[An approach to mechanism of function of auricular point]

This investigation was performed with thirty adult rabbits which divided auricular vagus, great auricular, cervical sympathetic and all auricular denervation. By gastrointestinal electro-physiologic methods, the changes of gastrointestinal electric activity in corpus, antrum, duodenum and colon were observed with car needing to evaluate the mechanism of function of auricular point.

In intact car innervation, the changes of gastrointestinal electric activity on ear needling were obvious (P less than 0.05-0.01). While the one with ear nerve selected showed that influence of ear acupuncture still remained, but when the whole auricle was denervated the influence of ear needling on gastrointestinal electric activity obviously deceased or disappeared. pro- and post needing the changes on gastrointestinal electric activity were not statistically different (P greater than 0.05). Recordings at the four parts of digestive tract gave similar results in frequency, amplitude, motility index, action area integral. Exerting stimulation on gastric vagus or sympathetic nerves could bring about double phase modulatory (excitatory or inhibitory). The above revealed that the functions of ear point in diagnosis and therapy is not due to one kind of nerves in periphery. The functions of ear point at innervation may be in its entirety. It was reported that function of ear points has something to do with auricular vagus or great auricular or sympathetic nerves, but, this is only one side of the matter. Moreover, since auricular point are associated with various propagation tracts and with modulation of nerve centers, their mechanism is very complicated and needs to be further studies.