METHODS AND MATERIALS
Using a standard method of infrared thermography and an Inframetrics/FLIR Therma
Cam PM 290 (American Infrared, Old Forge, NY) extended infrared camera model, sensitive between 3.4 micro meter and 5 micro meter in the temperature range, from 10°C to 450°C,
the heat radiation of the human body can be recorded and analyzed online.
Details of the procedure can be found at www.flir.com.
Using this technique, typical and well-recognized images of heat radiation, displaying normal temperature profiles from 20°C to 40°C, and also differing features of non-homogeneous
temperature distributions over the body surface, are generated. In addition, one can
occasionally observe unexpected temperature gradients on the skin, though at present
these patterns are not well understood, nor can they be interpreted in terms of useful
diagnostic assessments.
However, the method used here demonstrates that afterburning a moxibustion stick as
a directed heat source in a defined manner, in proximity to a body region where there
is purported to be an acupuncture point, the meridian structure can be completely revealed.
Figure 1 demonstrates this result in the case of the stomach and spleen meridians. In
Figure 1A, the heat source is near the left leg of the patient. As a result, the structure of the left stomach meridian and the right spleen meridian is revealed. After changing sides,
the mirror meridian images are revealed. These results can be consistently reproduced.