The electrophysiology of de qi sensations.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate the effect of three different modes of stimulation on: (1) the electrical conductance of a known acupuncture point (AP) and a point with no known acupuncture function (NP); and (2) the corresponding characteristics of de qi sensations.


METHODS
The design was prospective. SETTINGS AND LOCATIONS: Healthy subjects were recruited for the study at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Subjects and Study Interventions: Fifteen subjects were enrolled. Two locations of the subjects' nondominant hand were marked: (1) AP (Li4); and (2) NP, a control location with no known acupuncture function. The following different stimulation paradigms were applied to the testing sites in a randomized fashion: (1) transcutaneous electrical stimulation via an ECG electrode; (2) manual stimulation via an acupuncture needle; and (3) electrical stimulation via an acupuncture needle. All electrical stimulation was provided at 12 V and 5 Hz for 30 seconds.


METHODS
The conductance before and after each stimulation were measured. The subjects were asked to choose four most predominant descriptors of the de qi sensation after the stimulation and to rate the corresponding intensity on a linear VAS.


RESULTS
The conductance values at the AP site are generally a bit higher than conductance values at the NP site for each given stimulation type. The de qi VAS score increased significantly after needle electrical stimulation (EA) in comparison to electrode or manual stimulation at both sites. The most predominant (incidence >30%) de qi sensation with electrical stimulation in either electrode or needle electrical stimulation was tingling, whereas in the manual stimulation, aching was the most predominant sensation of de qi.


CONCLUSIONS
The de qi sensation appears to be qualitatively and quantitatively different between manual and electrical stimulation. The observed difference in transcutaneous electrical conductance between.
Leung
Albert Y
AY
Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA. ayleung@ucsd.edu
Park
Jun
J
Schulteis
Gery
G
Duann
Jeng-Ren
JR
Yaksh
Tony
T
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019413:Qi; D012016:Reference Values