Clinical observation on edema based on the thermal sensitivity measurement method.

Objective: To observe and analysis of the influence of the 12 meridians on edema, the constant value of the detection of the thermal sensitivity was further verified, which provided a basis for the diagnosis and identification of edema by the thermal sensitivity measurement method.

Methods: A total of 1426 patients who attended Doshisha University in Japan and Xi'an Chengxintang Clinic from March 2019 to March 2023 were selected for observation and analysis and divided into 3 groups according to their diseases; 112 patients with edema in Group 1, 488 symptomatic patients with non-edema in Group 2, and 826 asymptomatic subjects in Group 3. The Thermal Sensitivity Measurement was conducted in the twelve meridians and compared among the groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to estimate meridians useful for diagnosing edema.

Results: In the healthy physiological state, the value of thermal sensitivity is relatively constant, which may be affected by age factors. Through the stepwise analysis, left Taiyin lung, right Jueyin pericardium, left Shaoyang Sanjiao, bilateral Jueyin liver, right Shaoyang gallbladder, right Taiyang bladder, and right Shaoyin kidney were extracted as effective meridians for diagnosing edema. Its accuracy was high, with receiver operating characteristic, area under the curve (ROC AUC) of 96%. These findings were not incompatible with the edema-associated meridians in the Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Conclusion: The thermal sensitivity measurement is thought to be useful in diagnosing edema and predicting prognosis by combining appropriate meridians. In the future, we will conduct more detailed research on how this method is useful for evaluating medical care and acupuncture treatments.