Activation on LDPC Cortex With Different Acupoints: An fNIRS Study

Summary

This is a randomized, open-labelled study to study the effect of the different acupoints combination under TCM treatment principles by fNIRS.

The investigator aim to recruited 36 depression subjects and go through 6 acupuncture treatment sessions in 3 weeks. They will be divided into 2 groups by randomization. (Group A n=18, Group B n=18) The participants will receive 2 acupuncture session per week for 3 consecutively weeks. In each treatment session, all subjects in both groups will receive the same amount of needle insertion ( total 14 needles) , all needles will be retained for 30 minutes. The whole treatment will last for around 45 minutes. No sedation will be conducted.

Subjects in Group A will receive 14 needles based on the TCM theory "Soothing liver-qi stagnation", all needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Acupoint combination: Taichong太衝 (LR 3), Ligou蠡沟 (LR 5), Zhongdu 中都(LR6), Xiguan膝關 (LR 7), Ququan曲泉 (LR 8), Zhangmen章門(LR13), Qimen期門 (LR14).

Subjects in Group B will receive 14 needles based on the TCM theory "Soothing liver-qi stagnation" and "Tonifying the heart and the spleen"and "Invigorating the Yang Qi", all needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Acupoint combination: Taichong太衝 (LR 3), , Sanyinjiao 三陰交 (SP 6), Xuanzhong懸鐘 (GB 39), Shenmen 神門 (HT 7), Zusanli 足三里(ST 36), Baihui 百會(DU 20), Shenting神庭(DU24), Qihai 氣海(RN6), Guanyuan 關元(RN4). Teding Diancibo Pu (abbreviation: TDP) "特定電磁波譜" will be applied to Group B immediately after the needle insertion. This TDP device is a infra-red heat lamp which is commonly used by acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine Practitioner as a therapeutic substitute for moxibustion. The procedure will be lasted for 30 minutes in 30-40 cm above the specified acupoint Qihai 氣海(RN6) and Guanyuan 關元(RN4).

Conditions

• Depression

Interventions

OTHER

Acupunture group A

Subjects in Group A will receive 14 needles based on the TCM theory "Soothing liver-qi stagnation", all needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Acupoint combination: Taichong太衝 (LR 3), Ligou蠡沟 (LR 5), Zhongdu 中都(LR6), Xiguan膝關 (LR 7), Ququan曲泉 (LR 8), Zhangmen章門(LR13), Qimen期門 (LR14).

OTHER

Acupunture group B

Subjects in Group B will receive 14 needles based on the TCM theory "Soothing liver-qi stagnation" and "Tonifying the heart and the spleen"and "Invigorating the Yang Qi", all needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Acupoint combination: Taichong太衝 (LR 3), , Sanyinjiao 三陰交 (SP 6), Xuanzhong懸鐘 (GB 39), Shenmen 神門 (HT 7), Zusanli 足三里(ST 36), Baihui 百會(DU 20), Shenting神庭(DU24), Qihai 氣海(RN6), Guanyuan 關元(RN4). Teding Diancibo Pu (abbreviation: TDP) "特定電磁波譜" will be applied to Group B immediately after the needle insertion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jun mei Wu · The University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-02-29

Primary Completion

2017-04-30

Completion

2017-04-30

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations