Is there any energy transfer during acupuncture?
Acupuncture therapy is based on the principle of restoring equilibrium of the body's energy state by regulating the flow of Qi in the corresponding meridians and acupoints. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bio-energy transfer occurs during acupuncture of the meridians. We treated 20 normal healthy subjects with acupuncture and measured changes in the direct current (DC) potential between the stomach meridian points ST-39 and ST-37 in response to invasive insertion of a needle at ST-36. Using a crossover study design, the practitioner performed the procedure on each subject once with bare (uncovered) hands (ABH) and once wearing surgical gloves (ASH) to shield the electric energy transfer. ABH produced a response pattern to each stimulation, whereas ASH produced a response pattern only to the first step. ABH elicited a significantly higher response potential than did ASH (p < 0.001). These results suggest that there may be bio-energy (Qi) transfer during acupuncture along the meridians. This transferred bio-energy (Qi) seems to act as an electromotive force, which is purported to remove the stagnation or blockage of energy and restore an equilibrium state.
Lee
Myeong Soo
MS
Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Yong-Heum
YH
Shin
Byung-Cheul
BC
Jeong
Dong-Myong
DM
Kim
Mo Kyung
MK
Eo
Yoon-Gi
YG
Ko
Su-Bok
SB
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D016740:Meridians; D019413:Qi