)] and adjacent control regions in 20 subjects using hydrodynamic analysis. The mean transfer speed was significantly lower in the meridian (4 m/s) than in the adjacent control region (8.5 m/s, P<0.001). There were also significant differences between the meridian and control points in the attenuation rate (P<0.001) and peak amplitude (P<0.001). In conclusion, these results imply that the substance of the meridian differs from that of the adjacent control regions.

Therapy using the acupuncture meridian system is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrical conduction properties of the meridians. The current conduction and potential profiles were compared after switching the current direction in the Hegu (LI-4) and Quchi (LI-11) meridians and over a non-acupuncture point 1 cm from Quchi (LI-11) in 20 healthy subjects. Both meridians demonstrated significantly higher conductivity between Hegu (LI-4) and Quchi (LI-11) than between Hegu (LI-4) and the non-acupuncture point. The direction of current, peak frequency and absolute potential values in the direction Hegu (LI-4) to Quchi (LI-11) differed significantly from those in the direction Quchi (LI-11) to Hegu (LI-4). These results suggest that the conducting pathways are stronger in the meridians than in the non-meridians and that preferential conduction directions exist between two acupuncture points. These results are consistent with the theories of Qi-circulation and traditional Chinese medicine.

This study is to present a new scheme for the detection of human meridian system non-invasively. The optical transport properties along the pericardium meridian and a non-meridian path about 1 cm away from the meridian were measured non- invasively on 20 healthy people in vivo. 633 nm, 658 nm and 785 nm red lasers were used for irradiation, and the diffuse light emittances at different points on meridian and non-meridian directions were collected respectively and compared. Our study suggested that the light propagation characteristics along both the meridian and non-meridian directions conformed to the Beer's exponential attenuation law. Statistical analysis of the results suggested that the optical properties of human meridian differ from those of the surrounding tissue (p < 0.05), and the light attenuation is less when propagating along the pericardium meridian than along the non-meridian direction. These findings not only confirmed the objective existence of acupuncture meridians, but also shed new light on the understanding of meridians.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of far-infrared (FIR) rays on the meridian in hemodialysis (HD) patients. End-stage renal disease or kidney failure is the last stage of chronic renal failure, and often implies that the renal function cannot be restored and HD or kidney transplantation is required as a life-saving measure. HD patients often feel sick, debilitated, demotivated, and sad. A quasi-experimental design was conducted using convenience sampling with 61 HD patients from a hemodialysis center. Meridian testing and Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form (BFI-T) were used as screening test for HD. The experimental group (n = 36) received FIR irradiation on each acupoint for 30 min, thrice a week, for two months, whereas the control group (n = 25) received no intervention. The outcome measures included meridian equipment, the level of hemoglobin (Hb), albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), and BFI-T. Ryodoraku values reveal a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the left small intestine meridian, left large intestine meridian, and yin-yang ratio. Overall, the increase in the meridians of the patients of experimental group is significantly higher than that of the control group. The results establish that FIR treatment on Qihai (RN 6), Guanyuan (RN 4), Zhongji (RN 3), and Tianshu (ST 25) is effective. Based on these findings, one can believe that FIR regulates the Qi of the kidney. The findings of this study would help doctors effectively dealing with thermal therapy treatment of HD patients.

The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the relationship between the electrical resistance of the skin at biologically active points (BAPs) on the main meridians and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Electrical resistance to direct current at 20 BAPs on the fingers and toes of 100 patients with (38 men, 12 women; mean age [range], 58.20 ± 19.62 [18–83] years) and without (27 men, 23 women; 49.54 ± 12.12 [22–74] years) UGIB was measured through electrodermal screening (EDS), based on the theory of electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV). Data were compared through analysis of variance (ANOVA), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression. The initial readings were lower in the UGIB group, indicating blood and energy deficiency due to UGIB. Significant differences in indicator drop values were observed at nine BAPs (p < 0.05) on the bilateral small intestine, bilateral stomach, bilateral circulation, bilateral fibroid degeneration, and right lymph meridians. The area under the ROC curve values of the BAPs on the bilateral small intestine and stomach meridians were larger than 0.5, suggesting the diagnostic accuracy of EDS for UGIB on the basis of the indicator drop of these BAPs. Logistic regression revealed that when the indicator drop of the BAP on the left stomach meridian increased by one score, the risk of UGIB increased by about 1.545–3.523 times. In conclusion, the change in the electrical resistance of the skin measured by EDS at the BAPs on the bilateral small intestine and stomach meridians provides specific information on UGIB.

Johnson and Livingston have characterized peripheral structures in homomorphs of knot groups. We extend their approach to the case of links. The main result is an algebraic characterization of all possible peripheral structures in certain homomorphic images of link groups.

We discuss meridians and longitudes in reduced Alexander modules of classical and virtual links. When these elements are suitably defined, each link component will have many meridians, but only one longitude. Enhancing the reduced Alexander module by singling out these peripheral elements provides a significantly stronger link invariant. In particular, the enhanced module determines all linking numbers in a link; in contrast, the module alone does not even detect how many linking numbers are 0.

This study was to objectively evaluate the treatment effect of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (AL-TENS) on patients with low back pain. Fifty patients suffering from low back pain for at least three months were involved in the study from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The subjects were treated with TENS (100 Hz) on acupuncture points (BL23 and BL25). Two electrodes were placed on two right acupoints and two electrodes on the left. Pulse duration of electrical stimulation was fixed at 0.1 ms. The intensity of stimulation was adjusted at a tolerable level for each subject. Patients were treated for twenty minutes per visit, three times a week for two weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rank the degree of pain before and two weeks after the treatment. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians and 2 acupoints (BL23 and BL25) on both sides of the subjects. The effect of age difference on the pain score was also evaluated with the electrical conductance. The correlation between the VAS and the electrical conductance in the patients before and after treatment of AL-TENS was determined by linear regression analysis. The results showed that: (1) after the AL-TENS treatment in this study, the electrical conductances of either meridians or acupuncture points increased with the decrease of VAS of the patients; (2) the correlation was higher in the acupoints than that in the meridians; (3) the correlation was higher in the younger group than that in the older group; (4) the effect of AL-TENS on the change of VAS is more related to the change of electrical conductances of acupoints than that of meridians. These findings suggest that electrical conductance of meridian or acupoint can be used to evaluate the degree of pain more objectively, especially in the younger patients.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the treatment effect of modulated-frequency mode of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (AL-TENS) on patients with tennis elbow pain. Twenty patients suffering from tennis elbow pain for at least three months were involved in the study from Chung Yuan Christian University. The subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups in different time slots as repeated measures design. Each group (n = 20) was respectively treated with either 5 KHz modulated by 2 Hz frequency mode (LF group), 5 KHz modulated by 100 Hz frequency mode of TENS (HF group) on acupuncture points (LI10 and LI11) located in the area of elbow, or sham TENS (control group). Two electrodes were placed on two right acupoints and two electrodes on the left. The intensity of stimulation was adjusted at a tolerable level for each subject. Patients were treated for twenty minutes per visit, three times a week for two weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rank the degree of pain before and two weeks after the treatment. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians and 2 acupoints (LI10 and LI11) on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) after the AL-TENS treatment in this study, the electrical conductances of either meridians or acupuncture points increased with the decrease of VAS of the patients; the correlation was higher in the acupoints than that in the meridians; (2) the effect of AL-TENS on the percentage change of VAS is more related to the percentage change of electrical conductances of acupoints than that of meridians; (3) 5 KHz modulated by 2 Hz or 100 Hz frequency mode of AL-TENS was effective in the treatment of the patients with tennis elbow pain.

Now growing at a rate of over 5% per annum, the $3 billion ‘alternative health therapies’ business is now positioned in the top ten growth industries in Australia. With poor regulation of both therapeutic goods and the unregistered therapists who promote them, cancer patients may well be putting their health at risk when they place their faith in many so-called ‘natural’ or ‘traditional’ treatments. With a focus on what complementary therapists refer to as ‘energy medicine’ and ‘nutritional medicine’, this chapter explores the risks and benefits of some of the more popular alternative health-care choices. While investigating their histories, it outlines what influences cancer patients to try these unproven therapies, and the conflict and contrast in information relating to the claims made for them and the conclusions of evidence-based research. Although there are a number of complementary therapies that are of benefit to some patients, both during and after their cancer treatments, ‘natural’ does not always equal ‘safe’, may be expensive and may even compromise their health. More patients now want a greater say in their choices of treatment, and selecting complementary therapies that may help is another of the many challenges faced in trying to make informed choices, as we navigate along our individual roads on our journeys to recovery.

Medical Resonance Therapy Music® originated from Peter Hubner in Germany using the theory of resonance for applications in clinical settings by his multidisciplinary team of professionals. The sonic (20–2000 Hz) and subsonic frequency (0.034–5 Hz) of resonance music is best delivered through headphones with ear muffs in an undisturbed environment 20 minutes or more twice a day. Therapeutic music synchronizes with cellular physiological rhythm, restores neuro-hormonal balance and rekindles the body ability of auto-healing. It helps in restoring different physiological functions, including the nervous, circulatory, digestive and endocrine systems that have their own rhythms. With the appropriate frequency of music, users enter a state of relaxation that guides the body to adjust its pace to deal with stress, insomnia, anxiety, migraine headache, hypertension, hormonal and immune disorders and other clinical problems. The best known examples were serving victims of the Chernobyl nuclear plant incident and children with hypertension. In Germany nowadays, patients can buy Medical Resonance Therapy Music® CDs from pharmacies based on physician prescriptions for 18 types of common medical symptoms and problems, supported by over five years of positive clinical and scientific evidence.

Medical Resonance Therapy Music® should not be overlooked as its new developments have already expanded to Chinese Medicine like “acu-music” (music of different Meridians), Chiropractic practice (music for Spine health), Ayurvedic Medicine (music of Chakras energy centres), mindfulness based meditation (music of meditation) and education (whole brain nurture, creativity and intelligence). The strength of Western Medicine lies in cure of infectious diseases, surgeries and emergency life-saving. Chinese Medicine is strong in managing sub-health before diseases emerge. Natural Medicine goes back to basics of nature and adopts our self-healing power to promote health. However, Medical Resonance Therapy Music® should be considered as a complementary therapy of health problems, but not replacing evidence-based Western Medicines.

A real form in a Hermitian symmetric space M of compact type is the fixed point set of an involutive anti-holomorphic isometry of M, which is connected and a totally geodesic Lagrangian submanifold. We prove that the intersection of two real forms is an antipodal set, in which the geodesic symmetry at each point is the identity. Using this we investigate the intersection of two real forms in irreducible M as well as non-irreducible M and determine the intersection numbers of them. This is a survey article on the joint research with Hiroyuki Tasaki.