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Do acupuncture meridians exist? Correlation with referred itch (mitempfindung) stimulus and referral points
1Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. m.silberstein@curtin.edu.au
Objective:
To describe the relationship between referred itch (mitempfindung) stimulus and referral points and acupuncture meridians, noting that the neuroanatomical mechanism of mitempfindung has never previously been satisfactorily explained.
Methods:
Analysis of clinical findings in the author as well as subjects in four previously described studies, comparing proportions in each of five groups.
Results:
Ninety-two per cent (range 85-94%) of mitempfindung point pairs (stimulus and referral) aligned to a recognised acupuncture meridian with no statistical difference (p<0.05) between the five data sources.
Conclusion:
While previous authors have speculated on an association between mitempfindung and acupuncture, this is the first description of a relationship between stimulus and referral points and acupuncture meridians. The author suggests that the transmission of mitempfindung along acupuncture meridians may involve a series of C-fibre-Merkel cell relays, with the final referred itch sensation caused by substance P release triggering mast cell degranulation.
