Relationship Between Acupuncture Needling Direction and Electric Current

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study applies a semiconductor analyzer to investigate the effects of acupuncture manipulation.

Detailed Description
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Acupuncture manipulation with needling direction is important for the therapeutic effect based on traditional Chinese medicine theory. However, research usually focuses on the therapeutic effects on the acupoints and acupuncture time rather than on the manipulation method. This study applies a semiconductor analyzer to investigate the effects of acupuncture manipulation. 30 healthy participants were recruited in the study. This study employed an Agilent B1500A semiconductor analyzer to investigate the electric characteristics of meridians under directional supplementation and draining manipulation. We measured the electric current of meridians under different manipulation, and compared the difference between supplementation and draining manipulation in healthy individuals.

Official Title
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Meridian Study on the Response Current Affected by Acupuncture Needling Direction

Conditions
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Acupuncture, Electricity; Effects

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Acupuncture manipulation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least 20 years old agree to the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: under 20 years old pregnant or breast-feeding women those with an empty stomach before the study a tendency toward bleeding with thrombocytopenia or history of platelets < 20000 or a user of an anti-platelet drug.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All the participants were in one group and received acupuncture manipulation. The investigator used directional supplementation and draining manipulation. The investigator perform acupuncture with supplementation manipulation first, followed by a measurement of the electrical characteristics using Agilent B1500A. The investigator remove the acupuncture and then perform acupuncture with draining manipulation, followed by measurements. After one meridian measurements were completed, the investigator removed the needle and proceeded to the next meridian to repeat the same procedure. The supplementation manipulation is defined as the angle of needle insertion to skin as 45 degrees with the needle tip in the same direction as the meridian. While the draining manipulation is defined as the angle of needle insertion at 45 degrees with the needle tip direction opposite to that of the meridian. The acupoints were HT7、HT3、SI5、SI8、BL57、BL40、KI3、KI10 in this study.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: acupuncture with manipulation group<br>30 participant were recruited in this study. All the participants received acupuncture at the acupoints (HT7、HT3、SI5、SI8、BL57、BL40、KI3、KI10) and were measured by an Agilent B1500A semiconductor analyzer. The investigator perform acupuncture with supplementation manipulation first, followed by a measurement of the electrical characteristics using Agilent B1500A. The investigator remove the acupuncture and then perform acupuncture with draining manipulation, followed by measurements. After one meridian measurements were completed, the investigator removed the needle and proceeded to the next meridian to repeat the same procedure. | Procedure: Acupuncture manipulation<br>* The investigator used directional supplementation and draining manipulation. The supplementation manipulation is defined as the angle of needle insertion to skin as 45 degrees with the needle tip in the same direction as the meridian. While the draining manipulation is defined as the angle of needle insertion at 45 degrees with the needle tip direction opposite to that of the meridian.<br>* Other names: Directional manipulation;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The electric current | Agilent B1500A is a device that can measure the electric current after acupuncture manipulation. The investigators measure the electric current after intervention of supplementation manipulation and draining manipulation respectively. | through study completion, an average of 90 minutes | 
| The voltage | Agilent B1500A is a device that can measure the voltage after acupuncture manipulation. The investigators measure the voltage after intervention of supplementation manipulation and draining manipulation respectively. | through study completion, an average of 90 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Acupuncture, Directional manipulation, Electricity, Meridian theory, Traditional Chinese medicine, Supplementation, Draining