title: Effect of Needling at CV-12 (Zhongwan) on Blood Glucose Levels in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acupuncture, a key part of traditional Chinese medicine, is used to relieve symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of needling CV-12 (Zhongwan) on blood glucose levels in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six individuals were recruited and randomized into either the acupuncture group or the placebo control group. The participants in the acupuncture group were needled at CV-12 (4 cun above the center of the umbilicus), and those in the placebo control group were needled at a nonexisting "sham" point on the right side of the abdomen (1 cun beside the CV-12)-a nonacupuncture point. For both groups, the needle was retained for 20 minutes without stimulation. Assessments were performed prior to and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result of this study showed a mild reduction in random blood glucose (RBG) levels in the acupuncture group and a mild increase in RBG levels in the placebo control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant both within and between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study suggests that although 20 minutes of needling at CV-12 without stimulation produced a mild reduction in RBG levels in healthy volunteers, it did not produce a statistically significant result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Naturopathy, S-VYASA University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sriloy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, S-VYASA University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: dr.mooventhan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mooventhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, S-VYASA University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Nandi Krishnamurthy
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Manjunath
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Zhongwan; acupuncture; blood glucose