Objective To explore the distribution of pressure-and heat-sensitive acupoints of the Large Intestine of Hand-Yangming

Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming and the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin below the elbow and knee joints in patients with allergic rhinitis

so as to explore the positive reaction points at the body surface of allergic rhinitis.MethodsThirty variant rhinitis volunteer subjects and 30 healthy subjects were recruited in the present study.The subcutaneous induration

reaction points of emptiness-like feeling or pressing pain below the elbow-and knee-joints along the Large Intestine Meridian

Stomach Meridian and the Lung Meridian were inspected first

then re-examined by using heat-sensitized moxibustion method and a hand-held pain threshold tester(mechanical pressure)

respectively. The frequency and coincidence rate of pressing-pain sensitive and heat-sensitive points were analyzed.ResultsIn the 30 patients with allergic rhinitis

10 positive reaction points as Kongzui(LU6)

Chize(LU5)

Hegu(LI4)

Quchi(LI11)

Shousanl(iLI10)

Zusanli(ST36)

Shangjuxu(ST37)

Fenglong(ST40)

Xiajuxu(ST39)

and non-acupoint of the Lung Meridian were found. Among them

the duration of heat-sensitive reaction in the LU6

LI10

ST37

ST40

and ST39 regions was obviously shorter in patients than in healthy subjects(P<0. 01

P<0. 005). The heat-sensitive forms of the positive reaction points were mainly heat transmission

heat-penetration and local reaction. The mechanical pain thresholds of the positive reaction points(LI4

LU6

LI10

LI11 and non-acupoint of the Lung Meridian)at the upper limbs and those(ST36

ST37 and ST40)at the lower limbs were evidently lower in patients than in healthy volunteer subjects(P<0. 05). The pressure-and heat-sensitive acupoints were basically coincide in the patients

but being higher in patients than in healthy subjects in the frequency of occurrence. The mechanical pain threshold of the pressure-sensitive acupoints in patients was remarkably lower on the left side than on the right side of the upper limb

and obviously higher on the left side than on the right side of the lower limb(P<0. 05). No significant differences were found between the right and left sides in the pain threshold in healthy subjects(P>0. 05).ConclusionThere is a high overlap in the distribution of pressure-and heat-sensitive acupoints of the Lung

Large Intestine and Stomach meridians below the elbow and knee joints in patients with allergic rhinitis

and there is an imbalance between the left and right limbs in the mechanical pain threshold of the pressure-and heat-sensitive acupoints

but needing being further confirmed.