Characterization of the

Table 8 Mean intensity differences, deqi weights, and associated ranking of sensations for each acupoint

	Mean Intensity Difference (SE)			Deqi Weights (Ranked)
Sensations	LI4	ST36	LV3	LI4	ST36	LV3
Aching	2.75 (0.53)	1.38 (0.38)	1.66 (0.62)	0.23 (10)	0.27 (10)	0.21 (9)
Soreness	1.69 (0.59)	0.38 (0.47)	1.09 (0.50)	0.14 (8)	0.08 (5)	0.13 (7)
Pressure	1.17 (0.74)	1.17 (0.39)	1.72 (0.63)	0.10 (7)	0.23 (9)	0.21 (10)
Heaviness	0.88 (0.44)	0.14 (0.20)	0.31 (0.24)	0.07 (4)	0.03 (3)	0.04 (3)
Fullness	0.95 (0.53)	0.03 (0.03)	0.48 (0.33)	0.08 (5)	0.01 (1.5)	0.06 (5)
Warm	1.25 (0.53)	0.38 (0.52)	0.44 (0.20)	0.11 (6)	0.07 (4)	0.05 (4)
Cool	0.00 (0.26)	0.03 (0.13)	0.13 (0.17)	0.00 (1)	0.01 (1.5)	0.02 (1)
Numbness	0.64 (0.55)	0.67 (0.55)	0.98 (0.41)	0.05 (2)	0.13 (8)	0.12 (6)
Tingling	0.78 (0.40)	0.46 (0.40)	1.10 (0.37)	0.07 (3)	0.09 (7)	0.14 (8)
Dull Pain	1.64 (0.60)	0.39 (0.60)	0.17 (0.17)	0.14 (9)	0.08 (6)	0.02 (2)

Comparison of the mean of differences in intensity between acupuncture and tactile stimulation for each acupoint, their deqi weights as well as the sensations ranked according to these weights. Aching, soreness and pressure appeared to be important for the characterization of deqi for all three acupoints, coolness, heaviness and warmth were not important for any of the acupoints, while numbness, tingling and dull pain differed widely in their contribution to deqi for the different acupoints. SE = Standard Error

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