Response of Local Nitric Oxide Release to Manual Acupuncture and Electrical Heat in Humans: Effects of Reinforcement Methods

Figure 1

Representation of a biocapture device with a semicylindrical molded tube taped to the skin surface over meridians. The pericardium (PC) meridian and lung (LU) meridian lines and related acupuncture points are illustrated on left panel and right panel, respectively. The region from PC4 to PC6 is defined as acupoint (PC-P, 3 acupoints), the distance between PC3 and PC4 is defined as meridian line without acupoint (PC-WO), and nonmeridian control is the region close to PC meridian (PC-C). The region overlapping LU7 and LU8 is defined as acupoint (LU-P, 2 acupoints), the distance between LU6 and LU7 represents meridian line without acupoint (LU-WO), and nonmeridian control is nonmeridian area adjacent to the meridian (LU-C). LU11 denotes the acupoint in which a heat stimuli or moxibustion was applied, and a small probe sensor was placed on the surface of the heated area, and the temperature was controlled by a temperature controller. The device was adhered to the skin surface using a custom double-sided adhesive, and NO-scavenging solution (100 M PTIO) was injected into the tubing over the skin surface for 20 min in order to directly absorb NO.