title: Monitoring the Effects of Acupoint Antioxidant Intervention by Measuring Electrical Potential Difference along the Meridian.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that superoxide anions are possibly traveling along acupuncture meridians. The electrical potential difference (EPD) between acupoints may be related to the movement. To test the above hypothesis, we conducted a study investigating the effects of acupoint antioxidant interventions on the meridian EPD. Firstly, ST39 (L) and ST44 (L) were screened out for the EPD detection along the stomach meridian, and ST36 (L) was selected for interventions including acumassage with the control cream, as well as the TAT-SOD cream for 30 minutes, or injection with reduced glutathione sodium. The EPD between ST39 and ST44 was recorded for 80 minutes and measured again 48 h later. While the EPD increased during the acumassage, the acumassage with TAT-SOD cream and the glutathione injection generated waves of EPD increased, indicating the migration or removal from the visceral organ of a greater quantity of superoxide. Remarkably lower EPD readings 48 h later with both antioxidant acupoint interventions than the mere acumassage imply a more complete superoxide flushing out due to the restored superoxide pathway at the acupoint after interventions. The results confirm superoxide transportation along the meridians and demonstrate a possibility of acupoint EPD measurement as a tool to monitor changes in the meridians and acupoints.
authors: CAS.SIBS-Zhejiang Gongshang University Joint Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors: Ming-Ming
authors: MM
authors: Xu
authors: CAS.SIBS-Zhejiang Gongshang University Joint Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors: Jing-Ke
authors: JK
authors: Guo
authors: Research Department of Meridian of Fujian Academy of TCM, Fuzhou 350003, China.
authors: Jin-Sen
authors: JS
authors: Xu
authors: College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Chao-Xin
authors: CX
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Shu-Tao
authors: ST
authors: Liu
authors: College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Ri-Tao
authors: RT
authors: Liao
authors: College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Chun-Tong
authors: CT
authors: Lin
authors: College of Biological Science and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
authors: Jian-Hui
authors: JH
authors: Guo
authors: CAS.SIBS-Zhejiang Gongshang University Joint Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors: Ping-Fan
authors: PF
authors: Rao