Acupuncture Points, Electrical Potential, Healthy Individuals
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to characterize the surface electrical potential of acupuncture points with a Scanning Kelvin Probe.
Detailed description
Acupuncture points are anatomical structures described by traditional Chinese medicine. To this day, however, their scientific and Western anatomical characterizations remain unclear. Past studies have suggested that acupuncture points are distinct electrically (increased electrical conductivity). To evaluate this claim, this study uses a Scanning Kelvin Probe to study the electrical potential of three acupuncture points and their respective adjacent controls in 24 healthy individuals. The Scanning Kelvin Probe is a novel device that measures the electrical potential of skin without actually touching the skin surface.
Interventions
OTHERnot applicable in this study
No actual interventions will be administered for this study.
Sponsors
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Individuals without chronic medical condition requiring daily medications (hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc).
Exclusion criteria
* Individuals with autonomic disorders (sweating irregularities), skin disorders, extensive burns/scars on the hand, tremors, neuromuscular conditions, restless leg syndrome, movement disorders, and implanted cardiac defibrillator/pacemaker
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Potential at Acupuncture points | One day | Scanning Kelvin Probe measurements of electrical potentials at 3 predetermined acupuncture points. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed