Using Ultrasound and Acupuncture to Explore the De-qi Location and Reaction of Specific Acupoints

China Medical University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Ultrasound Imaging; de qi of Acupuncture

Treatments: Device: Acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05872906

CMUH112-REC2-016

Details and patient eligibility

About

According to ancient literature, when de qi occurs in the process of acupuncture, the patient may experience sensations such as soreness, numbness, heaviness, swelling. Meanwhile, the acupuncturist may experience the sensation of "a fish taking a bite from the bait on a hook". However, for a beginner at acupuncture, before they have learned to trigger the de qi sensation, it is hard for them to learn according to the ambiguous definition of "a fish taking a bite from the bait on a hook" and thus hard to know whether they have reached the correct location and stimulated de-qi. In this study, through multiple experienced acupuncturists acupuncture multiple test subjects, the investigators will locate the location and the reaction of de qi on the acupoint Quchi (LI11) with ultrasound observation and recording. Through the ultrasound teaching and guidance, the investigators will test whether it is possible to reversely use ultrasound imaging to guide less experienced acupuncturists to the de qi location and elicit de qi response on multiple test subjects. Therefore, the investigators propose this study to test the following hypothesis:"There is a specific anatomical site where de qi occurs at LI11, and it is possible to use ultrasound imaging to guide learners to reach that location and trigger de-qi and that it is applicable to other acupoints". To explore the above hypothesis, the investigators will target the following specific aims. Aim 1: Use ultrasound record and indicate the precise anatomical location and reaction when de qi occurs on acupoint LI11. Aim 2: Simultaneously record the physicians' needling sensations, the participants' needling sensations, twitch response of the participant under ultrasound images. Aim 3: Prove the feasibility of using ultrasound to guide inexperienced physicians to reach the correct location and elicit de qi sensation on the participants. Aim 4: Discuss the relationship between de qi and pulse diagnosis. Aim 5: Apply the above procedures to other acupuncture points such as LU5(Chize), PC3 (Quze),...etc.

Enrollment: 6 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age ≥ 20 years and healthy subjects

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy
• patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic hepatitis, chronic kidney disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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6 participants in 1 patient group

Acupuncture

Experimental group

Description:

All subjects will receive acupuncture at LI11, ST36, SP10, SP9, SP6, ST34, BL39, KI10, LIV8, LI10, HT3, SI8, LI4, PC6, HT7, GB34, GB40, KI3, BL2, GB20, LIV3, BL62, KI6, BI57, ST40, KI7 and be recorded with simultaneous ultrasound imaging, external video, and required to fill out sensation sheets. Pulse diagnosis will be taken after de qi is achieved.

Treatment:

Device: Acupuncture