Objective To lay a foundation for meridian diagnosis by measuring the blood perfusion(BP)on yuan-source points of twelve meridians and calculating the normal range of imbalance degree(IBD)of left and right meridian(IBD-LRM)

IBD of exterior-interior meridian(IBD-EIM)and IBD of hand-foot of the same name meridians(IBD-HFM)in healthy subjects.Methods BP at yuan-source points of twelve meridians was measured on 31 healthy volunteers by a Laser Doppler Line Scanner(LDLS).BP distribution and IBD-LRM

IBD-EIM

IBD-HFM were calculated.Results(1)Of the twelve meridians

BP was almost equal between the left and right of the same meridian.The mean value of IBD-LRM was(0.8±7.0)%.The absolute value of IBD-LRM ranged from(13.2±12.0)%to(22.9±15.6)%

with the mean value of(16.2±4.1)%

the IBD of gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang was the highest.(2)Of the six pairs of exterior-interior meridians

five pairs manifested as the interior(yin)meridians being larger than the exterior(yang)meridians in BP.The mean value of IBD-EIM was(-11.4±10.4)%.The absolute value of IBD-EIM ranged from(16.6±12.1)%to(36.6±15.6)%

with the mean value of(25.2±8.0)%

the IBD between pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin and triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang was the highest.(3)All of the handfoot of the same name meridians were found hand meridians being larger than foot in BP.The mean value of IBD-HFM was(38.8±18.2)%.The absolute value of IBD-HFM ranged from(34.4±20.9)%to(59.6±12.0)%

with the mean value of(43.8±13.3)%

and IBD between heart meridian of hand-shaoyin and kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin was the highest.(4)The order of IBD absolute value in BP was the same as transcutaneous CO_2 emission(TCE)measured before

and their IBD-LRM absolute values were close to each other.However

the absolute values of IBD-EIM and IBD-HFM existed some differences.Conclusion The IBD-LRM of the twelve yuan-source points in BP of healthy subjects is small and in a balance state

but IBD-EIM and IBD-HFM are relatively high.