Does Bonghan Duct + Corpuscle system correlate highly with classical Channel + acupoint system?

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Hi All,

 

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=31918 ] says: " ...

Korean researchers have rediscovered threadlike microscopic anatomical

structures that correspond with the layout of traditional acupuncture meridians

or channels. Acupuncture channels are no longer imaginary lines, but specific

anatomical structures ... "

 

The references to recent Korean research in that article were:

 

(2007) Johng H-M, Yoo JS, Yoon T-J, et al. Use of magnetic nanoparticles to

visualize threadlike structures inside lymphatic vessels of rats. Evid Based

Complement Alternat Med. March; 4(1):77-82.

 

(2005) Shin HS, Johng HM, Lee BC, et al. Feulgen reaction study of novel

threadlike structures (Bonghan ducts) on the surfaces of mammalian organs. Anat

Rec. 284B:35-40.

 

(2004) Soh KS. Bonghan duct and acupuncture meridian as optical channel of

biophoton. Journal of the Korean Physical Society. Nov;45(5):1196-8.

 

Other references from WWW are below.

 

Note that:

 

(1) The published Korean work describes thread-like microtubules on and in

lymphatic and blood vessels of rats and on the surfaces of some mammalian

organs, especially liver but also on omentum of experimental animals.

 

However, http://tinyurl.com/c5oowk says " ...but the complete network, including

its subcutaneous aspects, has yet to be isolated ... "

 

(2) http://tinyurl.com/ctx7bq says: " Thus we GUESS that the threadlike

structures reported here is possibly the extra-vascular Bonghan duct. According

to Bonghan Kim the network of Bonghan duct consists of intra-vascular ducts,

extra-vascular ducts, and superficial ducts under skin. The superficial ducts

are the anatomical basis of the acupuncture meridians. However, the Bonghan

ducts HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED YET because the observing method was not known

[until now]. "

 

(3) http://tinyurl.com/c7q2x6 [2008 paper] says: " Together with the adrenal

medulla and sympathetic ganglia, the BH system is thought to be a physical

substrate of the acupuncture Meridian system and MAY REPRESENT a novel source of

catecholamine synthesis, storage, and, possibly, signaling ... "

 

See more recent papers at:

http://tinyurl.com/d5oq89

http://tinyurl.com/cl2oj7

http://tinyurl.com/dln2qw

 

Recent work showed coiled blood plexuses in rat skin that corresponded with

locations of some acupoints on KI Channels. However, http://tinyurl.com/dlu42f

says: " ... further studies ... need to elucidate the identification of the

neurovascular plexuses with acupoints or BHCs [bonghan Corpuscles].

 

My conclusions: Up to now, though fascinating and potentially of great

biological importance, modern research on the BHD (Bonghan Duct) and BHC

(Bonghan Corpuscle) system is fragmented and incomplete. Therefore, IMO, its

conclusions highly speculative.

 

It would be a great boost to acupuncture and basic research to have sound

histological evidence for an integrated 14-Channel duct + corpuscular structure

that links the body surface with the interior organs, and that follows the same

pathways and point locations as postulated by TCM Channel Theory. However, I

cannot find convincing evidence of that up to now.

 

I hope that future research will prove that the classical acupoints and Channel

locations have a definite histological and physiological basis, mediated by the

Bonghan system of corpuscles and ducts.

 

Meanwhile, based on our training and experience, acupuncturists will continue to

treat points that give us reliable clinical results.

 

Best regards,