Laser acupuncture for acute inflammatory, visceral and neuropathic pain relief: An experimental study in the laboratory rat.
Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation. We explored the clinical efficacy of a very low level diode laser wavelength 670 nm (Biolite LP020, RGM, Genoa, Italy), used to stimulate acupoints ST36 Zu San Li and TH5 Waiguan, on well-established experimental models of acute and persistent pain in the rat, e.g. acute inflammatory pain, muscle pain, visceral pain and neuropathic pain. We report the anti-edema and anti-hyperalgesia effects of laser acupuncture in models of acute inflammatory pain, e.g. CFA-induced inflammation and myofascial pain. We also indicate that spontaneous pain and thermal hyperalgesia are reduced in a neuropathic pain model, e.g. axotomy. On the contrary, no effects due to laser-acupuncture were observed on discomfort indices in a model of visceral pain, e.g. cystitis due to cyclophosphamide. We thus provide evidences that acupoints stimulation using a very low intensity laser irradiation can control pain and edema in specific experimental conditions.
Lorenzini
L
L
DIMORFIPA, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (Bologna), Italy.
Giuliani
A
A
Giardino
L
L
Calzà
L
L
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D003556:Cystitis / Q000628:therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D010146:Pain / Q000662:veterinary; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley