Studies on the Phenomenon of Latent Propagated Sensation Along the Channels I:

Abstract

By combining electrical impulse stimuli with mechanical ones, we are able to trace out a new line of feeling, coincident with the classical channel course. Impulse stimulation was carried out at the Jing point of the Large Intestine or Stomach channel, namely Shangyan or Lidui. With a small rubber nipple, light taps were applied on the skin along the lines perpendicular to the channel and crossing over the acupuncture points; a specific propagational numb feeling at the points of the channel could be found. By linking up these points of specific feeling, an imaginary line which is exactly the classical Large Intestine or Stomach channel can be traced out. This line is called the "latent propagational sensation line along the channels" because, unless through tapping, no prominent sensation of propagation could be felt. Employing an impulsive electrical generator and an all-wave commutating circuit linked to a micro-ammeter, the skin conductance was measured over the latent PSC of the Large Intestine channel lying between the wrist and 5 cm above the elbow joint. Results were compared to those locations of 1 cm apart from the channel course, i.e. the control sites devoid of acupuncture points or channels. At most acupuncture points or any site of the channel course on all of the 10 subjects under examination, there was greater electrical conductance maxima than there was at control sites. This fact indicates that not only the acupuncture points, but the entire course of latent PSC are also of higher electrical conductance.

Investigation of Acupuncture Sensation Patterns under Sensory Deprivation Using a Geographic Information System

“…This method can be used to compare PSC lines (i.e., sensation mean courses) to any other data, whose spatial pattern can be mapped on a body scheme similar to that used in our study (Supplementary Figure 1), which constitutes an important step forward in the study of the still unknown physiological basis of PSC and its relation to other acupuncture effects. In our study, PSC lines were compared to classical meridians, as this connection has been reported numerous times before [28]. Despite the purely descriptive character of our analysis, we believe that an average distance between sensation mean courses and meridians of around 1 cm, as observed in our study, clearly points towards a close connection of the two entities.…”

Therapeutic Sensations: A New Unifying Concept

“…Furthermore, there is a latent form of PSC elicited by electrical stimulation of acupuncture points that follows the same patterns as prominent PSC but only emerges when the skin is additionally stimulated by slight tapping with a hammer [72,80]. Finally, Xue has shown that PSC can be felt by acquired amputees in the region of the phantom limb (Figure 3(a)) [69], a finding later replicated by Katz and colleagues [26,82], who reported the induction of phantom limb sensations using TENS of the outer ear.…”

“…published in the form of English language scientific papers [69,72,[76][77][78][79][80] with the rest being inaccessible to Western scientists (for a review, see [81]). Furthermore, the methodology of many of the Chinese PSC studies (as judged from the available information) leaves much to be desired.…”

“…A validated and straightforward method for studying the topography of therapeutic sensations is drawings made on a body outline, a modification of the well-known pain drawing method [ 67 , 68 ]. The systematic literature search for graphical representations of therapeutic sensations (see Supplementary Methods) yielded six articles reporting sensations related to acupuncture [ 69 – 72 ], tactile stimulation [ 71 ], low-level laser stimulation [ 25 ], and several forms of placebo stimulation [ 37 ]. Figure 3 shows a collection of bodily maps of therapeutic sensations reported by the individual studies.…”

More than DeQi: Spatial Patterns of Acupuncture-Induced Bodily Sensations

“…Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into the body at specific points, and the sensations produced can be local or remote from the site of stimulation (Zhu et al, 1981 ; Chae et al, 2013 ). A number of acupuncture sensation questionnaires focus on the assessment of sensory qualities and the intensity of sensation during acupuncture stimulation (Kong et al, 2007 ; White et al, 2008 ).…”