[Oxygen metabolism and meridian qi]

Abstract

The relationship between the state of oxygen metabolism in modern physiology and the concept of meridian qi in Chinese medicine was investigated with the theory of Chinese medicine, biomedicine and experimental medicine for exploring the essence of meridians and meridian qi. The hypothesis concerning the relationship between meridian qi in Chinese medicine and oxygen metabolism in modern medicine proposed by the author was expounded and proved by a series of experiment results and theoretical analysis. According to the knowledge of oxygen metabolism and the theory of meridians and meridian qi, it is held that both qi and oxygen have extreme high similarity in both physiological functions and pathological reactions since both of them have material, functional and informational features. And the experiment results indicated that meridian qi in Chinese medicine have very close relationship with oxygen metabolism in modern medicine. Therefore, conclusions were made on the base of the above mentioned results: (1) The essence of meridian qi in Chinese medicine is closely related to oxygen and the metabolism of oxygen; (2) The specific distribution of oxygen metabolism-related substance and its function may be one of the essence of the meridians and meridian qi; (3) Oxygen and vertebrate globin are probably the main contents of the "qi-blood" in Chinese medicine; (4) The mechanism of qi regulation with acupuncture-moxibustion may be fulfilled by the regulation of general and local state of oxygen metabolism.