2nd lntemationalConference on Bioelectromagnetism
Physiological Significance of the
MIeridian System
Kuo-Gen Chen, Prof. Ph.D.
Department of Physics, Soochow University
Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
ABSTRACT: The meridian system exhibits
special
electrical
properties
(current
conduction, wave propagation and preferential
direction) and is the fundamental network for
communicating biological matter, energy and
information. [ I , 21 It is particu Larly important to
the embryo during early stages of development.
The meridian ,system integrates the cells prior to
the appearance of developed systems, such as
the circulation and nervous systems. Because
the meridian system keeps its primitive
properties and is not a pipe-like structure, it is
the most “tunable” network in a living organism
and can be used in diagnosis and treatment in
traditional Chinese medicine and the
electrodermal screening test.
1. INTRODUCTION
The electrical properties of meridians have been
studied by many researchers since the first half
of this century. Nakatani [3] found that many
points on the skin have high electric potential.
He called the lines connecting these points
ryodoraku, which means “good conduction
lines.” Most of these characteristic points and
lines were confirmed to be acupuncture points
and meridians of traditional Chinese medicine.
[4,5] Reichmianis et al [6] also found that
acupuncture ]points have a larger capacitance
than neighboling skin.
Our studies, which are based on a new
model which also considers electric conduction,
cellular polarization and defense regulation,
show that the meridians possess good electric
conduction, electromagnetic wave propagation,
and preferential direction. Therefore, the
meridian system is a good network for
communicating biological matter, energy and
information. But in living organisms there are
other systems that communicate matter and
information. I[s it necessary to have the meridian
system in addition to circulation and nervous
systems?
2. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
MERIDIAN SYSTEM IN BIOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT
A fertilized egg, though split into several cells,
February 1998, Melboume AUSTRALIA
still forms a living organism. The egg is highly
integrated through the communication of
biological matter, energy and information
between the cells. If this is not done then they
will die or develop into several independent
living organisms. Particularly in the early stages
of development, before the circulation and
nervous systems appear, cellular integration is
achieved by a network of primitive meridians.
However, at a certain critical stage the
number of cells in the organism increases to the
point that the primitive function of meridians is
not adequate to integrate them. It is at this point
that new communication networks of a higher
functional level appear. The developed systems,
including blood vessels to transport matter and
nerves to transmit electric signals, begin to
appear and take over or supplement meridian
functions. Both meridian and developed systems
continue to develop and interweave as the
embryo grows. When the baby is born, these two
types of systems are almost complete. The
meridian system continues to function as an
inter-network connecting individual cells and
the developed systems. They supplement,
compliment and influence one another to
guarantee perfect physiological functioning.
3. THE CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF
THE FLEXIBILITY OF MERIDIANS
Because the meridian system preserves its
primitive structure and function at all times, it is
the most “tunable” network in a living organism,
and its electric conduction, wave propagation
and preferential direction can be influenced by
external forces and by the condition of the
internal systems. In acupuncture-type treatments
thin needle, pressure or heat is used to affect a
meridian. This extemal force affects the
meridians and “adjusts” their communications,
which has a positive effect on the related
internal system.
This relationship also works in the opposite
direction. Impending disease or infection will
disturb the meridians first and then influence the
developed systems in later stages. In other words,
the beginnings of disease inside the body will
first effect the meridians, and these changes in
the meridians can be measured as changes in
electrical properties at meridian points on the
skin.
Voll [7] used the electrical properties of
meridians to diagnose patients beginning in the
early 1950’s. He applied a small dc voltage at
specific acupuncture points on the human skin
and recorded the response currents. This data
could then be interpreted clinically. The peak
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2nd lntemational Conferenceon Bioelectromagnetism
current denotes the conductance or the energy
flux of the body while the drop from the peak to
the final value shows the degeneration of the
measured meridian system. This method is now
called the electrodermal screening test (EDST).
4. DISSCUSION
In traditional Chinese medicine the developed
systems are not independent of the meridians.
For example, the lung meridian is understood as
including the lung organ, its functioning and its
characteristic network for signal propagation.
All classical meridians are defined in this
manner. One could argue that physiology as
understood in traditional Chinese medicine is
more complete than standard modern physiology,
because it includes both matter, energy and
information, not just the physical organ.
The discoveries of Nakatani, Reichmanis,
Voll, and others make possible the scientific
recognition of the signrficance of the meridian
system in the human body. My results of the
meridian study depicted further the essence of
such a system for biological communication.
With the EDST,we all have a common scientific
method to objectively measure meridian function,
both qualitatively and quantitatively. This
facilitates communication between Eastern and
Western medicine researchers and prxtitioners
and will allow us to integrate Eastern and
Western medcal systems in the near future.
February 1998, Melboume AUSTRALIA
5. REFERENCES
[l] CT. Lan, KG. Chen, “Electrical
identification and polarity of pericardium
meridian”, Master Thesis, National Yang-Ming
University, Taiwan, 1993.
[2] KG. Chen, ‘‘Electrical properties of
meridians, with an overview of the
electrodermal screening test”, IEEE Eng
Medicine & Biology, May/June, 15(3),1996,
pp.58-63.
[3] Y. Nakatani, “Skin electric resistance and
ryodoraku”, J Autonomic Nerve, 6:52, 1956.
[4] JEH. Niboyet, “Nouvelle Constations sur les
Proprites Electriques des Points Chinois”, B11
SOCAcup, 30:7, 1958.
[5] ZX. Zhu, “Research advances in the
electrical specificity of meridians and
acupuncture points”, Am J Acupunct, (9) 1981,
pp.203-2 16.
[6] M. Reichmanis, A. Marino, R. Becker,
“Electrical correlates of acupuncture points”,
E E E Trans Biomed Eng, (2) 1975, pp.533-535.
[7] R. Voll, “Twenty years of electroacupuncture
diagnosis in Germany: A progress report”, Am J
Acupunct, (3) 1975, pp.7-17.
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