ArticleEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2012
Biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints: a systematic review.
Article in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Conformity of modified O-ring test and maximal pinch strength for cross tape application direction.Medicine · 2018Trial
- Objective Evidence for Mind-body Interventions: Selective Modulation of Meridian-wise Bioelectrical Conductance by Yogic Practices.Annals of African medicine · 2026Article
- Naming the unseen: Rethinking the ontology of acupoints.Integrative medicine research · 2025Article
- Coupling Bio-Resonance Neurotechnology (BRNT) and Dual Hemispheric Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Reduces Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as Demonstrated by PHQ-9 and GAD-7: Pilot Case Series.Psychology research and behavior management · 2025Article
- Comparison of physical electrical conductivity and acupuncture de-qi sensation between stainless steel needling and supercritical fluid-treated needling.Biomedical journal · 2021Article
- Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Be Parameterized and Standardized? A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- In Vivo Visualization of the Pericardium Meridian with Fluorescent Dyes.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021Article
- A critical examination of the main premises of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2020Review
- Traditional Acupuncture Meets Modern Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Perspectives.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2019Review
- Active Ear Acupuncture Points in Neonates: Initial Results in a New Research Field.Medical acupuncture · 2018Article
- A longitudinal study of the reliability of acupuncture deqi sensations in knee osteoarthritis.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2013Article
- Wave-induced flow in meridians demonstrated using photoluminescent bioceramic material on acupuncture points.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
As an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture is a convenient and effective therapy with fewer adverse effects. Recently, researches on meridian essence have become core issues of modern TCM. Numerous experiments have demonstrated the objective existence of meridians by different technologies since 1950s, such as biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. In this paper, we review biophysical studies on electric, acoustic, thermal, optical, magnetic, isotopic, and myoelectric aspects of meridians and acupoints. These studies suggest that meridians/acupoints have biophysical characteristics which are different from nonacupuncture points. Owing to the limitations of previous studies, future research using high-throughput technologies such as omics and multicenter randomized controlled trials should be performed to explore the acupuncture's mechanisms of action and demonstration of efficacy.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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