Role of dermatomes in the determination of therapeutic characteristics of channel acupoints: a similarity-based analysis of data compiled from literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Analysis of the relationship between the nervous system anatomy and the therapeutic characteristics of all acupuncture points in the channel network may provide new insights on the physiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture stimulation for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation purposes. This study investigates the association between the similarity of acupoints' dermatomes, traditional actions, and contemporary indications.

Methods

CHANNEL ACUPOINTS HAD THEIR CHARACTERISTICS ANNOTATED FROM A LITERATURE REVIEW OF FOUR TOPOGRAPHIC ATLASES OF CHINESE MEDICINE AND ONE ATLAS OF HUMAN ANATOMY: initials of the channel's name (n = 14), sequential number in the channel (n = 67), acupoint's name (n = 361), dermatomes related to perpendicular needle insertion (n = 3

SUBMITTER: Ferreira AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4129182 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature