The Meridian System and the Mechanism of Acupuncture
Charles Shang
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
ABSTRACT:
Understanding acupuncture points and the meridian system in terms of modern science is important to facilitate the study and application of related techniques. The model which relates organizing centers in morphogenesis and growth control to acupuncture points can qualitatively explain most of the established facts about meridian system and acupuncture points, such as their distribution, high electric conductance, response to non-specific stimuli and polarity of electric stimulation. As a network of singularities in signal transduction, the meridian system plays an important role in physiological and growth regulation. The change of electric activity is part of signal transduction and can precede anatomical change during morphogenesis as well as pathogenesis. Small perturbations around singular points can have decisive effects on a system. Therefore, manipulation of acupuncture points - the singular points in the signal transduction system, can be an efficient way of diagnosis and therapy, particularly at the early signal transduction stage prior to the stage of morphologic change. The model can also account for some observations in developmental biology and can be tested by available techniques. Converging discoveries in signal transduction and acupuncture are discussed.
1. Morphogenesis and the meridian system
A modern scientific explanation of acupuncture points and the meridian is important to further the study and application of related techniques.[1,2] According to the Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature proposed by the World Health Organization,[3] the meridian system in acupuncture consists of more than 400 acupuncture points and 20 meridians connecting some of the points. Most acupuncture points and meridian points are the high electric conductance points on body surface and vice versa.[4, 5] A model has been proposed[6] that acupuncture points are organizing centers in morphogenesis. At the macroscopic level, they are singular points (e.g. sinks, sources) in the morphogen gradient, phase gradient and electromagnetic field. Meridians are separatrices. The pattern of magnetic field on the human scalp mapped by SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device)[7] shows that the Governor Vessel is a major pathway of magnetic flux on the scalp and also a separatrix which divides the scalp into two domains of different flow directions. Morphologically, the Governor Vessel is also a separatrix that divides the body surface into two symmetrical parts. The acupuncture point GV20 is a singular point - a major sink at the surface magnetic field.[8] This pattern is consistent with the pattern of the meridian system, but different from the distribution of any major nerve, lymphatic or blood vessel on the scalp.
Intrinsic electric fields and currents are important factors in growth control, cell migration and morphogenesis:
A variety of cells including neurons, myoblasts and fibroblasts are sensitive to electric fields of physiological strength.[9] Somite fibroblasts translocate to the negative pole in a voltage gradient as small as 7 mV/mm.[10] Asymmetric Ca2+ influx is crucial in the galvanotaxis which can be blocked or even reversed by various Ca2+ channel blockers and ionophores.[11] In most cases, there is enhanced cell growth toward cathode and reduced cell growth toward anode in small continuous, pulsed or focal electric fields.[12,13] Some fast growing tissues, particularly tumors, are electrically negative in polarity. If a current from positive pole is applied over certain tumor, its growth can show significant retardation or even regression.[14] This is consistent with the fact that the fluorescent dye rhodamine 123, which has a delocalized positive charge, binds perferentially to some cancer cells and inhibits the cell growth.[15,16]
Flatworm Dugesia tigrina has an intrinsic dipole electric field with anterior negative and posterior positive. During regeneration, its anterior-posterior polarity can be reversed by an external electric field with an opposite polarity.[17] The dorsal-ventral polarity of chick epiblast can also be partially reversed by electric field of physiological strength.[18] Imposed electric field can cause polarization of mouse blastomeres.[19]
Change of electric activity correlates with signal transduction and can precede morphologic change.[20,21] For example, in axolotls and frogs, outward current can be detected at the site of future limb bud several days before the first cell growth.[22] This indicates that the electric conductance of the epithelium at the future limb bud - an organizing center, becomes higher before limb bud formation.
In development, the fate of a larger region is frequently controlled by a small group of cells. This small area is termed as an organizing center.[23] Organizing centers are likely to be the high electric conductance points on body surface: Epithelia appear to display their most active growth and morphogenesis in regions of high conductance.[12,22,9] This is supported by the finding of high density of gap junctions at the sites of organizing centers.[24,25,26] Epithelia usually maintain a 30-100 mV voltage difference across themselves with inside positive and outside negative.[27] Points of local high conductance on skin will also be extreme points of current density - sinks or sources of surface current. These singular points are important in growth control and are likely to be organizing centers. The importance of the electric field generated by epithelium in growth has been indicated in limb regeneration. After limb amputation, salamanders can regenerate their limbs - regenerators, while frogs can not - non-regenerators. The regenerators and non-regenerators have different electric field changes after amputation. By simulating the electric field of regenerators on the limb stumps of non-regenerators, partial regeneration can be induced. Simulating the electric field of non-regenerators on the limb stumps of regenerators can inhibit their regeneration. The optimal current density used in the simulation is within the range of physiological current density.[28,10]
Development involves bifurcation of the singular points. The first bifurcation in vertebrate development leads to two singular points: the animal pole and the vegetal pole. In immature oocytes of both frogs and fish, a transcellular current enters the animal pole and exits the vegetal pole. This current is present prior to the development of the pigment asymmetry. Several calcium channel blockers can rapidly reduce this current and cause maturation.[22] This result supports the notion that the change of electric field usually precedes the change in morphology and correlates with signal transduction. Some singular points are connected by separatrices which serve as major pathways of intrinsic electric currents and divide the body into domains of different electric current directions. Separatrices can be folds in extended sheets, boundaries between different structures or abrupt changes in the slope of a gradient.[6,29]
The distribution of organizing centers, acupuncture points and singular points in electric fields are closely related to the morphology of the organism. For example, the auricle, which has no major nerves or blood vessels but has the most complex surface morphology, also has the highest density of acupuncture points. According to the clockface model,[30,6] many organizing centers are at the extreme points of curvature on body surface, i.e. the locally most convex points (e.g. apical ectodermal ridge, head of hydra and other growth tips) or concave points (e.g. zone of polarizing activity). The same is true for acupuncture points. Most extreme points of the body surface curvature are acupuncture points, e.g. convex points: EX-UE11 Shixuan, EX-LE12 Qiduan, ST17 Ruzhong, ST42 Chongyang, ST45 Lidui, SP1 Yinbai, SP10 Xuihai, GV25 Suliao, EX-HN3 yintang ... concave points: LI4 Hegu, CV17 danzhong, KI1 Yongquan, SI19 Tinggong, TE21 Ermen, GB20 Fengchi, GB30 Huantiao, BL40 Weizhong, HT1 Jiquan, SI18 Quanliao, BL1 Jingming, CV8 Shenque ... Those acupuncture points which are not the extreme points of surface curvature may be vestigial organizing centers or more related to the growth control of internal structures.
2. Mechanism of meridian system based diagnosis and therapy
As mentioned above, the conductance of organizing centers varies with morphogenesis. Similarly, the conductance of acupuncture points also varies and correlates with physiological changes[5] and pathogenesis.[31] The fact that the change in electric field precedes morphologic change[22] and manipulation of the electric field can affect the change[28] may shed light on medical diagnosis[32] and treatment of many diseases. According to the model,[6] the network of organizing centers retain their growth control function after morphogenesis, and communicate with each other (perhaps via gap junctions,[33] nerves, etc.) to maintain proper forms and functions. Therefore, an abnormality inside the network may be detected by measuring the electrical parameters of some points on its surface. Malfunctions of some organs can be preceded by change of electric parameters from normal range and treated by manipulation of the interconnected singular points.
Singularity is a type of discontinuity, often indicates abrupt transition from one state to another. Small perturbations around singular points can have decisive effects on a system. As James Clerk Maxwell observed: Every existence above certain rank has its singular points ... At these points, influence whose physical magnitude is too small to be taken account of by a finite being, may produce results of the greatest importance.[34] As a technique of perturbation of singular points, acupuncture can be effective in treating various diseases[35] such as common cold, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,[36] asthma,[37] myopia, diarrhea, constipation, gastric and duodenal ulcers,[1] diabetes, emesis,[38,39] enuresis,[40] postmenopausal syndrome,[41] obesity,[42] stroke,[43] hypertension[44] and cardiac arrest.[45]
An "annealing" mechanism may play a role in acupuncture and related techniques: Small perturbations at singular points elicit a "shock" to the system - activates and shakes the biological system out of its abnormal and unstable state. After activation, the system has a better chance to settle at a normal, more stable state. This may explain why there have been few negative side effects [46,47,42] of these techniques when properly administered, and the therapeutic effect can be achieved by a variety of stimuli[48] including electricity,[38] needling, temperature variation, laser,[49] and pressure. Similarly, organizing centers can also be activated by nonspecific stimuli.[23]
A principle in electroacupuncture therapy is that positive pulse stimulation of a point sedates its corresponding function while negative pulse stimulation tonifies the function.[50] This is analogous to the fact that cell growth is enhanced toward cathode and reduced toward anode in a pulsed electric field, in consistence with the model that the mechanism underlying acupuncture is similar to that of growth control.
3. Calcium mediated signal transduction in meridian system and acupuncture?
Calcium ion concentration in meridians and acupuncture points in rabbit was significant higher than that in non-meridian and non-acupuncture points.[51] When calcium in the Quze (PC3) acupuncture point is chelated, curative effect of arrhythmia by puncturing Neiguan (PC6) is blocked, suggesting that calcium is an important factor in acupuncture and probably involved in the activities of meridians.[52] A more informative experiment may be to test the effect of local administration of various calcium channel blockers on acupuncture and compare its effect on nerve conduction, blood and lymphatic flow. In both excitable cells and nonexcitable cells of almost all the physiological systems, calcium as a second messanger, intercellular messanger and morphogen is involved in galvanotaxis, morphogenesis and various physiological functions.[21] Its electrochemical gradient contributes to the electric potential across cell membrane. It can also affect membrane potential by mediating modification of ion channels and pumps.[53,54] Same calcium waves can be elicited by electrical, mechanical or laser stimulation as well as chemical exposure, and propagate through gap junctions.[55,56] Similarly, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture can be achieved by a variety of stimuli including laser, mechanical and electrical stimulation.[48]
4. Beyond nerves and blood vessels
Research on acupuncture, particularly the endorphin effect of acupuncture analgesia and its blockade by naloxone, clearly shows that some effect of acupuncture is mediated through nervous system.[57] However, many meridians do not correlate with major nerves or blood vessels. The distribution of the Governor Vessel on the scalp and the auricular acupuncture points[32,31,42] has not been satisfactorily accounted for by any model based on nervous system and/or circulatory system. The model reviewed above readily explains these facts while accommodating the findings of acupuncture effect on nervous system and circulatory system. The meridian system is a distinct signal transduction system which can be measured by instrument such as SQUID. It overlaps and interacts with other systems but is not simply part of nervous system or circulatory system. Many "nonexcitable" cells have shown electrochemical oscillation, coupling, long range intercellular communication and can participate in the meridian signal transducation.[21]
The model has been supported by research in acupuncture, signal transduction, and developmental biology. It can be further tested by mapping the electric field in vertebrate development with available techniques such as SQUID or vibrating probe.[22] The model predicts that organizing centers in vertebrate development such as the dorsal lip of the blastopore, zone of polarizing activity and apical ectodermal ridge are major sinks or sources of surface current. These points bifurcate and give rise to some of the acupuncture points in adult. Current SQUID technology is adequate in detecting physiological electric current in embryo development generated by epithelium.[58] Available data showed that SQUID is sensitive enough to detect the individual difference in current pattern at GV20.[8] With the development of high Tc superconductors, the use of superconducting magnetic shield[59] and multi-channel SQUID[60,61] in the study of meridian system will yield further insight and circumvent the complications of the skin impedance measurement.
I thank Drs. Magnus Lou, San Wan, Andrew Marino, Frederick Kao, John Kao, Sarah Mei, K.S.Tsai, S.J.Chen, Richard Nuccitelli, Lionel Jaffe, Kenneth Klivington and others for their invaluable help and support.
References
Understanding acupuncture points and the meridian system in terms of modern science is important to facilitate the study and application of related techniques. The model which relates organizing centers in morphogenesis and growth control to acupuncture points can qualitatively explain most of the established facts about meridian system and acupuncture points, such as their distribution, high electric conductance, response to non-specific stimuli and polarity of electric stimulation. As a network of singularities in signal transduction, the meridian system plays an important role in physiological and growth regulation. The change of electric activity is part of signal transduction and can precede anatomical change during morphogenesis as well as pathogenesis. Small perturbations around singular points can have decisive effects on a system. Therefore, manipulation of acupuncture points - the singular points in the signal transduction system, can be an efficient way of diagnosis and therapy, particularly at the early signal transduction stage prior to the stage of morphologic change. The model can also account for some observations in developmental biology and can be tested by available techniques. Converging discoveries in signal transduction and acupuncture are discussed.
1. Morphogenesis and the meridian system
A modern scientific explanation of acupuncture points and the meridian is important to further the study and application of related techniques.[1,2] According to the Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature proposed by the World Health Organization,[3] the meridian system in acupuncture consists of more than 400 acupuncture points and 20 meridians connecting some of the points. Most acupuncture points and meridian points are the high electric conductance points on body surface and vice versa.[4, 5] A model has been proposed[6] that acupuncture points are organizing centers in morphogenesis. At the macroscopic level, they are singular points (e.g. sinks, sources) in the morphogen gradient, phase gradient and electromagnetic field. Meridians are separatrices. The pattern of magnetic field on the human scalp mapped by SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device)[7] shows that the Governor Vessel is a major pathway of magnetic flux on the scalp and also a separatrix which divides the scalp into two domains of different flow directions. Morphologically, the Governor Vessel is also a separatrix that divides the body surface into two symmetrical parts. The acupuncture point GV20 is a singular point - a major sink at the surface magnetic field.[8] This pattern is consistent with the pattern of the meridian system, but different from the distribution of any major nerve, lymphatic or blood vessel on the scalp.
Intrinsic electric fields and currents are important factors in growth control, cell migration and morphogenesis:
A variety of cells including neurons, myoblasts and fibroblasts are sensitive to electric fields of physiological strength.[9] Somite fibroblasts translocate to the negative pole in a voltage gradient as small as 7 mV/mm.[10] Asymmetric Ca2+ influx is crucial in the galvanotaxis which can be blocked or even reversed by various Ca2+ channel blockers and ionophores.[11] In most cases, there is enhanced cell growth toward cathode and reduced cell growth toward anode in small continuous, pulsed or focal electric fields.[12,13] Some fast growing tissues, particularly tumors, are electrically negative in polarity. If a current from positive pole is applied over certain tumor, its growth can show significant retardation or even regression.[14] This is consistent with the fact that the fluorescent dye rhodamine 123, which has a delocalized positive charge, binds perferentially to some cancer cells and inhibits the cell growth.[15,16]
Flatworm Dugesia tigrina has an intrinsic dipole electric field with anterior negative and posterior positive. During regeneration, its anterior-posterior polarity can be reversed by an external electric field with an opposite polarity.[17] The dorsal-ventral polarity of chick epiblast can also be partially reversed by electric field of physiological strength.[18] Imposed electric field can cause polarization of mouse blastomeres.[19]
Change of electric activity correlates with signal transduction and can precede morphologic change.[20,21] For example, in axolotls and frogs, outward current can be detected at the site of future limb bud several days before the first cell growth.[22] This indicates that the electric conductance of the epithelium at the future limb bud - an organizing center, becomes higher before limb bud formation.
In development, the fate of a larger region is frequently controlled by a small group of cells. This small area is termed as an organizing center.[23] Organizing centers are likely to be the high electric conductance points on body surface: Epithelia appear to display their most active growth and morphogenesis in regions of high conductance.[12,22,9] This is supported by the finding of high density of gap junctions at the sites of organizing centers.[24,25,26] Epithelia usually maintain a 30-100 mV voltage difference across themselves with inside positive and outside negative.[27] Points of local high conductance on skin will also be extreme points of current density - sinks or sources of surface current. These singular points are important in growth control and are likely to be organizing centers. The importance of the electric field generated by epithelium in growth has been indicated in limb regeneration. After limb amputation, salamanders can regenerate their limbs - regenerators, while frogs can not - non-regenerators. The regenerators and non-regenerators have different electric field changes after amputation. By simulating the electric field of regenerators on the limb stumps of non-regenerators, partial regeneration can be induced. Simulating the electric field of non-regenerators on the limb stumps of regenerators can inhibit their regeneration. The optimal current density used in the simulation is within the range of physiological current density.[28,10]
Development involves bifurcation of the singular points. The first bifurcation in vertebrate development leads to two singular points: the animal pole and the vegetal pole. In immature oocytes of both frogs and fish, a transcellular current enters the animal pole and exits the vegetal pole. This current is present prior to the development of the pigment asymmetry. Several calcium channel blockers can rapidly reduce this current and cause maturation.[22] This result supports the notion that the change of electric field usually precedes the change in morphology and correlates with signal transduction. Some singular points are connected by separatrices which serve as major pathways of intrinsic electric currents and divide the body into domains of different electric current directions. Separatrices can be folds in extended sheets, boundaries between different structures or abrupt changes in the slope of a gradient.[6,29]
The distribution of organizing centers, acupuncture points and singular points in electric fields are closely related to the morphology of the organism. For example, the auricle, which has no major nerves or blood vessels but has the most complex surface morphology, also has the highest density of acupuncture points. According to the clockface model,[30,6] many organizing centers are at the extreme points of curvature on body surface, i.e. the locally most convex points (e.g. apical ectodermal ridge, head of hydra and other growth tips) or concave points (e.g. zone of polarizing activity). The same is true for acupuncture points. Most extreme points of the body surface curvature are acupuncture points, e.g. convex points: EX-UE11 Shixuan, EX-LE12 Qiduan, ST17 Ruzhong, ST42 Chongyang, ST45 Lidui, SP1 Yinbai, SP10 Xuihai, GV25 Suliao, EX-HN3 yintang ... concave points: LI4 Hegu, CV17 danzhong, KI1 Yongquan, SI19 Tinggong, TE21 Ermen, GB20 Fengchi, GB30 Huantiao, BL40 Weizhong, HT1 Jiquan, SI18 Quanliao, BL1 Jingming, CV8 Shenque ... Those acupuncture points which are not the extreme points of surface curvature may be vestigial organizing centers or more related to the growth control of internal structures.
2. Mechanism of meridian system based diagnosis and therapy
As mentioned above, the conductance of organizing centers varies with morphogenesis. Similarly, the conductance of acupuncture points also varies and correlates with physiological changes[5] and pathogenesis.[31] The fact that the change in electric field precedes morphologic change[22] and manipulation of the electric field can affect the change[28] may shed light on medical diagnosis[32] and treatment of many diseases. According to the model,[6] the network of organizing centers retain their growth control function after morphogenesis, and communicate with each other (perhaps via gap junctions,[33] nerves, etc.) to maintain proper forms and functions. Therefore, an abnormality inside the network may be detected by measuring the electrical parameters of some points on its surface. Malfunctions of some organs can be preceded by change of electric parameters from normal range and treated by manipulation of the interconnected singular points.
Singularity is a type of discontinuity, often indicates abrupt transition from one state to another. Small perturbations around singular points can have decisive effects on a system. As James Clerk Maxwell observed: Every existence above certain rank has its singular points ... At these points, influence whose physical magnitude is too small to be taken account of by a finite being, may produce results of the greatest importance.[34] As a technique of perturbation of singular points, acupuncture can be effective in treating various diseases[35] such as common cold, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,[36] asthma,[37] myopia, diarrhea, constipation, gastric and duodenal ulcers,[1] diabetes, emesis,[38,39] enuresis,[40] postmenopausal syndrome,[41] obesity,[42] stroke,[43] hypertension[44] and cardiac arrest.[45]
An "annealing" mechanism may play a role in acupuncture and related techniques: Small perturbations at singular points elicit a "shock" to the system - activates and shakes the biological system out of its abnormal and unstable state. After activation, the system has a better chance to settle at a normal, more stable state. This may explain why there have been few negative side effects [46,47,42] of these techniques when properly administered, and the therapeutic effect can be achieved by a variety of stimuli[48] including electricity,[38] needling, temperature variation, laser,[49] and pressure. Similarly, organizing centers can also be activated by nonspecific stimuli.[23]
A principle in electroacupuncture therapy is that positive pulse stimulation of a point sedates its corresponding function while negative pulse stimulation tonifies the function.[50] This is analogous to the fact that cell growth is enhanced toward cathode and reduced toward anode in a pulsed electric field, in consistence with the model that the mechanism underlying acupuncture is similar to that of growth control.
3. Calcium mediated signal transduction in meridian system and acupuncture?
Calcium ion concentration in meridians and acupuncture points in rabbit was significant higher than that in non-meridian and non-acupuncture points.[51] When calcium in the Quze (PC3) acupuncture point is chelated, curative effect of arrhythmia by puncturing Neiguan (PC6) is blocked, suggesting that calcium is an important factor in acupuncture and probably involved in the activities of meridians.[52] A more informative experiment may be to test the effect of local administration of various calcium channel blockers on acupuncture and compare its effect on nerve conduction, blood and lymphatic flow. In both excitable cells and nonexcitable cells of almost all the physiological systems, calcium as a second messanger, intercellular messanger and morphogen is involved in galvanotaxis, morphogenesis and various physiological functions.[21] Its electrochemical gradient contributes to the electric potential across cell membrane. It can also affect membrane potential by mediating modification of ion channels and pumps.[53,54] Same calcium waves can be elicited by electrical, mechanical or laser stimulation as well as chemical exposure, and propagate through gap junctions.[55,56] Similarly, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture can be achieved by a variety of stimuli including laser, mechanical and electrical stimulation.[48]
4. Beyond nerves and blood vessels
Research on acupuncture, particularly the endorphin effect of acupuncture analgesia and its blockade by naloxone, clearly shows that some effect of acupuncture is mediated through nervous system.[57] However, many meridians do not correlate with major nerves or blood vessels. The distribution of the Governor Vessel on the scalp and the auricular acupuncture points[32,31,42] has not been satisfactorily accounted for by any model based on nervous system and/or circulatory system. The model reviewed above readily explains these facts while accommodating the findings of acupuncture effect on nervous system and circulatory system. The meridian system is a distinct signal transduction system which can be measured by instrument such as SQUID. It overlaps and interacts with other systems but is not simply part of nervous system or circulatory system. Many "nonexcitable" cells have shown electrochemical oscillation, coupling, long range intercellular communication and can participate in the meridian signal transducation.[21]
The model has been supported by research in acupuncture, signal transduction, and developmental biology. It can be further tested by mapping the electric field in vertebrate development with available techniques such as SQUID or vibrating probe.[22] The model predicts that organizing centers in vertebrate development such as the dorsal lip of the blastopore, zone of polarizing activity and apical ectodermal ridge are major sinks or sources of surface current. These points bifurcate and give rise to some of the acupuncture points in adult. Current SQUID technology is adequate in detecting physiological electric current in embryo development generated by epithelium.[58] Available data showed that SQUID is sensitive enough to detect the individual difference in current pattern at GV20.[8] With the development of high Tc superconductors, the use of superconducting magnetic shield[59] and multi-channel SQUID[60,61] in the study of meridian system will yield further insight and circumvent the complications of the skin impedance measurement.
I thank Drs. Magnus Lou, San Wan, Andrew Marino, Frederick Kao, John Kao, Sarah Mei, K.S.Tsai, S.J.Chen, Richard Nuccitelli, Lionel Jaffe, Kenneth Klivington and others for their invaluable help and support.
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