The physiological effect of DE QI during acupuncture

Abstract

Acupoints tend to show higher electric conductivity and have a higher concentration of neural and vascular elements as well as mast cells. According to one model, the meridian is an extravascular fluid (interstitial fluid) pathway and circulation of this fluid is driven by skeletal muscle contraction. Our result derived from laser Doppler flowmetry shows that Yanglao (SI6) and Xiaohai (SI8) have larger amplitude of heartbeat and vasomotion than non-acupuncture points. The amplitude of blood flow on the SI8 shows a more significant increase (4.3 ± 0.7 PU) than that of non-acupuncture points (1.1 ± 0.2 PU). Our results indicate that acupuncture increases blood flow when the De-Qi sensation takes place. In the experiment, the needle was only entered into the subject by 2 mm for about 15 sec during a SI6 acupuncture session, and the blood flow increased immediately. The blood flow of SI8 began to rise 5 sec after implementation and increased by 11.1 ± 0.9 PU. However, when the arm was tied up, the blood flow at the SI8 point slowed down quickly. Even though insertion with a twirling needle was followed after the drop in blood flow, the blood flow at the SI8 point did not accelerate again (0.7 ± 0.2 PU). The present study seems to show that acupuncture is effective in regulating the autonomic nervous system. Implementation of acupuncture causes the sphincter of microvessel to relax, and the tissue fluid to flow out, and the propagated sensation along the meridian is caused by this large amount of tissue fluid that flows along the loosen body stalk. The interstitial fluid increases during the needling and blood capillary expansion, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture regulation.