Yellow laser acupuncture - A new option for prevention and early intervention of lifestyle-related diseases: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
The yellow laser constitutes a totally new option in the field of laser acupuncture, in addition to the already existing red, near infrared, green and violet lasers. Especially for so called lifestyle-related diseases, this could open up new methods of integrative therapy. The goal of the present study was to investigate among other parameters blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and temperature effects before, during, and after stimulation of different acupoints with yellow laser.


METHODS
We recruited 26 healthy volunteers (13 female, 13 male; mean age ± SD 24.1 ± 3.3 years) at the Medical University of Graz. The acupoints Baihui, Neiguan, Taichong and a placebo point were stimulated with a 589 nm (50 mW, 500 µm; 5 min) yellow laser. Blood pressure was measured noninvasively at the wrist; for the registration of the electrocardiogram a medilog AR12 HRV system was used. Effects on temperature were measured with a Flir i7 infrared camera.


RESULTS
There were significant decreases after yellow laser acupuncture in the systolic BP, diastolic BP also decreased (n.s.). HRV in both (men and women) increased. The temperature during the yellow laser stimulation decreased significantly in all measured points. After the stimulation it increased again significantly. Based on a questionnaire volunteers reported a significantly decreased level of stress after yellow laser stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant positive effects on BP and well-being were found after yellow laser stimulation. The results are very promising and can be very important especially for the treatment of lifestyle related diseases.
Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Daniela
D
Litscher
Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria ; Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 16 Nanxiaojie, Dongzhimennei, Beijing 100700, China.
Guangjun
G
Wang
Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Ingrid
I
Gaischek
Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lu
L
Wang
Institute of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Sandra
S
Wallner-Liebmann
Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Erwin
E
Petek
Laser medicine; blood pressure (BP); heart rate (HR); heart rate variability (HRV); laser acupuncture; temperature; yellow laser