Chen Weichang, Xu Gongmei, Bo Yantu, Qiu Jingquan, Li Yichun, Li Dingyi Ma Chengzhong, Zhang Kuiheng (Neimenggu Medical College)
A method was introduced for determining the depth of the development of the needling sensation with an acupuncture depth scaler. The scaler was made of a transparent polyethylene tube, with an outer diameter of 3 mm, and was calibrated with an accuracy of 1 mm. Before manipulation, the length of the trunk of the acupuncture needle L[0] was measured and after insertion the length of the needle trunk outside the skin L[1] was measured again. The depth of the acupuncture L could be calculated from the difference between the two values of length by the formula; L=L[0]-L[1]. The needling depth where needling sensation developed in five points (Shangyang, Hegu, Neiguan, Waiquan, Quchi) were determined on 35 adult volunteers. The thickness of these 5 acupuncture points was also measured for control. In the traditional Chinese medicine, "cun" is usually used as an acupuncture length unit to describe the accurate position of the acupuncture points and depth of insertion of needles. Simultaneously we also measured the length in different parts of the upper limbs in order to make a comparison of "middle finger cun" and "bone cun". The following results were obtained:
1. It was shown that the descriptions about the "cun" in the ancient traditional Chinese medicine were rather accurate. The acupuncture length unit based on the proportions of the body height (75 cun), the length of forearm (12.5 cun), the width of the hand's palm (3 cun), the length of the mid-section of the middle finger (1 cun), and the width of the thumb (1 cun) were approximately equivalent. According to the result of the experiment, one cun of the Chinese adult is 22.3± 0.14 mm. There is no significant difference between the two sides of the upper limbs. The middle finger cun is positively correlated with the body height significantly.
2. The depths of the development of needling sensation in the following points were: Shangyang, 1.8 ± 0.53 mm (about 0.1 cun), Hegu, 23.0±4.73 mm (about 1 cun), Neiguan, 20.5 ± 4.61 mm (about 1 cun), Waiguan, 14.1 ± 4.44 mm (about 0.6 -- 0.7 cun), Quchi, 25.3 ± 5.62 mm (about 1.2 cun) respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the depth of the development of the needling sensation and the thickness of the point. The proportions of the depth of needling sensation to the thickness in the five acupuncture points were: Shangyang, 1:5; Hegu, 2:3; Neiguan, 1:2; Waiguan, 1:3; and Quchi, 1:2.5 respectively.
3. Based on the proportions of the depth of the needling sensation to the thickness of the points, we used the labeled injection technique to investigate the topological structure of the point. It was found that the acupuncture point of Neiguan was close to the median nerve, the point of Waiguan was close to the dorsal interossal nerve, Hegu was close to the terminal bifurcation of the ulnar nerve, while the acupuncture point of Shangyang was situated within the periosteum of the digital bone. It seemed that the needling sensation was related closely with the deep neuroapparatus.
A method was introduced for determining the depth of the development of the needling sensation with an acupuncture depth scaler. The scaler was made of a transparent polyethylene tube, with an outer diameter of 3 mm, and was calibrated with an accuracy of 1 mm. Before manipulation, the length of the trunk of the acupuncture needle L[0] was measured and after insertion the length of the needle trunk outside the skin L[1] was measured again. The depth of the acupuncture L could be calculated from the difference between the two values of length by the formula; L=L[0]-L[1]. The needling depth where needling sensation developed in five points (Shangyang, Hegu, Neiguan, Waiquan, Quchi) were determined on 35 adult volunteers. The thickness of these 5 acupuncture points was also measured for control. In the traditional Chinese medicine, "cun" is usually used as an acupuncture length unit to describe the accurate position of the acupuncture points and depth of insertion of needles. Simultaneously we also measured the length in different parts of the upper limbs in order to make a comparison of "middle finger cun" and "bone cun". The following results were obtained:
1. It was shown that the descriptions about the "cun" in the ancient traditional Chinese medicine were rather accurate. The acupuncture length unit based on the proportions of the body height (75 cun), the length of forearm (12.5 cun), the width of the hand's palm (3 cun), the length of the mid-section of the middle finger (1 cun), and the width of the thumb (1 cun) were approximately equivalent. According to the result of the experiment, one cun of the Chinese adult is 22.3± 0.14 mm. There is no significant difference between the two sides of the upper limbs. The middle finger cun is positively correlated with the body height significantly.
2. The depths of the development of needling sensation in the following points were: Shangyang, 1.8 ± 0.53 mm (about 0.1 cun), Hegu, 23.0±4.73 mm (about 1 cun), Neiguan, 20.5 ± 4.61 mm (about 1 cun), Waiguan, 14.1 ± 4.44 mm (about 0.6 -- 0.7 cun), Quchi, 25.3 ± 5.62 mm (about 1.2 cun) respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the depth of the development of the needling sensation and the thickness of the point. The proportions of the depth of needling sensation to the thickness in the five acupuncture points were: Shangyang, 1:5; Hegu, 2:3; Neiguan, 1:2; Waiguan, 1:3; and Quchi, 1:2.5 respectively.
3. Based on the proportions of the depth of the needling sensation to the thickness of the points, we used the labeled injection technique to investigate the topological structure of the point. It was found that the acupuncture point of Neiguan was close to the median nerve, the point of Waiguan was close to the dorsal interossal nerve, Hegu was close to the terminal bifurcation of the ulnar nerve, while the acupuncture point of Shangyang was situated within the periosteum of the digital bone. It seemed that the needling sensation was related closely with the deep neuroapparatus.
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