fluorescein into the volunteers’ pericardium meridians and observed the direction of the fluorescein’s movement with a special camera.
It was emphasized in the study that the fluorescein was injected intradermally—not subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously—to ensure that it would not disperse into the blood vessels.
The scientists were surprised to find that after the volunteers were injected with fluorescein in the Neiguan (PC-6) point on their wrists, over time, fluorescent lines appeared on most of their arms. These “glowing lines” spread along their arms, all the way to the bend of their elbows. The path of this line is precisely the path of the pericardium meridian.
In other words, starting at the Neiguan (PC-6) Point, the fluorescein follows the pericardium meridian all the way to the Quze (PC-3) Point.
It’s worth noting that the bright spot at the Quze (PC-3) Point appeared even earlier than the fluorescent line, as if the fluorescein entered the body and then “time traveled” to Quze (PC-3) Point. What’s more interesting is that the Quze (PC-3) Point is considered a “He-Sea point” in traditional Chinese medicine. The ancients believed that these kinds of points could gather energy, so, in a way, the results seem to confirm this.
In addition to the Neiguan (PC-6) Point, the researchers also injected fluorescein into one volunteer’s Jianshi (PC-5) Point, and a fluorescent line also appeared. In some cases, the lines extended all the way to the upper arm. This phenomenon lasted for 18 hours before the lines slowly disappeared.
In order to confirm whether similar linear traces would appear if fluorescein was injected at any point on the hand, the researchers designed a control study in which fluorescein was injected at a point one centimeter away from the Neiguan (PC-6) acupuncture point (a non-acupuncture point injection). This experiment was performed seven times, and none of the experiments generated similar lines.
A total of 28 acupuncture point injection experiments were performed: 23 injections were given at the Neiguan (PC-6) Point, and fluorescent lines appeared 18 times; one injection was given at the Jianshi (PC-5) Point, and a fluorescent line also appeared; and four injections were given at the Daling (PC-7) Points, and fluorescent lines appeared three times.
Overall, 22 of the 28 injections showed lines. Compared with the non-acupuncture point injections, the statistical p-value of the acupuncture point injection experiments was less than 0.001, which means that the existence of the pericardium meridian is clearly possible and not just a figment of the ancients’ imaginations (in general, a p-value of less than 0.05 is statistically significant).
Massaging Acupoints For Palpitations, Insomnia
So, specifically, how does one use the pericardium meridian to treat diseases?
We can perform acupressure: Press each point 100 times, two or three times a day (e.g. once in the morning and once in the evening).
You can use your thumb to rub the points directly, or you can use a massage device to produce a slight soreness and swelling at the points.
The following are the three major pericardium meridian points to massage.
Neiguan Point (PC-6): Treat Heart Problems, Improve Insomnia
If you have palpitations, irregular heartbeat, a sudden myocardial infarction (heart attack), or other heart problems, massaging the Neiguan (PC-6) Point can help relieve the symptoms.