Acupuncture perception (DEQI) varies over different points and by gender with two distinct distribution patterns of dullness and pain

Deqi, an acupuncture perception asserted as related with a therapeutic effect and a surrogate measure of the activity of acupuncture treatment, may not be such a simple and single phenomenon as thus-far presumed. In this study, we investigated the acupuncture perceptions over six points to explore any pattern of individual sensory item intensity over different points and genders from 121 healthy volunteers using a sensory questionnaire with 20 items. Perception data were eligible for factor analysis. Factor analysis produced four subcategories of perceptions: pain (nine items), transmission (three), dullness (four) and soreness (two). Of the acupoints, large intestine 1 (LI1), at the fingertip, showed the highest rating in the pain subcategory and LI4 in the dullness category. Females rated higher than males in spreading and numb perceptions (P < 0.01). This implies acupuncture perceptions entail this site and gender variation and the so-called deqi perception is not an exception and may not be a therapeutic ingredient, per se. The insights gained in this study give researchers and acupuncture practitioners information about the gender and site variation of acupuncture perception. In the past, the acupuncture perception or the so-called deqi as a surrogate measure of the activity of acupuncture treatment, in particular, has been too simplistically handled as if it is a single and simple entity without considerations on possible site and gender variations. Based on this information, the researchers and practitioners of acupuncture medicine may have to adopt a more objective and sensual manner of assessment and anticipation of the patient's perception being treated with acupuncture stimulation, which will contribute to the scientific research and objective verification of the treatment effect and acupuncture-related perception.