On optics of human meridians

A new concept and its methodology for studying human meridians are presented based on rigorous and scientific observation on the objective existence of human meridians in view of biomedical optics. According to this methodology, the infrared radiant characteristics of acupuncture meridians over human body and the optical transport properties of light propagating along the meridian are reported. This study, thus, confirms the existence of acupuncture meridians, sheds new light on an approach to investigation of human meridians and offers a new perspective in understanding the potential meridian functions such as energy and information transfer and physiological regulation. Supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB504505), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 60578056 and 30572309), the Science Research Foundation of Ministry of Health & United Fujian Provincial Health and Education Project for Tackling the Key Research of China (Grant No. WKJ2005-2-004), the Young Scientists and Technicians Innovation Project of Fujian Province (Grant No. 2007F3026), and the Fund from Fujian Normal University (Grant No. 2008100218)