[Objectives]The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of acupuncture sensation on the body sway during a one-legged stance.[Methods] The study participants were 16 healthy adults (mean age 21.8±1.6 years). The study design was a crossover method, wherein the same individuals participated in the acupuncture stimulation condition and the control condition at intervals of more than one week. Evaluation was performed before and after each intervention by holding a one-legged stance for 40 seconds on a force plate. A total of six items of body sway were measured, including: circumferential area, rectangular area, effective value area, total trajectory length, unit trajectory length, and unit area trajectory length. In addition, Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the ease with which the lower leg was subjected to force during measurement. In the acupuncture stimulation condition, single acupuncture was performed on the lower limb muscle group of the measuring leg, and the VAS of the acupuncture sensation was evaluated at the time of stimulation and at the end of measurement. Stainless steel disposable acupuncture needles (length: 50 mm, diameter: 0.20 mm.) were used for stimulation. The stimulation sites were the ST32, ST37, BL37, BL57, and GB37 of the test leg, and acupuncture needles were inserted to the desired depth and removed when sensation was felt. The control condition was the supine position for five minutes. Comparisons were made between the pre- and post-acupuncture stimulation conditions and the pre- and post-control conditions(body sway, lower leg VAS, acupuncture sensation VAS). [Results] There was no significant difference between the two conditions in terms of body sway. However, the VAS of lower limb effort was significantly lower, from 78.0±14.9 mm to 63.1±17.0 mm before and after the intervention (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the control condition, there was no significant difference from 79.5±12.3 mm to 75.2±12.7 mm before and after rest. The VAS of acupuncture sensation was 50.4±14.3 mm during stimulation and 9.8±9.0 mm at the end of measurement, which was significantly lower (p<0.05). [Conclusion] Acupuncture sensation did not affect the body sway before and after acupuncture stimulation. However, the subjective sensation of weakness appeared, suggesting that acupuncture stimulation may cause a transient sensation of weakness.

[Introduction] Psychosocial factors are associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP), but there are no known reports of screening for psychosocial factors and combined acupuncture and Kampo treatment for this. We present the case of a patient with CLBP with neuralgia of the posterior right thigh whose quality of life (QOL) improved after evaluation of psychological factors and treatment with acupuncture and saibokuto.[Case presentation] A 38-year-old woman developed low back pain with neuralgia in the posterior right thigh in August of the X year. She visited a nearby orthopedic clinic and was diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation. In November she visited a nearby psychiatric clinic because she noticed dizziness, was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and was prescribed bromazepam. Six months later, she was diagnosed with sciatica by an orthopedic surgeon at our hospital. In the following month, she visited the psychiatrist at our hospital and was diagnosed with depression in April. In April, she also visited our department, hoping for improvement of her low back pain and neuralgia in the posterior right thigh. Neurological and orthopedic manual examinations showed normal results, but pain in the lumbar region when flexing the trunk and baikakuki and kyo-kyo-kuman were noted. The Keele STarT Back Screening Tool classified her under medium risk, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) showed a score of 16 with a deviation score of 1.22. We administered acupuncture and saibokuto to improve her symptoms. The acupuncture treatment was performed on the right L2/L3 lateral sacral border, piriformis equivalent area, BL37, and BL40. As a result, after the third acupuncture treatment, her RDQ score improved to 2 points and the deviation score to 50.14 points.[Discussion] Our results suggest that acupuncture and saibokuto may improve the QOL of CLBP patients with neuralgia in the lower limbs who have psychological factors.

[Objective] The Zang-Fu and the meridians, which are one of the foundations of modern acupuncture and moxibustion medical education, appeared in "Lingshu" in the "Meridian" section. However, the Zang-Fu and the meridians each has a history of independent development in ancient China Before the Common Era. The purpose of this study is to investigate the process by which the meridians came to be associated with the Zang-Fu, drawing from descriptions in "Suwen", which was compiled Before the Common Era.[Method] The source literature of this study is "Revisions and Extensive Notes on the Huangdi Neijing Suwen", with reference to "Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine and Classic Research" by MARUYAMA Masao to classify compilations of "Suwen". The research items are the names of the Zang and the Fu, the relationships between the Zang and the Fu, and the piao-li relationships of the Zang-Fu and the three Yin and three Yang of the hands and feet. [Result] The names for the Zang were Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs and Kidneys, and for the Fu were Small Intestine, Bladder, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Stomach, and Sanjiao. The Zang-Fu relationships were Lungs-Large Intestine, Spleen-Stomach, Heart-Small Intestine, Kidney-Bladder, Liver-Gall Bladder, and Chronic Illness-Sanjiao. The piao-li relationships of the Zang-Fu and the three Yin and three Yang of the hands and feet were Foot Thai-Yang and Shao-Yin, Foot Shao-Yang and Chueh-Yin, Foot Yang-Ming and Thai-Yin, Hand Thai-Yang and Shao-Yin, Hand Yang-Ming and Thai-Yin, and Hand Shao-Yang and Heart. The Liver is treated by Foot Chueh-Yin and Shao-Yang, the Heart is treated Hand Shao-Yin and Thai-Yang, the Spleen is treated by Foot Thai-Yin and Yang-Ming, the Lungs are treated by Hand Thai-Yin and Yang-Ming, and the Kidneys are treated by Foot Shao-Ying and Thai-Yang. There was the expression "太陰陽明表裏為脾胃脈也" that Hand-Foot, Yin-Yang and the Zang-Fu were grouped by their Piao-li relationships. And there were the expressions saying "Shao-Yin is the Kidneys" and "Yang-Ming is the Stomach", although these were not in complete form. [Discussion] The Zang-Fu meridians, combining the Zang-Fu and the meridians, started from the Spleen-Stomach. There were other expressions combining the Zang-Fu with the meridians, although these were also not in complete form. While medicine at that time was being organized and integrated with the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theories, the relationships between the Zang-Fu and the meridians were also established. And it is inferred that the process of combining these and developing them into a new medical system existed during this period. [Conclusion] The relationships between the Zang-Fu and the meridians were established in "Suwen", which was compiled Before the Common Era, and the expression combining them started from "太陰陽明表裏為脾胃脈也".