Electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians: A systematic review

@article{Ahn2008ElectricalPO,
  title={Electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians: A systematic review},
  author={Andrew C. Ahn and Agatha P. Colbert and Belinda J. Anderson and {\O}rjan Gr{\o}ttem Martinsen and Richard S. Hammerschlag and Stephen Cina and Peter M. Wayne and Helene M. Langevin},
  journal={Bioelectromagnetics},
  year={2008},
  volume={29}
}
According to conventional wisdom within the acupuncture community, acupuncture points and meridians are special conduits for electrical signals. This view gained popularity after anecdotal reports and clinical studies asserted that these anatomical structures are characterized by lower electrical impedance compared to adjacent controls. To ascertain whether evidence exists to support or refute this claim, we conducted a systematic review of studies directly evaluating the electrical… 
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224 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Methods Citations
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224 Citations

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Citation Type

Electrical Impedance of Acupuncture Meridians: The Relevance of Subcutaneous Collagenous Bands
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Collagenous bands, represented by increased ultrasound echogenicity, are significantly associated with lower electrical impedance and may account for reduced impedances previously reported at acupuncture meridians.
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Clinical Utility of Electrodermal Activity at Acupuncture Points: A Narrative Review
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Pilot data are provided that suggest EDA testing at auricular acupuncture points may distinguish pathology-related acupuncture points from non-pathology-related points; decreased skin conductance correlates with tiredness or low energy; and EDATesting at the Jing-Well acupuncture points, on the tips of the fingers and toes, may assist in monitoring effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.
Safe needling depth of acupuncture points.
TLDR
There is great inconsistency in terms of safe needling depths measured from different subject groups and measuring methods, and suitable justification for a well-designed clinical trial to investigate the real needling depth for each acupuncture points to avoid adverse effects or complications.
Acupuncture Point Localization Varies Among Acupuncturists
TLDR
The results indicate that congruity of AP localization among experienced acupuncturists might be low, and this possible bias should be taken into account when conducting acupuncture trials and interpreting results of previous acupuncture studies.
Laser acupuncture for treating musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Defining meridians: a modern basis of understanding.
  • J. Longhurst
  • Medicine
    Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies
  • 2010
Electrical Potential of Acupuncture Points: Use of a Noncontact Scanning Kelvin Probe
TLDR
It is hypothesized that acupuncture point sites are associated with increased variability in potential compared to adjacent control sites, and the Scanning Kelvin Probe is a state-of-the-art device that measures electrical potential without actually touching the skin and is thus capable of overcoming these confounding effects.
Paradoxes in Acupuncture Research: Strategies for Moving Forward
TLDR
It is recommended that acupuncture treatments should be studied “top down” as multi-component “whole-system” interventions and “bottom up’ as mechanistic studies that focus on understanding how individual treatment components interact and translate into clinical and physiological outcomes.
Acupuncture Points and Their Relationship with Multireceptive Fields of Neurons.
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