Preferential direction and symmetry of electric conduction of human meridians. Bilaterally symmetrical acupoints provide better conductance for a better "connection"

Acupuncture meridian system theory is none of the main features of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The meridians are thought to be the pathways for qi (or bioenergy), which then circulates throughout the human body. They originate in the internal organs and from there travel up to the skin. Bilaterally opposite, symmetric acupunctures along the main meridians (called Great Acupuncture) and along the branching meridians (called opposite insertion) are two traditional methods of acupuncture commonly used in clinics. Symmetric acupoints are punctured opposite to the diseased or affected side. This article discusses the authors' work in which they used 80 healthy subjects to study the symmetry or preferred direction of electrical conduction of human meridians. The data were then analyzed by paired-t and ANOVA testing procedures.