Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

iARMS
Research Paper
Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy is an International,
peer-reviewed scientific journalthat publishes original article inexperimental and clinical medicine for Ryodoraku Medicine

Regulatory effect by the thermal stimulation on the excitation
and/or suppression point in Ryodoraku that show(s) deviationfrom the normal range on Ryodoraku (Meridian) Chart―Effect of electronic thermal stimulation device (electronic moxa) especially on excitable point―

Masaki HAYASHI1) , Hiroshi ENDO2) ,Keiko MINOKUCHI2) , Hirohisa ODA3)

Official Journal of International
Association of Ryodoraku
Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

1) Forest Acupuncture Treatment Center.
2) Department of Life and Health Science, Kurashiki University of Science and The Arts.
3) Cource of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, SHUTO IKO.

Keyword: Ryodoraku, Meridian, Thermal Stimulation, Electronic Moxa

Abstract
Aim of research 1. In order for a person to obtain a healthy body and maintain it, he / she needs to take an active approach. 2. It
would be very helpful if you could adjust Ryodoraku “Meridians” at home. 3. As a stimulus for self-adjusting Ryodoraku, warm
moxibustion is preferred. 4. Is it possible to adjust the Ryodoraku by stimulating warm moxibustion?
Methods Subject: 56.6 ± 11.0 years old (M7, F7) healthy volunteers Measurement: All Ryodoraku measurements (Skin conduction
current measurement) Stimulation: Thermal stimulation by electronic warm moxibustion device Stimulation site; Ryodoraku
excitement point showing the lowest current value Procedure: Measurement → Stimulus → Interval 30 minutes → Remeasurement Statistics: Excel (descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests, etc.), StatFlex 4.2 (principal component analysis)
Results ① Point to check Does electronic moxa change the current of Ryodoraku by thermal stimulation? How much current
fluctuates? What is the relationship between current fluctuations and the physiological range on the Ryodoraku chart? In which
direction does the current before and after the stimulus fluctuate with respect to the physiological range?
Results ② When viewed from the measured current value → The amount of current increased slightly. When viewed from thecurrent value on the Ryodoraku chart → In particular, the F system Ryodoraku current increased. When viewed from fluctuationof current value → There was no significant fluctuation in the current value. When viewed from Ryodoraku average value →There was no significant mean deviation. When viewed from the physiological range of Ryodoraku Chart, and When viewed fromthe fluctuation of the Ryodoraku Chart → Compared to before stimulation, the number of Ryodoraku deviating from the physiological range was slightly decreased after stimulation. When viewed from principal component analysis → The current before
stimulation fluctuated in a direction away from the physiological range, but fluctuated in a direction approaching the physiological range after stimulation.
Discussion We consider that the autonomic nervous system is systemically activated because the current of all Ryodoraku
inc24reased by thermal stimulation with electronic moxa. The fluctuations in the current value and the average deviation are notremarkable because the stimulus was only once, and the influence of each Ryodoraku and individual differences. We believe that
greater fluctuations can be expected if the stimulation is repeated several times on a regular basis. As a result, individual differences are considered to decrease. If there is a large fluctuation, the impact on the all Ryodoraku adjustment (approaching thephysiological range) will also be significant. For these verifications, it is considered necessary to examine not only the excitable
point but also the stimulus at the suppression point and the current after frequent stimulation.
Conclusion 1. Thermal stimulation with electronic moxa increases the all Ryodoraku current. 2. It was suggested that there wasno significant fluctuation in the current value, but it was also influenced by each Ryodoraku and individual differences. 3. Ryodoraku deviating from the physiological range slightly decreased. 4. Before stimulation, it fluctuated in a direction away from thephysiological range, and after stimulation, it fluctuated in a direction approaching the physiological range. 5. From the above, it
is suggested that the thermal stimulation by the electron moxa to the excitable point can adjust the Ryodoraku “meridian”.
Further, in order to establish a detailed adjustment method, an additional test is required. In particular, a follow-up test withdifferent stimulation sites such as suppression points, a follow-up test with increased stimulation several times, and clinicalresearch are also desired.
Acknowledgment We would like to express our gratitude for the cooperation with CHUO Co., Ltd and Kurashiki University of
Science and The Arts. In the results of this study, it should be clearly stated that there are no conflicts of interest between theperformer and the above industry.

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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

I. Introduction
To maintain health, he / she pay attention
to diet, exercise and play sports. In addition,
Oriental medicine folk remedies such as yoga,
massage, and shiatsu are often they used.
The former exercise is an active method andis especially preferred by young people. The
latter is a passive method and seems to bepreferred by the elderly 1).
In Japan, folk remedies have traditionallybeen practiced with physical therapy to apply
acupressure or moxibustion to acupuncture
points or meridians 2). A long time ago, moxibustion was used to treat and prevent illnesses in acupuncture points, which is described in ancient Chinese literature, "A
Thousand Gold Pieces Prescriptions (Qian-jin-fang; Ch`ien-chin-fang) Vol. 29". Being
able to evaluate (diagnose: judge) acupoint
therapy and Ryodoraku “meridian” therapy athome (so-called self-regulation) will help intreating and preventing any illness that may
be encountered in the future 3).
In other words, obtaining and maintaininga healthy body requires active efforts on yourown, and it is helpful if you can self-adjust
Ryodoraku at the home.
It would be very helpful if you could adjust
Ryodoraku “Meridians” at home. It would bevery useful to have a measuring instrumentthat can measure Ryodoraku at home, or a
stimulator that you to adjust Ryodoraku
yourself 4､5).
As a stimulus for self-adjusting Ryodoraku,
warm moxibustion is preferred 6). If it is anormal moxibustion (heat-transmitting moxibustion), you may burn yourself and see a
medical institution.
However, if it is a warm moxibustion, theprobability will be greatly reduced. Amongother warm moxibustions, a safer and more
effective method would be an electronic warm
moxibustion device.
The reason is that it can be given safely byadjusting the thermal stimulus appropriately
without using fire.
Is it possible to adjust the Ryodoraku bystimulating warm moxibustion? This needs tobe tested and examined, and if it is found tobe effective, Ryodoraku “meridian” treatment
at home will be possible.

II. Methods
Subjects :The subjects were 14 healthy volunteers
who had no current medical history or
medical history that would interfere withdaily life, recruited while explaining the
purpose of the study, and agreed to participate.
The gender ratio was M7 : F7, and theaverage age was 56.6 ± 11.0 years old. Since
the average age was relatively high, we
expected Ryodoraku's current value to be
low and the intensity of stimulation to behigh.
Measurement:
All Ryodoraku measurements (Skinconduction current measurement). Setting
were voltage 12V, current 200μA (shortcircuit), energization for 0.75 seconds Fig.2-1).
All measurements were performed by thesame examiner. Since Ryodoraku measurement is related to autonomic nervous
function, the measurement was performed
without eating a noon meal.

Fig.2-1 Ryodoraku measuring device
The skin conduction current measurement of the bodysurface measurement point was performed using a Neurosofter DS-208S, and the data was subjected to digital display / analysis and the using a Neuro System Vision (NSV).
Both Ryodorau devices were from RYODORAKU RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LTD.

Stimulation:
Thermal stimulation by electronic warm
moxibustion device Fig.2-2). Stimulation site;
Ryodoraku excitement point showing thelowest current value Fig.2-3), Temperature
setting: high temperature 60 ± 2°C 3 seconds x n times, stimulation area: about
φ7mm 38mm2. The stimulation was madeuntil the subject felt “hot”. All stimuli were
performed by the same examiner.
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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

Procedure:a. Measurement →b. Stimulus →c. Interval 30 minutes →d. Remeasurement
In the interval time, the same daily activities were performed, not so-called
breaks.

analysis, which is one of multivariate
analysis 7).
Principal component analysis:
This is a method of multivariate analysis
that synthesizes several “principal components” that represent the total variationfrom a large number of correlated variables(Ryodoraku current) by a small number
without correlation.
In this study, the eigenvector of eachprincipal component that has an eigenvalueof 1 or more and a cumulative contribution
rate close to 70% is used as the fluctuation
direction of the Ryodoraku current 8,9).

III. Results

Fig.2-2 Electronic thermal stimulation device (electronic moxa)
IKKYU (QL-19) was used to stimulate the subject to feel"hot". The stimulating part was applied to Ryodoraku's
excitement point “one part (left and right)” that showed thelowest value in the Ryodoraku data of each subject. The
electronic moxa was made by CHUO Co.ltd.

Point to check:⚫ Does electronic moxa change the current
of Ryodoraku by thermal stimulation?
⚫ How much current fluctuates?
⚫ What is the relationship between current fluctuations and the physiologicalrange on the Ryodoraku chart?
⚫ In which direction does the current before and after the stimulus fluctuatewith respect to the physiological range?
A) When viewed from the measured current
values before and after stimulation Fig.3-1),
the amount of current generally increased slightly after stimulation.

Fig.2-3 Exciting / suppressing point
It is known to use “supplement acupoint” and “drain acupoint” as a method of adjusting meridians based on theclassic “The Nan Jing”＊. In Ryodoraku, supplement acupoint used as the “exciting point” and the drain acupoint isused as the “suppressing point” to help adjust Ryodoraku. In
this study, the excitement points of F3, F4 and F5 indicatedby ○ were often used.
＊Sixty-nine difficulties of The Nan Jing, one of the oldest
existing medical books.

Statistics:
Excel (descriptive statistics, hypothesis
tests, etc.), StatFlex 4.2 (principal component analysis)
In Excel, the average value, standard
deviation, coefficient of variation (CV),t-test, correlation test, etc. were performed.
StatFlex (general-purpose statistical software) performed 8,9)principal component

Fig.3-1 Average current value (μA) of each Ryodoraku before and after stimulation
Almost all Ryodoraku currents increased after stimulation. In particular, the currents of Ryodoraku for H1, H2, F1,
F4, and F6 increased visually. Statistically, H1R, H2L, andF1R were significantly different (p<0.05), and F1L showed atrend (p<0.1). However, there was no significant differencein other Ryodoraku.

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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

B) When viewed from the increase or decrease of each Ryodoraku current value
after stimulation Fig.3-2), many Ryodoraku
increased.

Fig.3-4 Coefficient of variation (CV) of each Ryodoraku before and after stimulation

Fig.3-2 Increase / decrease current of each Ryodoraku after stimulation (μA)
Almost all Ryodoraku current values increased after
stimulation. Except for H6L, the average increase was about
4.2 ± 3.2 (mean ± SD) μA. The maximum value was close to
10 μA.

C) When viewed from the current value on
the Ryodoraku chart Fig.3-3), the current of
F-type Ryodoraku increased.

The coefficient of variation (CV) is the standard deviation
divided by the arithmetic mean.
CV ＝ SD / Mean
The coefficient of variation indicates how much the variation has occurred regardless of the magnitude of the current
before and after stimulation. In other words, it is a variationindex different from variance and standard deviation. In
this study, the coefficient of variation of H3, F4, F5, and F6
increased relatively and F2 and F3 seemed to decrease after
stimulation. F4 and F5, which have relatively increased
coefficients of variation, are Ryodoraku given thermal
stimulation.

E) When viewed from the Ryodoraku mean
Fig.3-5), no significant mean deviation wasobserved.

Fig.3-3 Average current value (μA) of each Ryodoraku on the Ryodoraku chart before and after stimulation
Current values are shown in the Ryodoraku chart. The
average current value and the physiological range on thechart are shown in bottom line before stimulation and inupper line after stimulation. Both the average current value
and the physiological range were shifted upward after
stimulation.

D) When viewed from the coefficient ofvariation of the current value Fig.3-4), no
significant variation was observed in thecurrent value.

Fig.3-5 Mean deviation (μA) of each Ryodoraku before and after stimulation
In the average deviation of the current values, Ryodoraku
of H4, H5, and H6 was above the average value, and all of the
F systems were below the average value.

F) When viewed from the physiologicalrange of the Ryodoraku chart Fig.3-6), thenumber of Ryodoraku deviating from thephysiological range decreased slightly
after stimulation compared to before
stimulation.

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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

Fig.3-6 Average distance from the physiologicalrange of each Ryodoraku before and after stimulation(mm)

Each Ryodoraku principal component before andafter stimulation

The green range up to 0-7mm is the physiological range.
However, the distance is displayed using an absolute value.
There were some Ryodoraku farther away from the physiological range after stimulation. The average distance was
15.8 mm before stimulation and 15.7 mm after stimulation.

G) When viewed from the coefficient ofvariation with respect to the distancefrom the physiological range of each Ryodoraku before and after stimulation
Fig.3-7), several Ryodoraku slightly increased or decreased.
The principal components necessary for the analysis wereselected based on the contribution rate, cumulative contribution rate, and eigenvalue size of each principal component
before and after stimulation. The selected principal component was the principal component up to the second principal
component, and the variation direction was analyzed by the
eigenvector of the principal component.

Fig.3-7 Coefficient of variation (CV) for the distance from the physiological range of each Ryodoraku
before and after stimulation
In the coefficient of variation of the distance from thephysiological range, Ryodoraku of H2, H4, and F2 decreased
after stimulation compared with before stimulation. In
contrast, Ryodoraku of H3, H6, F1, F4, and F5 seemed to increase after stimulation.

H) When viewed from the eigenvectors of
the principal component analysis Table 1),
Fig.3-8 to 3-11), the eigenvectors that are
separated from the physiological range
before the stimulation are changed to eigenvectors that approach the physiological range after the stimulation.

Fig.3-8 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
before stimulation (eigenvector of the first principal
component <z1>)
Except for the Ryodoraku eigenvectors of F1, F3, and F4,
most Ryodoraku eigenvectors were recognized to rising ordescending as a group.

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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

I) When viewed from the fluctuation of the
Ryodoraku chart Fig.3-12, 3-13), the current
before stimulation fluctuated in a direction away from the physiological range,
but fluctuated in a direction approaching
the physiological range after stimulation.

Fig.3-9 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
before stimulation (eigenvector of second principal
component <Z2>)
Ryodoraku's eigenvectors from H1L to H3R of the H system, except for the H4 Ryodoraku eigenvector, were recognized to rising, and the R5 and H6 Ryodoraku eigenvectors
were recognized to descending.
Moreover, it was recognized that the F system is a component in which most Ryodoraku eigenvectors except F6 descending.

Fig.3-12 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
on the Ryodoraku chart before stimulation
The eigenvectors in the principal component analysis
were superimposed on the Ryodoraku chart.

Fig.3-10 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
after stimulation (eigenvector of the first principal
component <z1>)
Except for the Ryodoraku eigenvector of F1R, most Ryodoraku eigenvectors were recognized to be components thatrising or descending as a group. This component was almost
the same as the fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
eigenvector before stimulation.

Fig.3-13 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku on
the Ryodoraku chart after stimulation
This is the result of superimposing the eigenvectors in theprincipal component analysis on the Ryodoraku chart.

IV. Discussion

Fig.3-11 Fluctuation direction of each Ryodoraku
after stimulation (eigenvector of second principal
component <Z2>)
Except for the H2 and H3 Ryodoraku eigenvectors, the H
system Ryodoraku eigenvectors were recognized to be descending components. On the other hand, it was recognizedthat most of the F system except the Ryodoraku eigenvectors of F2 and F6 are rising components.

We consider that the autonomic nervous
system is systemically activated because thecurrent of all Ryodoraku increased by thermal stimulation with electronic moxa 10).
The fluctuations in the current value andthe average deviation are not remarkablebecause the stimulus was only once, and theinfluence of each Ryodoraku and individual
differences.
We believe that greater fluctuations can be
expected if the stimulation is repeated several
times on a regular basis. As a result, individual differences are considered to decrease.
If there is a large fluctuation, the impact on
the all Ryodoraku adjustment (approaching
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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌

Ryodoraku Medicine and Stimulus Therapy
Vol.2: 24- 30 ,2019

the physiological range) will also be significant.
In addition, in order to verify these fluctuations and effects, it is necessary to examine
not only the “excitation point” but also the“suppression point”, and the current after
repeated stimulation.
V. Conclusuion⚫ Thermal stimulation with electronic
moxa increases the all Ryodoraku current.
⚫ It was suggested that there was no significant fluctuation in the current value,
but it was also influenced by each Ryodoraku and individual differences.
⚫ Ryodoraku deviating from the physiological range slightly decreased.
⚫ Before stimulation, it fluctuated in a direction away from the physiological range,
and after stimulation, it fluctuated in a
direction approaching the physiologicalrange.
From the above, it is suggested that thethermal stimulation by the electron moxa tothe excitable point can adjust the Ryodoraku“meridian”.
Further, in order to establish a detailed
adjustment method, an additional test is required. In particular, a follow-up test withdifferent stimulation sites such as suppression points, a follow-up test with increased
stimulation several times, and clinical research are also desired.
Acknowledgement

2. Margaret M.LOCK: The East Asia Medical System in
Ueban Japan; Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Massage, East Asian Medicine in Urban Japan, p155-228,
University of California Press Ltd.,USA, 1980.
3. Francesca McCartney: Body of Health, The New Science of Intuition Medicine for Energy and Balance,
p11-38, New World Library, CA USA, 2005.
4. Masayoshi Hyodo: General Regulation Therapy withMeridian (Ryodoraku), Chapter 1 in Ryodoraku
Treatment (An Objective approach to Acupuncture),
p3-28, Naniwasha, JAPAN, 1990
5. Yoshio Nakatani, Kumio Yamashita: Ryodoraku Meridian, Chapter 4 Ryodoraku Treatment, p 50-60,
Ryodoraku Research institute, JAPAN, 1977.
6. Yoshio Nakatani: Item 21; Intensity of stimulus toreaction Ryodo point, Chapter 1; Overview of Ryodoraku Autonomic Modulation Therapy, in Ryodoraku
autonomic nervous control therapy (in Japanese), p
52-53, Ryodoraku Research institute, JAPAN, 1984.
7. George Snedecor and William Cochran: The Comparison of Two Samples, Chapter 6 in Statistical Methods,
p83-102, Iowa State University Press, USA, 1989.
8. I.T.Jolliffe: Choosing a Subset of Principal Components or Variables, Chapter 6 in Principal Component
Analysis, p111-147, Springer Series in Statistics, USA,2002.
9. I.T.Jolliffe: Principal Component analysis for Special
Types of Data, Chapter 13 in Principal Component
Analysis, p338-363, Springer Series in Statistics,
USA, 2002.

10. R.Imai: (A) Ryodoraku measurement method,

Chapter 3 in The Clinical for Autonomic Imbalance
Symptoms, -- From the standpoint of Ryodoraku Autonomic Nerve Adjustment Therapy -- ( in Japanese ),p74-81, Kagaku Shinbun-Sha Inc., JAPAN, 1992.

We would like to express our gratitude for thecooperation with CHUO Co., Ltd and Kurashiki
University of Science and The Arts.
In the results of this study, it should beclearly stated that there are no conflicts of interest between the authors and the above industry.
References
1. Margaret M.LOCK: Attitudes toward the Body in
Health and Sicknes, East Asian Medicine in Urban
Japan, p67-108, University of California Press
Ltd.,USA, 1980.

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Official Journal of International Association of Ryodoraku Medical Science（社）国際良導絡医学会雑誌