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| EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 22
| Issue : 2 | Page : 46-47 |
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Electrodermal acupuncture as a marker for aging
Adrian Pona1, Sarah L Taylor2, Steven R Feldman3
1 Department of Dermatology, Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
2 Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
3 Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Sep-2018 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Adrian Pona
Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1071
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jdds.jdds_32_18
How to cite this article:
Pona A, Taylor SL, Feldman SR. Electrodermal acupuncture as a marker for aging. J Dermatol Dermatol Surg 2018;22:46-7 |
The Journal of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery issue on electrodermal energy wave at acupuncture sites reports a possible biomarker for aging.[1] This study presents an insight into the future use of electroacupuncture in medicine.
The meridian theory is a past of the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. Internal energy creates a meridian map across the superficial surface of the skin, with every point of biologic energy creating a meridian, known as an acupuncture point. Widely accepted in the East, Western medicine has recently begun to explore scientific modalities to better understand acupuncture.[2] Modern inquisitiveness created electrodermal screening devices (EDSDs), called electroacupuncture, to record electrical characteristics of acupuncture sites. Since then, acupuncture points present differences in resistance, conductance, and electrical potential.[3],[4],[5],[6]
Electroacupuncture through EDSD has created an insight into potential future use in the field of Western medicine.
An EDSD is used by firmly applying a moist metal probe on the skin and a brass electrode in the patient's hand. The former and the latter are connected to the positive and negative circuit, respectively. Between the EDSD and hand electrode is a metal plate. The probe is regulated through proper angles, pressure, and location. Factors that affect the electrodermal energy level readings include repetition and time. One measurement may take up to a minute.[1]
In the present article, electrodermal energy was measured using an EDSD (MORA-super machine; MED-Tronik, Germany, 200 kHz/12 v) between acupuncture and nonacupuncture points. The primary purpose was to recognize a difference in electrical energy and age. A total of 17 individuals younger than 13 years of age, 41 aged 13–18 years, 722 aged 19–39 years, 2995 aged 40–59 years, and 175 aged >59 years, summating 3949 Chinese individuals, were studied. There was no difference in reproducibility when sites were measured 20 min apart. Individuals under 18 years of age reported no difference in electrodermal energy at the acupuncture points (P < 0.001). Individuals over 18 years of age reported a significant increase in electrodermal energy in most acupuncture points (P < 0.001).[1]
Electroacupuncture as a marker for aging is an interesting topic in modern medicine, but the clinical correlation in the field of dermatology may not be relevant. The clinical application as a marker of aging may fit into a geriatric field, such as screening tool for dementia or mortality, but this is difficult to extrapolate into the field of dermatology. Not only EDSD procedure must be performed by a skilled physician but also many nuisances correlate with correctly recording the energy level. Nuisances mentioned above include angles, pressure, location, time, and repetition. At present, these factors support unnecessary use of electroacupuncture in clinical practice, but future studies may provide insights in the clinical implication.
Electroacupuncture through EDSD is a new approach in recognizing differences in age. Its future clinical implication in the field of medicine may provide a useful marker in age-related comorbidities.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Electro-dermal energy wave at acupuncture points may be a biomarker of aging. J Dermatol Dermatol Surg. In this issue.  |
| 2. | Turner L, Linden W, Marshall C. Electrodermal activity at acupuncture points differentiates patients with current pain from pain-free controls. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2013;38:71-80. |
| 3. | Johng HM, Cho JH, Shin HS, Soh KS, Koo TH, Choi SY, et al. Frequency dependence of impedances at the acupuncture point quze (PC3). IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag 2002;21:33-6. |
| 4. | Litscher G, Wang L, Gao XY, Gaischek I. Electrodermal mapping: A new technology. World J Methodol 2011;1:22-6. |
| 5. | Sumano H, Mateos G. The use of acupuncture-like electrical stimulation for wound healing of lesions unresponsive to conventional treatment. Am J Acupunct 1999;27:5-14. |
| 6. | Voll R. Twenty years of electroacupuncture diagnosis in Germany: A progressive report. Am J Acupunct 1975;3:7-17. |
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