Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
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REVIEW Review and Analysis on the Meridian Research of China over the Past Sixty Years YANG Mei-na (杨美娜)1,2 and HAN Jin-xiang (韩金祥)2 ABSTRACT The meridian research situation and various meridian hypotheses of China in the past sixty years between 1950 and 2013 are summarized in the paper; possible existed problems in the process of current meridian research are analyzed. Based on previous research results, we proposed that the essence of meridian can not be explained by the reductive analysis method, meridian research should be carried out under the guidance of overall concept of Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, combined with coherence theory of biophoton, we put forward the quantum interference hypothesis of meridian, which provides a possible research idea for meridian study. KEYWORDS meridian research, hypothesis, essence, integrated concept, coherence of biophoton
The meridian theory is an important component and basis of Chinese medicine (CM) theory. Meridian is a major discovery of ancient people in long-term medical practice, and a medical theory summarized through a large number of physiological and pathological clinical phenomena. Meridian theory, which is the core component of CM theory guiding the clinical practice of CM for thousands of years, has an important role in explaining the physiology, pathology phenomena and different treatment guidances. Meridian is a connection, regulation and reaction system of human functional activities. However, what's the essence of meridian has been a difficult problem plagued the medical profession at home and abroad, which is also an important academic proposition to be urgently solved by the life science and medical community in China. Once meridian essence to be proven, it will have great significance in both the theory and clinical application. In theory, the scientific connotation of CM theory will be revealed, and lay the basis for the modernization and international of CM; in clinical, will provide quantitative, objective research tool for medical acupuncture and massage, thus to improve the diagnosis and treatment effect. Throughout meridian research in the past sixty years, researchers have utilized multi-disciplinary technique; for example, using electricity, sound, light, magnetic, thermal and isotopic methods to test the meridian phenomenon. Researches using modern scientific methods to reveal the existing forms and rules of the meridian are important for the integration
of CM and modern science. Researchers conducted a long-term research, and have made many valuable results, such as the meridian phenomenon to be confirmed and reproduced by using modern scientific methods, but the scientific mechanism causing this phenomenon is not completely explained by modern science. (1) In short, modern research of meridian has not made breakthrough so far, and also no reasonable explanation was found for meridian.
Current Meridian Research of China Scholars home and abroad have used multimethod, multi-faceted, and high-tech means to study meridian from different fields, and have made some progress. The history of meridian modern research can be divided into three stages: The first phase (1950s to 1970s), to find the physical structure of the meridian. (2) Researchers dissected animal and carcasses in vivo by using anatomy and histological methods, tried to find the physical structure of the meridian, but failed to find a unique entity structure of meridian. But they found that the distribution of known structure has some characteristics in place of
© The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Supported by the Grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81273997 and 81173208) and Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No.2014DFA30380) 1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University of Medicine, Jinan (250012), China; 2. Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Center, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan (250062), China Correspondence to: Dr. HAN Jin-xiang, Tel: 86-531-82919608, E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2168-4
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
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the meridian, which may be related to the material basis of the meridian. The second phase (1980s), meridian phenomenon was objectively confirmed. Researchers applied multidisciplinary technique, such as sound, light, heat, electricity, magnetism, etc. to detect meridian objectively, and the 14 meridians were verified, which laid the foundation for further research on the principle and essence of meridian. The third phase (1990s–present), the material basis of meridian was studied. Researchers introduced advanced biology technology to research on the dynamic changes of various energy and material of meridians, made various interpretation on the merits of meridians, put forward hypothesis, such as nerve Table 1.
hypothesis, nerve and body fluid hypothesis, bioelectric field hypothesis, cybernetics hypothesis, etc. However, due to different opinions on meridian essence and limitations of research conditions, it has not yet come to a complete and unified scientific explanation. (3) Totally 621 relevant literature were found between 1950 year and 2013 year by searching Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD), taking meridian essence as keywords. All kinds of meridian hypothesis that had been ever proposed are showed in Table 1. As can be seen from Table 1, there are dozens of different kinds of hypothesis on the nature of meridians, but they can be roughly divided into
Hypothesis of Meridian Essence
Year
Hypothesis or main viewpoint
Author
2013
Signal volume transmission theory of meridian
Zhang WB
Reference
2012
Qi is related with oxygen metabolism
Liang Z
5
2011
Human biological electrical cycle transmission system
Shang ZD
6
2011
Wave-particle duality hypothesis
Du MX
7
2010
Hypothesis of nerve electric theory
Tan CY
8
2010
Meridian quantum interference hypothesis based on coherent theory of biophoton
Han JX
2010
Hypothesis of machine networks based on embryology
Chen JM
10
2010
Energy and information transmission channel hypothesis based on Qigong information water experiment
Shao LX
11
2010
Meridian is an integrated function system consisting of the nervous system, vascular system, the lymphatic system and the endocrine system.
Xue FX
12
2010
Hypothesis of self-awareness functional region
Wang YH
13
2008
Meridian is body fluid material that appears liquid crystalline state
Lu LS
14
2008
Nerve-body fluid-low flow resistance hypothesis
Sun WG
15
4
9
2008
Fascia doctrine
Wang CL
16
2008
Integrated function of multiple substances such as tissue fluid and qi
Xie HR
17
2007
Meridian is positive and negative ion-rich clusters
Wang TM
18
2007
Meridian is dark matter
Qin YG
19
2007
Meridian is anti-matter
Guo DW
20
2006
Orderly distribution of different types of stem cell nests forms meridian system
Zhang JX
21
2005
Meridian is connective tissue, fascia and autologous monitoring system
Yuan L
22
2004
Water and ion channels hypothesis
Zhu Y
23
2004
Hypothesis of cell biological fields
Zhang HL
24
2003
Protein-coupled band structure hypothesis
Zhou LH
25
2002
Immune-nerve-endocrine network hypothesis
Hu G
26
2001
Hypothesis of tissue fluid directional flow
Ding GH
27
2000
Ordered state microvascular network
Mu X
28
1999
Trigger point-cell communication—the nervous system-cell communication hypothesis
Zhang YS
29
1998
Connective tissue associated with blood vessels, and lymphatic plexus structure hypothesis
Fei L
30
1998
Hypothesis of skeletal chain
Zhu B
31
1998
Brainstem spinal cord neural network hypothesis
Lin WZ
32
1997
Hypothesis of body fluid channel
Zhou WB
33
(To Be Continued)
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(Continued) Year 1995
Hypothesis or main viewpoint Piezoelectric sensor effect of protein hypothesis
Author Hu YZ
Reference 34
1995
Dissipative structure of electromagnetic fields hypothesis
Zhang CL
35
1995
Hypothesis of collagen soliton waves
Lin XZ
36
1994
Hypothesis of bioinformatics network
Li ZC
37
1994
Primitive dry nervous system hypothesis
Liu YM
38
1993
Meridians and blood vessels and nerves are inseparable
Wen S
39
1991
Adenosine triphosphate hypothesis of mitochondria
Gao Z
40
1991
Inter- and intramolecular energy transfer system of fibrous protein hypothesis
Feng SC
41
1990
Lyotropic liquid crystal hypothesis
Zhang SG
42
1988
Tissue gap structure hypothesis
Xie HR
43
1988
Meridian wave guide hypothesis
Zhang BW
44
1986
Meridian associated with connective tissue hypothesis
Yu CJ
45
1985
Hypothesis of axon reflex relay linkage
Zhang BZ
46
1985
Excitability diffusion of nerve centers
Xue CC
47
1983
Meridian associated with the cortex and visceral
Zhang XJ
48
1983
Hypothesis of the third balance system
Meng ZW
49
1981
Meridian associated with related organs
Ji ZP
50
1980
Meridian system is the multi-layered three-dimensional structure along the implicitly sensation line of human body
Zhu ZX
51
1980
Meridian chain hypothesis
Chen TF
52
1980
Low-frequency mechanical wave guide lines
Wang DF
53
1979
Meridian associated with blood vessels and lymphatic
Gong QH
54
1977
Double reflection hypothesis
Wang T
55
1963
Peripheral artery emotion
Lu SY
56
1963
Bioelectrical hypothesis
Liu SH
57
four categories: (1) nerve conduction theory, which includes the central nervous theory, peripheral nerves theory and autonomic nerve doctrine. They hold on the opinion that meridian is closely related to nerves, for example, excitability diffusion of nerve centers hypothesis,(47) hypothesis of skeletal chain,(31) and brainstem spinal cord neural network hypothesis, etc.(32) Nerve conduction theory has a lot of research and many experiments to be repeated, but it does not mean that the meridian is nerves, because phenomena of propagated sensation along channels can be interpreted from the perspective of the nervous system, but the slow speed, holographic nature, bi-directional conduction, and being blocked, low resistance, isotope migration and high oxygen partial pressure and other issues of propagated sensation along channel can not be explained by nerve conduction theory. (2) Body fluid circulation theory, such theories tend to take meridian as some kind of flow chemical and biochemical substances, and proposed that the material basis of meridian may
be neurotransmitters, certain ions, such as mast cells, etc., for example, meridian lymphatic doctrine, (43) tissue gap structure hypothesis, (54) hypothesis of tissue fluid directional flow. (27) Hyperbaric oxygen along channel, meridian related with organs, meridian blocking, isotope migration, and holographic phenomenon of meridian can be explained by body fluid circulation theory, but it can not explain why liquid (or chemical molecules) is unevenly distributed, two-direction transfer and cross sections sensation and other issues. (3) Fascia and connective tissue structure doctrine, which proposes that the material basis of meridian is a complex system combined with connective tissue, blood vessels, plexus and lymphatic interwoven. However, connective tissues existed in the almost gap of all human tissues and organs, then all parts of the body are fundamentally points, which is perhaps not simply explained by points of "quality" and non-points "quantity". (4) Biological field (or energy) doctrine, the essence of meridian is interpreted from the perspective of the characteristic of the sound,
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
light, electricity, heat, magnetism on the points, such as hypothesis of collagen soliton waves,(36) dissipative structure of electromagnetic fields hypothesis, (35) wave-particle duality hypothesis, etc.(7) But the opinion that meridian is only functional but not structure was questioned by many scholars.
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from the overall concept of CM, and targeted experiment arrangement have been rarely reported. The whole concept is a major feature of CM; meridian research must be carried out within the framework of the overall concept.
Research Methods In short, many of the above hypotheses can not independently make the perfect interpretation on the line, distribution and function of meridian system. Each experimental study can prove a problem and explain part of the phenomenon of meridian, but can not explain the essence of the meridian; each hypothesis owns its facts and reasonable proposition, but do not have integrity, the results are unconvincing.
Problems Existed in the Current Meridian Research Hypotheses about meridian essence are never ceased, however, no qualitative conclusion has been made for the problem. Previous meridian research results showed that there must be some problems existing in the process of current meridian research, which need to be carefully analyzed. The key issues may be in the following aspects:
Research Ideas Due to the differences in geographical environment, historical and cultural background, the viewing angle and ways of thinking, especially the cultural differences between East and West population, thus there are significant differences in theory and clinical treatment between CM and Western medicine. In such historical conditions, Western medicine is based on reductionism, focusing on part study of the human body, with experimental study accompanied by reductionism research ideas as approach. CM is based on holistic view, focusing on the relationship between the various parts of the whole body. Meridian theory is summarized based on integral system of human body; therefore, experimental studies on research meridian using reductionism thinking may be unconvincing. For example, many scholars tried to study meridians and acupuncture points from the aspects of anatomy, histology and molecular biology, and found that meridians were closely related with blood vessels, nerve plexus, lymphatic vessels, connective tissue, mast cells, and highly enriched plasma phenomenon at certain points. System design research programs
Meridian study did not find a holistic, effective and generally accepted research method, which is the key problem. Previous studies mainly focused on analyzing and reduction methods to find the objective essence of meridian. However, meridian theory is developed on the basis of the overall concept of CM theory, therefore, any single, one-sided and partial studies can not reveal the whole picture of meridian theory; system-based approach research model should be adopted, under the guidance of the overall concept of CM.
Experimental Studies Separating from Theory Previous meridian studies, including searching for meridian's solid structure, testing on the meridian phenomenon, and meridian substance research, were all focused on the twelve channels and collaterals rather than meridians. Researchers satisfied with one certain conclusion, and did not verify whether the conclusion conformed to the meridians' function. This perhaps was the reason why current meridian research cannot get consensus results. Meridian theory thought that meridians coordinated organs with each other on the function aspect and together finished the body's physiological activities. It was improper for taking only twelve channels and collaterals as the "meridians", because only twelve channels and collaterals were hard to finish the body's physiological activities with organs. Experimental studies showed that the twelve channels and collaterals had the physical and chemical properties (such as low resistance, low flow resistance, high light conductivity, and etc.). However, meridians were qi and blood channels, which was different from physical and chemical channels. In conclusion, meridians contained the twelve channels and collaterals, and it was one-sided for taking essence of the twelve channels and collaterals as that of meridians.
Shortcoming of CM Theory Itself CM theory was the theoretical basis of experimental studies; therefore, its own shortcomings would affect the CM theory research, and meridian
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theory research, and experimental studies. This was perhaps the core problem of current meridian research. CM theory used philosophy as its theoretical tool, which would make its concept expression confused, such as meridian, triple burner having no precise definition and determine description. The ambiguity of concept would make many research conclusions cannot reach a consensus. In conclusion, modern medicine system based on the reductionism cannot explain all the phenomenon of meridians, and CM based on the integration cannot fuse with modern medicine. This was the core problem that meridians have not been explained by modern science. Therefore, it was urgent now to find a suitable modern discipline consistent with the whole concept of CM; furthermore, we would use cutting-edge scientific and technological methods to research and explain the meridian theory.
Reflection and Suggestion on Meridian Research in the Future Decades of meridian studies revealed that researchers have not found a suitable research method consistent with the overall concept of CM. Previous meridian studies cannot always get rid of the reductionism research methods of Western medicine, and also do not attach importance to whether the experimental results are consistent with meridians theory or not. It was inevitably to get disappointing results that over-emphasis on physical structures of meridian, and methods separating from CM theory, and blindly slavishly copying ancient literature, and always using views and methods of Western medicine. Meridian research should be guided under the CM theory, and use modern scientific techniques and methods to reveal the meridian essence as far as possible.
unitary tridimensional network with beams of varying intensity, which are distributed on the surface of the organism. (59) These striae are equivalent to semi-reflectors. The striae carry bio-information of corresponding organs and integrate all tissues and organs of the organism. The longitudinal striae are classified as channels, while the transverse striae are collaterals. Acupoints are seen as the points where electromagnetic interfering striae converge. This hypothesis proposed based on quantum theory, whose science philosophy is commensurable with the theory of CM, which gets rid of the reductionism research methods and provides a new opinion and method for the meridian study. (60) Of course, the hypothesis is only derived from speculation and indirectly experimental verification, and needs many more experiments to be further verified. The hypothesis builds a foundation to understand the meridian theory from the perspective of modern scientific knowledge. Future research needs to focus on: (1) the interference of electromagnetic radiation within the organism, (2) study on quanta as a messenger of biological systems, (3) study on correlation between extracorporal quantum radiation and intracorporal electromagnetic fields.
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
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(Received December 26, 2013) Edited by GUO Yan
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REVIEW Review and Analysis on the Meridian Research of China over the Past Sixty Years YANG Mei-na (杨美娜)1,2 and HAN Jin-xiang (韩金祥)2 ABSTRACT The meridian research situation and various meridian hypotheses of China in the past sixty years between 1950 and 2013 are summarized in the paper; possible existed problems in the process of current meridian research are analyzed. Based on previous research results, we proposed that the essence of meridian can not be explained by the reductive analysis method, meridian research should be carried out under the guidance of overall concept of Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, combined with coherence theory of biophoton, we put forward the quantum interference hypothesis of meridian, which provides a possible research idea for meridian study. KEYWORDS meridian research, hypothesis, essence, integrated concept, coherence of biophoton
The meridian theory is an important component and basis of Chinese medicine (CM) theory. Meridian is a major discovery of ancient people in long-term medical practice, and a medical theory summarized through a large number of physiological and pathological clinical phenomena. Meridian theory, which is the core component of CM theory guiding the clinical practice of CM for thousands of years, has an important role in explaining the physiology, pathology phenomena and different treatment guidances. Meridian is a connection, regulation and reaction system of human functional activities. However, what's the essence of meridian has been a difficult problem plagued the medical profession at home and abroad, which is also an important academic proposition to be urgently solved by the life science and medical community in China. Once meridian essence to be proven, it will have great significance in both the theory and clinical application. In theory, the scientific connotation of CM theory will be revealed, and lay the basis for the modernization and international of CM; in clinical, will provide quantitative, objective research tool for medical acupuncture and massage, thus to improve the diagnosis and treatment effect. Throughout meridian research in the past sixty years, researchers have utilized multi-disciplinary technique; for example, using electricity, sound, light, magnetic, thermal and isotopic methods to test the meridian phenomenon. Researches using modern scientific methods to reveal the existing forms and rules of the meridian are important for the integration
of CM and modern science. Researchers conducted a long-term research, and have made many valuable results, such as the meridian phenomenon to be confirmed and reproduced by using modern scientific methods, but the scientific mechanism causing this phenomenon is not completely explained by modern science. (1) In short, modern research of meridian has not made breakthrough so far, and also no reasonable explanation was found for meridian.
Current Meridian Research of China Scholars home and abroad have used multimethod, multi-faceted, and high-tech means to study meridian from different fields, and have made some progress. The history of meridian modern research can be divided into three stages: The first phase (1950s to 1970s), to find the physical structure of the meridian. (2) Researchers dissected animal and carcasses in vivo by using anatomy and histological methods, tried to find the physical structure of the meridian, but failed to find a unique entity structure of meridian. But they found that the distribution of known structure has some characteristics in place of
© The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Supported by the Grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81273997 and 81173208) and Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No.2014DFA30380) 1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University of Medicine, Jinan (250012), China; 2. Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Center, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan (250062), China Correspondence to: Dr. HAN Jin-xiang, Tel: 86-531-82919608, E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2168-4
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
• 395 •
the meridian, which may be related to the material basis of the meridian. The second phase (1980s), meridian phenomenon was objectively confirmed. Researchers applied multidisciplinary technique, such as sound, light, heat, electricity, magnetism, etc. to detect meridian objectively, and the 14 meridians were verified, which laid the foundation for further research on the principle and essence of meridian. The third phase (1990s–present), the material basis of meridian was studied. Researchers introduced advanced biology technology to research on the dynamic changes of various energy and material of meridians, made various interpretation on the merits of meridians, put forward hypothesis, such as nerve Table 1.
hypothesis, nerve and body fluid hypothesis, bioelectric field hypothesis, cybernetics hypothesis, etc. However, due to different opinions on meridian essence and limitations of research conditions, it has not yet come to a complete and unified scientific explanation. (3) Totally 621 relevant literature were found between 1950 year and 2013 year by searching Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD), taking meridian essence as keywords. All kinds of meridian hypothesis that had been ever proposed are showed in Table 1. As can be seen from Table 1, there are dozens of different kinds of hypothesis on the nature of meridians, but they can be roughly divided into
Hypothesis of Meridian Essence
Year
Hypothesis or main viewpoint
Author
2013
Signal volume transmission theory of meridian
Zhang WB
Reference
2012
Qi is related with oxygen metabolism
Liang Z
5
2011
Human biological electrical cycle transmission system
Shang ZD
6
2011
Wave-particle duality hypothesis
Du MX
7
2010
Hypothesis of nerve electric theory
Tan CY
8
2010
Meridian quantum interference hypothesis based on coherent theory of biophoton
Han JX
2010
Hypothesis of machine networks based on embryology
Chen JM
10
2010
Energy and information transmission channel hypothesis based on Qigong information water experiment
Shao LX
11
2010
Meridian is an integrated function system consisting of the nervous system, vascular system, the lymphatic system and the endocrine system.
Xue FX
12
2010
Hypothesis of self-awareness functional region
Wang YH
13
2008
Meridian is body fluid material that appears liquid crystalline state
Lu LS
14
2008
Nerve-body fluid-low flow resistance hypothesis
Sun WG
15
4
9
2008
Fascia doctrine
Wang CL
16
2008
Integrated function of multiple substances such as tissue fluid and qi
Xie HR
17
2007
Meridian is positive and negative ion-rich clusters
Wang TM
18
2007
Meridian is dark matter
Qin YG
19
2007
Meridian is anti-matter
Guo DW
20
2006
Orderly distribution of different types of stem cell nests forms meridian system
Zhang JX
21
2005
Meridian is connective tissue, fascia and autologous monitoring system
Yuan L
22
2004
Water and ion channels hypothesis
Zhu Y
23
2004
Hypothesis of cell biological fields
Zhang HL
24
2003
Protein-coupled band structure hypothesis
Zhou LH
25
2002
Immune-nerve-endocrine network hypothesis
Hu G
26
2001
Hypothesis of tissue fluid directional flow
Ding GH
27
2000
Ordered state microvascular network
Mu X
28
1999
Trigger point-cell communication—the nervous system-cell communication hypothesis
Zhang YS
29
1998
Connective tissue associated with blood vessels, and lymphatic plexus structure hypothesis
Fei L
30
1998
Hypothesis of skeletal chain
Zhu B
31
1998
Brainstem spinal cord neural network hypothesis
Lin WZ
32
1997
Hypothesis of body fluid channel
Zhou WB
33
(To Be Continued)
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
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(Continued) Year 1995
Hypothesis or main viewpoint Piezoelectric sensor effect of protein hypothesis
Author Hu YZ
Reference 34
1995
Dissipative structure of electromagnetic fields hypothesis
Zhang CL
35
1995
Hypothesis of collagen soliton waves
Lin XZ
36
1994
Hypothesis of bioinformatics network
Li ZC
37
1994
Primitive dry nervous system hypothesis
Liu YM
38
1993
Meridians and blood vessels and nerves are inseparable
Wen S
39
1991
Adenosine triphosphate hypothesis of mitochondria
Gao Z
40
1991
Inter- and intramolecular energy transfer system of fibrous protein hypothesis
Feng SC
41
1990
Lyotropic liquid crystal hypothesis
Zhang SG
42
1988
Tissue gap structure hypothesis
Xie HR
43
1988
Meridian wave guide hypothesis
Zhang BW
44
1986
Meridian associated with connective tissue hypothesis
Yu CJ
45
1985
Hypothesis of axon reflex relay linkage
Zhang BZ
46
1985
Excitability diffusion of nerve centers
Xue CC
47
1983
Meridian associated with the cortex and visceral
Zhang XJ
48
1983
Hypothesis of the third balance system
Meng ZW
49
1981
Meridian associated with related organs
Ji ZP
50
1980
Meridian system is the multi-layered three-dimensional structure along the implicitly sensation line of human body
Zhu ZX
51
1980
Meridian chain hypothesis
Chen TF
52
1980
Low-frequency mechanical wave guide lines
Wang DF
53
1979
Meridian associated with blood vessels and lymphatic
Gong QH
54
1977
Double reflection hypothesis
Wang T
55
1963
Peripheral artery emotion
Lu SY
56
1963
Bioelectrical hypothesis
Liu SH
57
four categories: (1) nerve conduction theory, which includes the central nervous theory, peripheral nerves theory and autonomic nerve doctrine. They hold on the opinion that meridian is closely related to nerves, for example, excitability diffusion of nerve centers hypothesis,(47) hypothesis of skeletal chain,(31) and brainstem spinal cord neural network hypothesis, etc.(32) Nerve conduction theory has a lot of research and many experiments to be repeated, but it does not mean that the meridian is nerves, because phenomena of propagated sensation along channels can be interpreted from the perspective of the nervous system, but the slow speed, holographic nature, bi-directional conduction, and being blocked, low resistance, isotope migration and high oxygen partial pressure and other issues of propagated sensation along channel can not be explained by nerve conduction theory. (2) Body fluid circulation theory, such theories tend to take meridian as some kind of flow chemical and biochemical substances, and proposed that the material basis of meridian may
be neurotransmitters, certain ions, such as mast cells, etc., for example, meridian lymphatic doctrine, (43) tissue gap structure hypothesis, (54) hypothesis of tissue fluid directional flow. (27) Hyperbaric oxygen along channel, meridian related with organs, meridian blocking, isotope migration, and holographic phenomenon of meridian can be explained by body fluid circulation theory, but it can not explain why liquid (or chemical molecules) is unevenly distributed, two-direction transfer and cross sections sensation and other issues. (3) Fascia and connective tissue structure doctrine, which proposes that the material basis of meridian is a complex system combined with connective tissue, blood vessels, plexus and lymphatic interwoven. However, connective tissues existed in the almost gap of all human tissues and organs, then all parts of the body are fundamentally points, which is perhaps not simply explained by points of "quality" and non-points "quantity". (4) Biological field (or energy) doctrine, the essence of meridian is interpreted from the perspective of the characteristic of the sound,
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
light, electricity, heat, magnetism on the points, such as hypothesis of collagen soliton waves,(36) dissipative structure of electromagnetic fields hypothesis, (35) wave-particle duality hypothesis, etc.(7) But the opinion that meridian is only functional but not structure was questioned by many scholars.
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from the overall concept of CM, and targeted experiment arrangement have been rarely reported. The whole concept is a major feature of CM; meridian research must be carried out within the framework of the overall concept.
Research Methods In short, many of the above hypotheses can not independently make the perfect interpretation on the line, distribution and function of meridian system. Each experimental study can prove a problem and explain part of the phenomenon of meridian, but can not explain the essence of the meridian; each hypothesis owns its facts and reasonable proposition, but do not have integrity, the results are unconvincing.
Problems Existed in the Current Meridian Research Hypotheses about meridian essence are never ceased, however, no qualitative conclusion has been made for the problem. Previous meridian research results showed that there must be some problems existing in the process of current meridian research, which need to be carefully analyzed. The key issues may be in the following aspects:
Research Ideas Due to the differences in geographical environment, historical and cultural background, the viewing angle and ways of thinking, especially the cultural differences between East and West population, thus there are significant differences in theory and clinical treatment between CM and Western medicine. In such historical conditions, Western medicine is based on reductionism, focusing on part study of the human body, with experimental study accompanied by reductionism research ideas as approach. CM is based on holistic view, focusing on the relationship between the various parts of the whole body. Meridian theory is summarized based on integral system of human body; therefore, experimental studies on research meridian using reductionism thinking may be unconvincing. For example, many scholars tried to study meridians and acupuncture points from the aspects of anatomy, histology and molecular biology, and found that meridians were closely related with blood vessels, nerve plexus, lymphatic vessels, connective tissue, mast cells, and highly enriched plasma phenomenon at certain points. System design research programs
Meridian study did not find a holistic, effective and generally accepted research method, which is the key problem. Previous studies mainly focused on analyzing and reduction methods to find the objective essence of meridian. However, meridian theory is developed on the basis of the overall concept of CM theory, therefore, any single, one-sided and partial studies can not reveal the whole picture of meridian theory; system-based approach research model should be adopted, under the guidance of the overall concept of CM.
Experimental Studies Separating from Theory Previous meridian studies, including searching for meridian's solid structure, testing on the meridian phenomenon, and meridian substance research, were all focused on the twelve channels and collaterals rather than meridians. Researchers satisfied with one certain conclusion, and did not verify whether the conclusion conformed to the meridians' function. This perhaps was the reason why current meridian research cannot get consensus results. Meridian theory thought that meridians coordinated organs with each other on the function aspect and together finished the body's physiological activities. It was improper for taking only twelve channels and collaterals as the "meridians", because only twelve channels and collaterals were hard to finish the body's physiological activities with organs. Experimental studies showed that the twelve channels and collaterals had the physical and chemical properties (such as low resistance, low flow resistance, high light conductivity, and etc.). However, meridians were qi and blood channels, which was different from physical and chemical channels. In conclusion, meridians contained the twelve channels and collaterals, and it was one-sided for taking essence of the twelve channels and collaterals as that of meridians.
Shortcoming of CM Theory Itself CM theory was the theoretical basis of experimental studies; therefore, its own shortcomings would affect the CM theory research, and meridian
Chin J Integr Med 2015 May;21(5):394-400
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theory research, and experimental studies. This was perhaps the core problem of current meridian research. CM theory used philosophy as its theoretical tool, which would make its concept expression confused, such as meridian, triple burner having no precise definition and determine description. The ambiguity of concept would make many research conclusions cannot reach a consensus. In conclusion, modern medicine system based on the reductionism cannot explain all the phenomenon of meridians, and CM based on the integration cannot fuse with modern medicine. This was the core problem that meridians have not been explained by modern science. Therefore, it was urgent now to find a suitable modern discipline consistent with the whole concept of CM; furthermore, we would use cutting-edge scientific and technological methods to research and explain the meridian theory.
Reflection and Suggestion on Meridian Research in the Future Decades of meridian studies revealed that researchers have not found a suitable research method consistent with the overall concept of CM. Previous meridian studies cannot always get rid of the reductionism research methods of Western medicine, and also do not attach importance to whether the experimental results are consistent with meridians theory or not. It was inevitably to get disappointing results that over-emphasis on physical structures of meridian, and methods separating from CM theory, and blindly slavishly copying ancient literature, and always using views and methods of Western medicine. Meridian research should be guided under the CM theory, and use modern scientific techniques and methods to reveal the meridian essence as far as possible.
unitary tridimensional network with beams of varying intensity, which are distributed on the surface of the organism. (59) These striae are equivalent to semi-reflectors. The striae carry bio-information of corresponding organs and integrate all tissues and organs of the organism. The longitudinal striae are classified as channels, while the transverse striae are collaterals. Acupoints are seen as the points where electromagnetic interfering striae converge. This hypothesis proposed based on quantum theory, whose science philosophy is commensurable with the theory of CM, which gets rid of the reductionism research methods and provides a new opinion and method for the meridian study. (60) Of course, the hypothesis is only derived from speculation and indirectly experimental verification, and needs many more experiments to be further verified. The hypothesis builds a foundation to understand the meridian theory from the perspective of modern scientific knowledge. Future research needs to focus on: (1) the interference of electromagnetic radiation within the organism, (2) study on quanta as a messenger of biological systems, (3) study on correlation between extracorporal quantum radiation and intracorporal electromagnetic fields.
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
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(Received December 26, 2013) Edited by GUO Yan
