Study on the body surface temperature variation patterns of the meridian acupoints related to the physiological status of the uterus

Abstract

Objective

By observing the body surface temperature changes of different meridian acupoints located at the same or adjacent spinal segments of the uterus during the whole storing and releasing process of the uterus under normal physiological condition by the infrared thermal imaging technology, to explore the specific patterns that the functions of Zang-fu organs are reflected on the biophysical characteristics of acupoints, and to enrich the functional specificity theory of the meridian acupoints, thus to provide a reference for discussing the biophysical characteristics of meridian acupoints associated with the menstrual cycle in healthy female college students.

Methods

Ninety healthy subjects were included. Infrared thermal imaging device was used to detect the body surface temperature of the Yuan-Primary points, the Xi-Cleft points, the crossing points, the non-specific points, the unrelated meridian acupoints and the non-meridian non-acupoint points of the three yin meridians of foot located at the same or adjacent spinal cord segment with uterus, during the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase and the luteal phase. The absolute skin temperature difference between the left and right acupoints with the same name was used as the main outcome indicator.

Results

The temperature difference between left and right Diji (SP 8, the Xi-Cleft point of the Spleen Meridian) during the ovulation phase was significantly higher than that during the other 3 phases (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the temperature difference between the other meridian acupoints and non-meridian non-acupoint points during the 4 phases (all P>0.05); the absolute temperature difference value of each meridian acupoint was not statistically different from each other in the same phase (all P>0.05).

Conclusion

The temperature of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the onset of ovulation, and the thermal characteristics of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the physiological changes of uterus. The meridian acupoints reflecting the performance of Zang-fu function is not only associated with the spinal cord segment innervating the acupoints, but also associated with the characteristics of the acupoints and the meridians to which the acupoints belong.

摘要

目的

利用红外热成像技术, 观察生理状态下胞宫定期藏泻过程中与其位于相同或邻近脊髓节段的不同 经穴的体表温度变化, 探寻经穴生物物理特性反映脏腑功能的特异性规律, 丰富经穴功能特异性理论, 为探讨健康女大学生月经周期相关经穴的生物物理特性提供参考依据.

方法

纳入90例健康受试者, 应用红外热成像仪, 于月经期、卵泡期、排卵期、黄体期探测与胞宫位于相同或邻近脊髓节段的足三阴经原穴、郄穴、交会穴、非特定穴、非相关经穴以及非经非穴的体表温度, 以左右两侧同名穴的皮肤温度差绝对值作为主要结局指标进行观 察比较.

结果

地机穴(脾经郄穴)的左右侧温差值在排卵期显著高于其他3个时期(均P<0.05), 其余经穴及非穴4个时期温差值比较, 差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05); 同一时期各经穴温差绝对值比较均无统计学差异(均 P>0.05).

结论

地机穴在体表温度上可以特异性地反应排卵期的到来, 地机穴的热学特性可特异性地反应胞宫的生理变化。经穴反映脏腑功能的表现不仅与穴位所属脊髓节段具有相关性, 而且与穴位的穴性和所处经脉有关.