Cerebral and peripheral effects of laser needle-stimulation.
This study comprises scientific-theoretic fundamental investigations of laserneedle technology, a new and painless method of acupuncture stimulation. Laserneedles are not inserted in the skin, but are merely placed on the surface of the acupuncture point. The study documents the significant changes in peripheral microcirculation (p = 0.005) and surface temperature of the skin (p = 0.02) induced by laser, in 22 healthy volunteers (mean age 24.4 +/- 2.6 years). In addition, a randomised cross-over study to characterise the specific changes in cerebral blood flow velocity with laserneedle acupuncture (p < 0.001) is presented. These results provide important information for characterising the effects of laserneedle acupuncture.
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Research in Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A-8036 Graz, Austria. gerhard.litscher@uni-graz.at
Gerhard
G
Litscher
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D009339:Needles