J Tradit Chin Med. 1990 Mar; 10(1): 36-41.

Effects of the heat-tonification method on the surface temperature of the body observed by infra-red thermography.

Zhang D, Meng J, Gao H, Wen B, Xue L, Chen N.

Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.

With the infra-red thermography, 73 tests of the effect of Heat-Tonification maneuvers on body surface temperature were made. The experiments showed that application of Heat-Tonification produced marked elevation of temperature at the site of puncture, over the face and the front of the neck. The differences between pre- and post-needling temperatures were statistically significant (P less than 0.02 and P less than 0.01). Furthermore, 44.8% of the tests showed elevation of temperature over the trunk and extremities, and the distribution of temperature elevation followed the course of the meridians mostly. The findings demonstrated that the Heat-Tonification method mobilized Qi and activated Blood through influence over the vegetative nervous system that led to readjustment of blood circulation.