Dissertation for Public Reference

Dr. Kazuhito Mori © 2004 All Rights Reserved

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1
To Merciful Readers;

Hello. I am truly grateful that you showed some

scientific and clinical concerns to this dissertation
that otherwise could have been buried in my drawer
and computer. It was literally honorable that I was
able to engage in the replication of a study
conducted by a pioneer and the Father of Modern
Energy Medicine, Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D., Litt.D.
for many reasons that go beyond any description.
This study, I believe, would be of paramount
importance in terms of modern medicine and human
biology. First of all, contemporary medicine believes
that the effect of acupuncture and other acupoints
utilizing modalities make use of the Autonomic
Nervous System. This study showed that the A.N.S. and
the Meridian system, upon which Acupuncture,
Moxibustion and Acupressure are based, are completely
different by distinguishing between responses
conveyed by the A.N.S. and those by the Meridian
system by replicating the aforementioned study.
Secondary, the implication of this study is the
existence of the Meridian system as an independent
entity from the A.N.S. We may soon have to revise our
textbooks that we use for the education of human
biology, thus basic and clinical medicine.
Again, I would like to show appreciation to you.
I hope and wish that you would enjoy the study.
Sincerely Yours, Dr. Kazuhito Mori

2
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ACUPUNCTURE
MERIDIANS AND THE EFFECT OF MOXIBUSTION
UTILIZING SSVP [SINGLE SQUARE VOLTAGE PULSE]
METHOD

~ Differentiation of the Acupuncture Meridian in Traditional

Chinese Medicine from the Autonomic Nervous System ~

Dr. Kazuhito Mori, M.Sc., Ph.D.

A Dissertation Project

Submitted in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Science

California Institute for Human Science

701 Garden View Court

Encinitas, CA 92024, U.S.A.

June 2003

3
Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: ITRODUCTIO, PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

A) GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
i. Brief History of Holistic Rudimentary Medicine in Western Civilization & Summary
ii. Studies on Acupuncture and Meridian System & Summary
B) STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM (Problems, Hypotheses, Questions)
C) THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Hypotheses, Basic Assumptions

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A) RELATED SOURCES
B) BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
A) RESTATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
B) RESTATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES
C) SUBJECTS ISSUES
D) EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL
a) Device
b) Device Mechanism and Electrophysiology of the Skin
c) Subjects
d) Stimulus
e) Stimulation Locus & Measurement Loci

E) DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS

a) Basic Research Design
b) Statistical Analysis
I. Overall Analysis Design
II. Analysis and Physiological Meaning
1. Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.
a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.A.
b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian
2. A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine
3. A Study on Laterality in the Meridian System

CHAPTER 4: RESULT
4.1. Overall Analysis
4.2. Categorization of the data
4.3. Results from Factor Analysis
4.4. Results from Laterality Analysis

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIO
1. Behaviour of BP values and AP values
2. Stimulation on UB22 (Triple Heater meridian “Back-shu” associate point)
3. Answers to the questions risen before
4. Conclusion

4
 CHAPTER 1: ITRODUCTIO, PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

A) GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

A-i) Brief History of Holistic Rudimentary Medicine in Western Civilization

In the history of mankind, we all human beings have been struggling with many diseases from the

beginning. We are destined to live with sufferings, such as diseases and death as we grow and age. This is

the unavoidable cycle of human life as stated by ancient sages or philosophers.

In order that we are able to fight against curable or incurable diseases, art of medicine has to be

developed throughout the world regardless of ethno-cultural conditions of people, ecological conditions of

the environment in which those people dwell. For instance, ancient life science of India, Ayurveda,

recommends we be able to have access to locally grown crops and herbs and eat or use them.

Nowadays, the word “medicine” can almost read as one that is based upon western intellectual

tradition and we call it conventional, orthodox or allopathic medicine, as opposed to alternative,

complementary medicine that we shall discuss. We owe most of our conventional medicine to a famous

and historical Greek physician, the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates from the 5th century B.C. in Greece.

He described the very human nature such as the developmental stages of the embryo, and he would later

be succeeded by the famous philosopher known as the teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle. (Moore,

1988)

Natural philosophers such as Aristotle or Galen who insisted on the very intriguing humoral

theory, could be of much importance in terms of the formation and early development of rudimentary

biopsychology, not only the formation of medicine, all of which can be branches of what we call “Human

Science”. The formation of what we believe as “Medicine” has occurred within such holistic studies of

human beings as a whole. However, reductionistic thoughts such as the atomic theory of Democritus was

simultaneously influencing the rudimentary science of those days (Magner, 1992), i.e. conventional

5
medicine may have been destined to have a reductionistic aroma of conventional science from the very

beginning of its history, in spite of the holistic discourse of the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates himself

clearly stated; “It is more important to know the person who has the disease than the disease the person

has.” (Alternberg, 1998) This Hippocrates’s discourse is of much importance today, since the significance

of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that holds holistic view of human beings is getting

more professional and scientific attention among societies of science and medicine as well as laypeople

who have already accepted the idea and have been utilizing modalities of CAM.

Meanwhile, there have been a slew of therapeutic modalities in Eastern Tradition as well,

regardless of their form, be it esoteric or exoteric, scientific or metaphysical. Practitioners of those

rudimentary therapies, “healers”, have been maintaining, protecting, and improving these systems of

knowledge and fostering students for such a long time for the benefit of the next generations of the society

in which this system was born and cultivated. Just as the Indian tradition of yoga has the concepts of Prana

and Nadhi as the fundamental vital force or vital energy, Chi and its pathways, meridians, also

characterize Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM includes several different exercises, such as Tai

Chi, Qi-Gong and different forms of massage. Those energetic healing modalities have been getting

popular among our contemporaries. Acupuncture is also one of them, sharing the same concept of vital

force and its pathways with others. It is described that rudimentary Acupuncture treatments may have

already existed even 5,000 years ago (Gerber, 2000). In other words, in spite of skepticism and debates

around the modality in our contemporary society, Acupuncture has probably survived the test of time for

such a long period, even before the formation of conventional allopathic medicine. This point should be

emphasized, since the system of knowledge that claims the other is doubtful has only less than half the life

of the other. If you consider the fact that contemporary molecular medicine based upon molecular biology

6
has almost only 50 years of its history since the discovery of the double helical structure of the DNA, the

chronological distance between the history of modern medicine and that of TCM would be much further.

Now, here is one aspect that characterizes Eastern medical traditions, that is, the energetic view of

life and living forms. The energetic view of life had been regarded as the equivalent to vitalism in western

tradition. Vitalistic explanations of life and therapeutic systems based upon that philosophy have been

rejected or ignored by the majority of the academic and medical society even though western medical

terminology does have the equivalent of vital force in TCM in their system. For instance, “vis vitae” in

medical Latin means vital power or vital force. Quite surprisingly, “nisus formativus” means the vital

power in the organs of the body to perform their specific functions (Stone, 1999). This is quite interesting,

because the connotation that this terminology has could probably be the same as Chi-energy in TCM. This

terminology does not only describe what the energy is, but also shows us the way that the energy behaves.

“Nisus formativus” is not merely “vital force” as seen in every single different cultures of the world, but

also has its primary and ultimate function, which is to be destined to work inside each internal organ in

order to make those organs coordinate with others acting on the principle of homeostasis. Since it is not

the main aim of this paper to find out the historical linkage of those two medicines in terms of philology,

semantics and so forth, further description about the origin of words should be refrained from here. Thus,

the vitalistic, energetic view of life has been hidden in the very depth of western tradition until very

recently.

Nevertheless, there is one more thing to be mentioned here. That is the interesting relationship

between vital force and the blood in early Greco-Roman Medicine. Erasistratus, who invoked the atomic

theory of Democritus, supported the idea that the function of arteries was to carry “pneuma“ (“air”=”vital

force”) rather than blood. This idea seems quite similar to the relationship between Qi energy and blood

that is created by the previously referred energy in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

7
Summary

Both Western and Eastern traditions that back up medical sciences in each culture and civilization,

have the notion of functional vital force and pathways for the force. The force is called Prana, Pneuma,

Vis Vitae, Nisus Formativus, Qi or Ki in each tradition respectively. In spite of differences in the

nomenclature of the energy pathways, the existence of the paths is not doubted throughout the world

regardless of the East or the West. Likewise, there is a similarity of the relationship between the vital force

and blood in the West and the East. In spite that rudimentary medicine in the early ages embraces a

holistic view of human beings, the development of pre-modern and modern western science lost this

holistic flavor from philosophy, science and the art of medicine.

8
A-ii) Studies on Acupuncture and the Meridian System

Nowadays, Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely utilized throughout the

world as one of the effective treatment modalities in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(CAM). However, many aspects of this treatment modality remain unknown, such as its efficacy, side

effects and above all, the physiological mechanisms underlying the action of the specific procedures.

For instance, needling and moxibustion, which utilize so-called acupuncture points on the surface

of the skin, require more clinical studies in order to be built into mainstream medicine. Dose-response

effects that leads to the whole safety issues including the optimum degree of reception for treatment,

lethal dose and so forth, all of which could also measure cost-effectiveness of treatment, determination

and differentiation of short-term and long-term effects and the putative different mechanisms involved,

should be carefully evaluated by virtue of skillfully constructed research designs. This trend can be

easily guessed by an unprecedented amount of research funding in this area. However, due to the

character of clinical research designs such as sham intervention or placebo, scientific studies of

acupuncture are facing many obstacles and difficulties. (Hammerschlag, 2001) Therefore, studies on

acupuncture focusing on the effects of needling are not as easy as we could think.

As opposed to the aforementioned difficulties in the scientific studies of acupuncture focusing on

needle manipulation, the action of needling and the effect of moxibustion, emphasizing on the electric

or biophysical properties of the skin, are being explained in terms of neurohumoral, pharmacological

or other reductionistic mechanisms together with the rise of interdisciplinary studies of neural

function, so-called neuroscience in our contemporaries. Thus, Acupuncture has been scientifically

investigated for decades. The most dominant theoretical backbones borrowing from neurophysiology,

neuroendocrinology or pharmacology partially succeeded in the explanation of the effects of

acupuncture treatments; thus this mainstream research has churned out quite a bit of data and many

9
scientific papers, then reviews. (White, A., 1999), (Filshie, J and White A., 1998), (Stux, G and

Hammerschlag, R, 2001). For instance, dominant theories underlying the mechanism of acupuncture

are:

a) Pain and the underlying nociceptive control system (i.e., C fibres, A delta fibres, A beta fibres,

Serotoninergic system, Noradrenergic system) convey the effects of acupuncture

b) Neurotransmitters, hormones or autacoids or other neurohumoral factors (i.e., Opioid peptide

secretion, Cholecystokinin, Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT], Oxytocin) (White, A.,

1999), play a major role.

However, these approaches are inappropriate when it comes to point-to-point linkage that has no

anatomical or neurological connection between them.

In addition, the speed of propagation of information in the nervous system is too fast to explain

long-term effects of acupuncture treatments. Therefore, there seems to be a necessity to postulate the

existence of a non-neural informational system because,

1) The efficacy of Acupuncture treatments means that there is somehow a direct or indirect

connection between the areas stimulated with a thin needle at the surface of skin and the

corresponding internal organ that has no neural or anatomical connection in between.

2) Information processing of acupuncture needling does not have to be quick, rapid, or short-term

manner just as nervous system for there are long-term effects in acupuncture treatment.

By the way, Hofbauer et al. (2001) pointed to putative skin and organ interconnections with very

intriguing evidences. According to his study, high incidence of skin cancers occurred after renal

transplantation. A practitioner who has proper training in Traditional Chinese Medicine will interpret

10
this phenomenon as a deficiency of vital force, which is supposed to be stored in its proper energy

resource organ, the kidney. Vulnerability of the organ will cause immunodeficiency or suppression

after organ transplantation since defensive Qi energy, “Wei Qi” is a part of the energy functioning as a

sort of defense mechanism in the human body. However, this kind of explanation is still

phenomenological and will not exceed metaphysical comprehension, despise that this explanation

completely fulfills the criteria as mentioned above in (1) and (2).

Now, in addition, for the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of the whole acupuncture system

and eventually to establish a science of Acupuncture, the mysteries that we must uncover would be

summarized into 3 parts.

a) Existence, Physical Properties and Biological Effect of Vital Force [Chi Energy / Ki Energy]

b) Histochemical and Biophysical Properties of Acupuncture Points and Meridians

c) The Functional Meaning of Acupuncture Needling and Subsequent Biological Effects

Neurophysiological or endocrinological models cannot explain entire aspects of the meridian system.

In the current study, each of these 3 issues will be respectively considered prudentially by evaluating

on-going scientific validation of the acupuncture system.

In spite of its apparent local plausibility, the traditional system of knowledge that embraces the

notion of vital force and the interaction of internal organs that correspond to specific areas of the skin

still somehow seems to be valid from an empirical viewpoint.

In fact, this cannot be too emphasized: acupuncture treatments and other modalities utilizing

acupuncture points, such as moxibustion and acupressure, have been adopted as decent medical

interventions in China or Japan from the date of their birth until now. For instance, this is a famous

11
story: the Chinese communist leader Mao was utilizing acupuncture treatments during the anti-Japan

war as a pain coping procedure, which he believes is against his materialistic philosophy. Remarkable

and amazing effects of acupuncture supposedly led to the survival of the modality even under the

influence of communism in the country, contrary to the natural consequence or sort of destiny that

could have otherwise been. Even Japan, right after the “coup d’etat“ by bourgeois class bureaucrats

and feudalistic knights in those days, this modality, i.e., acupuncture survived and coexisted with

modern reductionistic chemical medicine that excludes and does not require any energetic view of life.

However, on the other hand, this is also true: acupuncture was almost forced into extinction, at least as

a part of mainstream orthodox medicine.

In spite of its miraculous survival in those days, however, as it is mentioned at the beginning of

this paragraph, scientific approaches to the explanation of the action of needling and herbs burning on

acupuncture points still elude scientist for these treatments. The scientific approach seems to reach this

point; e.g., Macdonald’s paper referred to two different kinds of analgesic effects of acupuncture

points via meridian points, a segmental effect and a non-segmental effect (Macdonald, A.J.R., 1998);

these are: analgesia in regions of the body far distant from the site of the needle (non-segmental effect)

and analgesia in the immediate vicinity of the needle (segmental effect) In spite of their nice trial,

modern anatomy or neurophysiology, including classical neurophysiology and molecular

neurophysiology, cannot cover the whole explanation about the linkage between each acupuncture

point or meridian point and the corresponding internal organs as completed by traditional thinkers and

practitioners.

This means that our conventional scientific explanations based on neurophysiology and

neuroendocrinology are still deviated from the explanation of the entire human physiological system

that ancient systems had already done a long time ago.

12
 Therefore, in this study, the investigator tries to validate the traditional system of knowledge by

showing the linkage between acupuncture points that cannot be explained by the conventional

neurophysiology by virtue of electrophysiological measurements with the moxibustion stimulation,

with the aid of the previous study upon which this study is based.

Basically, this study is to replicate a previous study (Motoyama, 1997) to give it more validity and

assurance, therefore, as a matter of course, also the reproducibility of the study. However, in order to

assure its originality, the investigator decided to see the effect of moxibustion on the meridian system

that is not recognized by western medical science as well as the primary task of this research as a

replication study.

Summary

Many schools of thoughts exist, as to the scientific explanation of the action of acupuncture

needling or moxibustion. Some of them seem to have partial validity in terms of the so-called segmental

effect of acupuncture or moxibustion among the scientific or medical community. However, this could

probably be explained by the paracrine secretion of autacoid or local hormones; neurophysiology or

neuroendocrinology can only cover this type of segmental effects. Nevertheless, there still exists an

unknown wilderness of this scientific odyssey; i.e., the skin-organ information pathways. These pathways

are recognized as the meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine or nadhis in the Yogic medical

science from India. However, the current study focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine to see the

interaction between meridian points or acupuncture points and to see their existence as shown in previous

studies primarily done by Motoyama.

13
B) STATEMENT OF PROBLEM (Problems, Hypotheses, Questions)

a) Neurohumoral or pharmacological explanations of the action of acupuncture needling and

moxibustion is unable to explain the linkage between certain acupuncture points, such as Triple

Heater 1 and its associate point Urinary Bladder 22 that exist according to Traditional Chinese

Medicine. Those points are not connected via the peripheral nervous system, much less the

central nervous system. In addition, the humoral explanation does not seem to be promising

since the humoral system utilizes the vascular system, which cannot explain the linkage either.

b) Since Western Medicine is based on dissection upon which anatomy relies, there seems to be no

anatomical or histological structure of the acupuncture meridians. Nevertheless, there are

remarkable numbers of reports that patients feel some sort of flow of energy along the line of

meridians. This structure, the meridians, has no equivalent in the western medical science.

(Mann, 1998)

c) In spite of its paramount significance in terms of biological or physiological meaning,

researches on the linkage between skin and internal organs are not being focused so far. This

way of looking at organ systems or information pathways could be of importance in the

medicine of the future, considering the effect of acupuncture needling or moxibustion on the

alleviation of pain, rejuvenation and revitalization of organs by virtue of enhancement or

reduction of vital force.

d) As mentioned in the early item of this section, many researchers try to explain acupuncture in

terms of neurophysiology. However, many of the actions of acupuncture needling and

moxibustion are long-term effects, affecting the human physiology gradually (Cheng, 1987).

Therefore the way that acupuncture or moxibustion affect physiological systems must be

14
 different from that of the nervous system in several different physiological factors such as

latency, duration and intensity.

e) In a previous study by Motoyama (Motoyama, 1997), upon which the current study is

theoretically and experimentally based, the SSVP [SINGLE SQUARE VOLTAGE PULSE]

method invented by Motoyama enabled us to distinguish between Autonomic Nervous

reactions, such as so-called GSR or EDA, and Meridian System reactions. Therefore, the

investigator attempts to utilize the method to see the reproducibility of the study by replicating

experimental procedures used previously, since there seem to be no follow-up study on this

previous study.

f) The effect of moxibustion is also studied in this process. Therefore this study is not only to show

the existence of the meridian system, but also the effects of moxibustion on the system as well.

It is taken for granted in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the effect of moxibustion is

conveyed to the internal organs by virtue of the vital force via the meridian system. The current

study is expected to show the effect clearly in terms of electrophysiology as well as the

existence of the meridians simultaneously.

g) Although there is a study on the flow of electricity along the so-called meridian system in

Traditional Chinese Medicine, the laterality of the system has not yet been examined (Chen,

1996) The current study will also focus on this aspect of the system physiologically.

15
C) THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Hypotheses, Basic Assumptions

a) There exist informational pathways embedded in the skin besides the nervous, the

endocrine, the immune and the vascular systems, which is called collectively “The Meridian

System” or merely “Meridians” in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

b) Several loci on the surface of the skin are interconnected via the aforementioned meridian

system in order to convey biologically and physiologically important information just as the

Internet network does convey bits of information.

c) The action of acupuncture or moxibustion is propagated through the meridian system,

whose behaviour is different from that of the nervous system.

d) The physiological meaning of the Five Element Theory would be partially clarified in

terms of electrophysiology by measuring several points that belong to different elements of

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. Their relationships, interactions will be evaluated

utilizing statistical methods such as Simple Regression Analysis, t-Test or Chi-Square test.

e) Laterality of the meridian system would also be indicated in terms of electrophysiology.

This would approach the question why we have many symmetrical organ systems in our body

trunk.

16
 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A) RELATED SOURCES

II-1 Evaluation of Studies on Acupuncture Points and Meridians using Radioactive Tracers

There are many studies describing the behavior of radioactive tracers when injected into

acupuncture points so far. Wu, C.C., Chen, M.F. and Lin, C.C. (1994) confirmed that the absorption of

radioactive tracer (Technetium 99) via acupuncture points was better than non-acupuncture points by

showing higher peak activity and greater absorption rate of radioactive Technetium at acupuncture points.

His group then used this technique as a new method for radionuclide venography by subcutaneous

injection of the tracer. Lazorthes, Y. et al. (1990) insisted as a conclusion of his study that the radioactive

path due to the injection of radioisotope from acupuncture meridian actually corresponded to vascular

drainage of the radiotracer. Those authors conducted radiobiological experiments without any

consideration for chemical, electrical and histological properties of the skin for subcutaneous inorganic

compounds injection. Such attitudes could sometime bring one to no substantial conclusions.

Edelberg, R. (1971) introduced several previous works on this issue by saying that although

radioactive tracer thorium-X did not diffuse passively through the stratum conjunct of the skin, the tracer

diffused through the layer only if the tracer was iontophoretically driven. The tracer invaded the

germinating layer to the dermoepidermal boundary and even penetrated the corium though to a lesser

extent. In other words, thorium-X in his study went all the way to the level of dermis by penetration.

He indicated the existence of a second barrier in the region of the dermoepidermal junction, saying

simultaneously that the main barrier was possibly at the basement membrane of the germinating layer or

the basal cell layer itself. He also showed supporting facts that the long-term exposure to thorium-X tracer

17
without iontophoresis for 48 hours, radiation tracks might be found in the germinating layer but not in the

dermis, getting to the conclusion that the dermoepidermal boundary thus appeared to be an effective

barrier against this ion as it was against some inorganic compounds.

Studies on acupuncture point using radioactive tracer must have faced above-mentioned facts.

Since those who studied on acupuncture point or meridian using radioactive tracers did not drive

radiochemical substances iontophoretically to go through the barrier membrane between the epidermis and

the dermis. (Wu, C.C. et al, 1994, Lazorthes, Y. et al., 1990), we should not conclude that the meridian

system does not exist in terms of their experimental methods or their assumptions, which is lack of

consideration for the previously explained dermoepidermal barrier for ion movements. Therefore, it is still

possible that the tracer might have different behaviour when injected beneath the dermis. The studies of

the dermis for the explanation of acupuncture treatment will be discussed later.

In addition, explanations based upon the experiment using Tc-99m do not guarantee the behavior

of bioelectricity in vivo. For instance, Edelberg, R. (1971) was also alarming that experiments with a large

ion molecule such as thorium might not necessarily generalize to the Na and Cl ions, which probably

account for most of the electrical transfer in the skin or other living tissues. Same thing can be said to the

experiments using radioactive Technetium 99. In other words, one truth for Technetium 99 may or may

not be the truth for bio-electrically significant ions that are essential in the electrolytes and for the

conductance of the electricity such as Na, Cl and so forth.

Consequently, we may at least be able to conclude that higher affinity of skin tissues for

radioactive tracers in the area of acupuncture needling, i.e., acupuncture points compared with adjacent

non-acupuncture points. This fact indicates special electromagnetic characteristics of acupuncture points

among the whole surface area of the skin. In addition, this characteristic could probably be seen from the

very surface of the skin to the dermis if we consider the existence of boundary membrane for large ion

18
movements between the epidermis and the dermis. Nevertheless there is no crucial conclusion so far to

determine whether acupuncture meridian exists or not in terms of radioactive tracer studies. Therefore we

can only make partial conclusion so far as mentioned above.

II-2 Evaluation of Electrophysiological properties of skin

Electrophysiological properties of skin surface and underlying tissues are also well studied as well

as radioactive tracer studies by many researchers, ranging from electrical engineering to

psychophysiology. (Tregear, R.T., 1966b) In this section, the author will explain briefly about the

electrophysiological properties of skin from the surface to the deeper layer of the skin.

II-2-a) Current pathways in the skin

Reichmanis et al. (1976) showed that local DC skin conductance variations in the vicinity of

acupuncture loci was found to differ significantly from that of anatomically similar control areas and also

found that many acupuncture loci were distinct local conductance maxima, thus those loci had an

objective existence in terms of electricity.

In the study, they used the Triple Heater (or Burner) and Lung meridians. There is another study

by the same group (Becker et al, 1976) using Large Intestine and Pericardium meridians, showing

statistically significant conductance maxima at acupuncture points when compared with non-acupuncture

points. They were convinced that a discrete structure with highly specific electrical properties existed,

superficially located at or near to the center of the field plot and coinciding with the classical acupuncture

points by the analysis of the plots of equi-conductance lines around the valid points of acupuncture

meridians.

19
 Meanwhile, Hyvarinen and Karlsson (1977) found similar electric characteristics at the surface of

the skin. They investigated hands, face and ears in five subjects and noticed low-resistance skin points

were repeatedly found in particular area, which accidentally coincided with classical acupuncture points.

Even though the index that Hyvarinen and Karlsson used and that of Reichmanis or Becker’s group are

different, because one is resistance and the other is conductance, both are mathematically interchangeable

if only we treat those values carefully considering that sometime one can get different number just by

taking the reciprocal of one of each. This issue is discussed in Hassett (1978). However, skin resistance

and conductance in reality can be treated as almost equal.

Aside from the study of the surface layer of the skin, Edelberg, R. (1971) introduced an experiment

of non-radioactive substance propagation after the statement “At a certain point the subject reports the first

sensation of mild pain and as the pipette (microelectrode) is pushed slightly further the resistance suddenly

falls essentially to the magnitude of the electrode resistance alone.” and suggested the sudden fall might

have occurred at the level of the epidermis or dermoepidermal boundary.

He said, “the corium is relatively rich in intercellular spaces through which ions may pass freely.

Its ready permeability to ions has been observed by Papa and Kligman who found that the cationic dye,

ethylene blue, when driven into the sweat gland by strong electrical currents, migrates down the duct to

the level of the corium whence it passes laterally. Its diffusion through the connective tissue is so rapid

that its coloration can barely be seen in the neighborhood of the duct. Once the ionic current has reached

the corium, one may regard it essentially as being inside the body. Free passage through this volume

conductor means that most of the potential drop in the current path occurs in the layers above the corium.”

Again he showed the barrier function of the basal membrane between the epidermis and the dermis as well

as putative horizontal electric current pathway at the level of the dermis. It should be emphasized that the

current sources in any life form are ions and ion movement.

20
 As Edelberg, R. (1971) and Tregear, R.T. (1966b) both mentions respectively “conduction of

electricity is a parallel process to the penetration of ions: it is a measure of the ease of movement of

endogenous ions through the least conductive layer.” (By Edelberg) and “the electrical conductivity of any

structure is directly related to its ionic permeability.” (By Tregear) In the studies of molecular movement

in the skin, Tregear, R.T. (1966a) showed impermeability of the epidermis to diffusion of water

mentioning the increment of the permeability of the skin after stripping the surface with adhesive tape.

This was observed also for ions by reference from impedance.

All those studies strongly suggest poor conductivity of electricity in the epidermis as electric

current pathway compared with deeper layers and that there is current pathway due to the ion movement

within the dermis, which is electrochemically divided by the basal membrane from the epidermis.

(Edelberg, R., 1971, Tregear, R.T., 1966a and 1966b, Reichmanis, M et al, 1976, Becker, R.O. et al, 1976)

In spite of above mentioned poor electrical conductivity in the epidermis, only acupuncture loci showed

local conductance maxima compared with adjacent area of the skin surface.

These studies indicate the existence of vertical structure whose electric conductance is higher than

adjacent area, which is also connected to the deeper horizontal electric current pathway in the level of

dermis. In other words, conclusions from those studies well coincide with clinical and empirical

description on acupuncture points and the meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

II-2-b) Current Measurement in the Skin

There is an intriguing behavior of electric current in electric measurements through the skin. Skin

tissue will respond to the electrical stimuli showing both AC and DC properties. Tregear showed the

current that flows immediately after the application of a Square Wave voltage is a form of charging

current and is related to the AC properties of the tissue. When a small electromotive force is applied

21
across skin, current initially passes very rapidly and then slows down over a period of 0.01-0.1 sec to

reach a quasi-steady value (Tregear, R.T., 1966b). The exponential decay of current shown here seems to

consist of two different factors coinciding with the study by Tiller (1987). He concluded through both

theoretical and experimental studies that skin exhibited such features to allow a low frequency and a high

frequency current.

In other words, the initial current right after the square voltage application is a sort of AC current

with very high frequencies; meanwhile the current at quasi steady state is low frequency or DC current.

His analysis went on and he proposed a new model of RC circuit to explain these high and low frequency

properties of skin tissues. According to his model, there is one RC circuit near the surface of the skin, and

the other RC components lie at the basal membrane.

All these description above coincide with the studies of Motoyama (1984 and 1997). He observed

the same phenomenon, as did Tregear (1966b). In other words, Motoyama also confirmed the existence of

two components in current after voltage application.

However, the difference between Motoyama and Tregear is that Motoyama discovered a Yin-Yang

relationship of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the initial current right after the application of a 3V

rectangular square wave, when the voltage was applied at acupuncture points at fingertip and foot. This

notion might have some novelty in the scientific community; therefore a brief explanation should be

presented here. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each organ has its peculiar meridian and its energy

pathway. Each organ belongs to different polarity attribution, Yin or Yang. Thus there is Yin organs and

Yang organs as such. Whenever Motoyama applied a 3V rectangular square voltage to the acupuncture

points, well points in particular, the current responses obtained were always higher from the points

belonging to Yin organs than those from their corresponding Yang organ.

22
 He attributed two components of current reaction to the polarization at the basal membrane

between the epidermis and the dermis by conducting adhesive tape stripping experiment. He observed that

even after stripping the skin surface with adhesive tape until bleeding, initial current did not change at all.

This means the initial high frequency current is flowing within the dermis for the bleeding due to

capillaries woven in the depth of dermis. Now he called the initial current BP (Before Polarization

current), meanwhile quasi steady low frequency current AP (After Polarization current), distinguishing

both completely. This discovery brought him into the invention of medical diagnostic device called AMI

(Apparatus for Meridian Identification).

According to Kenyon, J. (1994), there are many medical diagnostic devices using acupuncture

point, but only Motoyama`s apparatus makes use of the initial current before polarization and the rest of

the devices are based on the current reaction after polarization. This is interesting, since according to

Motoyama (1997) only before polarization current shows Yin-Yang relationships that are well described

in Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, after polarization quasi-steady current did not show this

tendency. The initial Before Polarization current obtained from a Yin meridian point is always bigger than

that from the paired Yang meridian point among medically and actually healthy people. For instance, the

before polarization current measured at Lung meridian point is bigger than that from Large Intestine

meridian. This pattern was also seen between Spleen and Stomach, Heart and Small Intestine, Kidney and

Urinary Bladder and so forth. Therefore, this initial current flow can be regarded as actual index of energy

flow in acupuncture meridian.

Chen, K.G. (1996) explained that less polarization occurred along meridians; the effect of this

property was that meridians had a smaller dielectric constant than adjacent tissues. The author continued

that this made acupuncture meridian to allow electromagnetic wave movement faster than through non

meridian tissue. Electromagnetic wave propagation will be discussed in the following section.

23
II-2-c) Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in the Skin

Grigorescu, C.E.A. et al. (1996) mentioned thermography studies in China and said that a higher

value of the local temperature along acupuncture points and meridians during the application of

acupuncture therapy was a consequence of the existence of acupuncture meridians. He also reported the

application of thermography to the investigation of acupuncture meridians that qualitative infrared

radiation detection was performed along the pericardium meridian and the small intestine meridian.

Infrared propagation was observed along the meridians.

A Chinese group seems to be actually eager for using thermography technology for objective,

scientific evaluation of the effect of acupuncture needling onto expected skin areas corresponding to

treatment of each disease or symptom. However, their studies are based on the assumption that Qi energy

does exist without any doubt. Nevertheless, the results showed that the body temperature of the subjects

was statistically changed after acupuncture needling, indicating skin organ interaction pathways. (Zhang

D. et al., 1990 and 1991)

Meanwhile, Choi, C. et al. (year) showed that visible light propagation was observed along

meridians. In this case, this phenomenon was significantly observed when the light was projected onto

acupuncture loci rather than non-acupuncture points. All the above-mentioned studies and the discussion

of the last section suggest the existence of electromagnetic propagation pathways along acupuncture

meridians in the skin, affecting the body in a thermal or non-thermal manner.

II-3) Electrochemical or Histochemical Considerations of Acupuncture Points

The easiest fact that scientists and practitioners of Western Medicine would probably accept about

the acupuncture system is that acupuncture points seem to have different electrical characteristics than the

rest of the skin as we saw before. Now, a question arises: how can this feature be possible?

24
 In this section, morphological or histochemical studies focusing upon electrochemical properties of

the tissues of the skin will be reviewed with an attempt to answer this question. Actually, not so many

papers are talking about this issue. However, the studies of Lun, F. et al. (1998) are quite intriguing and

seem to be of value in the scientific elucidation of acupuncture meridians in terms of physical or

biological sciences. What they found was that elements of Ca, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, etc are found

concentrated in deep connective tissue structures in locations corresponding to acupuncture points. They

insisted on that physical basis that the specific waveband of high efficiency for transmission of infrared

rays exists in the collagenous fibre in a liquid crystal state from their previous study. Then, they suggested

the possibility of the existence of microstructure of super lattice that produces the effect of photon soliton

and spontaneous radiation, indicating the possible existence in human bodies of a biophotonic system,

which plays a very important role in the physiological activities such as propagation of energy and

transportation of bioinformational message.

III-1 Electromagnetic Wave Propagation along Meridians and High Frequency Currents

Acupuncture loci and underlying tissues until the level of the dermoepidermal boundary

membrane, and subsequent the electric current network that constitutes acupuncture points and the area of

acupuncture meridians within collagen fibres of the dermis of the skin seems to have different properties

from anatomically similar adjacent areas of tissues in the following aspects.

1) Affinity, Permeability for Radioactive substances

2) Specificities in Electromagnetic Wave Propagation (EMWP)

3) Structure and Function in Biophysical Chemistry or Histochemistry

25
III-2 Summaries of Previous Items

III-2-1 Studies on Acupuncture Point and Meridians using Radioactive Tracers

Acupuncture points on the surface of the skin have higher affinity for radioactive tracers compared

with adjacent non-acupuncture points in the vicinity, indicating that special high energy electromagnetic

characteristics of those examined acupuncture points among the whole surface area of the skin. And this

characteristic could probably be seen from the very surface of the skin to the dermis if we consider the

existence of boundary membrane for large ion movements just as radioactive tracers between the

epidermis and the dermis in terms of bioelectricity.

III-2-2 Electrodermal studies at Acupuncture points and Current flow measurement

Acupuncture points on the surface of the skin were; 1) Local conductance maxima, and 2) Low-

resistance skin points, in terms of electrophysiology. Both are mathematically interchangeable because

they are reciprocal to the other number only if carefully considering the possibility of getting unexpected

result through taking the reciprocal of other number as discussed by Hassett (1978).

From dermatological experiment, it is indicated:

1) Sudden fall of electric resistance to the magnitude of the electrode resistance alone after the

injection of the pipette electrode seemed to have occurred at the level of the epidermis or

dermoepidermal boundary.

2) An experiment of dye injection onto skin showed the existence of lateral pathway of the dye

below dermoepidermal boundary and the flow of the dye was too rapid to see its coloration. The

connective tissue of the dermis down below the dermoepidermal boundary is rich in intercellular

spaces through which ions and water molecules may pass freely.

26
3) The connective tissue of the dermis could be regarded as ionic pathway of the human skin as

suggested by Edelberg (1971), considering the fact that electrical conductivity of any structure in

living body is directly related to its ionic permeability. In other words, if there were big current

flow through human skin, it would probably be flowing through intercellular spaces of the dermis

below the dermoepidermal boundary. In addition, Tregear (1966a) showed clearly the

impermeability of the epidermis to diffusion of water through skin stripping experiments with

adhesive tape. This result had consistency with the result for ions from impedance measurement.

4) The existence of exponentially decaying current after the application of square wave voltage

onto the skin is experimentally shown, and concluded that the huge current that flows right

immediately after the application of the voltage is a form of charging current and is related to the

AC properties of the tissue (Tregear, 1966b). According to Tiller (1987) this exponential decay of

current consists of two different factors. Motoyama (1994) prudentially analyzed and concluded

the first huge current with very high frequency obtained from classical acupuncture points actually

reflects visceral conditions from internal organs corresponding with those acupuncture points used

for measurements. Motoyama (1997) continued his research and ended up with the invention of the

device that can actually measure visceral conditions through the electro physiological

measurements at acupuncture points of fingertips or toes, regarding the first high frequency current

right after the application of single square voltage as actual Ki or Chi energy index described in

Traditional Chinese Medicine upon the ground those current showed Yin-Yang relationship in the

system of ancient Chinese medical science.

27
III-2-3 Structure and Function in Biophysical Chemistry or Histochemistry

Elements of Ca, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, etc are found concentrated in deep connective tissue in locations

of acupuncture points, forming the physical basis for specific waveband of high efficiency transmission of

infrared rays in the collagen fibers in a liquid crystal state. If so, it might exist that microstructure of super

lattice that produces the effect of photon soliton and spontaneous radiation in human skin as a biophotonic

system, which plays an important role for physiological activities such as propagation of energy and

transportation of bio-information

28
Summary

Studies on acupuncture and meridians have been being performed in various areas such as

electronic engineering, psychophysiology, radiology and histochemistry. Those studies are mainly focused

on the verification of the biophysical properties of acupuncture points. (Zhang, 1999; Chen et al, 1993;

Wu et al, 1994, Lun et al, 1998; Reichmanis et al, 1976; Reichmanis et al, 1978; Becker et al, 1976,

Hyvarinen and Karlsson, 1977) and have actually indicated specific electrical properties of acupuncture

points

Several different attempts were made by virtue of radiology with an intention to prove the

existence of the meridian system as a line, not as a consequence of the summation of those points,

however, one seems to be successful (De Vernejoul et al, 1985), the other contradicts the previous study

(Lazorthes et al, 1990) Other means such as thermography seems to be valid as a methodology for the

purpose of this attempt (Grigorescu et al, 1996). In fact, this method allowed us to see the flow of heat

visually and clearly. As to electrophysiology, there are interesting results that actually can show the

features of acupuncture meridians as described by Traditional Chinese Medicine (Lu, 1999; Chen, 1996).

Given that the existence of the meridian system is partially proven, we still have no idea how we

can explain the very basic questions in acupuncture medicine. That is, how our internal organs are

corresponding to the surface’s high conductivity loci? How different points are connected to each other?

In fact, few studies actually focused on the direct linkage between the internal organ system and the

integument system, and some of them are actually successful in explaining the missing linkage

(Comunetti, 1995; Rosenblatt, 1982). However, how two different acupuncture points are connected via

putative energy pathways so-called the meridian system still remains an open question for the

conventional scientific community.

29
 Meanwhile, most contemporary medical studies were focused on the neurophysiological

explanation of the meridian system or otherwise the neuroendocrinological way of looking at the system

(for instance, Shen, 2001 and many others). Now, direct visualization of the effect of acupuncture on the

area of the brain associated with vision by fMRI is about to oblige us to believe neurophysiologists’

central dogma, that is, mental and/or healing, and other unknown processes could be probably explained

by neuroscience.

During this process, Motoyama has invented a device called the AMI, an outstanding apparatus of

its own (Kenyon, 1994), which utilizes voltage-induced currents flowing all the way through the level of

the dermis (Motoyama, 1986; Motoyama et al, 1984). This device seems to be promising in answering the

proposed questions about a possible connection between specific skin points and specific internal organs

(Tiller, 1987). In fact, Motoyama has already shown a correlation between biomarkers of Western

Medicine and indices from the AMI for patients with liver diseases. In addition, Motoyama has already

revealed the existence of the San Jiao (Triple Heater or TH) meridian using the device. This meridian or

the notion of the San Jiao as an organ in Traditional Chinese Medicine is not by any mean recognized by

Western Medicine.

Recently, the effects of moxibustion were shown by using a different method (Motoyama, 1999).

However, there is no replication of the previous study nor is there any combination of validation studies

on the meridians and the effects of moxibustion. In addition, analyses of the laterality of the meridian

system, as well as of the five-element theory are of paramount interest for our contemporaries.

Therefore, the investigator has designed a research that can study all of those above-mentioned

aspects of acupuncture research.

30
 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

A) RESTATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

There are studies on the biophysical properties of acupuncture points such as high conductance, low

impedance and high capacitance compared with adjacent skin surface area. Those studies thus showed

prima facie evidence that those points have specific electrophysiological properties. Meanwhile, studies

on the flow of electricity or electromagnetic waves along the line of the meridians were performed and

their results were in success. However, little attention has paid to the peculiar linkage between those

specific skin areas and corresponding internal organ function. In addition, very little attention has paid to

the connection between an acupuncture point and the other via the meridian system without having to get

the Nervous system involved. Current study attempts to verify the connection by utilizing

electrophysiological measurement device on the acupuncture points, the AMI.

B) RESTATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES

1) As acupuncture points have specific electro or biophysical properties and the flow of

electricity along the line of so-called the meridian system in Traditional Chinese

Medicine, two different acupuncture points in a distance should connected via the

meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

2) Thus, the existence of the meridian system in Traditional Chinese Medicine will be

reassured by current study in terms of indices from an electrophysiological device that

utilizes current response from acupuncture points after the application of square pulse

voltage.

31
3) Since the device gives different indices corresponding to different current one of which

is equivalent to GSR reaction, differentiation of current responses will also enable us to

see the difference between the nervous reaction and what we call meridian reaction.

4) Judging from previous studies, BP value will increase during the experiment, AP value

will first decrease then increase due to the experimental intervention. Those changes will

be statistically significant in terms of T-test following simple regression analysis

(P<0.05)

5) The effect of moxibustion that is supposed to be conveyed via the aforementioned

meridian system will also be verified by the same manner.

6) Differentiation of the nervous system and the meridian system utilizing acupuncture

point that belong to different Dermatome and Five Element in TCM, physiological

meaning of each element will also be, at least partially, revealed by this study.

7) Since Bilateral structure of the meridian, Triple Heater meridian in particular, is utilized

by the current study, laterality of the meridian system will also be revealed, at least to

some extent. The primary aim of this particular investigation is to see the difference

between response from the left side of the meridian point and that from the right side of

the meridian point.

32
 C) SUBJECTS ISSUES

Seventeen (17) healthy subjects were recruited for the purpose of this study. Subject resources varied,

from friends and acquaintance; to whosoever is interested in this study gathered by advertisement or other

advertisement means. The means of advertisement also varied such as paper flyers, Internet advertisement

utilizing e-mails and so forth. Exclusion criteria were that they should not have life threatening severe

chronic diseases, they should have healthy extremities since they were examined in the current study to

see the meridian function, they also should have enough motivation and stamina to stay 2hour 30 minutes

in the Biofeedback and Electrophysiology Lab in the research site.

Prior to their participation, informed consent was taken from subjects. The form told them possible

side effects of the study as well as the benefits. In return for their participation, free medical diagnosis

from a local M.D. were guaranteed to them according to the investigator’s personal contract with the

medical doctor.

The doctor’s procedures do not merely include conventional diagnosis, but also includes a consultation

on supplement and vitamins as well. The entire diagnosis/consultation fee has a value of almost $100, but

is free for subjects.

The investigator paid attention to the medical condition of subjects, acting on medical ethics widely

adopted by any medical research institutes or clinical pharmaceutical trials.

As such, confidentiality of personal information, privacy issues and any other things related to subjects’

human rights were seriously taken into consideration.

The author is certified Biofeedback therapist and clinical volunteer at a certain major hospital in local

community, already having gone through bioethics course including medical ethics in both undergraduate

and master’s program.

33
 D) EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL

Research Site

The research site was what we call “The AMI Lab”, Electrophysiology & Biofeedback Laboratory

at California Institute for Human Science, 701 Garden View Court, Encinitas, CA 92024. The site had a

partition so that people outside of the room could not see inside through windows. The place was kept

clean and silent; in fact, the investigator gave caution to passengers to be quiet whenever coming through

the corridor nearby.

Devices

An Apparatus for Meridian Identification (AMI) belonging to the California Institute for Human

Science were used. There are 2 types of AMIs; one is called the “Continuous” device and the other the

“Snapshot” device. The investigator used both devices. The investigator used the Snapshot AMI for 28

well point’s measurements prior to and right after the experiment, the Continuous for the actual

experiment using moxibustion. However, the investigator in principle used the continuous AMI device for

the current study. Time frame of the experiment and points for measurement will be described in a later

section.

The AMI device utilizes current response from a specific skin area, the so-called acupuncture point.

Application of a 3V square voltage pulse will allow one to see internal organ conditions that are

corresponding to each peculiar acupuncture point. Each point utilized by the device either belongs to

fingers or toes. For instance, the AMI is principally designed to detect the response from Lung, Large

Intestine, Pericardium (It is called Heart Constrictor for the device), Diaphragm, Triple Heater (San Jiao in

Chinese), Heart and Small Intestine meridian acupuncture points on fingers. Likewise, Spleen, Liver,

Stomach, Stomach Branch (Supposedly corresponding with pyloric sphincter portion of the stomach,

34
therefore upper part of duodenum and so forth), Gall Bladder, Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridian

acupuncture points. Data obtained are expressed in Ampere and Coulomb respectively.

In the continuous AMI set-up, one can choose measurement points and display data from those points

on a computer screen at disposal as opposed to the snapshot AMI software. In other words, one can

choose measurement points arbitrarily, and display the results with the names of measurement locations at

operator’s will. Meanwhile, in the snapshot AMI software, sequence of data acquisition is already

determined, e.g., it begins from Lung meridian well points on thumbs and ends with Urinary Bladder

meridian well points on toes. The investigator used the continuous measurement set-up for the actual

experiment, i.e., the effect of moxibustion on the physiological system in terms of Traditional Chinese

Medicine and the existence of the acupuncture meridian system. As it has been already stated, the

continuous set-up will allow the investigator to choose the measurement loci, name and display them on a

computer screen at his disposal. Therefore the set-up was used for 5 chosen acupuncture and non-

acupuncture skin points. The snapshot AMI set-up, for the same reason, was utilized to see the whole

body physiological constitution and changes, interactions between each meridian function, how one

stimulus would change the overall physiology in terms of TCM and so forth.

Devices Mechanisms and Electrophysiology of the Skin

The devices have capability of 3V pulse generation. The snap-shot AMI device send the pulse through

a pencil type stick with an electrode head, called a “stylus” to the silver electrode that is attached to the

designated acupuncture point on each finger or toe for each measurement. Two inactive electrodes are

attached to both wrists. The idea is to give electric potential to the acupuncture point connected to each

internal organ, and see the current response. Therefore, the result of each measurement is expressed in

Ampere in terms of electrophysiology. In addition, the device also has capability of computing electric

35
charge accumulation. Based upon the current response, accumulated charge will be mathematically

calculated utilizing integral calculus. The area that the initial current and the steady current make above

zero is the indication of this electric charge. In other words, the area that the level of steady current and

the level of zero will be subtracted from the entire area. Since this value is utilized for the immune system

evaluation, and is important, the device will show the data to operators as well as two major parameters,

that is, BP value and AP value. Explanation will be provided as to values in the following paragraphs.

As you can see in Figure 1, the entire integument system is shown as photograph. The skin can be

divided into two major components, the epidermis and the dermis. The structure that divides those two

regions of the skin is called the basal membrane. The membrane can be seen with the light microscope. As

one applies 3V rectangular square pulse to anywhere on the skin, the first phenomenon that happens is a

current generation and it flows to the level of the dermis. This will give observer a big current even

beyond the capability of the internal processor in the AMI machine; computation error will occur.

Therefore in the latest AMI device, initial 2 data points are omitted from the reading. This will be

explained later.

Once the current flows in the level of dermis, reverse polarization potential will occur in the

direction against the coming current into dermis. This polarization occurs at the basal membrane, thus

creating a sort of electrical barrier at the membrane. The current no longer flows into dermis; it only flows

within the epidermal area. This current flow right after polarization is therefore called after polarization

current, AP.

A comprehensive picture is drawn in Figure 2. Each data point is a current occurring during 1µ

sec. 1024 data points are obtained and the average of the last 64 points is utilized for the determination of

the AP value. First 3 data points after the initial 2 omitted points are utilized to calculate the average. This

value is called the BP value.

36
Subjects

Subjects lay down on the mattress from the CIHS Biophoton Lab in a prone position. Low back

was exposed to the investigator so that he could put experimental stimulus on the back of subject. In

addition, one electrode was placed on one dermatome segment that covered the location of stimulation in

terms of the dermatome. This will be explained later.

The investigator touched the low back including the area of iliac crest, including hip and waist.

Gender issues were carefully taken into consideration. For instance, if a subject was a woman, the

investigator asked her to expose her low back area as well as some of back area at the level of bra,

however, the investigator also explained that was the necessary process and would not go any further.

Since this was a very sensitive area, the investigator paid the best attention to subjects’ feelings. Even after

having informed consent, if necessary, the investigator were planning to stop the entire experiment if the

subject would feel uncomfortable in a process of stimulating points (acupuncture points on the back) by

being touched those areas. However, these conditions did not occur during the entire experiment project.

Stimulus

Commercially obtained moxibustion for daily use by layperson were utilized. (Sennen-kyu) This

moxibustion were obtained at a local Japanese market in San Diego area. The size, quality and elapsed

time of burning are well controlled in factories, thus homogenous among all the moxibustion units;

average temperature for burning would be at most 100F degree, it was designed to last burning for

approximately 5 minutes. At the first 1 minute and 30 seconds, the temperature probe would not show any

changes; right after this point, the temperature went up to the 100F degree. That was 3 to 4 minutes after

the lighting.

37
Pilot Study

In this previous pilot study done by this investigator, it was known that each moxibustion unit is

very homogenous and trustworthy. This measurement was done at least 3 times. An Example of a

temperature curve from that pilot study is presented in figure 3. Since each result of the temperature

measurement was consistent with others, each moxibustion was expected to give the same intensity of

stimulation on each subject. This allowed us to control the intensity of stimulation by adding or reducing

the number of each moxibustion unit. (See Figure 3)

For the present study,, the investigator decided to leave the burning moxibustion unit for almost 5

minutes; however, by the time it reaches 4 minutes 30 seconds or so, the investigator removed the 1st

moxa unit and replaced it with the 2nd unit on the supposition the moxa would not have any further effect

on the body physiology judging from the pilot study. The 1st moxa will be being burnt during E1 phase of

the experiment, the 2nd during E2 phase of the experiment. (For detail info, Table 2, Research Design in

the next section) Points for measurements and Stimulation are described and summarized in the following

table. At the first column, S means Stimulation and M, Measurement. (See also Table2)

38
Stimulation Locus & Measurement Loci

All the loci for stimulation and measurements are presented in Table 1.

1) Stimulation Locus

Urinary bladder meridian point number 22 (UB22) of the right side was utilized for the location of

burning moxibustion stimulation. The investigator utilized the point only on the right side of the back of

subjects. The reason was if we were able to show the connection between the point and corresponding

distal acupuncture points, which had no anatomical or neurological connections in-between, we could say

some phenomena must have been occurring between two locations. Thus, we didn’t have to utilize both

left and right sides of the points from this viewpoint.

The points (UB22) are located on the both side of the spine, one quarter of the width of scapula from

the spine. They are located on the level of in-between Lumbar 1 and 2 of the vertebrae. This region also

belongs to Thoracic 9 in terms of Dermatome in Western Medicine. However, the author utilized

Traditional Chinese Measurement System. According to the system, each person has different TCM inch

equivalent called “cun”, and the points are supposed to be located 1.5 cun away from the middle of

Lumber 1 and Lumber 2. These areas consistently turned out to be high conductivity areas according to

commercially obtained acupuncture point locator.

2) Measurement Loci

Well points of the Triple Heater Meridian (TH1) on both sides of the hands were utilized as the

primary measurement points. In Table 2, the point is named as SJ, indicating San Jiao Meridian in Chinese

nomenclature. The reason for the usage of this point was to show the existence of the meridian clearly,

since the meridian was not recognized by western medicine.

39
 The usage of this point was also exploited to show the effect of moxibustion through the paths. In

other words, if we could show the clear linkage between Triple Heater meridian well points and Back-shu

associated point along Urinary bladder meridian, both of which are not anatomically and neurologically

connected, we could say there are more than a neurological connection between the two skin points such

as the ones described in terms of dermatomes.

Likewise, the Large Intestine Meridian point LI1, Pericardium Meridian point PC9, were used;

since Pericardium is a pair organ of Triple Heater meridian; if there was such a sophisticated mechanism

that processes so-called bioenergy or vital force as is described in Traditional Chinese Medicine so that

the reaction could probably be appeared at a pair organ well point as well.

On the contrary, Large Intestine meridian has no relationship with Triple Heater, thus a

combination of using Pericardium and Large Intestine would allow us to see the comparison between data

obtained from a paired organ acupuncture point and that from non-related point.

Each measurement point was carefully chosen; one point that is supposed to have meridian

connection with stimulation point (TH: UB
TH), the other that belongs to a pair organ meridian of the

point (PC: TH=PC) that is supposed to show reaction, another that has no relation to the expected reaction

point (TH>=<LI).

Besides, each point belongs to different dermatomes, hence it would be intriguing to see how

stimulated acupuncture point is connected or not connected with measured points in terms of

electrophysiology. In other words, point selection was performed according to the meridian and

dermatome condition of each measured point.

That way, we could show the difference of reaction via meridian information pathway and via

neural efferent information pathway when stimulation was applied to a point with a certain meridian

attribution and dermatome innervation.

40
 In addition, a non-acupuncture point located between the area of UB22 point and UB 51 were

used, since this location belongs to the same dermatome segment as UB 22 acupuncture points. If there

was any reaction due to the Autonomic Nervous System, this point should react as such.

Data interpretation will be discussed in the following section. UB 22 means Urinary bladder

meridian acupuncture point #22, LI1 means Large Intestine acupuncture point #1, PC9 means Pericardium

meridian acupuncture point #9, SJ1 means San Jiao meridian acupuncture point #1.

Since BP value of the AMI device was considered to be an index for Chi energy in terms of

Traditional Chinese Medicine with capability of showing Yin-Yang relationship from acupuncture points

that belong to paired organs (See Table 3 and related literatures from chapter 2) this value was carefully

examined statistically for the observation of the meridian reaction. Likewise, since AP value is equivalent

to a so-called Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), or electrodermal activity (EDA), this value was utilized for

the evaluation of Autonomic Nervous function. However, this research design did not necessarily restrict

the possibility of examining an immune function index, IQ value in the AMI device. In that case, BP value

and AP & IQ would be examined statistically to see the relationship of each other. Nevertheless, the

investigator did not utilize this value for he got data enough to perform necessary analyses.

41
 E) DATA ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS

As described in the previous section, stimuli were administered on the UB22 point on the right side.

Likewise, data acquisition occurred at several different points indicated in Table 1.

Basic Research Design

Basic Research Design especially designed for the following analysis is shown in Table 2. At first

subjects were asked to lie down on a massage mattress in the CIHS Lab. This was done in a prone

position. On having subjects lie down on the location, he or she was asked to stay still for the first 25

minutes. This phase is called “Stabilization phase” in the Table. During this process, the continuous AMI

reading also occurred. Five points that consist of non-acupuncture point and acupuncture points such as

Large Intestine 1, Pericardium 9, … and San Jiao 1 of the both were utilized for this measurement.

Then, the subjects were asked to keep the same position for another 20 minutes. However the

difference of this period that consists of 4 phases from the previous phase is that this period has the

experimental phases. Each phase is called “C1”, “C2”, “E1” and “E2”, each of which means, “Control

phase 1”, “Control phase 2”, “Experimental phase 1” and “Experimental phase 2” respectively. (Table 2)

During E1 and E2, stimuli were applied to the subject. The stimulus is what we call

“Moxibustion”, Traditional Chinese Herb Treatment remedy that is supposed to be burnt for its usage. The

investigator paid prudential attention to skin burn, feeling of the subjects as well as fire issues legally

regulated by the State of California.

Statistical Analysis

As described in Table 2, the difference between C1 and C2, C2 and E1, C2 and E2 were

respectively named as BASELINE, PRIMARY and SECONDARY to see the effect of experimental

42
intervention statistically clear manner. (Table 3) BASELINE group consists of 2 control phases, Control 1

and Control 2 (i.e., C1-C2); likewise, PRIMARY group was Control 2 and Experimental phase 1 (i.e., C2-

E1), SECONDARY group had Experimental phase 1 and experimental phase 2 (i.e., E1-E2).

In any statistical analysis, BP value or AP value from the AMI machine as to each measured point

was utilized as variables, such as data from non-acupuncture point, Large Intestine meridian well point,

Heart Constrictor meridian well point, and Triple Heater meridian well points.

I Categorization of the data

1. BASELINE C1-C2

2. PRIMARY C2-E1

3. SECONDARY C2-E2

As described in Table 2, the difference between C1 and C2, C2 and E1, C2 and E2 were respectively

named as BASELINE, PRIMARY and SECONDARY to see the effect of experimental intervention

statistically clear manner. BASELINE group consists of 2 control phases, Control 1 and Control 2 (i.e.,

C1-C2); likewise, PRIMARY group was Control 2 and Experimental phase 1 (i.e., C2-E1),

SECONDARY group had Experimental phase 1 and experimental phase 2 (i.e., E1-E2).

Right after stabilization phase, subjects were going through BASELINE measurements. By

definition, Baseline phase took 10 minutes, the ground being in the experimental design described in the

Chapter 3. Therefore all the changes here were occurrence within 10 minutes after the onset of the

continuous measurements. Likewise, other category such as PRIMARY and SECONDARY follow the

same principle.

Upon the basis on the aforementioned research design, statistical analysis will be performed

utilizing commercially obtained computer software such as “Microsoft Excel” and “Statistica”. Basically,

43
Regression analysis, t-Test, and factor analysis from one of those multi regression analyses were utilized

in this process. Although the investigator was planning to utilize Chi-square test in the dissertation

proposal, there was no necessity of utilizing the calculation procedure; instead of using that, the

investigator used factor analysis to see the contribution of each meridian to the overall BP value

determination.

II. Overall Analysis Design

1. Test for independency of variables

Prior to any calculation, calculate C2-C1 and see how those two phases are related. Given

that the changes in C2 phase cannot be explained by that in C1 in terms of simple regression

analysis, we can deal with 2 phases as different variables. Then, we have to see the difference

between those two, confirm that there is no significant difference.

Do the same calculation for E1-C2 or E2-C2. Now given that changes in E1 or E2 phase

cannot be explained by C2 phase in terms of simple regression analysis, then we can deal with

both Control and Experimental phase as independent variables, which would allow us to go to the

next examination. Since changes of data in Control phase should be the occurrence of the nature

and that in Experimental phase should be due to the experimental manipulation, both phases have

to be independently explained statistically. In other words, if changes of data in Experimental

phase were somehow explained by the changes in Control phase, the change would not be due to

the experimental manipulation on subjects. Since it is already known that the changes in BP are

gradual process (Motoyama, 1999), BP was expected to show dependence in terms of simple

regression analysis. Meanwhile, AP was expected to show difference from the behaviour of BP. In

this case, AP was expected to show independence in terms of simple regression analysis.

44
2. Significance Test (t-Test)

Once independence of each phase was confirmed, the investigator was able to go into the

next analysis, which is what we call “t-test”. This is to see that there is statistically significant

difference between Control phase and Experimental phase, which will explain that the

manipulation on subjects cause changes in parameters being measured.

In current study, the differences between E1 and C2 and E2 and C2 had to be observed.

However, we can’t be assured unless we see the probability as to the statistical significance.

Therefore, probability on each significant data was carefully examined. BP was expected to

increase during Primary phase, however, it was also expected to increase slightly during Baseline

phase as well according to one of previous studies on BP and AP (Motoyama, 1999).

AP on the other hand, was primarily expected to increase during Primary phase on the ground

there must be an autonomic nervous reaction due to the heat stimulation on the acupuncture point.

In any cases, one-tail T-test was utilized since the tendency in changes of BP and AP were

clear to the investigator.

3. Chi-square test

Having t-test done, Chi-square test was to be performed based upon categorization of

parameters examined. For instance, BP value of the AMI device is measured from a subject during

C1, C2, E1 and E2 phases. Let’s say we observe statistical significance between E1 and C2 on a

particular acupuncture point. Now we would categorize this result into several groups such as

“Significant” and “Non-Significant”. Chi-square test is the best analytical method for such nominal

data analysis. In any cases, quantitative analysis and categorization of them into nominal data

should always be performed prior to this process. In spite of description about this test, the

45
 investigator should mention that he did not utilize this test in actual analyses. Nevertheless, the

investigator felt the necessity of describing the situation acting on scholars’ conscience per se.

III. Analysis and Physiological Meaning

1. Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.

a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.A.

b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian

2. A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

3. A Study on Laterality in the Meridian System

1. Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.

a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.A.

Changes in AP value at non-acupuncture point that belongs to Thoracic 9

Dermatome segment before and after the moxibustion were especially analyzed with the

aim of showing the evidence that the AP value is an actual index for the Autonomic

Nervous System as described before.

Since stimulation was administered on right UB22 acupuncture point on the back

and this non-acupuncture point belongs to the same Dermatome segment as this

acupuncture point, the effect of mild heat due to moxibustion on the segment was expected

to be observed from a point that belongs to this segment.

46
 b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian

Changes in BP value at San Jiao Meridian acupuncture point (SJ1 / so-called Well

point for this meridian) were carefully examined; see the effect of moxibustion stimulation

on the right UB22 acupuncture point on the back. In this analysis, BP value from SJ1 point

from right finger was focused following the moxibustion stimulation on the UB22

acupuncture point that is supposed to be connected to the SJ1 point via so-called the

Meridian System in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since this special organ in TCM, San

Jiao is not recognized by the Western Medicine, the existence of this particular meridian is

expected to give more validity to the existence of the system in terms of electrophysiology.

2. A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Changes in BP value were, again, carefully examined in particular, focusing on LI1, PC9

and SJ1 point on the right hand. Now, San Jiao and Pericardium points belong to the Fire element

according to the Five Element Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, Large Intestine

Meridian belongs to the Metal element. Now, each meridian belongs to C6, C7 and C8 Dermatome

segments respectively. Based upon the fact that each acupuncture point belongs to the different

dermatome segment, if there is any correlation between points in C7 segment (PC9) and C8 (SJ1),

both belong to Fire element, this might be due to its attribution to the element. Now, LI1 and SJ1

point also have to be analyzed likewise.

47
3. A Study on Laterality in the Meridian System

In this study, 2 of San Jiao point 1 were bilaterally utilized, to see the laterality of the meridian

system. The stimulation was given only on the right side of UB22 point, which is an associate point

of the San Jiao meridian, and sees the reaction from both SJ1 points on both hands.

Now if there is any statistical difference between parameters (BP, AP and IQ) being measured

from each point, this could be due to the laterality of the meridian system.

48
 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS

4.1. Overall Analysis

4.1.1. Analyses on Experimental Intervention Phases

The results of the experiments were calculated and presented as summarized analyses in Table 3 of

the Appendix. Statistical analyses were performed to see the difference between each phase. The phases

are C1-C2, C2-E1, and C2-E2 respectively. The naming and categorization of each phase is based upon

Table 2. For the sake of convenience of analysis, each phase was combined with another and the

combination was categorized and then named as Baseline, Primary and Secondary (see chapter 3,

Statistical Analysis). The first phase group stands for Baseline measurement, the others for primary

stimulation with burning moxibustion, and for secondary stimulation with the same moxibustion

stimulation. (See Table 3)

The results of simple regression analyses are presented in the first 3 rows of Table 3 below the

measurement phase (C1-C2, C2-E1 or C2-E1) as F values, Significance F and Dependence. The next

cluster of rows presents the results for t-tests (t-scores), and are labeled P-value, Critical value for one-tail

T-test, Significance and Tendency of change during measurement phase. These analyses were performed

for BP values and AP values respectively. Data for simple regression and t-test analyses were collected

from each acupuncture point, processed and presented in Table 3. This table shows results of analyses for

Non-Acupuncture point, Large Intestine well point, Heart Constrictor well point, Triple Heater well point,

respectively.

At first, simple regression analyses were performed to see the correlation between each phase of

the experiment described above. This procedure was to insure whether there were independent changes

between each phase. If statistical significance was found between each phase, this could be due to natural

increment or decrease of the values obtained through the continuous AMI measurement set-up. Another

49
explanation of statistical significance from these analyses is that changes during these calculated phases

are gradual, not spontaneous reactions. Therefore one phase that precedes the other can explain the

following phase.

In either case, it should be emphasized that statistical significance from these analyses mean that

changes between two phases may not be due to the effect of the experimental intervention, therefore that

could be due to the natural increment or decrease of values, and that changes are gradual, not spontaneous.

This examination was performed for both BP values and AP values equally, processed and interpreted in

the same way as described above.

Then, t-tests were performed for both BP values and AP values to see any statistically significant

difference between those phases used in the previous calculations. If statistical significance is found by

means of these calculations, it means there are statistically significant changes between each phase.

If significance is found in C2-E1 or C2-E2, changes could be occurring beyond the increment or

the decrease of natural occurrence, thus the effect of the experiment could be found.

However, conclusions as to the effects of the experimental intervention should be obtained by the

combination of simple regression analysis and t-test, since changes in BP values and AP values could

occur naturally as emphasized several times. In order to eliminate a factor that involves natural occurrence

of increment or decrease of values to solely observe the effects of the experimental intervention, the

following facts should be remembered.

1. Simple regression analysis should be able to show independence

2. T-test should be able to show statistical significance.

Once both criteria are fulfilled, then we can conclude that the effect of the experiment was found.

Again, by the combination of simple regression analysis and t-test, we can determine that changes in BP

values or AP values are either due to natural physiological reactions of the human body or due to the

50
effect of the experimental intervention beyond possible increment or decrease of values by its natural

occurrence.

4.1.2. Pre-Post Analyses for the determination of each meridian to overall physiology

In addition to this overall analysis utilizing the continuous AMI measurement set-up, snapshot

AMI readings were utilized for further analyses. Data were obtained from 14 subjects as to 28 meridian

well points located on fingers and toes. All the subjects were participants of the previously performed

study, which is continuous AMI measurement study, however, AMI data of some of those subjects were

either missing or omitted. Subject #1 and #3 left the research site right after the participation to the

experimental study, snapshot AMI data for subject #8 looked extremely abnormal; this was probably due

to electrodes problems. Therefore the snapshot AMI data for these 3 subjects were omitted from this

study.

Since each data represents electrical current from each meridian acupuncture point, data analysis

was performed for each meridian. Utilizing factor analysis, determination of the contribution of each

meridian to overall physiological changes was performed. The results were presented from Table 4 to

Table 6. These analyses were performed to see overall changes in BP and AP before and after

experimental intervention at the Triple Heater meridian associated point that belongs to the Urinary

Bladder meridian.

Obtained data from 28 well points were calculated by Statistica. All those data were input in the

software and then calculated. Ranking was determined by the score that the software showed. If one

meridian shows higher score than any of others in terms of this factor analysis, the meridian was regarded

as the highest in the ranking. Likewise, the second, and the third were also determined. In Table 4, the

results of the calculations were summarized and presented. This table shows the contribution of each

51
meridian for all BP values and all AP values from all subjects. For instance, Gall Bladder meridian was

the most contributed meridian in BP values at the Pre-Experimental measurement using the snapshot AMI.

Meanwhile, least contribution was seen in Stomach Branch meridian in the same process. Similarly, the

same analyses were performed as to AP values as well.

4.1.3. Pre-Post Analyses for Laterality Study

Since each meridian is bilateral, having two well points for each, Left-Right differences were

focused upon in this study. The values of these differences (i.e., L-R differences) are usually utilized in

AMI readings to show abnormality regarding each meridian and corresponding internal organ function.

Tables 7 to 9 show the results of this study. BP values and AP values were obtained from all subjects for

this snapshot AMI study (n=14) as described before, arranged according to each meridian, and then

laterality such as Lung meridian Left and Lung meridian Right. Summarized data were shown in Table7.

Statistical significances were calculated to see difference between Pre and Post snapshot AMI readings.

Observations (i.e., sample number), Pearson Correlation, Hypothesized Mean Difference, and df=degree

of freedom were shown from the 4th row to 7th row. Then T-score (T-test), P value for one-tail T-test, T

critical value for one-tail T-test was also presented. Two-tail T-test was not considered here since this

study is to see either increment or decrease, not just to see the difference regardless of the direction of

changes in BP values and AP values.

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 4. BASELIE (C1-C2)

As a whole, all the BP values from all utilized points showed Dependency in terms of simple

regression analysis. However, most of AP values except Large Intestine meridian well point showed

Independency in the same analysis. This means BP values in Control phase 2 can be explained by the

behavior of the values in Control phase 1. Likewise, AP values from most of the skin surface area in

Control phase 2 cannot be explained by those in phase 1. In other words, BP values showed gradual

increment or decrease during these 2 stages, C1 and C2; changes in AP values were observed,

however the AP values in Control phase that precedes the other (C1) did not influence the behavior of

the AP values that follow, as much as the BP values in C1 phase did to C2. In this case, Large

Intestine meridian should be treated differently, since it is the only meridian that showed dependency

in the regression analysis on the AP value.

According to the t-tests that followed the previous regression analysis, all acupuncture points

showed statistically significant decrease in the AP readings in Large Intestine (P=2.2177E-05), Heart

Constrictor (P=3.11144E-06), Triple Heater on the right side (P=0.000159074) and the left side

(P=0.008646886); BP values showed increment from that of Large Intestine (P=3.49598E-05), Heart

Constrictor (P=9.7077E-07) and Triple Heater (P=6.64948E-08) meridian on the right side. However,

it was unable to distinguish between the behaviour of BP values and that of AP values by this study,

because BP values from Triple Heater meridian well point on the left side did decrease on the contrary

to other acupuncture points measured. (P<0.003)

There was little difference between acupuncture points and non-acupuncture point area except the

AP value from the latter slightly increased, however, it was not statistically significant in the t-test.

Besides Large Intestine meridian, behaviour of BP values and AP values were consistent in terms of

regression analysis. The former showed Dependent in the analysis, the latter Independent in the same

53
procedure. This result may characterize the difference of behaviour between BP values from those of

AP.

5. PRIMARY (C2-E1)

As a whole, BP values and AP values from all the measured points were increased during this

phase group regardless of whether they were acupuncture points or non-acupuncture point. Among all

those acupuncture points, only the Triple Heater meridian well point on the left side showed

Independency in terms of regression analysis for both BP and AP readings. This means changes in the

BP value of the left Triple Heater meridian well point was taking place beyond its natural occurrence.

Increments in AP reaction of the Triple Heater meridian on both sides were beyond their natural

occurrences. Since AP is considered to be an Autonomic Nervous System index, this could probably

be a whole body Galvanic Skin Response type of reaction due to heat stimulation. (Left Triple Heater

P=2.25438E-08, Right Triple Heater P=4.23901E-07)

Something did occur along this meridian in BP reaction (left side) and AP reaction (both sides)

compared with the event that preceded in this phase group. In other words, AP values from the Triple

Heater meridian well points were increased right after the application of stimulus onto the associate

point of the meridian.

Among BP values from acupuncture points, only the Triple Heater meridian well point on the left

side showed statistically significant increment (P=8.14462E-13). This is very interesting since the side

of stimulation was opposed to the side of measurement described here. In a nutshell, this can be

regarded as contra-lateral meridian reaction so to speak.

BP and AP values from Large Intestine and Heart Constrictor meridian well points were increased;

however, it was not sure that this change was due to the effect of moxibustion stimulation or just

54
merely natural occurrence. BP value from non-acupuncture point was also increased going beyond the

level of natural occurrence; in addition, AP from the same location was increased during this phase.

As a summary, contra-lateral meridian reactions and bilateral autonomic nervous reactions via the

meridian system were found here. It should be noted that both acupuncture points that belong to the

same meridian actually reacted to the stimulus given to their associated point that has no anatomical

connection or neurological innervations. In addition, this reaction was statistically significant.

6. SECODARY (C2-E2)

In this phase group, the application of the stimulation by burning moxibustion is now in secondary

phase, in addition to the one in the previous phase. Overall pattern of reaction was quite similar to that

in Baseline group. This is very interesting, since the application of the stimulation still existed in this

phase.

Among BP values, all the points measured showed Dependency in terms of regression analysis.

All the changes during this phase are actually derived from the previous stage. Most of them except

Triple Heater meridian well point on the left showed increment, the exceptional point showed slightly

decrease compared with the control; however, this change was not statistically significant.

Of all AP values, non-acupuncture point and Triple Heater well point on the right side showed

independent change compared with the control, in addition, these changes were statistically

significant. (Non-acupuncture point; P=5.01729E-07, Triple Heater well point right; P=0.025252148).

In spite of its dependent change in Triple Heater well point on the left as compared with its control

value, the change was not statistically significant.

In addition, Large Intestine and Heart Constrictor meridian well points did not show any

statistically significant change in terms of t-test following the previous regression analysis test.

55
4.3. Results from Factor Analysis

In addition to Continuous AMI data, all data from Snapshot AMI were collected. Then, the data

were calculated by utilizing commercially obtained statistics software, “Statistica”. In order to determine

the contribution of each meridian to the overall changes in BP and AP values, Factor analysis was

performed for BP values and AP values. The result of the calculation was ranked and numbered. This

ranking came to provide very intriguing consequence. Table 2 shows the result of factor analysis arranged

from Table 3 and Table 4, both of which are raw data.

According to Table 2, the behavior of BP values and AP values turned out to be completely

different. For instance, where BP increases, AP decreases, and vice versa. For most meridians where BP

increase or decrease, AP decrease or increase providing a negative relationship between BP and AP. Since

this ranking is a relative number, one meridian’s increment means many other meridians decrease. Where

BP ranking increase or decrease, AP ranking increase or decrease, again showing that the behavior of BP

values and AP values are different.

As to meridians utilized for the experiment, ranking of BP values from Large Intestine was

decreased. Meanwhile, ranking of Heart Constrictor and Triple Heater was increased. As to AP values,

ranking of Large Intestine increased, Heart Constrictor increased, Triple Heater decreased.

4.4. Results from Laterality Analysis

As mentioned before, Left-Right differences as to either BP values or AP values was analyzed.

(Table 7). BP values obtained from acupoints on the left side of the subjects showed statistically

significant increase. (P=3.34E-06) The same value from the right side was also increased, however the

increment was not as drastic as the left side. (P=0.024704).

56
 Meanwhile, the opposite phenomenon happened in AP values. AP values obtained from acupoints

on the right side of the subjects showed a statistically significant decrease. (P=0.008969) The same value

from the left side was also decreased, however the decrease was not as much as the right side.

(P=0.011301)

This study also shows the differences of BP values and AP values again. BP values from both

sides of the body were increased; AP values from both sides were decreased. The increment and the

decrease were statistically significant for both BP values and AP values.

As a conclusion, overall BP values from the left side were drastically increased after the

experiment. In the meantime, AP values were more decreased at the right side of the body rather than the

left side.

57
 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIO

1. Behaviour of BP values and AP values

It is indicated by the regression analysis performed on each phase categorized in Table 3 that

changes in BP values from acupuncture points of the second phase can be explained by the preceding

them (e.g. Changes in C2 in the Baseline can be explained by that of C1). Increments or decreases in

BP values were gradual phenomena. This tendency of BP values is almost consistent among all these

three phases (Baseline, Primary and Secondary). According to a study on AMI values (Motoyama,

1999), BP is known to increase during and after the meditation process. The present study showed

statistical evidence that BP values will change gradually.

Having going through 25 minutes of stabilization phase, all subjects had an additional 5 minutes of

control phase (C1) and another 5 minutes of control phase (C2). As a total, subjects had 30 minutes of

resting state prior to the application of the experimental stimuli. In the aforementioned study of

Motoyama, changes in BP values were gradual during the meditation process without the application

of any other external stimuli; this result from the present study is also consistent with Motoyama’s

findings, gradual change is a characteristic of BP values in the absence of external stimuli.

On the other hand, all those AP values showed statistically significant decreases during stable

control phases. This result is also consistent with Motoyama’s study. AP started decreasing right after

the onset of meditation in his study. Considering AP values to be an index of the autonomic nervous

system, higher AP means sympathetic dominance, lower AP for parasympathetic dominance. Thus it

is concluded that statistically significant AP decreases during control phases were due to the activation

of the parasympathetic nervous system, i.e., the inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system that

results in a so-called relaxation response.

58
 This tendency was also shown in Table 7. After continuous relaxation for more than 30 minutes

with a little additional experimental intervention, BP values increased and AP values decreased. As

discussed in the previous chapter, both of the increments or decreases were statistically significant,

showing the completely different behaviour of BP and AP.

Results from factor analysis also clearly showed the difference of behavior between BP values and

AP values. Where BP ranking increase or decrease, AP ranking increase or decrease, again showing

that the behaviour of BP values and AP values are different.

Hence, the present study showed clear evidence that BP and AP have different behaviour, both

indices can be distinguished; while BP values were increasing or decreasing, AP values were

decreasing or increasing in the presence or in the absence of any external or experimental intervention,

i.e., stimuli. In other words, when subjects were becoming relaxed, the parasympathetic nervous

system would become more active, thus a decrease in AP values occurred. Since AP value is

considered to be an index of the autonomic nervous system such as GSR reaction, the behaviour of BP

values should be explained in terms of some other mechanisms.

Intriguingly, gradual changes in BP or decrease in AP were not found from the non-acupuncture

point that belongs to the same dermatome segment as the stimulation point that would be utilized

afterwards, meaning that there is a difference in electrophysiological properties between acupuncture

points and measured non-acupuncture points.

59
2. Stimulation on UB22 (Triple Heater meridian “Back-shu” associate point)

In the primary phase, all measured points showed increase in AP values. This probably indicates

that the heat stimulation did produce the whole body autonomic nervous reaction due to the heat

stimulation. In fact, some of the subjects reported that they did feel some heat on their back although the

investigator chose a very mild heat stimulation that would not elicit autonomic nervous reaction. The

temperature of the moxibustion utilized here did not go beyond 100F degree when the temperature was

measured utilizing a temperature probe attached at the bottom of the moxibustion. This temperature is not

supposed to elicit A.N.S. reaction.

Nevertheless, some subjects reported heat sensation; they also happen to be sensitive to energy

flow such as having capability of sensing the flow of so-called de Qi along the meridian line when

receiving acupuncture treatment or other energy healing modalities. Given that only those who have

capabilities of energy perception did feel the heat sensation during the experiment, it could be possible

that this sensation of heat is rather a mental process than mere sensory perception, as proposed by the gate

control theory in pain perception or by the fact there are certain trained people who can walk on burning

coals without any pain; no matter how intriguing this discussion might be, this author will not go any

further.

However, the Triple Heater meridian well point on the left side did show reaction to stimulus in

terms of BP values of the AMI device. This is shown by the independence of simple regression analysis

and statistical significance obtained from t-test.

Among measured acupuncture points, only the Triple Heater meridian well point on the left side

showed this effect. Other points showed statistically significant increase, however they did not exceed the

possibility of natural occurrence. Because those values also showed dependence in term of simple

regression analysis in addition to statistical significance in terms of t-tests. Since the behaviour of BP is

60
different from that of AP, this reaction is not due to an autonomic nervous reaction. Besides there are no

innervation between Urinary Bladder 22 acupoint (Triple Heater meridian associate point) and Triple

Heater meridian well point according to Western medicine.

The only feasible explanation for this phenomenon is the reaction was conveyed by the nervous

system, but by another unknown system. However, this reaction is consistent with the explanation of

Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Triple Heater meridian.

In other words, the existence of the meridian system is implied, so was the Triple Heater as an

element of this meridian system. With this result, we could explain why non-segmental effect is possible.

Contemporary medical science has been ignoring and trying to exclude this bioenergy and bioinformation

system.

Considering the fact that BP values on the Left side showed statistically significant increase by the

Laterality study, the effect of moxibustion had contra-lateral effect on the human body physiology. When

one stimulates one side, the reaction to it can be seen from the other. However, the investigator felt a

necessity to perform similar type of research, stimulation on the left side to see the reaction from the right

side of the related meridian point. In a nutshell, Stimulation on UB22 on the right side caused reaction at

the left side of the corresponding acupuncture points in terms of BP value.

The reaction seen in this phase is very interesting, because stimulation on the right side of the

associated point of the Triple Heater meridian did cause reaction at the well points of the same meridian

on both sides in terms of AP values. Whole body reaction against heat stimulation was actually conveyed

via the meridian system as well as the autonomic nervous system on the ground that there were

statistically significant levels of AP values changes on both sides of the Triple Heater meridian well points

compared with other points. Considering AP is an index of the autonomic nervous system and BP as an

61
index for bioenergy, we could say that the reaction occurred at the whole body was conveyed not only via

the autonomic nervous system but also via the meridian system.

In the Secondary phase, this whole body AP increment was not found. Besides, AP values from the

Triple Heater meridian acupuncture points went back to a state during the C1 phase judging from the

result of the statistical analyses. Those two acupuncture points are supposed to be connected with the point

of stimulation via the meridian. This could mean that the whole body showed an adaptation to heat

stimulation given at the onset of this phase.

The only point that belongs to the same dermatome as the point of stimulation showed statistically

significant a AP reaction; this reaction from the autonomic nervous system was elicited by the stimulation

of the UB22 acupuncture point with the application of mild heat, being conveyed via the dermatome

segment. It is concluded that local heat stimulation caused so-called segmental effect via the dermatome,

providing evidence that AP is an index of nervous system function, considering the fact that the reaction

was associated with the whole body reaction. (See Table 3, Primary phase)

Now we cannot conclude that the BP reactions from acupuncture points are beyond natural

occurrence judging from Table3 alone, however, if you consider facts from other tables such as Table 4,

Table 7, it is plausible that Triple Heater meridian point during the E2 phase had reaction to the stimulus

beyond natural occurrence or coincidence.

62
3. Answers to the questions risen before

Existence of the Meridian and Differentiation from the A.N.S.

The meridian system exists and it is characterized by the changes in BP values of the AMI device.

The behaviour of the values is completely different from the other parameter that shows the A.N.S.

reaction. The meridian system and the autonomic nervous system are different, showing an negative

correlation, however, both are cooperating with each other to maintain the homeostatic status of the

human body physiology.

a. Mild Heat Stimulation on the Dermatome reaction via A.N.S.

In addition to the meridian reaction, the dermatome reaction was also observed. In fact, in the

secondary phase (Table 3), only the measured point that belongs to the same dermatome as the

point of stimulation showed the autonomic nervous system reaction.

b. Existence of the San Jiao Meridian

San Jiao or Triple Heater meridian exist. In addition, related organs behave accordingly when the

associate point for Triple Heater meridian was stimulated (See Table 4). BP ranking for Upper Jiao

organs was reversed; Middle Jiao reversed and Lower Jiao also reversed. It is very intriguing since

the way this meridian regulates the Qi energy is found in terms of BP value.

Rise up energy in one organ and decrease in another, by doing so, Triple Heater as Zang-Fu organ

system regulates and controls the energy.

63
A Study on Elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Stimulation on the Triple Heater associate point caused reaction from Triple Heater well point.

Now this effect caused intriguing response (Table 4).

In the factor analysis, the contribution of the Large Intestine meridian in the determination of the

whole body BP values was decreased from rank 6th to 11th out of 14 meridians. On the contrary, the

contribution of the Heart Constrictor meridian in BP values was drastically increased. In addition, the

contribution of the Triple Heater meridian was increased from ranking 10th to 3rd out of 14 meridians.

Since Triple Heater meridian belongs to Fire element as well as Heart Constrictor meridian, this

result is very interesting because paired meridians that belong to the same element had similar reaction in

terms of BP values and AP values. The reason being it is written as paired is that this phenomenon was not

seen from Heart meridian or Small Intestine meridian that belongs to Fire element. Nevertheless, no

matter how intriguing the observation on this paired organ in terms of Five-element theory might be, we

cannot conclude the validity of Five Element theory here. In fact, Motoyama pointed out that the validity

of this theory actually is still in controversy even nowadays; therefore some practitioners do not credit this

theory for their education and practice (Motoyama, 2003, Personal communication)

The Large Intestine meridian that belongs to C6 in terms of the dermatome had little contribution

to the overall BP changes. However, the Heart Constrictor meridian that belongs to C7 dermatome had

greater contribution to the determination of the overall BP changes. So did the Triple Heater meridian

after the experimental intervention. It should be emphasized that the Large Intestine Meridian belongs to

the Metal element; Heart Constrictor and Triple Heater belong to Fire Element.

Now, each meridian belongs to C6, C7 and C8 Dermatome segments respectively. Based upon the

fact that each acupuncture point belongs to the different dermatome segment, increments on the

contribution of the determination in the overall BP after the stimulation of the point that is connected to

64
Triple Heater (Fire Element) were seen from Fire elements paired organs, Heart Constrictor well points

and Triple Heater well points, thus the increment of BP in the Large Intestine meridian should be

explained other mechanisms but this experimental intervention on the associate point of the Triple Heater

meridian.

A Study on Laterality in the Meridian System

The result from this study was nothing but clear (Table 7). As opposed to the AP values, BP values

were significantly increased. This increment was much higher in the Left side of the body compared with

the right side. Since the side of stimulation in terms of the meridian system was on the right side, it is

concluded that the effect of stimulation on one side of the associate point of a meridian showed

contralateral response from related well point, as well as the whole body meridian points. In this study,

again, the difference between BP and AP was clearly revealed. In addition, on the contrary to the

investigators prior expectation, the effect of moxibustion was contra-lateral, rather than ipsi-lateral

manner. Nevertheless, this should be mentioned that during conversation with some acupuncture

practitioner, they told the author that the effect was actually contra-lateral, which was very normal. This

experiment ended up proving the contra-lateral effect of moxibustion on the back-shu associate point of

the Triple Heater meridian.

65
4. Conclusion

1. The behaviour of BP value and AP value is completely different, showing a negative

relationship. Where and when BP increases, AP decreases and vice versa.

2. The above-mentioned behaviour is found among acupuncture points, not from non-acupuncture

point showing the difference between measured acupuncture points and non-acupoint.

3. There were differences in AMI readings between utilized acupuncture points and non-

acupuncture point in terms of BP and AP reaction.

4. BP is not an index of the autonomic nervous system considering AP as GSR

5. Changes in BP in the absence of any external stimuli are gradual, not a spontaneous process.

6. Changes in AP in the absence of external stimuli are rather spontaneous and rapid processes.

7. When the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant over the sympathetic system;

a. AP values drastically decrease

b. BP values gradually increase

8. The effect of moxibustion on the associated point for the Triple Heater meridian on the right

side was statistically significant at the left side of the Triple Heater meridian well point.

9. The effect of moxibustion showed contra-lateral responses. Stimulation on the right side caused

more reactions on the left side rather than the right side.

10. Stimulation point and response point had no anatomical or neurological connection. This could

explain one of Non-Segmental Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. The only

plausible explanation is by virtue of the meridian theory. The existence of meridian connections

were observed, the meridian system did exist.

66
11. As a consequence of the statement in the preceding item, The Triple Heater as an element of the

meridian system did exist since the existence of the Triple Heater meridian was proven in terms

of electrophysiological studies.

12. Signals involved in the whole body reaction are conveyed via the meridian system as well as the

autonomic nervous system as conventionally recognized and accepted. Although the meridian

system primarily conveys the bioenergy information such as Qi or Prana energy in the East, it

also seems to play some roles in the whole body nervous reaction in spite of complete difference

between two systems judging from the heat stimulation experiment.

67
Acknowledgment
This study is made possible by the continuous support and fostering by my dissertation committee,
Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama, Ph.D., Litt.D., Dr. Romeo Quini, M.D., and Dr. Gaétan Chevalier, Ph.D., all of
whom also encouraged me to continue life-long education in the field of medicine regardless of basic,
clinical research or actual practice. Therefore, I would like to dedicate my whole life in the pursuit of
health and welfare through the basic and clinical research, and practice of this branch of medicine, the
Integrative Medicine.
It is, again, indeed my honor to have all of them into my dissertation committee; Father of Modern
Energy Medicine who proved the existence of acupuncture meridian and the existence of Chakra system
in terms of electrophysiology, biophoton emission as well as of practice of Yoga and so forth, Dr.
Motoyama, the pioneer of acupuncture anesthesia, practice of the Integrative Medicine who also travels
the world for medical mission, Dr. Quini, a decent material engineering scientist who earned Ph.D. for
cold fusion/fission studies, Dr. Chevalier. I would hereby like to thank all of you feeling truly flattered and
honored.
In addition, I would also like to thank those who bravely volunteered to be subjects for this study
in spite of my lack of enough explanation and preparation for this study. In fact, some of them indeed
encouraged this study and my future. My joy and happiness to have been able to have all of them as
subjects and finish the experimental part of this study are beyond description. Acting on the contract with
each subject, I would refrain from mentioning their names here, however, there is the great one who
watches over you all the time, your contribution, dedication and philanthropy will be remembered by the
great one in this universe.
Finally, I also like to thank those involved in my graduate student life here in the US. My family in
Japan, (i.e., my father, Toshihiko Mori, LL.B, my mother, Yoshiko Mori, BA and my loveable,
heartwarming and wise sister Satoko Mori, a great technologist, farmer, part-time priest and grandfather
Giichi Mori, a great teacher, my mentor and grandmother, Miyo Mori, BA), CIHS staff that includes Mrs.
Motoyama, Dr. Sato, Mr. Ikehara, Mrs. Desai, Mrs. Voros, and my old classmates, Dr. Ayoub and Dr.
Baba and many of tenants of the school who also are my friends. In addition, it goes without saying to
appreciate ceaseless mental support from people that belong to my church, Sts. Constantine and Helen
Greek Orthodox Church, which includes Reverend Father Philips and Presbytera, my godparents (Petes
Chaconas, J.D. and Lydia Chaconas), choir members and many other friends. As a matter of course, all of
my friends from different countries with different primary languages and accents, I love them all;
therefore allow me to express my gratitude to have them all for this fruitful learning process in the US and
CIHS. God bless you all, May peace and love be with you. Without any of you all mentioned here, this
study would not be possible. Ο Τηεοσ µαζι σου, K.M.

I believe the significance of this study for our contemporary allopathic medicine followed by
healthcare system and welfare of our world is priceless; therefore I am quite honored to have been able to
choose this topic for my doctorate dissertation. If, one of thousand, this study has to be presented to
public, I would not dare to say that all the works I have supposedly done is done solely by myself.
Nothing would be possible without divine providence and ceaseless supports from many people around
myself.

68
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 APPEDIX A: TABLES

TABLE 1: STIMULATION AND MEASUREMENT LOCI

S/R Locus Name Abb. Dermatome Acupoint Element Laterality
S UB22 Right Thoracic 9 ----- Water -----

R Non-Acupoint Non-ACP Thoracic 9 No ----- -----

LI1 LI-R Cervical 6 Yes Metal -----
PC9 HC-R Cervical 7 Yes Fire -----
SJ1 (Right) TH-R Cervical 8 Yes Fire Ipsi Lateral
SJ1 (Left) TH-L Cervical 8 Yes Fire Contra lateral

TABLE 2: RESEARCH DESIGN AND TIME FRAME

Phase Name Stabilization C1 C2 E1 E2
Minutes 25 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min
Measuring Points 300 pts 60 pts 60 pts 60 pts 60 pts
Stimulation No No No Moxa Moxa
Measurement Purpose Observation Data Data Data Data

TABLE 3: RESULTS / OVERALL ANALYSIS Simple Regression Analysis & T-Test

BASELINE Non-ACP LI-R HC-R TH-R TH-L

BP C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2
F value 6.670324482 3.630119238 4.898908978 8.248189129 1.843048097
Significance F 0.012348395 0.061704132 0.030821378 0.005688195 0.179852958
Dependence Dependent Dependent Dependent Dependent Dependent
t-Test -0.22367921 4.278660512 5.281000983 5.992685331 -2.890202754
P-value 0.411889818 3.49598E-05 9.7077E-07 6.64948E-08 0.002689743
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance N/S Significant Significant Significant Significant
Tendency Decrease Increase Increase Increase Decrease
AP C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2 C1-C2
F value 0.01692091 1.571306516 0.088423243 0.00762198 0.01705974
Significance F 0.896952917 0.215046828 0.767253782 0.930730635 0.896533478
Dependence Independent Dependent Independent Independent Independent
t-Test 0.511633548 -4.41071534 -4.963436829 -3.824796342 -2.449489743
P-value 0.305408582 2.2177E-05 3.11144E-06 0.000159074 0.008646886
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance N/S Significant Significant Significant Significant
Tendency Increase Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease

77
 PRIMARY Non-ACP LI-R HC-R TH-R TH-L
BP C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1
F value 0.019375255 7.550756032 5.042441564 6.16611403 0.027214909
Significance F 0.889778247 0.007980524 0.028559566 0.015935306 0.869541684
Dependence Independent Dependent Dependent Dependent Independent
t-Test 12.52153495 16.288138 15.2288428 15.55971242 8.90761716
P-value 1.46771E-18 8.37032E-24 2.08923E-22 7.53792E-23 8.14462E-13
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance Significant Significant Significant Significant Significant
Tendency Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase
AP C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1 C2-E1
F value 1.439767335 5.677200188 1.862650917 0.054002064 0.028842061
Significance F 0.235055449 0.020484555 0.17759058 0.817058255 0.865735206
Dependence Dependent Dependent Dependent Independent Independent
t-Test 4.938080834 3.876703236 5.297945505 5.503419235 6.274581327
P-value 3.41114E-06 0.000134321 9.117E-07 4.23901E-07 2.25438E-08
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance Significant Significant Significant Significant Significant
Tendency Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase

SECONDARY Non-ACP LI-R HC-R TH-R TH-L

BP C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2
F value 30.47021598 16.60389698 18.27612821 29.42845767 11.00182475
Significance F 8.3034E-07 0.000141746 7.21373E-05 1.18303E-06 0.001574947
Dependence Dependent Dependent Dependent Dependent Dependent
t-Test 2.99911315 5.882159279 4.074447567 2.99911315 -0.316321535
P-value 0.001980263 1.01357E-07 6.98121E-05 0.001980263 0.376437449
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance Significant Significant Significant Significant N/S
Tendency Increase Increase Increase Increase Decrease
AP C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2 C2-E2
F value 0.043917083 2.730154816 2.58497818 0.444929682 0.121978399
Significance F 0.83474232 0.103873826 0.113312593 0.507397763 0.728163436
Dependence Independent Dependent Dependent Independent Independent
t-Test 5.458378839 0.726546172 0.168410141 -1.996464396 -0.09481451
P-value 5.01729E-07 0.235188399 0.433418317 0.025252148 0.462391724
t Critical one-tail 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923 1.671091923
Significance Significant N/S N/S Significant N/S
Tendency Increase No Change No Change Decrease Decrease

78
TABLE 4: FACTOR ANALYSIS

FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING PRE / POST COMPARISON

PRE POST
BP AP BP AP
RANK RANK RANK RANK RANK Inverse Relations BP H/L AP H/L BP/AP
1 GB KI KI LI MERIDIAN CHANGE CHANGE RANKING
2 ST UB SP SB LU Higher Lower Reversed
3 KI SP HC KI LI Lower Higher Reversed
4 LV HT GB HC ST Lower Higher Reversed
5 SI TH ST ST SP Higher Lower Reversed
6 LI SB SI SP HT Lower Lower -----
7 SP LV TH SI SI Lower Higher Reversed
8 HT SI DI TH UB Lower Lower -----
9 TH LU LV LV KI Higher Lower Reversed
10 HC LI LU UB HC Higher Higher -----
11 UB ST LI GB TH Higher Lower Reversed
12 DI HC HT LU GB Lower Higher Reversed
13 LU GB SB DI LV Lower Lower -----
14 SB DI UB HT BP / AP Inverse

79
TABLE 5: FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING RAW DATA

FCT-ANA BP-PRE BP-POST BP H/L BP H/L AP-PRE AP-POST AP H/L AP H/L

MERIDIAN RANK RANK RANK CHANGE RANK RANK RANK CHANGE
LU 13 10 3 Higher 9 12 3 Lower
LI 6 11 -5 Lower 10 1 9 Higher
ST 2 5 -3 Lower 11 5 6 Higher
SP 7 2 5 Higher 3 6 -3 Lower
HT 8 12 -4 Lower 4 14 -10 Lower
SI 5 6 -1 Lower 8 7 1 Higher
UB 11 14 -3 Lower 2 10 -8 Lower
KI 3 1 2 Higher 1 3 -2 Lower
HC 10 3 7 Higher 12 4 8 Higher
TH 9 7 2 Higher 5 8 -3 Lower
GB 1 4 -3 Lower 13 11 2 Higher
LV 4 9 -5 Lower 7 9 -2 Lower
DI 12 8 4 Higher 14 13 1 Higher
SB 14 13 1 Higher 6 2 4 Higher

FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING FACTOR ANALYSIS RANKING

OVA BP PRE POST OVA AP PRE POST
RANK MERIDIAN MERIDIAN RANK MERIDIAN MERIDIAN
1 GB KI 1 KI LI
2 ST SP 2 UB SB
3 KI HC 3 SP KI
4 LV GB 4 HT HC
5 SI ST 5 TH ST
6 LI SI 6 SB SP
7 SP TH 7 LV SI
8 HT DI 8 SI TH
9 TH LV 9 LU LV
10 HC LU 10 LI UB
11 UB LI 11 ST GB
12 DI HT 12 HC LU
13 LU SB 13 GB DI
14 SB UB 14 DI HT

80
TABLE 6: FACTOR ANALYSIS RAW DATA

Factor Loadings (Unrotated) Factor Loadings (Unrotated)

Extraction: Principal components Extraction: Principal components
(Marked loadings are > .700000) (Marked loadings are > .700000)
FACTOR ANALYSIS BP FACTOR ANALYSIS BP
REGULAR RANKING BP REGULAR RANKING BP
PRE AVE PRE AVE POST AVE POST AVE
LU 0.947821 GB 0.993425 LU 0.974463 KI 0.993692
LI 0.984936 ST 0.989707 LI 0.970583 SP 0.993118
ST 0.989707 KI 0.987063 ST 0.987807 HC 0.991954
SP 0.982609 LV 0.986179 SP 0.993118 GB 0.989896
HT 0.98239 SI 0.985512 HT 0.96684 ST 0.987807
SI 0.985512 LI 0.984936 SI 0.985829 SI 0.985829
UB 0.977127 SP 0.982609 UB 0.309335 TH 0.984905
KI 0.987063 HT 0.98239 KI 0.993692 DI 0.983872
HC 0.979509 TH 0.980545 HC 0.991954 LV 0.979441
TH 0.980545 HC 0.979509 TH 0.984905 LU 0.974463
GB 0.993425 UB 0.977127 GB 0.989896 LI 0.970583
LV 0.986179 DI 0.973453 LV 0.979441 HT 0.96684
DI 0.973453 LU 0.947821 DI 0.983872 SB 0.945519
SB 0.931972 SB 0.931972 SB 0.945519 UB 0.309335

Factor Loadings (Unrotated) Factor Loadings (Unrotated)

Extraction: Principal components Extraction: Principal components
(Marked loadings are > .700000) (Marked loadings are > .700000)
FACTOR ANALYSIS AP FACTOR ANALYSIS AP
REGULAR RANKING AP REGULAR RANKING AP
PRE AVE PRE AVE POST AVE POST AVE
LU 0.996091 KI 0.998415 LU 0.991274 LI 0.99823
LI 0.995975 UB 0.997374 LI 0.99823 SB 0.998206
ST 0.995385 SP 0.997219 ST 0.99721 KI 0.998176
SP 0.997219 HT 0.996784 SP 0.9972 HC 0.997512
HT 0.996784 TH 0.996398 HT 0.971417 ST 0.99721
SI 0.996191 SB 0.996299 SI 0.996328 SP 0.9972
UB 0.997374 LV 0.99626 UB 0.994867 SI 0.996328
KI 0.998415 SI 0.996191 KI 0.998176 TH 0.996281
HC 0.994474 LU 0.996091 HC 0.997512 LV 0.99621
TH 0.996398 LI 0.995975 TH 0.996281 UB 0.994867
GB 0.988049 ST 0.995385 GB 0.993209 GB 0.993209
LV 0.99626 HC 0.994474 LV 0.99621 LU 0.991274
DI 0.978645 GB 0.988049 DI 0.98278 DI 0.98278
SB 0.996299 DI 0.978645 SB 0.998206 HT 0.971417

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TABLE 7: LATERALITY ANALYSIS BP-AP COMPARISON

LATERALITY ANALYSIS BP BP AP AP
LEFT / RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT
PRE-POST COMPARISON PR-POS PR-POS PR-POS PR-POS
Observations 14 14 14 14
Pearson Correlation 0.910097 0.279626 0.506193 0.527279
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0 0 0 0
df 13 13 13 13
t Stat 7.226598 2.166883 -2.5859 -2.70741
P(T<=t) one-tail 3.34E-06 0.024704 0.011301 0.008969
t Critical one-tail 1.770932 1.770932 1.770932 1.770932
P(T<=t) two-tail 6.68E-06 0.049408 0.022603 0.017939
t Critical two-tail 2.160368 2.160368 2.160368 2.160368
CHANGE OF VALUES INCREASE INCREASE DECREASE DECREASE
*** **
TENDENCY BP/AP INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL

TABLE 8: LATERALITY ANALYSIS RAW DATA ~ BP-AP COMPARISON ~

BP TABLE

LATERALITY ANALYSIS
t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means

BP LU LI ST SP HT SI UB KI HC TH GB LV
PRE R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L
t Stat 1.3609 0.0978 0.2052 -0.519 0.5498 1.8239 1.2089 -0.506 -2.28 0.9122 0.6063 0.3556
P value 0.0983 0.4618 0.4203 0.3061 0.2959 0.0456 0.1241 0.3108 0.0201 0.1891 0.2774 0.3639
Crit1tail 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709
L-R EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN RIGHT EVEN EVEN LEFT EVEN EVEN EVEN
t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means

BP LU LI ST SP HT SI UB KI HC TH GB LV
POST R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L
t Stat -1.403 -3.135 3.0742 1.1895 -3.712 2.9806 2.9905 -1.672 0.3379 -1.41 1.0849 0.5437
P value 0.092 0.0039 0.0044 0.1278 0.0013 0.0053 0.0052 0.0592 0.3704 0.0909 0.1488 0.2979
Crit1tail 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709 1.7709
L-R LEFT LEFT RIGHT EVEN LEFT RIGHT RIGHT LEFT EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN

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AP TABLE

t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means

AP LU LI ST SP HT SI UB KI HC TH GB LV
PRE R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L
t Stat 0.932 -0.698 3.101 -1.235 -1.282 0.704 0.291 -0.79 0.304 0.287 -0.259 -0.654
P value 0.184 0.249 0.004 0.119 0.111 0.247 0.388 0.222 0.383 0.389 0.4 0.262
Crit1tail 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771
L-R EVEN EVEN RIGHT EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN
t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means
AP LU LI ST SP HT SI UB KI HC TH GB LV
POST R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L R-L
t Stat 0.187 3.954 4.552 1.228 -1.072 0.12 -0.593 -1.509 2.28 0.076 -1.482 -2.051
P value 0.427 8E-04 3E-04 0.121 0.152 0.453 0.282 0.078 0.02 0.47 0.081 0.03
Crit1tail 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771 1.771
L-R EVEN RIGHT RIGHT EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN RIGHT EVEN EVEN LEFT

TABLE 9: LATERALITY ANALYSIS BP-AP COMPARISON

LATERALITY ANALYSIS BP BP AP AP
LEFT / RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT
PRE-POST COMPARISON PR-POS PR-POS PR-POS PR-POS
Observations 14 14 14 14
Pearson Correlation 0.910097 0.279626 0.506193 0.527279
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0 0 0 0
df 13 13 13 13
t Stat 7.226598 2.166883 -2.5859 -2.70741
P(T<=t) one-tail 3.34E-06 0.024704 0.011301 0.008969
t Critical one-tail 1.770932 1.770932 1.770932 1.770932
P(T<=t) two-tail 6.68E-06 0.049408 0.022603 0.017939
t Critical two-tail 2.160368 2.160368 2.160368 2.160368
CHANGE OF VALUES INCREASE INCREASE DECREASE DECREASE
*** **
TENDENCY BP/AP INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL

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 APPEDIX B: FIGURES

FIGURE 1: STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN (HISTOLOGICAL SPECIMEN)

84
FIGURE 2: CURRENT RESPONSE OF THE AMI (“SSVP METHOD”)
[SSVP=Single Square Voltage Pulse]

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FIGURE 3: TEMPERATURE CHANGE AT BURNING MOXIBUSTION

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About the Author
ame:
Dr. Kazuhito Mori, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Title:
Research Fellow
Department of Physiology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Japan
Physician In Training
Southwestern University M.H.A.M. College of Medicine, Cebu, Philippines

Official Web-site
http://www.drmoriwoborders.webs.com

E-mail:
#1: drmoriwoborder2000@yahoo.com
#2: medicaleducationphilippines@goo.ne.jp

Skype ID: medicaleducationinthephilippines

Interest:
Integrative Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine, Energy Medicine

Translation into Japanese:

Guyton & Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology
Costanzo, Physiology
Robertson, Autonomic Neuroscience
Haines, Basic & Clinical Neuroscience

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