Clinical trial NCT05872906: Using Ultrasound and Acupuncture to Explore the De-qi Location and Reaction of Specific Acupoints
Official title: Using Ultrasound and Acupuncture to Explore the De-qi Location and Reaction of Specific Acupoints
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: de qi of Acupuncture
Ultrasound Imaging
Lead sponsor: China Medical University Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-05-24
Enrollment: 6
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: According to ancient literature, when de qi occurs in the process of acupuncture, the patient may experience sensations such as soreness, numbness, heaviness, swelling. Meanwhile, the acupuncturist may experience the sensation of "a fish taking a bite from the bait on a hook". However, for a beginner at acupuncture, before they have learned to trigger the de qi sensation, it is hard for them to learn according to the ambiguous definition of "a fish taking a bite from the bait on a hook" and thus hard to know whether they have reached the correct location and stimulated de-qi. In this study, through multiple experienced acupuncturists acupuncture multiple test subjects, the investigators will locate the location and the reaction of de qi on the acupoint Quchi (LI11) with ultrasound observation and recording. Through the ultrasound teaching and guidance, the investigators will test whether it is possible to reversely use ultrasound imaging to guide less experienced acupuncturists to the de qi location and elicit de qi response on multiple test subjects. Therefore, the investigators propose this study to test the following hypothesis:"There is a specific anatomical site where de qi occurs at LI11, and it is possible to use ultrasound imaging to guide learners to reach that location and trigger de-qi and that it is applicable to other acupoints". To explore the above hypothesis, the investigators will target the following specific aims. Aim 1: Use ultrasound record and indicate the precise anatomical location and reaction when de qi occurs on acupoint LI11. Aim 2: Simultaneously record the physicians' needling sensations, the participants' needling sensations, twitch response of the participant under ultrasound images. Aim 3: Prove the feasibility of using ultrasound to guide inexperienced physicians to reach the correct location and elicit de qi sensation on the participants. Aim 4: Discuss the relationship between de qi and pulse diagnosis. Aim 5: Apply the above procedures to other acupuncture points such as LU5(Chize), PC3 (Quze),...etc.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* age ≥ 20 years and healthy subjects

Exclusion Criteria:

* pregnancy
* patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic hepatitis, chronic kidney disease

Primary outcomes:
measure: B-mode ultrasound image of the acupuncture site using a linear probe
timeFrame: during each needling process of all acupuncture points over a course of 12 weeks
measure: Subject sensation questionnaire modified from the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS)
timeFrame: during each needling process of all acupuncture points over a course of 12 weeks
measure: Subject sensation questionnaire modified from the Southampton Needle Sensation Questionnaire (SNSQ)
timeFrame: during each needling process of all acupuncture points over a course of 12 weeks
measure: Pulse wave data taken with ANSWatch
timeFrame: immediately prior to (within 5 minutes) and after (within 5 minutes) needling of each acupuncture point over a course of 12 weeks
measure: External video footage of visually observable events (such as muscle contraction) associated with de qi event
timeFrame: during each needling process of all acupuncture points over a course of 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Taichung
country: Taiwan
facility: China Medical University Hospital
Study officials:
References: