Transmission line modeling for acupuncture nodal therapy

Acupuncture relies on the use of fine needles being inserted into specific points with varying amounts of manual or external stimulation. Though studies of the curative benefits of acupuncture have been well documented, there is no indisputable universal theory on the mechanism of pain relief. Gate control theory states that acupuncture ´closes the gate´ to pain and blocks pain perception in the brain via stimulation of large nerve fibers. This particular research hypothesizes that this theory is partially correct. That is, the stimulation of large nerve fibers with needles does relieve pain, but via a different mechanism as described by a transmission line model of pertinent meridians. This model is used to find the matched load and input impedances, thereby reducing the reflections seen by the input nerve propagations towards the brain. It is assumed that in homeostasis (no pain state) there is matched impedance, and thus no reflections occur. However, distortions of characteristic impedance cause reflections and pain. It is, hypothesized that with the insertion of acupuncture needles,, the characteristic impedance changes in such a fashion as to minimize reflections and therefore reduce pain.