Evaluating Dielectric Properties for Assessing Water Content at Acupuncture Points: New Methodology

Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues. This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies 2024, 17(3), 89, pp.86-93
Main Authors: Pitta, Manoela Gallon, Zhang, Kelly, Rosa, Gustavo Henrique de Mello, Rangon, Flávia Belavenuto, Guirro, Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira, Silva, Marcelo Lourenço da, Araujo, João Eduardo de
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acupuncture meridians
Acupuncture Points
Acupuncture Therapy - methods
Adult
dielectric constant
Electric Impedance
electrical impedance
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
spleen meridian
stomach meridian
Water - analysis
Young Adult
한의학
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues. This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes in water content, specifically at stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli) and spleen 6 (SP6, Sanyinjiao) acupuncture points. In a controlled, blinded, randomized trial, 113 healthy volunteers were divided into six groups based on TDC sensor diameters (XS, M, and L): three control groups and three acupuncture groups. They were assessed at three time points: T1, baseline; T2, 20 min post-needle withdrawal; and T3, 40 min post-needle withdrawal. Electrical impedance (EI) was also analyzed. Significance level was set at < 0.001. TDC at ST36 and SP6 significantly decreased with the XS probe at T2 and T3 compared with that at T1 (F8, 452: 54.61). TDC did not significantly vary between T2 and T3 with M and L probes. EI data indicated that the current passage increased in the SP (F2, 226: 39.32) and ST (F2, 226: 37.32) groups during T2 and T3 compared with that during T1 within their respective groups and controls. and Relevance: This study demonstrated the efficacy of TDC measurements in detecting water content fluctuations at acupuncture points and their responses to needles. TDC measurements, which were validated against EI, provide valuable insights into acupuncture point microenvironments and thus help optimize treatments.
ISSN:2005-2901
2093-8152
2093-8152
DOI:10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.3.86