New research published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine concludes that acupuncture at acupoint SP9 (Yinlingquan, Yin Mound Spring) increases blood flow/perfusion to the spleen and acupuncture at acupoint Liv8 (Ququan, Spring at the Crook) increases blood flow/perfusion to the liver. In addition, sham acupuncture did not increase blood flow to the liver or spleen. The results provide evidence of acupuncture channel and acupuncture point specificity. SP9 (Spleen9) and Liv8 (Liver8) specifically were shown to enhance blood flow/perfusion to the spleen and liver respectively. Both acupuncture points are located on the legs on acupuncture channels related to the spleen and liver respectively and both points stimulated blood flow/perfusion to their related internal organs.
Electroacupuncture (2 Hz) was applied bilaterally to SP9 and Liv8 in separate experiments. The mean blood flow/perfusion in both the spleen and liver was measured using a laser Doppler blood flow monitor before, during and after the application of electroacupuncture. A control group received needle stimulation at non-acupuncture points (sham acupuncture). According to acupuncture and Chinese medicine theory, SP9 and Liv8 are He-Sea and Water points. He-Sea points, usually located near the knees or elbows, are places where the Qi and Blood pool within an acupuncture channel. The Qi and Blood are then transferred from the He-Sea point to their related internal organs. The research confirms that stimulation of SP9 and Liv8 precisely have this clinical effect as predicted by acupuncture channel theory. The researchers conclude that, “These results provide scientific evidence of the specificity of meridians (channels).”
Reference:
American Journal of Chinese Medicine, V40, 1, 1-10. 2012 World Scientific Publishing Company. Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X12009610 . 2 Hz Electro-Acupuncture at Yinlingquan (SP9) and Ququan (LR8) Acupoints Induces Changes in Blood Flow in the Liver and Spleen. Wen-Cheng Chou, Hsu-Jan Liu, Yi-Wen Lin, Chin-Yi Cheng, Tsai-Chung Li, Nou-Ying Tang and Ching-Liang Hsieh. China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
