Observation Of Acupoint Reaction For Allergic Rhinitis Based On Infrared Thermal Imaging Detection And Traditional Acupoint Diagnosis Technology

ObjectiveThis research aims to observe the reaction of specific acupoints and corresponding Back-shu points of lung meridian,large intestine meridian,spleen meridian,kidney meridian through infrared thermal imaging detection and traditional meridian and acupoint palpation.Methods73 AR patients were enrolled in this research.Infrared thermal imager and traditional meridian and acupoint palpation were used to examine the temperature and reaction of acupoints of AR patients.20 acupoints were selected for examination which included Chize(LU5),Kongzui(LU6),Lieque(LU7)Taiyuan(LU9),Quchi(LI11),Wenliu(LI17),Pianli(LI6),Hegu(LI4),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8),Gongsun(SP4,Taibai(SP3),Yingu(KI10),Shuiquan(KI5),Dazhong(KI4),Taixi(KI3),Feishu(BL13),Pishu(BL20),Shenshu(BL23)and Dachangshu(BL25).8healthy people were selected for infrared thermal imaging detection.The temperature of acupoints on both left and right side of these healthy subjects were examined and documented.Results1Comparison of infrared thermal imaging test results1.1 Comparison of acupoints'temperatures of AR patientsOf the 20 selected acupoints(Chize(LU5),Kongzui(LU6),Lieque(LU7),Taiyuan(LU9),Quchi(LI11),Wenliu(LI17),Pianli(LI6),Hegu(LI4),Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8),Gongsun(SP4),Taibai(SP3),Yingu(KI10),Shuiquan(KI5),Dazhong(KI4),Taixi(KI3),Feishu(BL13)\Pishu(BL20),Shenshu(BL23)and Dachangshu(BL25)),the difference in temperatures between the left and the right of the 73 AR patients were compared.We discovered that5 acupoints namely:Kongzui(LU6)and Taiyuan(LU9)of the lung meridian,Wenliu(LI17)and Hegu(LI4)of the large intestine meridian,Gongsun(SP4)of the spleen meridian have significant difference(P<0.01)between the temperature of left and right side.3 acupoints namely:Pianli(LI6)of the large intestine meridian,Yinlingquan(SP9)and Taibai(SP3)of the spleen meridian have difference(P<0.05)between the temperature of left and right side.The temperature of left and right side of the above 8 acupoints was imbalance.The remaining 12acupoints did not show statistical difference in the temperature of both sides.1.2Comparison of acupoints'temperatures of healthy subjectsOf the 20 acupoints in the 8 healthy subjects,statistical difference was not shown between the temperatures of left and right acupoint(P>0.05).2Comparison of traditional meridian and acupoint palpation test results2.1The incidence of tenderness and the frequency of incidence of tenderness of acupointsThe above 20 acupoints were examined in 52 patients selected from 73 subjects.All 20 acupoints showed tenderness reactions.According to the correlation of meridians and Zang-fu organs,the above 20 acupoints were divided into four groups which were group A(Chize(LU5),Kongzui(LU6),Lieque(LU7)Taiyuan(LU9)and Feishu(BL13)),group B(Quchi(LI11),Wenliu(LI17),Pianli(LI6),Hegu(LI4)and Dachangshu(BL25)),group C(Yinlingqun(SP9),Diji(SP8),Gongsun(SP4),Taihai(SP3)and Pishu(BL20)),group D(Yingu(KI10),Shuiquan(KI5),Dazhong(KI4),Taixi(K13)and Shenshu(BL23)).The results and comparison of palpation of acupoints in each group are as below.2.1.1The incidence rates of tenderness in acupoints(1)Acupoints of the lung meridian and Feishu(BL13)Incidence rates of group A are as follows:Kongzui(LU6)81%,Chize(LU5)79%,Feishu(BL13)70%,Taiyuan(LU9)42%and Lieque(LU7)40%.Kongzui(LU6),Chize(LU5)and Feishu(BL13)were each compared with Lieque(LU7),Taiyuan(LU9)respectively and showed statistical difference(P<0.01);Whereas,comparison between Kongzui(LU6)and Chize(LU5),Feishu(BL13);Chize(LU5)and Feishu(BL13);Taiyuan(LU9)and Feishu(BL13)did not show statistical difference(P>0.05).(2)Acupoints of the large intestine meridian and Dachangshu(BL25)Incidence rates of group B are as follows:Hegu(LI4)98%,Quchi(LI11)61%,Wenliu(LI17)60%,Pianli(LI6)50%,and Dachangshu(BL25)40%.Comparison between Hegu(LI4)and Quchi(LI11)Wenliu(LI17),Pianli(LI6),Dachangshu(BL25)respectively showed statistical difference(P<0.01);Whereas,comparison between Quchi(LI11)and Wenliu(LI17),Pianli(LI6),Dachangshu(BL25);Wenliu(LI17)and Pianli(LI6),Dachangshu(BL25)did not show statistical difference(P>0.05).(3)Acupoints of the spleen meridian and Pishu(BL20)Incidence rates of group C are as follows:Yinlingquan(SP9)90%,Diji(SP8)88%,Gongsun(SP4)80%,Taibai(SP3)65%,and Pishu(BL20)46%.Comparison between Yinlingquan(SP9),Diji(SP8)andTaibai(SP3),Pishu(BL20)respectively;Gongsun(SP4)and Pishu(BL20);Taibai(SP3)and Pishu(EL20)showed significant difference(P<0.01).Comparison of Gongsun(SP4)with Yinlingquan(SP9),Taibai(SP3)respectively showed statistical difference(P<0.05).Whereas,comparison between Yinlingquan(SP9)and Diji(SPS);Diji(SP8)and Gongsun(SP4)did not show statistical difference(P>0.05).(4)Acupoints of the kidney meridian and Shenshu(BL23)Incidence rates of group D are as follows:Shuiquan(KI5)83%,Dazhong(KI4)67%,Taixi(KI3)65%,Shenshu(BL23)54%,Yingu(KI10)30%.Comparison of Shuiquan(KI5)with Taixi(KI3),Shenshu(BL23),Yingu(KI10)respectively;Yingu(KI10)with Dazhong(K14),Taixi(KI3),Shenshu(BL23)respectively showed significant difference(P<0.01).Comparison of Dazhong(KI4)with Shuiquan(KI5),Shenshu(BL23)respectively showed statistical difference(P<0.05).Whereas,comparison between Taixi(KI3)and Dazhong(KI4),Shenshu(BL23)did not show statistical difference(P>0.05).2.1.2Comparison of frequency of incidence of tenderness between each group of acupointsThe frequency of incidence of tenderness of four groups'acupoints(group A,B,C,D)were analyzed quantitatively.Results showed that there was significant difference between group C and group B(P<0.01).There was difference between group C and group A,group C and group D(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference between other groups(P>0.05).2.2Comparison of incidence of tenderness of specific acupointsThe incidence of tenderness of cleft point,primary point,sea point,connecting point and Back-shu point was 78%,68%,65%,59%and 53%respectively.There was significant difference between cleft point and other specific points,primary point and Back-shu point,sea point and Back-shu point(P<0.01).There was difference between primary point and connecting point(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference between other specific points(P>0.05).2.3Comparison of incidence of tenderness of spleen meridian,large intestine meridian,lung meridian and kidney meridianThe incidence of tenderness of spleen meridian,large intestine meridian,lung meridian,kidney meridian was 100%,98%,92%and 90%respectively.There was no statistical difference between other meridians(P>0.05).3 Acupoints with positive reactions in both infrared thermal imaging test and traditional meridian and acupoint palpationAcupoints which had imbalance in the temperature of left and right acupoint and higher positive reactions of the incidence of tenderness are as follows:Yinlingquan(SP9)50%,Hegu(L14)48%.The incidence rates of positive reactions for remaining 18 acupoints were below 40%.Conclusion1.The temperatures ofHegu(LI4),Yinlingquan(SP9)are imbalance in left and right side,and the incidence rates of tenderness in these acupoints are highest,which suggests that these acupoints have higher correlation with moderate-severe AR with kidney yang deficiency.2.Cleft point has the highest frequency of incidence of tenderness in specific acupoints,which suggests the close relationship of cleft point with moderate-severe AR with kidney yang deficiency.3.The temperature of acupoints of lung meridian,large intestine meridian and spleen meridian are imbalance in left and right side of the body.The incidence of tenderness in acupoints of lung meridian,large intestine meridian,spleen meridian and kidney meridian are high.These results suggest that these four meridians have correlation with moderate-severe AR with kidney yang deficiency.