9.2 Scientific Research According to ChannelsBL-66An experimental study in rats investigated the antipyretic
effect of manual acupuncture at BL-66on lipopolysaccharide-
induced fever. Acupuncture at this point reduced the fever and
also reduced the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines
interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 in the hypothalamus of the
treated rats. Son et al, Neurosci Lett 2002
A Croatian prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded
group-comparison trial (n67) assessed the value of acupunc-
ture at BL-67for 30 minutes in the conversion of breech pre-
sentation. The success rate of the acupuncture correction of the
breech presentation was 76% while the rate in the untreated con-
trol group was only 45%. This is a highly significant difference.
Habek et al, Fetal Diagn Ther 2003
An Austrian prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled exper-
imental trial (n10) investigated the effect of laser acupunc-
ture at BL-67on the visual cortex using fMRI to monitor
neuroradiological changes. Only verum acupuncture resulted
in an activation in the cuneus (Brodmann Area BA 18) and the
medial occipital gyrus (BA 19). These results confirm the tradi-
tional application of this point for ophthalmic disorders. Sieden-
topf et al, Neurosci Lett 2002
An Italian prospective, non-randomised, sham-controlled, single-
blinded trial (n12 pregnant women with breech presentation)
demonstrated that acupuncture at BL-67significantly reduced the
fetal heart rate while increasing fetal movement and producing
more accelerations. Neri et al, J Soc Gynecol Invest 2002Kidney channelBL-66 BL-65 BL-64BL-67An Italian prospective, randomised, controlled, single-
blinded trial (n123) investigated the effect of moxibustion at BL-
67 on the conversion rate in breech presentations. The trial had to
be terminated prematurely due to a high drop-out rate of partici-
pants. At that time, there were no significant differences between
the moxibustion group and the control group. The authors conclude
that there is too little acceptance for moxibustion treatment in non-
Asian cultures. Cardini et al, Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2005
A randomised, controlled, prospective larger-scale trial (n67)
demonstrated a higher rate of conversion of fetal breech pre-
sentations in a group treated with 30 minutes of manual
acupuncture at BL-67(76.4%) compared to an untreated control
group (45.4%). Habek et al, Fetal Diagn Ther 2003
A large-scale (n260), randomised, controlled, prospective
trial demonstrated a higher rate of conversion of fetal breech
presentationsin women treated with moxibustion at BL-67for
7–14 days (75.4%) than the conventionally treated control group
(47.7%). Cardini et al, JAMA 1998
A medium-scale case study (n48) with retrospective control
groups demonstrated that electro-acupuncture at BL-67for the
conversion of fetal breech presentationshad a 81.3% success
rate. Li et al, J Tradit Chin Med 1996
Acupuncture at BL-67resulted in a significant increase in the
number of c-Fos-positive cells in the primary visual cortexof
binocularly deprived rat pups to levels suggesting that BL-67
has an influence on the activity of the primary visual cortex. Lee
et al, Am J Chin Med 2002
A recent Italian prospective, randomised trial investigated the
effect of acupuncture and moxibustion at BL-67on the conver-
sion of breech presentationsin 240 pregnant women. At deliv-
ery, breech presentation was significantly lower in the
active-treatment group (37%) than in the observation group
(54%). Therefore the proportion of caesarean sections indicated
for breech presentation was also significantly lower in the treat-
ment group than in the observation group (52% vs 67%). Neri
et al, J Matern Neonatal Med 2004
BL-67KID-1KID-1BL-60
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded trial
(n150) investigated the effect of acupuncture at KID-1in the
treatment of children with bronchial asthmacompared to a
control group treated with conventional drugs. The clinical effec-
tiveness of acupuncture at KID-1 was significantly higher than
treatment with drugs (89% vs 64%). In addition, in the acupunc-
ture group the level of eosinophils and IgE was highly significant
and significantly lower respectively than in the control group.
Gao et Zhu, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2005
A Chinese retrospective case study reports the successful local
stimulation of KID-1by applying a paste in the treatment of
essential hypertension. Gong et al, J Tradit Chin Med 1995Achilles
tendonHighest prominence
of the medial malleolus KID-3KID-3Du-4; L.I.-15
A Taiwanese prospective, randomised, controlled experimental
trial (n157) compared the absorption of Tc-99 m (a radioac-
tive technetium marker) at KID-3with non-acupuncture points.
Absorption at KID-3 was significantly better than at non-
acupuncture points. Wu et al, Am J Chin Med 1994