title: [Influence of mechanical pressure on the change of acupuncture-induced transcutaneous CO2 emission].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate conduction of acupuncture effect and the influence of mechanical pressing meridians on it.
  
  
  METHODS
  In twenty healthy volunteers (8 males and 12 females, aged 29 years on average), by using a Frewil Q. F. apparatus, transcutaneous CO2 emission (TCE) was measured before, during and after acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), respectively. The locations being measured were Quze (PC 3) and four points including two non-acupoints along the Pricardium Meridian (Point A and B) and two non-acupoints apart from the Pericardium Meridian (Point C and D). Point A was located at the lower one fourth of the line connecting Tianquan (PC 2) and Quze (PC 3), and Point B located at the middle of the line connecting Ximen (PC 4) and Quze (PC 3). Point C was located 2 cm lateral on the ulnar side to Point A, and Point D located 2 cm lateral on the ulnar side to Point B. The above results were compared with those obtained after mechanical pressure of 1 kg (area 1 cm X 2 cm) applied on Ximen (PC 4) and Daling (PC 7), respectively, to observe their effect on TCE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During and after acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) without mechanical pressure, TCE at Quze (PC 3), point A and B increased significantly (P < 0.05), but not at point C and D (P > 0.05). While applying mechanical pressure at Ximen (PC 4), no significant increase was found on the three points during and after acupuncture. When applying pressure at Daling (PC 7), significant increases of TCE were also found at Quze (PC 3) and point A during acupuncture (P < 0.05), and a significant increase of TCE was found at point B after acupuncture with pressure keeping (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture can enhance energy metabolism along meridians, and this effect can be blocked by mechanical pressure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Hong
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Guang-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D011312:Pressure; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide