How Micro Current Created by Grounding Stimulates Meridian Points in Acupressure

Abstract

Acupressure in Oriental medicine is used as a core therapeutic method due to its therapeutic efficacy and minimal side-effects. However, microcurrent stimulation, combined with acupressure and grounding, has not been studied under acupressure conditions in terms of how this combination might affect acupressure therapy's effectiveness. This paper clarifies the new concept of acupressure stimulation combined with a microcurrent that generates electron flow during earthing. In grounding the body, there is free electron movement from and to the body that creates microcurrent. Acupressure uses these currents to activate specific acupoints for therapeutic purposes and activating these acupoints adjust the imbalance between Qi across channels (meridians) and ultimately treat diseases. It is time for proper research and implementation of this technique to increase acupressure efficacy and reduce society's cost.

Full text

RESEARCH ARTICLE
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
www.ejmed.org
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.2.749
Vol 3 | Issue 2 | March 2021
79
I. INTRODUCTION
Acupressure is a modified form of acupuncture that
substitutes needle insertion with pressure. Acupressure has
originated from ancient China [1]. Its principle works from
activation of acupoints through the meridians with fingers or
non-invasive tools that exert pressure on the point. Because
of improved awareness of the benefits of various holistic
approaches, this hands-on therapy is used more frequently
than before [2].
Meridians are the channels inside the human body that help
retain Qi and interconnect to the human body's various tissues
and organs. Its activation induces an analgesic effect both
locally and systematically when applying pressure on a
particular point [3]. Acupoint is the point nearest to the skin
surface, and the human body is full of clusters of such
elements [4]. There are particular points with high electrical
conductance used in acupuncture for needle insertion on the
body's surface [5]. Acupoints are electrically active only
when there is a dysfunction in the body. It appears that the
size and shapes of acupuncture points differ considerably.
The acupoint position on a defined meridian is measured
using a body inch (BI) or Cun. One BI/Cun is equal to one
thumb width at the base of the fingernail. The acupressure
measurement units (AUM) are known as BI/Cun [6]. Various
acupoints in the zone appear to become active in different
situations. The points are dynamic, becoming particularly
active after injury or disease.
Qi base on the philosophy of the energy life force, but
consistency defines one's health status. According to
Traditional Chines Medicine (TCM), acupuncture uses
energy to activate specific acupoints for therapeutic purposes
and activate these acupoints adjust the imbalance between Qi
across channels (meridians) and ultimately treat diseases [7].
Acupressure may be paired with grounding techniques to
maximize the possible health benefits; grounding or earthing
applies to the skin's direct contact with the Earth's surface.
The grounding effect is achieved by using bare feet or hands
or using various grounding devices.
Recent research has shown that when the human body
electrically contacts Earth's surface, it affects different
processes such as inflammation, wound healing, and immune
responses; this technique can control chronic inflammatory
and autoimmune diseases [8].
Grounding systems are simple conductive systems that can
easily be used within the home or office in the form of mats,
sheets, wrist or ankle bands, sticky patches, and other various
comfortable and convenient, user-friendly methods. Such
systems connect to the Ground via a wire [8].
Microcurrent therapy (MT) means clinical uses of very
low electric current (<1 mA), which is typically sub-sensory
for the body [9]. Microcurrent therapy supporters believe that
the body can more effectively accept electrical energy into its
electrophysiological system by reducing the current to a sub-
sensory level to boost and promote tissue healing and
regeneration [10], [11]. It speculates that microcurrent
stimulation significantly improves the bodies healing process
by increasing cellular physiology and growth and
biochemical osmosis [11]. In this paper, I want to clarify the
new concept of stimulation of acupressure points with
microcurrents that generate with the flow of electro during
grounding.
How Micro Current Created by Grounding Stimulates
Meridian Points in Acupressure?
Madiha Khalid and Jeremy Madvin
ABSTRACT
Acupressure in Oriental medicine is used as a core therapeutic method due
to its therapeutic efficacy and minimal side-effects. However, microcurrent
stimulation, combined with acupressure and grounding, has not been
studied under acupressure conditions in terms of how this combination
might affect acupressure therapy's effectiveness. This paper clarifies the
new concept of acupressure stimulation combined with a microcurrent that
generates electron flow during earthing. In grounding the body, there is free
electron movement from and to the body that creates microcurrent.
Acupressure uses these currents to activate specific acupoints for
therapeutic purposes and activating these acupoints adjust the imbalance
between Qi across channels (meridians) and ultimately treat diseases. It is
time for proper research and implementation of this technique to increase
acupressure efficacy and reduce society's cost.
Keywords: Acupoints, Acupressure, Earthing, grounding, meridian points,
microcurrent.
Submitted : March 03, 2021
Published : March 31, 2021
ISSN: 2593-8339
DOI: 10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.2.749
Dr. Madiha Khalid *
Humdard University, Islamabad
Campus, Pakistan.
(e-mail: msmadihakhalid gmail.com)
Jeremy Madvin
MBA International Business
University of Redlands, United States.
(e-mail: jeremymadvin gmail.com)
*Corresponding Author
@
@

RESEARCH ARTICLE
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.2.749
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II. MODERN CONCEPTS OF MICROCURRENT STIMULATION
WITH EARTHING AND MERIDIANS
Modern science has confirmed that every living thing has
electrical charges inside its body. The human body is no
exception. Modern physiology tells us that these charges', the
strength of charges, and the distribution of charges can be
measured despite their small sizes.
The electrical energy of the human body was first
measured systematically by Dr. Reinhold Voll from
Germany. Voll measured electrical resistance at various
points of the body with the help of an electrical probe. He
revealed several points in the body that gave unusual
readings, lower electric resistance, and those points
distributed over fixed routes [12].
At the same time, Nakatani, a Japanese doctor, used an
electrical device for examining patients. Nakatani also
identified several low electrical resistance points, which he
associated in routes(13). These electrical pathways are almost
identical to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine.
Furthermore, the points of low electrical resistance exactly
match with acupuncture points. Electrical current flow
through those low resistance routes is called Chi.
The higher organism typically includes the digestive,
circulatory, nervous, and reproductive systems. There may be
another system that correlates to the low electrical resistance
pathways – meridians located under the skin and connected
to the internal organs [13].
Acupoints are similar to boost stations in the meridians that
link acupuncture points with these meridian lines to transmit
these DC signals. Acupoints in meridians have different
electrical properties, and these properties are used for
diagnostic purposes.
Acupoints show little or no electrical activity when the
tissue or organ is healthy [14]. If injury or disease occurs, a
current is created locally at the damage site [15].
Simultaneously, in relationship with the surrounding skin, the
corresponding acupoint changes the characteristics and the
polarity. Acupuncture points related to the injury site are
typical, although not always usually located far away.
For this understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture,
the idea of semi-conduction is fundamental. One of the
pioneers of relevant modern concepts, Albert Szent Gorgyi,
proposes ionic conduction to conduct energy using charged
particles (ions) [17]. Nerve impulses are carried out in this
way. Ionic currents are well functioning over short distances,
such as a membrane that covers nerve fibers but quickly
dissipates over longer distances. Semi-conduction produces
and induces a current and involves a highly orderly structure
of materials so that electrons can pass from one nucleus to
another. Semi-conductors work both as insulators and
conductors, depends on temperature. They can carry only
small currents, but the current can transport efficiently over
long distances.
This concept can comprise various conventional electric
circuits, with the most descriptive being the diode gate. A
diode gate is considered a building block of a microprocessor.
In the case of injury, the semi-conductor effect restricts the
free flow of charge leading to accumulation of charges and
hence causes pain [16].
The concept of a diode that is a semi-conductor that only
allows current to go in a single direction is central to the
fundamental explanation of acupuncture's working [15]. The
following diagrams (Fig. 1) illustrates this:
Fig. 1. When the tissues are healthy.
The current source is the metabolism of the body itself. The
load is the body part that is attached to a particular acupoint
shown on the diagram. The acupuncture point does not show
any change if the load or the tissue is healthy.
In Fig 2, when the load is injured, a current of injury
generates. The current flows into that area are blocked. It
results in the current flow back from the current source, and
it activates the acupoint.
Fig. 2. In case of injury.
Fig. 3 shows the use of biphasic signals (grounding) for the
treatment of acupuncture points.
Fig. 3. When grounding takes place.
Acupuncture points are generally negatively charged from
the surrounding skin. Higher negative values represent
increased electrical activity in the corresponding anatomical
area. It is found in functional pathology, where there is no
actual organic change or damage. This level can increase in
acute conditions, and as this level increases, the is a
correlation associated with severe pain [15].
One will find that if a bipolar electric current passes
through a semi-conducting tissue, typical conductive
properties are recovered, the stored charges will release from
the damaged area, and the symptoms of the disease reduce.
Sometimes with sufficient therapy, the problem can disappear
completely.

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Current research indicates that the human body's
grounding has a significant impact on bioelectrical and
bioenergetic mechanisms and seems to have a significant
modulating effect on chronic diseases and dysfunction [19].
Furthermore, Oschman and colleagues proposed that a
connection between the body and the Earth causes free
electrons from the Earth's surface to transfer to the body,
where they can have antioxidant effects [8]. Additional
studies to support these theories are needed.
III. WHY MICROCURRENT?
In grounding the body, there is free electron movement
from and to the body that creates a microcurrent in the body.
This microcurrent helps heal different processes that are best
explained by the gate control theory. The Melzack and wall
[20] gate control theory is the best justification for the use of
high-intensity milliampere stimulation. The high-intensity
current stimulation tends to block gates to the associated
nerve impulses, according to Melzack and wall [20].
Specifically, stimulation of the beta-sensory neurons, which
respond faster than the smaller pain-transmitting C-fibers,
would tend to stop the conduction of pain signals to the spinal
cord in the substantia gelatinosa. The beta sensory input
effectively floods the circuits and blocks the C-fibers' pain
signals from getting through. The secretion may also enhance
this presynaptic feedback inhibition in endorphins and
enkephalins' central nervous system, the body's naturally
occurring narcotics. High-intensity electrical stimulation
would irritate the tissues enough to activate the protective
response of these endogenous opiates. Such relief from pain
will last for many hours. Unfortunately, such effects represent
only temporary masking of the pain without any long-lasting
cumulative effects and without any direct impact on the
body's healing process [20]. However, with microcurrent
stimulation, it is proposed that instead of masking the pain of
injury, there may be a way to initiate the body's natural
healing process via the electrophysiological system [20]. The
benefits of microcurrent claim to be the cumulative treatment
effects on pain. Those using microcurrent are familiar with
the next-day carry-over. Patients may not notice any
immediate analgesia, but the next day reports remarkable
subjective improvement corroborated by objective
examination revealing reduced pain with palpation,
diminished swelling, normalization of skin colouration, and
improved motion range [11].
IV. ACUPRESSURE AND GROUNDING DEVICES
There is a wide variety of portable acupressure and
grounding devices available in the market. Most acupressure
devices exert constant pressure on specific acupoints. Due to
a nerve accommodation limitation, automated modulating
acupressure devices have been introduced in the market to
increase the therapeutic effect.
In one study, Mehta et al. [6], the authors summarized the
principal forms of acupressure devices (Fig. 4), and they can
pair with grounding to achieve synergistic benefits.
Fig. 4. (Metha et al.). Patented devices (A–J). Acupressure device name: A.
Acupressure footboard, B. Acupressure device for fingers, C. Acupressure
and reflexology clamp, D. Acupressure device for treating insomnia, E.
Automatically modulating acupressure device, F. Adjustable foot
acupressure and pain relief platform, G. Electrical plus acupressure system,
H. Finger acupressure apparatus, I. Hand-held acupressure device, and J.
Massage footwear.
However, very few devices provide combined effects of
acupressure with grounding. An instrument that can fulfil this
need can be a modified acupressure probe with a conductive
grounding cable on the one hand and a tip for applying a
specific level of pressure on specific points along meridians
on the other hand (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5. Schematic device for combining acupressure and grounding
techniques.
V. DISCUSSION
Both grounding acupressure and acupressure are simple,
safe, effective, and cost-effective treatments, but due to the
grounding acupressure's dual nature, it seems more efficient
and effective than either earthing or grounding alone. These
two complementary therapies provide many health benefits
that will provide a basis for more research.
The first effects analyzed as a result of therapies are
inflammation and immunological responses. Several studies
have shown advantages for both grounding and acupressure
over the past several years, so the synergistic effects could be
more efficient to reduce this form of immunological response.
In a study by Oschman et al., the authors have shown that
grounding can relieve pain, change the number of circulating
immune cells (neutrophils and lymphocytes), and change the
circulating chemical factors associated with inflammation
(Fig. 6) [8]. This result shows that the Earth has significant
anti-inflammatory effects. An explanation of the theory may
be the reason that grounding enables a large number of free
electrons to enter the body through nervous, meridian, and
circulatory systems so that free radicals, created by our
metabolism, that have damaging effects on cells can be
neutralized [21]-[22].

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Fig. 6. Summary of the central hypothesis of Oschman et al. Notes: (A) After an injury, the ungrounded person (Mr. Shoes) will form an inflammatory
barricade around the injury site. (B) After an injury, the grounded person (Mr. Barefoot) will not create an inflammatory barricade because reactive oxygen
species could damage nearby healthy tissue (collateral damage) immediately neutralized by electrons semi-conducted electron-saturated ground substance
via the collagen network.
In asthma, allergic rhinitis, pruritus, or other allergies, all
of these disorders have an essential physio-pathological
history and have been treated successfully with acupressure
alone [23]-[24].
Both acupressure and grounding have dominated analgesic
effects. Three studies examined the impact of grounding on
delayed muscle soreness (DOMS). After unaccustomed or
strenuous exercise, muscles felt pain, tenderness, and
stiffness for several hours to days and concluded that this
technique substantially decreased pain and inflammation
[25]-[26].
Oschman described that earthing's immediate impact could
not be explained by the slow movement of nerve impulses or
chemical processes but rather by the inflow of anti-
inflammatory electrons, which can quickly transit through the
conductive infrastructure to target inflammatory sites of the
body [8,] [21].
Kirca et al. showed that acupressure had significant
analgesic effects on postpartum perineal pain compared to the
ice pack [25]. A systematic review of the treatment of various
kinds of pain (dysmenorrhea, the pain of labour, low back
pain, chronic headaches, and other traumatic pain) has
demonstrated the efficacy of acupressure [27].
The improvement of blood circulation is another
significant, documented benefit of grounding. In a study in
2013, the researchers concluded that grounding is one of the
most simple but profound interventions to reduce
cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events."
It may be because the negative charge of the erythrocytes
(the Zeta potential) increases and further create greater
distance between the blood elements [28].
Two other studies have measured the increase in blood
flow. The first study developed visual evidence showing that
grounding enhances facial blood flow [29]. In further
research, thermal imaging explains that grounding enhanced
blood flow in the torso [30].
Li et al. assessed the effects of acupressure on the lower
limb's blood flow for treating peripheral arterial occlusive
diseases. They concluded that the lower limb blood flow in
Stage II peripheral arterial occlusive diseases (PAOD)
patients increased significantly by acupressure [31].
This technique has a significant impact on the autonomic
nervous system (ANS). A study of premature infants has
shown that grounding has resulted in immediate and
substantial improvement in ANS measurements, which are
important in controlling inflammatory responses and stress
responses in those babies [32]. It may be because of the rapid
transit movement of the electron that triggers the nerve vagus.
However, acupuncture can effectively decrease gastric
tachyarrhythmias and prevent paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardia; and vagus nerve stimulation [33].
VI. CONCLUSION
Both acupressure and grounding are simple, non-invasive,
and accessible techniques that, when combined, could have a
significant and beneficial role in the regulation or treatment
of inflammation, pain, circulation, and autonomic
dysfunctions.
A device that could use both techniques simultaneously
poses a tremendous opportunity to:
(a) increase the results of a typical acupressure session
through dramatically increased, targeted, and controlled ion
passage through and around the meridian point;
(b) enhancing the effects of grounding through allowing
for a pinpointed ion gateway;
(c) might be helpful to in potentiating their biological and
clinical benefits, while reducing costs at the same time.
This model also explains why, through repeated treatment,
functional and organic, pathology can respond and resolve in
many cases. Essentially, an acupuncture point is expressing
when it becomes active (in other words, where disease,
functional or organic, is present) is trying to resolve
biophysically the electrical abnormality produced by the
injury or illness in the affected tissue. The use of a biphasic
current over the affected point facilitates this process, leading
to the original pathology's resolution.

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Madiha Khalid
Place of birth: Lahore, India.
Date of Birth: 11/9/1985.
M. Phil clinical Pharmacy.
Humdard University, Lahore.
She is working as a lecturer in the University of
Lahore for about 6 years in the Pharmacy
Department.
Jeremy Madvin
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, United States.
Bate of Birth: 11/22/1967.
MBA International Business.
.