Pathophysiological Mechanism for the Abdominal Sign Correlating with Oketsu (Blood Stagnant) Syndrome

Abstract

It is well known that a painful lump around para-naval, ileo-cecal and sigmoid regions are correlated with oketsu syndrome, although, the physiological mechanism for these signs is still unknown. Recently, the author made clear that these signs disappear by acupunctural procedure at the meridian points Hikon (ExB4), Kekkai (SP10) and/or the lump itself. And also the author found out that these abdominal lumps are located in the most peripheral position of the superior or inferior epigastric artery. This evidence may indicate that abdominal lumps are brought by diminished blood flow of the superior or inferior epigastric artery, and acupunctural input from a meridian point or lump itself inhibits not only the excited gamma and alpha motor-neuron in the thoracic 11 and 12 segment of spinal cord but also excites sympathetic neurons. The author speculates that the initial noxious stimuli occur with stagnation of the pelvic vein associated with homeostatic inflammation.