Objective: To observe the relationship between the cutaneous temperature of the acupoint area and the environmental temperature and humidity in healthy female undergraduate student volunteers.
Methods: Forty-nine healthy female undergraduate student volunteers experiencing menstruation were enrolled in the present study. The cutaneous temperature of the acupoint region was detected for 60 min by using a "dynamic skin temperature detector" and under room temperature of (22.15 +/- 1.47) degrees C and indoor relative humidity of (50.12 +/- 4.52)%. The detected acupoints were Xuehai (SP10), Diji (SP8), Zhongdu (LR 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Taibai (SP 3), Taichong (LR 3) and Shuiquan (KI 5)which have been well documented in effectively regulating uterine activity, and Xuanzhong (GB 39) and non-meridian acupoint nearby GB 39. The skin temperature measurement was conducted on the first day of menstruation.
Results: The skin temperature levels of Xuehai (SP 10), Diji (SP 8), Zhongdu (LR 6), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and non-acupoint near GB 39 were apparently hig-her under higher temperature, showing a significant relevance between the acupoint skin temperature and room temperature (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between skin temperature levels of Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Taibai (SP 3), Taichong (LR 3) and Shuiquan (KI 5) and the indoor temperature (P > 0.05), between the skin temperature difference of the bilateral isonym acupoints and the indoor temperature, and between the skin temperature difference and the indoor humidity (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The skin temperature of some acupoints is influenced by the environment temperature rather than the indoor humidity.