Effects of Acupuncture at Hap-Kok$(LI_4)$ on the Thermal Changes of Labia Oris Surface in Man

합곡(合谷)$(LI_4)$ 자침(刺鍼)이 구순부(口脣部)의 온도변화(溫度變化)에 미치는 영향(影響)

We reported that acupuncture on $LI_4$ effected thermal change on $LI_4$ and ST25 area, And this study was performed on 100 healthy students to observe the effects of acupuncture at Hap-kok ($LI_4$) according to the meridian and qi-xue(氣血) phenomenon of oriental medicine's theory, The results was 1. In healthy man, mean skin temperatures of $LI_4$, ST25, CV12 areas(Control) were decreased, 2. In left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the temperature of abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area had the tendency of increase, both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the temperature of abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area had not significant tendency. 3. In the research of thermal difference which eliminate a special region temperature, in the control group, the thermal changes had not significant tendency, in the left $LI_4$ acupuncture group and both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, the thermal changes had tendency to be increased, 4. In the deviation analysis which mean of each group is excluded, in the control group, it turned out that deviation is regular for 10 minutes; in the left $LI_4$ acupuncture group and both right and left $LI_4$ acupuncture group, it turned out that deviation is more larger than the control group for 10 minutes. The above results indicates that Digital Thermography is a useful method to observe effects and changes by acupuncture stimulation on objective evaluation of phenomenon for the meridian system. Thus, acupuncture on $LI_4$ affects to thermal changes of the abdominal skin and $LI_4$ area, but exact examination of thermal changes on abdominal skin will have to be done.