Acupuncture meridian system is composed of meridians and collaterals according to the meridian and collateral theory. The study on the flow direction of individual meridian is most important and challenge in the field of meridian research.
Based on classical theory, the acupuncture meridian system is a pathway of Ki(vital energy) and blood, and the 12 regular meridian compose an entire circulary system.
In the three meridians of hand Um, Ki and blood flow towards fingers from chest in the three meridians of hand Yang, they flow towards head from fingers, in the three meridians of foot Yang they flows toward toes from head, and in the three meridians of foot Um they flow towards chest from toes. The theory on flow direction of meridian has been applied for reinforcing and reducing method in acupuncture practice.
Many researchers insist the objectivity of meridian phenomena such as the phenamenon of propagated sensation along the channels, dermatosis on meridian line, the pain on meridian line, but the essence of meridian hasn't been clarified yet and further study is necessary.
A lot of elecrophysiological studies on meridians and meridian points have done in the past. as a result, it was defined that electrical activities on the meridians and meridian points were higher than surrounding and they were changed according to health conditions of Jang(solid organ) and Pu(hollow organ) , for which measurement of current intensity and resistance by direct current were applied mostly.
Therefore we have developed the analytic system of flow direction of meridian by current measurement to study the flow direction of meridian in relation with Ki and blood flow.
Here we had two considerations.
One is that meridian exist deeply under the surface of body and the other is that polarization phenomenon happens if direct current is used to study the characteristics of meridian.
Hence, we have made the analytic system of flow direction of meridian by current measurement, in which electric current flowing in deep place can be measured, alternating current in measuring is used, and the current intensity and quantity of electricity in flow direction of meridian and its opposite direction are able to measure based on wave of the current. The principle of the analytic system of flow direction of meridian by current measurement are as follows.
Two acupuncture needles are inserted into two certain meridian points and alternating currents of single sine wave, single symetrical triangular wave, continuous sine wave and continuous triangular wave are inputed to acupuncture needles respectively.
And then current intensity and quantity of electricity flowing in flow direction of meridian and its opposite direction between two acupoints are measured and analyzed in computer.
The current wave, the current intensity, the quantity of current and the time at which extreme of current appears are showed on the screen of computer. In the analytic system of flow direction of meridian by current measurement, A/D, D/A cards were used to receive and to input current siglal by computer.
We are intensifying the study on the flow direction of some meridians by using the analytic system of flow direction of meridian by current measurement.
