Recently, scientific workers of China have worked out COWI human meridian properties analyzing system by using modern technology. Through the analysis of data, curves and their changes of the corresponding meridian V-A properties, which are derived from testing the l2 source points on the l2 meridians, human meridian & point properties can be deduced. Automatic statistics, testing & analyzing, drawing, printing and saving functions are integrated in this system.

This system has been used to test and analyze meridian properties of l0,000 ill and healthy people in tens of hospita1s both domestic and abroad in U.S.A, Canada and Singapore. Its clinical value has been attested. Here we present the initial.

observation and results: (1) Diagnostic value: 1)For determination of ill meridian. One use is to test the accuracy of the method of attributing illness to certain meridian by means of differentiation of syndromes. The result shows that 78% ill meridians tested accord with those derived from determination of diagnostic type based on differentiation of symptoms and signs. This brings important reference value to diagnosis. The results can be taken as objective index for diagnosing certain disease. The other use is to determine the ill meridian, which is difficult to find by means of common methods. With this system, the TCM diagnosis tends to be manifested in a digital, graphical, objective and scientific way; 2) For determination of character of disease. According to the graph, the change of and asthenia-sthenia of the disease can be determined. Such diagnosis is in 75-80% conformity with asthenia-sthenia character of disease, and in 75-92% conformity with cold- heat character of disease, which are derived from the 4 methods of physical examination; (2)Direction of treatment:
1) Direction of acupuncture & moxibustion treatment firstly, the ill meridians could be determined for treatment according to the results of test, that is, the meridian afflicted is selected. This method helps to provide a selection that breaks through the traditional treatment framework. l0 treatments were carried out under the direction of the results of test combined with differential diagnosis according to states of viscera. A total effective rate of 88% was yielded. Secondly, this method provides an objective basis for the method of tonifying the mother organ and purging the child organ, and also results in satisfactory effect; 2) Direction of Tuina and treatment with Qigong method. The test of the helps to determine the ill meridian and its character of cold-heat and astheniasthenia. This carries some significance in selecting meridians, acupoints and certain Tuina techniques as well as in selecting Qigong methods; 3)Direction of treatment of Chinese medication. The test of meridian property results in objectively determining the ill meridian and its character of cold-heat and asthenia-sthenia, Which promotes the specialty in selecting Chinese medicine and in constituting formula. It also helps to select drugs for external use and acupoints injection medicine; 4) Direction of health preservation and recuperation. The test of meridian property can serve to direct health preservation and recuperation in specific terms. Different methods, such as employing medication or acupuncture, applying cold or heating method, thus could be determined; (3)Evaluation of curativeeffect: The data and graph's dynamic change of the meridian before and after treatment can be taken as reference for evaluation of curative effect. The improvement in the imbalanced meridians is in conformity with that in the patient's condition. The curative rate in Bi syndrome (arthralgia or obstruction syndrome of Qi and blood), facial paralysis and assorted diseases after 1 treatment course are 80%, l00% and 79.9% respectively, likewise, the change in the imba1anced meridians after acupuncture shows that effectiveness took place totally. Take an example of "clinical observation on regulative effect on human 12 meridians by acupuncturing single point of the series of points on the radialis side of the second metacarpal bone in 60 cases", the improvement in imbalanced meridians after the treatment is obvious; (4)Conclusion: The test of human meridian property (V-A property) has remarkable clinical value in terms of diagnosis of ill meridian, determination of character of disease, direction of treatment and evaluation of curative effect. The human meridian analyzing system is a good exploration to realize objective and scientific diagnosis as well as treatment of TCM. It is an important subsidiary method in TCM diagnosis and treatment.

By Wang Xuetai, Zhang Ding , Tian Conghuo, Ye Chengliang,