This study aims to investigate the sensitization of human skin points along certain
meridians related to visceral disease by using the pressure-pain threshold (PPT) as an
indicator. We detected and compared the PPTs of people with and without
gastric ulcer or
gastritis on the related
acupoints, abdomen area, and back area with von Frey detector and observed the similarities and differences under their respective physiological and pathological states. The results showed that (1) the PPTs of patients with
gastric ulcer on related
acupoints decreased significantly compared with the control group; (2) there was no significant difference in PPT between the chosen points of the measured meridian and the adjacent nonacupoints; (3) there was an apparent distribution of tender points on the relevant abdomen and back regions of patients with
gastric ulcer or
gastritis, but none was found on the control group; (4) the
pain-sensitive points of
gastric ulcer and
gastritis patients were BURONG (ST19), LIANGMEN (ST21), and HUAROUMEN (ST24) of the stomach meridian on the abdominal region and PISHU (BL20),
WEISHU (BL21), and WEICANG (BL50) on the back, among others The results suggest that the practical significance of
acupoints may lie in its role as a relatively sensitive functional area. In a pathological state, the reflex points on the skin which are related to certain visceral organs become sensitive and functionally intensify.