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CompletedNCT04172298Updated Nov 21, 2019

The Study on the Relationship Among Meridian, Acupoint and Internal Visceral Organs

An interventional study of sham electroacupuncture (EA) session and Zusanli session in Meridian, sponsored by China Medical University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-11-21.

Sponsored by China Medical University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 2 years 3 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Aug 2017, registered Nov 2019).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
33
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
20 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study on the relationship among meridian, acupoint and internal

Read the detailed description

Meridian system is the pathway of transporting qi and blood, and that distributes all the body. Meridian system connects to internal visceral organs interior, and also connects to joints (or acupoint) exterior. The relationship among meridian, acupoints and internal visceral organs is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among meridian, acupoints and internal visceral organs. Total 33 subjects randomly finished three sessional studies as follows: 1) sham electroacupuncture (EA) session: the stainless steels acupuncture needles inserted into the subcutaneous layer of Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupints (anion) , and the needles connected to EA stimulator, but no electric discharge for 30 min; 2) Zusanli session: the acupuncture needles inserted into Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupoints (anion), and twisting obtain qi, and the needles then connected to EA stimulator, the frequency was 2 Hz, the duration was 30 min, and the intensity was visual slightly muscle contraction; 3) Shaohai session: the methods were identical Zusanli group, but Shaohai acupoint (cathode), and 3 cm below Shaohai (anion) . The major outcome measure was the changes of the percentage of gastric slow wave and dysrhythmia in 30 min electrogastrogram recordings, and the changes of cardiac output and stroke volume in 30 min recordings. Secondary outcome measure was the changes of saliva, blood and urine metabolites.

The investigators predict the results of the present study can test and verify meridian theory of traditional Chinese Medicine, meridian system connects internal visceral organ interior, and connects joint (or acupoint) exterior.

02

Conditions studied

  • Meridian

Keywords

  • Meridian
  • Internal visceral organs
  • Zusanli
  • Shaohai
  • Acupoint
03

In context

Lead sponsor

China Medical University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 479 studies on the registry; 115 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Gender:male or female.
  2. Age:from 20 years old (inclusive) to 50 years old (inclusive).
  3. After detailed description of the entire research purpose or process, voluntarily participate in the study and sign the consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Cancer, congestive hear failured NYHA class>II, COPD attack.
  2. History of esophagus and gastroduodenal surgery、Barrett's esophagus.
  3. Can not accept acupuncture points stimulators.
  4. Allergic to acupuncture needles.
  5. Has a mental illness or is unable to cooperate with the researcher.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
33 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    sham electroacupuncture (EA) session

    The stainless steels acupuncture needles inserted into the subcutaneous layer of Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupints (anion) , and the needles connected to EA stimulator, but no electric discharge for 30 min.

    Other: sham electroacupuncture (EA) session

  • Experimental
    Zusanli session

    The acupuncture needles inserted into Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupoints (anion), and twisting obtain qi, and the needles then connected to EA stimulator, the frequency was 2 Hz, the duration was 30 min, and the intensity was visual slightly muscle contraction.

    Other: Zusanli session

  • Experimental
    Shaohai session

    The methods were identical Zusanli group, but Shaohai acupoint (cathode), and 3 cm below Shaohai (anion).

    Other: Shaohai session

Interventions

  • Othersham electroacupuncture (EA) session

    The stainless steels acupuncture needles inserted into the subcutaneous layer of Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupints (anion) , and the needles connected to EA stimulator, but no electric discharge for 30 min.

  • OtherZusanli session

    The acupuncture needles inserted into Zusanli (cathode) and Shangjuxu acupoints (anion), and twisting obtain qi, and the needles then connected to EA stimulator, the frequency was 2 Hz, the duration was 30 min, and the intensity was visual slightly muscle contraction.

  • OtherShaohai session

    The methods were identical Zusanli group, but Shaohai acupoint (cathode), and 3 cm below Shaohai (anion).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. electrogastrogram recordings

    the changes of the percentage of gastric slow wave .

    Time frame: 30 minutes in duration.

  2. cardiac output

    the changes of cardiac output .

    Time frame: 30 minutes in duration.

  3. cardiac output

    the changes of stroke volume .

    Time frame: 30 minutes in duration.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • China Medical University Hospital
    Taichung, North District 40447, Taiwan
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 21, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04172298
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 21, 2019
Start date
Aug 1, 2017
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2019
Completion
Nov 1, 2019
Last update
Nov 21, 2019

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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