9.2 Scientific Research According to Channelsanalogue scale) and pain free hand grip strength (PFG). Tsui
et al, Acupunct Electrother 2002
A British, prospective, randomised, sham-controlled, double-
blinded experimental trial (n240) investigated the effect of
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at G.B.-34on
mechanical pain thresholds. Low frequency, high intensity
stimulation showed a significant analgesic effect that was sus-
tained post-stimulation. Chesterton et al, Pain 2002
G.B.-37P-2; P-5; L.I.-15
G.B.-38P-5
G.B.-39LIV-3
G.B.-40LIV-3
An Italian prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded trial
(n160) investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture at LIV-
3 , SP-6, ST-36, Ren-12, L.I.-4, P-6, G.B.-20, G.B.-14, Ex-HN-
5 and Du-20on migraine attackswithout aura compared to
flunarizine. The number of attacks after two and four months of
therapy was significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in
the flunarizine group, and analgesic consumption was accord-
ingly also significantly lower in the acupuncture group. Pain
intensity was significantly reduced only by acupuncture treat-
ment. Allais et al, Headache 2002
A British prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-
over study (n56) investigated the effect of LIV-3on rheuma-
toid arthritis (RA). There were no significant changes between
the treatment and placebo group. The treatment of only one
point for a condition such as RA is unusual. David et al,
Rheumatology (Oxford) 1999
A US prospective, randomised, sham-controlled, single-blinded
trial (n10) investigated the effect of electro-acupuncture
(EA) on LIV-3, ST-36and L.I.-11on lowering diastolic blood
pressure in hypertensive subjects. Compared to the sham group,
diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease in the
EA-group. Williams et al, Phys Ther 1991
LIV-13Du-20Proximal to the G.B.-43
interdigital foldG.B.-43An Austrian prospective, randomised, placebo-
controlled, single-blinded trial investigated the effect of laser
acupuncture at G.B.-43on cerebral cortical and subcortical acti-
vations as evidenced by fMRI. Only true laser acupuncture led
to ipsilateral activations within the thalamus, nucleus subthala-
micus, nucleus ruber, the brainstem, and the Brodmann areas 40
and 22. Siedentopf et al, Laser Med Sci 2005
A purely descriptive study investigated the effect of G.B.-43and
L.I.-4on somatosensory evoked potentials. Particular atten-
tion was paid to the effect of the deqi-sensation. Wu et al, Zhen
Ci Yan Jiu 1993
Liver channel
LIV-1SP-1
1.5–2 cunLIV-3Interdigital foldLIV-2LIV-3Du-20; BL-60; L.I.-4; L.I.-15; SP-6
In a Chinese-German single-blinded experimental trial, acupunc-
ture at LIV-3and G.B.-40resulted in the activation of the sec-
ondary somatosensory cortical areas, frontal areas, the right side
of the thalamus and the left side of the cerebellum. Sham-points
had no effect. Fang et al, Neuroradiology 2004
An Italian open, prospective, randomised group-comparison trial
investigated the effect of acupuncture, laser acupuncture and
TENS on LIV-3, SP-6, L.I.-4, G.B.-20, Du-20and Ex-HN-5on
transformed migraines. The number of days with headache per
month significantly decreased during treatment in all groups.
Acupuncture showed the best effectiveness over time. Allais
et al, Neurol Sci 2003
LIV-145th intercostal space
6th intercostal spaceLIV-14A Chinese prospective, non-randomised, controlled,
non-blinded trial (n56 plus control group) investigated the
effect of water injections at LIV-14, G.B.-24and Ren-14on bil-
iary colic pain. The pain disappeared in 57% of cases and
showed improvement in a further 39%. This result is signifi-
cantly better compared to the control group receiving conven-
tional treatment. Jiang et al, J Tradit Chin Med 1995Du mai(governing vessel)Du-1AnusDU-1A prospective, controlled, group-comparison trial in
hypogalactic postpartum sows(n42) showed that apitherapy
(acupuncture with bee venom) at Du-1and ST-18was superior to
treatment with conventional drugs. Choi et al, J Vet Sci 2001
A prospective, controlled, group-comparison animal experiment
showed that apitherapy at Du-1and ST-25in piglets with
preweaning diarrhoea(n91) is as effective as conventional
treatment with drugs. Choi et al, Am J Chin Med 2003