Acupuncture Points, Meridians, Chi, Micro-electrical Current, Collagen and Liquid Crystal

Modern science has confirmed that every living being contains electrical charges within its body. The human body is no different. Modern physiology shows us that although these charges are very small, we can nonetheless measure their strength and distribution. In fact, a number of modern medical devices, including the electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyogram and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, all rely on the distribution of electromagnetic charges in the body in order to function.

Dr. Reinhold Voll in Germany was the first to systematically record the electrical energy of the human body. Voll used an electrical probe to measure electrical resistance at points all over the body. He discovered that there were numerous locations which gave unusual readings, that is, which had lower electrical resistance, and that the distribution of these points delineated several fixed routes.

At the same time a Japanese doctor named Nakatani was using an electrical device to test patients. Nakatani also discovered numerous points of low electrical resistance which he connected into pathways.

The electrical pathways these two men discovered are in almost complete accord with the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, the points of low electrical resistance exactly correspond to the acupuncture points of traditional medicine. Chi is the electrical currents passes through the low electrical resistance pathways.

Higher organism usually possesses a digestive system, a circulatory system, a nervous system and a reproductive system. There may be another system corresponding to the low electrical resistance pathways – the meridians which are distributed under the skin and have connections to the internal organs (a system for healing and growth ???).

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BIO PHYSICAL MECHANISMS FOR THE ACTION OF ACUPUNCTURE TO EXPLAIN THE MODE OF ACTION OF THE HealthTouch

An information and control system using direct current (DC) analogue electrical signals which runs in connection with the nervous system has been postulated to explain how acupuncture might work, by Robert Becker. Becker is a retired Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery working in New York State. His hypothesis is based on work with limb regeneration in amphibians and on the phenomena of the current of injury.

Becker's hypothesis leads to a whole range of theoretical assumptions as to the phenomena of acupuncture points which have led to the useful practical outcome of the HealthTouch, using its particular wave form and particular method of point detection. Becker proposed that the signals in the DC system are carried via the neuroglia which are cells surrounding nerve fibres. Currents known to be produced by injury are said to be produced by this glial system, which is associated with growth and repair.

For example, if an injury is created and there is no current of injury, then no growth or repair occurs. Also electrical currents and associated fields have been shown to be fundamental to differentiation and development in both plants and animals. Becker described a number of spectacular examples or repairabilities, including the regeneration of amputated limbs in newts, and finger-tips in children.

The integration of the glial system with acupuncture was proposed by Becker with acupuncture points considered to be analogous to booster stations along the meridians, which are lines connecting acupuncture points, and these meridian lines are likened to transmission lines for these DC signals. Acupuncture points in meridians do show specific electrical properties, and changes in these characteristics can be used for diagnosis.

Acupuncture points appear to have little or no electrical activity when the tissue or organ which they represent is healthy. When an injury takes place, or disease occurs, a current is produced local to that damage. At the same time the properties of the related acupuncture point change, and there are also some possible changes in polarity of the acupuncture points in relationship to the surrounding skin. Corresponding acupuncture points are usually distant to the site of the injury. This is not always the case but is often so.

A number of conventional electrical circuits can be fitted to this model, and the diode gate is the best explanation. A diode gate is one of the basic building blocks in micro-processors. It seems that in painful conditions a semi-conductor effect blocks the free flow electric charge, thereby leading to a build up of charge, and therefore pain.

The concept of semi conduction is very important to this explanation of mechanism of the acupuncture point. One of the pioneers of modern concepts relating solid state physics, i.e., physics not involving moving parts or gasses, sometimes called semi-conduction and biology, was Albert Szent Gorgyi. He won a Nobel prize for work on Vitamin C and biological oxidation. He first introduced the concept of semi-conduction into the biological arena during the 1940s'. Before semi-conduction was suggested, only two methods of conduction of electrical current were known:

Metallic conduction, which can be viewed as clouds of electrons moving along a wire.

Ionic conduction which is the conduction of electricity using charged particles (ions). Nerve impulses are conducted in such a manner. Ionic currents work well over short distances, such as the membrane serving nerve fibres, but soon become dissipated over greater distances.

Semi-Conduction is a third means of generating and conducting a current and requires materials to have a very orderly structure so that electrons can move from one atom nucleus to another. Crystals have the necessary orderly structure. Much body tissue is in the liquid crystal state.

Semi-conductors have characteristics of both insulators and conductors, depending on temperature; they are inefficient in that they can carry only small currents but the current can be readily carried over long distances. Semi-conduction has been an essential cornerstone in the development of all aspects of electronics over the last 40 years.

The idea of a diode, which is a semi-conductor which allows the passage of current in one direction only, is central to the basic explanation of how acupuncture works. This is shown by the three following diagrams:

The current source is the body's own metabolism.

The load is the part of the body which is connected to a specific acupuncture point which is shown on the right of each diagram.

If the load or the specific tissue under question is healthy then the acupuncture point registers no abnormality. If the load is injured in some way, such as in the second diagram, then a current of injury is produced and this blocks the flow of current into the affected area. As a result the current flow from the body's metabolism (current source) backs up and the acupuncture point becomes electrically active.

The third diagram shows the acupuncture point being treated with a biphasic signal.

This is of great importance as a signal with either positive or negative polarity, and not with negative and positive polarity, which is what we mean by a biphasic signal, is the most likely input to unblock the diode and send a current into the affected area which then helps that area to heal.

One other characteristic of the biphase impulse given by the HealthTouch is the very sharp rise and fall tides. This gives a resonant wave form with very rich Fourier components. Resonance is a very important phenomena in biology, therefore the HealthTouch makes use of this, so the point is able to resonate with one or a number of the many frequencies contained within the HealthTouch wave form. This explanation suggests that acupuncture points become particularly active after injury or disease, which is exactly what is found in practice.

Acupuncture points are usually negative with respect to the surrounding skin, with a value of -0.05 millivolts as being fairly average. Higher negative values represent increased electrical activity in the corresponding anatomical area with readings of -0.25 millivolts. This is found in functional pathology where there is no actual organic change or damage. In acute conditions, this level can go up to as high as -0.75 millivolts. In extreme cases readings over-100 millivolts is usually associated with severe pain. In other situations a high positive value is found, particularly with infections, psoriasis, asthma and allergies, and readings of +0.5 millivolts are not unusual. A low permanent positive value such as 0.001 millivolts is present in some chronic conditions such as in chronic Osteo-arthritis.

What this means is that it is possible to detect acupuncture points looking at voltage change. However, the most common method used to find acupuncture points is looking for areas of high conductance or low resistance (these both mean the same thing). This is what is used in the HealthTouch, and the sensitive skin resistance meter is built in to the HealthTouch with the operator connected to the HealthTouch (part of the hand grip on the HealthTouch is electro-conductive and therefore forms one side of the circuit). Many studies have shown acupuncture points to be areas of low resistance.

The fact that semi-conductor properties are present in acupuncture points can be shown by taking the reading over an acupuncture point with a simple voltmeter. If the electrodes are reversed, and if ionic conduction was solely responsible, then the reading would remain the same but would have a different polarity, i.e., from negative to positive. In practice this rarely happens and the second measurement with the electrodes the other way round is often different in varying degrees to the first orientation of the electrodes. This indicates a partial, or in some cases total, semi-conductor effect.

What we do know from traditional Chinese acupuncture theory is that meridians do have a direction of flow going from the first numbered point on the meridian to the last numbered point on the meridian such as in the bladder meridian ( the largest meridian in the body). This starts at bladder one and ends at bladder 67. The flow is from one through all the intervening points to bladder 67.

Therefore reverse measurements as described here provide evidence for a greater flow of current in one direction than the other, therefore substantiating the ancient Chinese view of the point numbering.

What is found is that if a bi-polar electrical current is driven through a semi conductive tissue then normal conductive properties will be restored, the stored charge in the damaged area will be discharged and the resultant symptoms will disappear, often with sufficient treatment this can result in a complete disappearance of the problem. This phenomena is illustrated in the diagrams. To summarise, therefore:

Acupuncture points only become electrically active when a dysfunction is present in the body.

The size and shapes of acupuncture points appear to vary considerably. Electrical measurements reveal them in some cases to be zones within which a number of highly localised points may exist, and in other situations they appear to be highly localised points even localised within a small number of millimetres

Different acupuncture points in the zone appear to become active in different situations. The points are dynamic, becoming particularly active after injury or disease.

We do know that stimulation of a specific acupuncture point results in functional alterations in the organ or part of the organ, or soft tissue, or whatever structure is connected with the acupuncture point. This functional alteration is always in the direction of normality and can, in some cases, lead to the resolution of actual organic pathology.

In conclusion, this simple biophysical model of acupuncture can be confirmed by any reasonably committed investigator, using a simple multi-meter. This confirms the semi-conductor properties of acupuncture points and their related tissue. It also provides a scientific basis for the use of a biphasic current of stimulation, and the use of a highly resonant wave form so that each point has a selection of frequencies (harmonics) from which to choose.

This model also explains why, through repeated treatment, functional, and in many cases organic, pathology can respond and resolve. Essentially what an acupuncture point is expressing when it becomes active (in other words where disease, functional or organic, is present), is it is trying to resolve biophysically the electrical abnormality produced by the injury or disease in the affected tissue.

The use of a biphasic current over the affected point facilities this process, which in turn leads to resolution of the original pathology.

This theory, therefore, has the beauty of having considerable scientific evidence, and of it being able to be confirmed by simple experiments which can be carried out by anybody of reasonable intelligence using a multimeter. This, therefore, in turn leads to a sensible design for pieces of equipment such as the HealthTouch.

Dr Julian Jessel Kenyon MD Southampton, UK. February, 1995

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By Roger Harrabin of BBC Radio 4's Today programme

A British scientist has come up with a new theory on how the ancient Chinese medical art of acupuncture might be explained by modern science.

At the moment it is impossible to explain scientifically how sticking fine needles into the arms or legs could affect the body's vital organs. But a paper by Dr Mae Won Ho, Reader in Biology at the Open University, speculates that the needles may be creating tiny bio-electrical disturbances. These are then transmitted by the water that surrounds collagen proteins in the skin and muscles. She believes it may explain what Chinese doctors call the body's invisible energy force of chi.

Conduction by collagen

Collagen is the most commonly found protein in Collagen – it makes up bone, skin, tendons, and

our skin, muscles and tendons. The collagen cartilage, and is the most abundant protein found in

molecules are aligned into long fibres which vertebrates. The molecule usually contains three very

twist round each other like to work like a long polypeptide chains, each with about 1000 amino

three-core electrical flex, according to Dr Ho. Acids, that twist into a regularly repeating triple helix

and give tendons and skin their great tensile strength.

The Fiber of Collagen

"The alignment of the When long collagen fibrils are denatured by boiling, their

fibres is especially chains are shortened to form gelatin.

suited to the mechanical In a young person, collagen is eleastic. As a person

functions that are ages, additional cross links form between the fibrils,

performed and our which make collagen less elastic. Bones, cartilage,

theory is that it is not just and tendons becomes more brittle, and wrinkles are

mechanical, they can seen as the skin loses elasticity.

conduct electrical

current as well," she says.

The idea of water surrounding proteins conducting electrical messages through the body may sound far-fetched. But some scientists say we know so little about the way organisms work on the bioelectrical level that it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Normally water molecules are highly active - bonding with other water molecules and then switching their molecular partner in a perpetual liquid dance. But when they come in contact with a substance like collagen, they abandon the dance and arrange themselves in a sort of scaffold three or four molecules thick.

Ordered water

This is known as ordered water, according to Tony Watts, professor of bio-chemistry at Oxford. He says: "It is well established that water does order itself when it meets up with protein like collagen. And so water does form large networks of ordered molecules on the surface on a wide range of biological molecules."

The ordered water networks appear neither

liquid nor solid - more of a type of liquid crystal, <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

rather like the liquid crystals in many computer screens and watches. Research at the University of Wales and also in America suggests that it is possible to improve the electrical conductivity of proteins like collagen by surrounding them with a coat of water. Dr Ho postulates in The American Journal of Alternative Medicine that the very special layer of water round collagen in the body makes it ideal for the transmission of tiny bio-electrical impulses from one part of the body to another. She thinks the structured water networks along the chains of collagen proteins may just be the channels of vital energy that acupuncturists refer to as meridians. "What we think is that the kind of conducting water channels that more or less follow the collagen fibres may correspond to the so-called meridians of the acupuncture channels. So when you put a needle in you are giving a local electrical stimulation which then enables this positive electricity to be conducted to some distant sites."

New approach

Until now the only scientific verification of how acupuncture works has been by studying how it affects the production of natural pain-killers. Dr. George Lewith, a physician at Southampton Hospital who also researches into complementary medicine, says this is now widely understood. "When you give someone acupuncture, it stimulates the release of opium like substances - or endorphins - and these very effectively block pain," he says. But pain is a small part of acupuncture theory. In fact the most scientifically conclusive effect of acupuncture is in treating nausea by needling an acupuncture point on the wrist - and that's nothing to do with pain relief. Dr Ho proposes a series of experiments to test her highly speculative hypothesis as to how such an effect might be achieved. But researchers in the field say grants for this sort of basic science are very hard to obtain - especially if they refer to something like complementary medicine.

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Liquid Crystal, substance that behaves like both a liquid and a solid. The molecules in liquid crystals can move past each other relatively easily, much like molecules in a liquid. However, all the molecules in a liquid crystal tend to be oriented in the same manner, much like the molecular arrangement in a solid crystal. Liquid crystals retain their dual liquid and solid nature only over a certain range of temperatures and pressures.

At sufficiently high temperatures or low pressures, the orientational order relaxes into random molecular rotations, causing a liquid crystal to become an ordinary liquid. At sufficiently low temperatures or high pressures, molecules in a liquid crystal cease being able to easily move by each other, and the liquid crystal freezes into an ordinary solid.

The many classes of liquid crystals include nematic, cholesteric, and various kinds of smectic phases, each characterized by a different spatial arrangement of the molecules. The optical properties of a liquid crystal can often be manipulated by subjecting the liquid crystal to a magnetic or electric field that changes the orientation of its molecules. For example, by applying a small electric field, certain liquid crystal substances change from clear to murky, or gain the ability to rotate polarized light (see Optics). These types of liquid crystals are used to construct displays used in digital watches, calculators, miniature television sets, portable computers, and other items. Liquid-crystal displays are sharper and often use less power than conventional displays.

Some liquid crystals reflect different wavelengths of light depending on the orientation of its molecules. The orientation of the molecules depends on the temperature. These types of liquid crystals are used in thermometers that display different colors corresponding to the temperature of the substance with which the liquid crystal is in contact.

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How is internal Qi produced? First of all internal Qi is produced from material and thus should be considered as a material phenomenon. As, breathing, the practitioner’s mental activity plays an important role in the formation of internal Qi. Actually, focusing the mind is a process of affecting physiological activity through mental activity. Because mental activity is cerebral action, focusing the mind is cerebration. The area of focus is in the cerebrum. This center supplies bio-electricity to related organs and tissue. Scientific experiment has proved that bio-electric changes become more obvious with the strengthening of the mind focusing ability. Electricity grows in the area of focus and drops in other areas. This indicates that the metabolism of the related organs and tissues is changed by mental suggestion. It is said "Where the mind rests the force will be". Thus internal Qi is fostered gradually by the mind. The warm flowing property of internal Qi shows bio-electricity in operation.

Healing The Body Electric

By Bryn Orr

It is commonly accepted that the human organism has many systems which support life. The skeletal, circulatory, muscular and endocrine systems are examples of this. However, there is also a subtle system that co-ordinates the functioning of these other systems into one harmonious whole; this is the human bio-electrical system.

The bio-electrical system is made up of pathways of higher and lower electrical resistance, known as meridians. Along these pathways are specific points which share these electrical characteristics. These are often referred to as acupuncture points. There are twelve such meridians, each with a number of points, and each connects to a particular organ. The function of the meridians is to supply the correct amount of bio-electricity to their respective organs. This then controls the level of functioning of the organ. If there is too much energy and the organ is hyperactive; too little energy and the functioning will be sluggish. Acupuncture and chi kung massage treatments restore the energy to a correct level within each organ and balance the functioning of all organs as a collective unit.

However, such replenishment of energy levels to restore organ function is not the limit of the therapeutic benefits of such treatments. You can see each organ energy is also associated with other bodily systems and with an emotional response, for example, the lung energy and the emotions of grief and courage. When the lung energy is healthy one will feel brave and ready to accept life's challenges.

The meridian energy is controlled by eight master meridians (the eight extra vessels) which function like energy reservoirs that feed the twelve regular meridians. These meridians are also used in acupuncture but not to the same extent as the twelve. Chi kung health restoration practices specialise in teaching the practitioner to control the energy flow of these eight master meridians.

The eight are in turn fed by the energy of the chakras. These act like transformers, converting celestial energies into bio-chemical secretions and visa versa. It is no coincidence that the chakras locations correspond to the endocrine (hormonal) glands. After all, Western science has long known of the effect of hormones on the functioning of the entire human organism. The chakras are the super-conscious minds way of controlling and co-ordinating all of our systems into one cohesive unit. Various energy healing modalities use the chakra system to restore homeostasis to our physical and emotional lives; radionics, reiki and the kahi technique from Kahuna shamanism are good examples.

The idea of conserving the sexual energy found in yoga, chi kung and druidic practice, has to do with the heightening of the functions of the chakras, for when we conserve our sexual hormones the respective gland eventually becomes full. When this gland is full the body will stop expending energy to fill it and will become to fill the next gland up the ladder. When the pineal and pituitary glands are reached then, according to yogic and taoist scripture, enlightenment is achieved. Along with enlightenment comes siddhis or extra ordinary human functions. These functions include clairvoyance, clairaudience, ESP, psychokinesis and out of body states.

The final component of the human bio-electrical system are the various fields of energy that surround the human body. These fields are collectively known as the aura. The aura has received a great deal of attention in modern times because illness often shows up here long before physical symptoms arise. It is for this reason that Penn State University (USA) has been developing an advanced diagnostic system by mapping the electro-magnetic flow in and around the human body. These fields consist of electro-magnetic electrodynamic convection and ultra-faint luminescent energies, giving us a total of seven distinct layers these seven may well be directly linked to the functions of the seven major chakras, although more research needs to be conducted in this area.

Bioelectricity

The scientific evidence of qi has been acquired by measuring its correlate, bioelectricity. Although qigong causes obvious physical changes e.g. relaxed muscles and improved respiration and posture; its most powerful healing effects are due to its influence on the body's electromagnetic energy. A healthy body creates healthy energy, and, similarly, healthy bioelectricity (qi), creates a healthy body. Nerve sheaths, carry a current of electricity prompting the body to grow, heal, regenerate, or repair itself. Any change in health is always accompanied by electrical changes both at the site of injury or repair and is an electromagnetic field around the body. The strength, polarity and delivery of electricity determines how and if we heal.

Evidence is that during qigong, the ability of acupuncture points to conduct an electric charge, changes dramatically. When a qigong practitioner concentrates on a particular energy point, the skin resistance at that point goes down relative to other energy points on the body (significance: more energy can flow).

Biochemicals

Emotions occur in the mind and body. Neuropeptides are created, and flow to various parts of the body. This is why we feel profound restfulness when the mind is contented, a queasy stomach when we are anxious, or a racing heart when we are in love. Two facts show a close connection between neuropeptides and qi. First, neuropeptides like qi, are produced in response to state of mind and influence the health of the internal organs. Second, there are neuropeptide receptor sites located on immune cells. This means that, like qi, neuropeptides form a link between consciousness and immunity, mind and body.

DHEA (dehydroepaindrosterone) is the most abundant natural steroid in the human body. It is required for sex hormone synthesis and is found in equal concentrations in the brain and in the adrenal cortex. Concentrations vary with individuals and age. High levels are correlated with youthfulness, less disease and a more competent immune system. DHEA is generally near its peak during one's twenties and then steadily declines, ebbing more quickly in response to stress or disease. Low levels of DHEA have been linked with cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, allergies, heart disease, and most autoimmune diseases. This parallels the traditional Chinese understanding of jing i.e. the essence jing as generally used and sexual qi in Daoist terminology. Qigong theory maintains that jing, like DHEA, is found in the adrenals and brain, and is an indicator of sexual vitality and resistance to disease. Jing is nurtured by quietness and tranquillity and destroyed by hastiness and stress. Therefore to increase qi, we need to reduce stress and practice healing techniques like qigong and meditation. In addition moderate sunbathing has been reported to raise DHEA levels.

Bioluminescence

All living cells emit light (biophotons), i.e. they are bioluminescent. Scientists have been studying bioluminescence, also known as "dark luminescence" since the light emission is very weak. The unit of light, the photon has no mass, making it like qi, more of a function than a substance. The energy of photons is transmitted in whole units (quanta), and does not weaken as it travels any distance. In scientific experiments qigong masters have emitted qi over long distances without the qi losing its intensity. Biophotons are also emitted from living tissue. This behaviour of light seems to scientifically explain the belief that light is a characteristic of life. Biophotons emitted from the living tissue's electromagnetic field, if in phase with each other, are more intense. This can account for the widely held belief that the human body has an aura. Bioluminescence is the possible scientific reason. Some individuals could be unusually sensitive to bioluminescence, and could be "seeing " this phenomenon as varying degrees of light or aura or in colour.