The characteristics and essence of meridians and acupoints (or: How the ‘Flat Earth Society’ can demonstrate that our planet has the shape of a disc)

This study summarizes and discusses the characteristics and essence of meridians and acupoints from the perspectives of physics, chemistry and biology. An extensive body of literature from PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure was reviewed and categorized into three distinct groups: physical characteristics-related research (75 articles), which examined electrical, thermal, optical, acoustic and magnetic properties, and isotope migration; chemical characteristics-related literature (44 articles), focusing on chemical ions, oxygen partial pressure, nitric oxide and substance P; and biological essence-related research (52 articles), which primarily explored microcirculation, extracellular fluid channels, mast cells, telocytes, connexins, hilum of muscle and bone, and sensory nerve fibers. Current research emphasizes the electrical and thermal properties of the meridians and acupoints, whereas investigations into the essence of meridians are increasingly shifting from macroscopic to microscopic structures.

The authors concluded that it is essential to fully harness the advantages of interdisciplinary integration, which could significantly advance our understanding and applications in the realm of acupuncture and traditional medicine.

Why?

Why should it be “essential” to do that?

I would have thought it might be important [not essential] to review this subject as one reviews any subject in science. This would mean that one needs to discuss critically the evidence and plausibility of the concepts.

Sadly, the authors of this paper did the exact opposite. They cherry-picked the fairly extensive literature that aims to prove the existance of TCM assumptions like acupoints, meridians, etc. , while the less extensive literature that questions these assumptions is swept under the carpet.

And why do they do that?

Here is a hint:

1. In SCAM, non-financial conflicts of interest are MUCH more poweful that financial ones.
2. If we allow biased researchers to select the evidence they like, the ‘Flat Earth Society’ can easily demonstrate that our planet has the shape of a disc.