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Chinese and Soviet Scientists Cooperate to Confirm
Existence of the "Jinluo" Line (Meridian Channels)
by LEPING ZHA
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh NMR Centerfor Biomedical Research )
Reflexology (manipulating areas on the feet to affect the rest of the body) was
listed as "near bizarre" in a Times cover article on the alternative therapies
[Claudia Wallis, "Why New Age Medicine is Catching On", November 4, 19911,
compared with the "more credible" treatments like acupuncture, while in fact they
are both based on the same ancient Chinese theory of "Jinluo" system, the critical
ri meridian line network" which links virtually all the human (and animals and
plants as well reportedly) parts and passes the "qi" through them to maintain one's
health and vitality. According to Huang-Di-Nei-Jin, the most ancient known
gigantic Chinese work on traditional medicine, The system consists fourteen "Jin-
Mai" lines plus numerous "Lou-Mai" lines that governs the circulation of the "qi"
and the "Xue", the two most important elements of life, and adjusts somatic
functions from feedback. It is believed by the work the comprehensive control
system of the highest level in living body. These channels are also strongly
believed by most Chinese parapsychological researchers as well as qigong masters
as the pathway of the subtle energies which carries psi information [L. Zha &
T. MeConnell, "Parapsychology in the People's Republic of China: 1979-1989",
JASPR, 85,119-143(1991)].
There are huge number of papers on relations between Jinluo system and psi
functions published in China since 1979. Some reported the ESP message's
propagating speed along the lines as a typically 15 to 50 centimeters per second
among the gifted EFHI3 (Exceptional Functions of Human Body, the Chinese term
for ESP and PK) children and qigong masters [Zhuang Jianxiang, et al. (Inst. of
Space Medico-Engineering, ISME), "Measurements on Human Electromagnetic
Energy Field", Ziran Zazhi(Chinese Nature Journal), 11, 43-51(1988)], a figure
well above the control group's (0.1 to 14 centimeters per second). They observed
that once the "qi feelings" (usually tingling and bloating) reach their forehead, the
desired ESP information appears as an "image" on a special "TV screen" there.
There are as many patients receiving the Jinluo-theory based traditional Chinese
medicine therapy regularly today as those using Western medicine, in the country
where one fourth the earth's population lives (many actually use both
simultaneously since it is not unusual for a Western medicine doctor, "Xi-Yi" as
called, also prescripts the traditional Chinese "Zhong-Yi" drugs and treatments
along with their Aspirin pills, etc.), since they took the existence of the Jinluo
system as an well established fact right from their birth.
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Wang Weiyi, a famous Chinese physician of Song Dynasty (960-1279) was
the first to inscribe the fourteen Jinluo lines onto a copper body model for
acupuncture-Jinluological teaching, study and therapy, forming that what we see
often today in an acupuncture clinic. However, direct anatomic efforts failed to
convincingly identify these lines either in vivo or in vitro, thus the question
whether they really exist became a hot controversy in China and the related studies
are active in many state-funded traditional medicine centers, research institutes and
universities. Professor Zhu Zongxiang, who leads a group in the Institute of
Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Science (Academia Sinica) claimed
recently that after nineteen year's scientific studies, they had proven rigorously the
Jinluo lines' existence in human, animal and even plant bodies, by at least three
independent and distinctive biophysical methods, including pulsed electronic and
mechanical-acoustical stimulations -response studies and specific micro-electrode
measurements.
According to Prof Zhu, the Jinluo lines are identified by their low electric
impedance, high electric potential, and special acoustic and thermographic
conductive characteristics as compared with those of the channel's adjacent areas.
Also, as they reported, the most important meridian phenomenon,, known as
propagating sensation along channel (PSC, the current of numb, distensive feelings
propagating during needling at an acupoint), has been extensively studied and
verified by classical physiological experiments such as ECG, EEG, EMG
(electromyograph), EGG (electrogastrograph), local impedance rheogram, etc.
[Zhu Zongxiang, Xu Ruimin, et a[., 'A Study on the Low Impedance characteristics
of the Meridian Lines before and after necessary amputation", Ziran Zazhi, 9,
281-287(1986); Zhu Zongxiang, "The Advances and Prospect in Physiological and
Biophysical Approaches to the Acupuncture Meridian System", Ziran Zazhi, 9,
327-332(1986); Zhu Zongxiang, et al., Acupuncture Research, 5, 308- (1980), 7,
169- , 238- , 299- (1982), 8, 73- (1983); etc.]. A detailed experimental channel
location map had been produced by 1989 which shows all the fourteen Jinluo lines
described in the fore-mentioned ancient works with complete agreement on their
positions. The study reports that the typical width of the lines is about one
millimeter, that their sizes and locations are stable from one's infancy to adulthood
without much change, and that they remain detectable at the same locations in
amputated limbs. Applying the same group of methods, Prof. Zhu claimed that
similar meridian lines are also found in animals like rat, rabbit, and plants like
banana, water melon, Hami melon, and cucumber. These claims have brought wide
attentions among Chinese scientists and news media, partially because some of
their claims are contradictory to another popular school of general believe in China
that the channel system relies on the non-equilibrium physiological dynamic
processes of the living body and therefore it would not be detectable in vitro.
According to a report of the official Xinhua News Agency (September 26,
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3
1991, Beijing, by Zhu Baihua), Chinese and Russian scientists were closely
cooperating to further reveal the reality of meridian channels by modem
Biophysical means, and major progress has been achieved.
From the source, the research center headed by Professor Zhu signed a
collaborate agreement with the Institute of Cytological Biophysics, the former
Soviet Academy of Science, to lunch a series of morphological and biochemical
experiments on Jinluo system. The Russian scientists would investigate the special
structure of the channels by optical and electron microscopes, as well as to
measure the lines objectively by biochemical (enzymic) methods. The news reports
that the scientists from the both sides had made exchanges frequently since May,
1990. A delegation led by Prof. Zhu visited the Soviet site in June, 1991, and Dr.
Klamov (name translated from Chinese), director of the Cytological Biophysics
Institute's radiology department, is working in the Professor Zhu's lab in Beijing.
The report says the Russian researchers have successfully detected acupoints
which on the whole agree with the Jinluo map made by Zhu's group.
"Experts" commented in a Xinhua news (May 23, 1992, by Lang Jing and
Chen Jianshan) that the experimental proof of the Jinluological basics achieved
from arming the tradition4l Chinese medicine system with modem science win
"inexorably bring fundamental changes in our understanding on life and human
potentials".
Also from other Xinhua reports, Dr. Qian Xuesen, the prominent Chinese
rocketeer and former Chairman of the Chinese Science and Technology
Association, Dr. Robert Jahn(PEAR, Princeton University)'s predecessor of the
Goddard Professorship in the Cal. Tech. Jet Propulsion Laboratory who has been
providing the crucial supports to China's psi studies from the very beginning, was
granted by the party a one-of-a-kind "Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award"
which was described as the highest honor ever to a scientist in China. The Chinese
government had also started a "learn from Dr. Qian" movement throughout the
nation's scientific and technological units. In the grant awarding ceremony
attended by the party's top leaders, Dr. Qian mentioned that he will aim to further
advance the "Somatic Science" research in China, along with the many other
mentioned subjects like the Biological Sciences and the System Engineering.
(Revised on May 25, 1992
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