Tzou Chieh-Han John, Yang Tzyy-Yih, Chung Ya-Chien
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Taipei Chengshih University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2015 Apr;8(2):77-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2014.07.001. Epub 2014 Jul 22.
Originating in ancient China, acupuncture using needles has been developed for thousands of years and has received attention for its reported medical remedies, such as pain relief and chronic disease treatment. Heat transfer through the needles, which might have effects on the biomechanism of acupuncture, providing a stimulus and regulating homeostasis, has never been studied. This article analyzes the significance of heat transfer through needles via convection and conduction, approached by means of computational analysis. The needle is a cylindrical body, and an axis symmetrical steady-state heat-transfer model that viscosity and static pressure was not applied. This article evaluates heat transfer via acupuncture needles by using five metal materials: silver, copper, brass, iron, and stainless steel. A silver needle of the type extensively applied in acupuncture can dissipate more than seven times as much heat as a stainless steel needle of the same type. Heat transfer through such a needle is significant, compared to natural body-energy consumption over a range of ambient temperatures. The mechanism by which heat flows in or out of the body through the needles may be crucial in the remedial efficacy of acupuncture.
起源于古代中国的针刺疗法已有数千年的发展历史，并因其在缓解疼痛和治疗慢性病等方面的医疗效果而受到关注。通过针进行的热传递可能会对针刺的生物力学机制产生影响，从而提供刺激并调节体内平衡，但这从未得到过研究。本文通过计算分析，探讨了通过对流和传导进行针内热传递的意义。针为圆柱体，采用了不考虑粘性和静压的轴对称稳态热传递模型。本文使用银、铜、黄铜、铁和不锈钢五种金属材料评估了通过针灸针的热传递。广泛应用于针灸的银针散失的热量是同类型不锈钢针的七倍多。在一定范围的环境温度下，与人体自然能量消耗相比，通过这种针的热传递是显著的。热量通过针流入或流出身体的机制可能对针刺疗法的疗效至关重要。
