Objective: To observe whether acupoints of the same Stomach Channel have the same effect on functional activity of its related internal organs, and whether there is a corresponding relationship between the upper segment on the head and trunk and the lower segment in the four limbs described in meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Methods: 180 health persons were divided into 6 groups, with l5 cases in each group: (1) Group A: Sibai (ST2) and Neiting (ST44); (2) a group B: Touwei (ST8) and Chongyang (ST44); (3) group C: Tianshu (ST25), and Shangjuxu (ST37); (4) group D: Biguan (ST31 ) and Zusanli (ST36); (5) group E: Futu (ST32) and Liangqiu (ST34); and (6) group F: point 1 cm below Sibai (ST2) and point 1cm below Zusanli (ST36). The antrum area changes 3 minutes before and after acupuncture were respectively observed and the relative specificity of acupoints of the Foot-Yangming Channel on gastric motor and their corresponding relationship between acupoints of the upper and lower part of the body were analyzed.

Results: It was found that among the 8 acupoints which had obvious effect on the area changes of the gastric antrum, their effects are: Sibai > Zusanli > Neiting > Liangqiu> Chongyang > Biguan > Shangiuxu > point below Sibai. It suggests that the effect of acupoints of the same channel on the relative internal organ has a relative specificity: both Sibai (ST 2) (on the face) and Neiting (ST44) (on the lower limb) can obviously increase the area of gastric antrum, which provides a basis for the relationship between upper and lower segments of the same channel.

By Yan Jie, Chang Xiaorong, Huang Biqun