IOP PUBLISHING PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY Phys Med Biol. 54(2009)N143-N150 doi:10.1088/0031-9155/54/9Nol NOTE Do acupuncture points exist? Xiaohui Yan2, Xinyi Zhang 2,7, Chenglin Liu, Ruishan Dang Yuying Huang, Wei He and Guanghong Ding2,6 Laboratory (State Key Laboratory ), and Synchrotron Radiation Research Center of Fudan University, Shanghai 200433. People's Republic of China Shanghai Research Center of Acupuncture and Meridian, Pudong Shanghai 201203 ople's Republic of China 3 Physics Department of Yancheng Teachers'College, Yancheng 224002, People's Republic of 4 Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, People's Republic of China Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science of Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 Peoples Republic of China Received 15 November 2008, in final form 9 February 2009 Published 8 April 2009 Online at stacks. iop. org/PMB/54/N143 Abstract e used synchrotron x-ray fuorescence analysis to probe the distribution of four chemical elements in and around acupuncture points, two located in the forearm and two in the lower leg. Three of the four acupuncture points showed significantly elevated concentrations of elements Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in relation to levels in the surrounding tissue with similar elevation ratios for Cu and Fe The mapped distribution of these elements implies that each acupuncture point seems to be elliptical with the long axis along the meridian (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) 1. Introduction There are specific acupuncture points on the surface of the human body which can be used to monitor the health of an individual and restore the health through stimulation of these points(O Connor and Bensky 1981, Cheng 1987). The patient experiences aching or tingling sensations when these points are stimulated. These points are linked by a network of meridians which are distributed longitudinally through the body, in both human and other mammals. I traditional Chinese medicine, a life force, Qi, is believed to flow through these meridians If the meridian network is disturbed such that the flow of 'Qi' is blocked, it results in illness. Each meridian relates specifically to one particular organ However, the existence and function of acupuncture points are a matter of controversy Many methods have been employed to conduct research on acupuncture and its relationship 7 Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. 0031-9155/09/090143+08$30.00 6 2009 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine Printed in the UKIOP PUBLISHING PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY Phys. Med. Biol. 54 (2009) N143–N150 doi:10.1088/0031-9155/54/9/N01 NOTE Do acupuncture points exist? Xiaohui Yan1,2, Xinyi Zhang1,2,7, Chenglin Liu3 , Ruishan Dang4 , Yuying Huang5 , Wei He5 and Guanghong Ding2,6 1 Department of Physics, Surface Physics Laboratory (State Key Laboratory), and Synchrotron Radiation Research Center of Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China 2 Shanghai Research Center of Acupuncture and Meridian, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China 3 Physics Department of Yancheng Teachers’ College, Yancheng 224002, People’s Republic of China 4 Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China 5 Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, People’s Republic of China 6 Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science of Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China Received 15 November 2008, in final form 9 February 2009 Published 8 April 2009 Online at stacks.iop.org/PMB/54/N143 Abstract We used synchrotron x-ray fluorescence analysis to probe the distribution of four chemical elements in and around acupuncture points, two located in the forearm and two in the lower leg. Three of the four acupuncture points showed significantly elevated concentrations of elements Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn in relation to levels in the surrounding tissue, with similar elevation ratios for Cu and Fe. The mapped distribution of these elements implies that each acupuncture point seems to be elliptical with the long axis along the meridian. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) 1. Introduction There are specific acupuncture points on the surface of the human body which can be used to monitor the health of an individual and restore the health through stimulation of these points (O’Connor and Bensky 1981, Cheng 1987). The patient experiences aching or tingling sensations when these points are stimulated. These points are linked by a network of meridians which are distributed longitudinally through the body, in both human and other mammals. In traditional Chinese medicine, a life force, ‘Qi’, is believed to flow through these meridians. If the meridian network is disturbed such that the flow of ‘Qi’ is blocked, it results in illness. Each meridian relates specifically to one particular organ. However, the existence and function of acupuncture points are a matter of controversy. Many methods have been employed to conduct research on acupuncture and its relationship 7 Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. 0031-9155/09/090143+08$30.00 © 2009 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine Printed in the UK N143