Tagesrhythmische Untersuchungen zur Elektroakupunktur nach Voll-eine Einschätzung zur chinesischen Organuhr

Circadian investigations with electronic acupuncture according to Voll (EAV)- an assesment of the chinese clock of organs Key words: Electronic acupuncture according to Voll (EAV), traditional chinese medicine, acupoint, meridian, circulation of energy, electric resistance of the skin, physiological parameters, masking effects, circadian rhythm. Electronic acupuncture according to Voll (EAV) is a method which was developed in the 1960s. It works with acupuncture points of the traditional chinese medicine. The acupoints are located on meridians, which are postulated tracks of energy from the chinese medicine. Each meridian is assigned to a specific organ in the body. Measuring the electric resistance of the skin with a specific measuring-stick (made of brass) on the acupoint is assumed to give information about the functional situation of the assigned organsystem. The chinese organ clock postulates that the maximum supply of energy for each organ reaches a maximum for a period of two hours during the day. The time of maximum supply is specific for each organ. The beginning of this circulation is 3.00am with maximum supply of the lungs, after two hours follows the intestine, then stomach and so on. The Chinese call this sequence the „circulation of energy“. The trial was carried out to find out about fluctuations of the EAV-measurements during a period of 24 hours and if the results had any reference to the chinese organ clock. For the trial 16 persons were examined. The investigation was carried out in an air-conditioned room under standardised conditions in order to eliminate masking-effects like noise, light, activity etc. The measurements were repeated every two hours, beginning at 3 p.m. and covered 24 acupoints on the skin (hand and feet) and 3 physiologial parameters (pulse, respiration and oral temperature). The results showed both for the acupoints and the physiological parameters a sine-wave which is in agreement with the known circadian rhythm of both electrodermal and physiological functions. Maximum activity was shown at 3.00p.m., Minimum activity at 3.00a.m. Specific maximum-times according to the chinese organ clock have not been found.