9.2 Scientific Research According to ChannelsA Mongolian prospective, randomised, controlled study (n48)
compared the effect of acupuncture at ST-36and P-6combined
with epidural anaesthesia to simple epidural anaesthesia for subto-
tal gastrectomies. The acupuncture group, while requiring a lower
dosage of anaesthetic, experienced a stronger analgesic effect, the
abdominal muscles were more relaxed and the haemodynamic
disturbances were smaller. Sun, Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 1996
A US prospective, randomised, controlled, experimental trial
(n11) researched the effect of transcutaneous electric nerve
stimulation (TENS) at ST-36and ST-37on peripheral blood
circulationand haemodynamics. Twenty minutes of TENS on
healthy subjects did not produce a significant change in the
measured parameters. Balogun et al, Disabil Rehabil 1996
A Taiwanese prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, sin-
gle-blinded trial investigated the influence of acupuncture at
ST-36 on the pulse spectrum. The results indicated that
acupuncture at ST-36 has a specific effect on the Fourier compo-
nents of the pulse: C2 and C4 decreased while C5, C6, C8 and
C9 increased. This specific frequency effect was not found when
acupuncture was applied on a non-acupuncture point. Wang
et al, Am J Chin Med 1995
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n45)
investigated the effect of ST-36, L.I.-11and KID-6on the
immunoactivity of natural killer cells and the interleukin-2 level
in malignant tumourpatients. After receiving one treatment of
30 minutes daily for 10 days, parameters in the treatment group
had increased significantly compared to the control group. Wu
et al, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1994
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n80)
compared anaesthesia with electro-acupunctureat ST-36and
L.I.-4to epidural anaesthesia in appendectomies. The opera-
tions were equally successful in both groups, without any signif-
icant differences regarding the success rate. Sun et al, Zhen Ci
Yan Jiu 1992
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n39)
investigated the effect of acupuncture at ST-36and SP-6on
bowel movements following abdominal surgery. In the
acupuncture group the first postoperative bowel movement
occurred after approximately 58 hours, but only after 86 hours in
the untreated control group. Liu et al, Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi 1991
ST-37ST-36
ST-38G.B.-34; ST-36
ST-40L.I.-15
ST-44L.I.-4; ST-2
Spleen channel
SP-1A US prospective experimental trial (n13) investigated
the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at SP-1and LIV-1on
thermal pain thresholds. The pain threshold increased signifi-
cantly 30 seconds after onset of EA. The authors postulate that
EA at the above points has an inhibitory effect on the C-fibre
afferents; the analgesic benefit observed is most probably A-delta
afferent mediated. Leung et al, J Altern Complement Med
2005
SP-4Du-4; P-6; L.I.-4SP-63 cunSP-9Medial condyle
of the tibiaGastrocnemiusJunction of the
shaft and medial
condyle of the
tibiaSP-9A British prospective, randomised, controlled, assessor-
blinded trial (n44) investigated the influence of SP-9, SP-10,
ST-34, ST-36and L.I.-4on unilateral versus bilateral acupunc-
ture in patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. The
symptoms improved significantly in both groups. This improve-
ment was sustained for six months. There was no statistically
significant difference between the groups. Tillu et al, Acupunct
Med 20012 cun2 cunSP-10SP-10SP-9; ST-36; Ren-17
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n62)
investigated the effect of Q-wave millimetre microwave applica-
tion at SP-10and BL-17on chemotherapy-induced leuko-
penia in gastrointestinal cancer patients. One group receivedSP-6ST-36; L.I.-4; P-6; G.B.-26; Du-4; DU-20; LIV-3; L.I.-15
In a prospective, randomised, double-blinded group-comparison
trial (n56) patients suffering from interstitial cystitisper-
formed daily laser therapy on SP-6 at home for 30 seconds over
a period of 12 weeks. There were no significant differences
between the treatment and control cohorts. O’Reilly et al,
J Urol 2004
An Australian prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
(n20) investigated the effect of transcutaneous electrical
stimulation (TENS) at SP-6and LIV-3on uterine contractions
in post-date pregnant women. A significant increase in fre-
quency and strength of contractions was found in the TENS
group compared with the placebo group. Dunn et al, Obstet
Gynecol 1989