Stimulation of KD 3 Acupuncture Point Effects Physical Kidney Chemistry

The acupuncture point KD 3 is a widely used point to build the energy of the body.  The point may be used to strengthen the qi, yin and yang of the kidney system which may aid conditions ranging from asthma and fatigue to low back pain, ankle pain to nightsweats, tinnitus, anxiety and headaches, among others.  While within Chinese Medicine we use the term "kidney" (or "liver", "heart", etc.) to describe a system of relationships within the body some of the points relationships to the function of their physical organs is not well understood.  

Researchers from the College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shenyang, China recently conducted an animal study exploring this physical relationship.  Using Wistar rats researchers were able to analyze the protein composition within the kidneys after acupuncture stimulation of the KD 3 acupuncture point.  12 rats were divided into a control group and a treatment group, with the treatment group receiving electroacupuncture (EA) bilaterally on KD 3 for seven days.  Following treatment the kidney proteins were isolated and analyzed.  Following acupuncture researchers found nine protein spots with a 3-fold up regulation in the kidneys.  NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and quinone reductase, the proteins involved in energy metabolism, the reduction of endogenous quinones, chemoprotection, and electrophilic stress, were identified.  This study illustrated a relationship between the acupuncture point and the function of the physical kidneys by observing an increase in NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and quinone reductase expression in the kidney.