Comparison among the effect of manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) acupoints on cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature for right hand dorsal and palm ce

• Main Authors: Chi-Chen Lu, 呂啟禎
• Other Authors: Ching-Liang Hsieh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75471764640922740624

碩士 === 中國醫藥大學 === 針灸研究所 === 96 === Some researches have suggested that the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) are superior to manual acupuncture and similar to transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS). Yin and Yang are opposite concepts and regulate different physiology responses according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. The present paper is aimed to compare the effects of MA, 2 Hz EA and 2 Hz TENS on the skin blood flow and temperature of right palm and back of hand. There were 20 healthy volunteers in total. They received sham acupuncture (SA), MA, 2 Hz EA and TENS at bilateral ST 36 and ST 37 and the skin temperature and blood flow were measured by the Laser Doppler Perfusion and Temperature Monitor. All the 4 treatments (SA, MA, EA and TENS) were randomly applied on every volunteer with a three-day wash-out period at least. The wash-out period was designed to eliminate the residual effect of each treatment on a volunteer. Every treatment was divided into 3 parts, the pre-acupuncture, acupuncture and post-acupuncture periods (15 minutes for each). The results suggested that the skin blood flow of the palm is higher than that of the back of hand at the normal resting condition. The skin temperature of the back of the hand significantly decreased during acupuncture compared with pre-acupuncture; this trend of decreasing was more significant in the 2 Hz EA group than in the SA and MA groups. However, MA, EA and TENS had no effect on the skin blood flow of the palm and the back of the hand and the skin temperature of the palm. To conclude, bilateral ST36 and ST37 2 Hz EA stimulation can reduce the skin temperature of the back of right hand; however, 2 Hz EA had no effect on the skin temperature of the palm. Moreover, the effect of 2 Hz EA on reducing the skin blood flow of the back of the hand is greater than that of MA. These results are consistent with the concept that Yi and Yang have different physiology responses according to TCM. Nonetheless, the mechanism is needed to be elucidated in the future studies.