Observation On The Drug Action Of Point Injection Along The Spleen Channel Of Foot-Taiyin

Abstract: Objective To explore the drug action of the liquid medicines which can affect'spleen'function and are injected into the acupuncture points or the non-acupuncture spots along the spleen channel of Foot-Taiyin.Methods According to the TCM theory that the spleen is responsible for keeping blood within the vessels, Warfarin, belonging to Dicoumarol family, is used to make a patho-bleeding model of rabbit, causing prothrombin time (PT) and bolus alba partial thromboplastin time (APTT) extending obviously, so it can be taken as the model of spleen failing to control blood. To inject Vitk1 into some selected acupuncture points or non-acupuncture spots along the spleen channel of Foot-Taiyin in opposition to the bleeding effect of Warfarin, and compare the results with that of intramuscular injection (IM); On the basis of another function of spleen, that is transporting nutrients upwards, and its relation with immune system, to use Rhubarb, a drug of bitter taste, cold nature and having purgative effect, to produce physical signs such as rectal temperature dropping, diarrhea and low spirits, and immunological abnormality (the indexes are serum IgM, the RBC C3bR rosette formation rate, function of phagocyte in peripheral blood), which are considerable characteristics of rabbit model of deficiency of spleen-energy. To inject immunomodulator lentinan ( LNT) into related acupuncture points along the spleen channel of such rabbit model, observe the change of physical signs and immune function, and compare it with that employing IM.Results Vitk1 injected in both administration routes, which are point injection and IM, can rectify PT and APTT extending aroused by Warfarin, but the application of point injection does a better job than that of IM, especially in Xuehai (SP12), Diji (SP8) and non-acupuncture spotâ…¡; Injection of LNT through different routes can both promote, in varied extent, immune function of the animal model of deficiency of spleen-energy in three aspects mentioned above. The rabbit serum IgM concentration and the RBC C3bR rosette formation rate increase more after injecting LNT into three acupuncture points of spleen channel than after injecting LNT intramuscularly. As to serum IgM, Sanyinjiao (SP6) has the strongest effect (comparing with IM, P<0.01). As to the RBC C3bR rosette formation rate, Xuehai (SP12) is best (comparing with IM, P<0.01). As far as the phagocytosis rate and phagocytosis index of phagocyte in peripheral blood are concerned, however, there is no significant difference between the groups; Injecting LNT into three acupuncture points of spleen channel can evidently improve the physical signs of rabbits of deficiency of spleen-energy, while injecting LNT intramuscularly has no such effect.Conclusions In pathologic state, the fact that injecting medicines effective to spleen function into both acupuncture points and non-acupuncture spots along the spleen channel can enhance the drug action, though the intensity differs respectively, shows a similar trend. This implies that the tissues of meridian and acupuncture may process drugs in a way other than the convention when common route of administration is applied. Tissues along the meridians may capable of identifying and choosing foreign chemicals of their own initiative so as to integrate and amplify drug action.