Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Laser acupuncture: past, present, and future

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, nonthermal laser irradiation. Although the therapeutic use of laser acupuncture is rapidly gaining in popularity, objective evaluation of its efficacy in published studies is difficult because treatment parameters such as wavelength, irradiance, and beam profile are seldom fully described. The depth of laser energy transmission, likely an important determinant of efficacy, is governed not only by these parameters, but also by skin properties such as thickness, age, and pigmentation—factors which have also received little consideration in laser acupuncture. Despite the frequently equivocal nature of the published laser studies, recent evidence of visual cortex activation by laser acupuncture of foot points, together with the known ability of laser irradiation to induce cellular effects at subthermal thresholds, provides impetus for further research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2a–d

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pearl D, Schillinger E (1999) Acupuncture: its use in medicine. West J Med 171:176-180

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. O’Connor J, Bensky D (translators and eds) (1981) Acupuncture: a comprehensive text. Eastland Press, Seattle

  3. Dorfer L, Moser M, Spindler K, Egarter-Vigl E, Giullén S, Dohr G, Kenner T (1999) A medical report from the stone age? Lancet 354:1023–1025 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)12242-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Soliman N, Frank BL, Nakazawa H, Averil A, Jodorkovsky R (1999) Acupuncture reflex systems of the ear, scalp, and hand. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 10:547-571

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Siedentopf CM, Golaszewski SM, Mottaghy FM, Ruff CC, Felber S, Schlager A (2002) Functional magnetic resonance imaging detects activation of the visual cortex during laser acupuncture of the foot in humans. Neurosci Lett 327:53–56 DOI 10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00383-X

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Cho ZH, Chung SC, Jones JP, Park JB, Park HJ, Lee HJ, Wong EK, Min BI (1998) New findings of the correlation between acupoints and corresponding brain cortices using functional MRI. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:2670–3267 DOI 10.1073/pnas.95.5.2670

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Taub A (1998) Thumbs down on acupuncture. Science 279:159 DOI 10.1126/science.279.5348.155f

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Koretz RL (2002) Is alternative medicine alternative science? J Lab Clin Med 139:329–333 DOI 10.1067/mlc.2002.124339

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Devor M (1990) What’s in a laser beam for pain therapy? Pain 43:139 DOI 10.1016/0304-3959(90)91065-Q

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Basford JR (1995) Low intensity laser therapy: still not an established clinical tool. Lasers Surg Med 16:331–342

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Plog FMW (1980) Biophysical application of the laser beam. In: Koebner HK (ed) Lasers in medicine, vol 1. Wiley, Chichester, pp 21–37

  12. Gamaleya NF (1977) Laser biomedical research in the USSR. In: Wolbarsht ML (ed) Laser applications in medicine and biology, vol 3. Plenum, New York, pp 1–172

  13. Hill S (1976) Acupuncture research in the USSR. Am J Chin Med 4:204–205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Miklanek J, Kriz V (1978) First experiences with the utilization of lasers for acupuncture: the Akuplas device. Fysiatr Revmatol Vestn 56:36–40

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bischko JJ (1980) Use of the laser beam in acupuncture. Acupunct Electrother Res 5:29–40

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kroetlinger M (1980) On the use of the laser in acupuncture. Acupunct Electrother Res 5:297–311

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wei X-B (1981) Laser treatment of common diseases in surgery and acupuncture in the People’s Republic of China: preliminary report. Acupunct Electrother Res 6:19–31

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kamikawa K (1983) Development of laser acupuncture systems and their clinical applications. In: Atsumi K (ed) New frontiers in laser medicine and surgery. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 498–505

  19. Zalesskiy VN, Belousova IA, Frolov GV (1983) Laser-acupuncture reduces cigarette smoking: a preliminary report. Acupunct Electrother Res 8:297–302

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kleinkort JA, Foley RA (1984) Laser acupuncture: its use in physical therapy. Am J Acupunct 12:51–56

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhou Y-C (1984) An advanced clinical trial with laser acupuncture anesthesia for minor operations in the oromaxillofacial region. Lasers Surg Med 4:297–303

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vickers A, Goyal N, Harland R, Rees R (1998) Do certain countries produce only positive results? A systematic review of controlled trials. Control Clin Trials 19:159–166 DOI 10.1016/S0197-2456(97)00150-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mester E, Spiry T, Szende B, Tota JG (1971) Effect of laser rays on wound healing. Am J Surg 22:532–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Snyder-Mackler L, Bork C, Bourbon B, Trumbore D (1986) Effect of helium-neon laser on musculoskeletal trigger points. Phys Ther 66:1087–1090

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. King CE, Clelland CJ, Knowles CJ, Jackson JR (1990) Effect of helium-neon laser auriculotherapy on experimental pain threshold. Phys Ther 70:24–30

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Beckerman H, de Bie RA, Bouter LM, De Cuyper HJ, Oostendorp RAB (1992) The efficacy of laser therapy for musculoskeletal and skin disorders: a criteria-based meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Phys Ther 72:483–491

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gam AN, Thorsen H, Lønnberg F (1993) The effect of low-level laser therapy on musculoskeletal pain: a meta-analysis. Pain 52:63–66 DOI 10.1016/0304-3959(93)90114-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ceccherelli F, Altafini L, Lo Castro G, Avila A, Ambrosio F, Giron GP (1989) Diode laser in cervical myofascial pain: a double-blind study versus placebo. Clin J Pain 5:301–304

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Anderson RR, Parrish JA (1981) The optics of human skin. J Invest Dermatol 77:13–19

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. van Gemert MJC, Jacques SL, Sterenborg HJCM, Star WM (1989) Skin optics. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 36:1146–1154 DOI 10.1109/10.42108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Anderson RR, Parrish JA (1981) Microvasculature can be selectively damaged using dye lasers: a basic theory and experimental evidence in human skin. Lasers Surg Med 1:263–266

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Anderson RR (1993) Optics of the skin. In: Lim HW, Soter NA (eds) Clinical photomedicine. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 19–35

  33. Wan S, Parrish JA, Anderson RR, Madden M (1981) Transmittance of nonionizing radiation in human tissues. Photochem Photobiol 34:679–681

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tan CY, Statham B, Marks R, Payne PA (1982) Skin thickness measurement by pulsed ultrasound: its reproducibility, validation and variability. Br J Dermatol 106:657–667

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kolárová H, Ditrichová D, Wagner J (1999) Penetration of laser light into the skin in vitro. Lasers Surg Med 24:231–235 DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9101(1999)24:3<231::AID-LSM8>3.0.CO;2-#

  36. Leveque JL, Corcuff P, de Rigal J, Agache P (1984) In vivo studies of the evolution of physical properties of the human skin with age. Int J Dermatol 23:322–329

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Branchet MC, Boisnic S, Frances C, Robert AM (1990) Skin thickness changes in normal aging skin. Gerontol 36:28–35

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Simpson CR, Kohl M, Essenpreis M, Cope M (1998) Near-infrared optical properties of ex vivo human skin and subcutaneous tissues measured using the Monte Carlo inversion technique. Phys Med Biol 43:2465–2478 DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/43/9/003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Nickell S, Hermann M, Essenpreis M, Farrell TJ, Krämer U, Patterson MS (2000) Anisotropy of light propagation in human skin. Phys Med Biol 45:2873–2886 DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/45/10/310

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Beek JF, Blokland P, Posthumus P, Aalders M, Pickering JW, Sterenborg HJCM, van Gemert MJ (1997) Phys Med Biol 42:2255–2261 DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/42/11/017

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Wilson BC, Jeeves WP, Lowe DM (1985) In vivo and post mortem measurement of the attenuation spectra of light in mammalian tissues. Photochem Photobiol 42:153–162

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Whittaker P, Boughner DR, Perkins DG, Canham PB (1987) Quantiative analysis of collagen in chordae tendineae and its relation to floppy mitral valves and proteoglycan infiltration. Br Heart J 57:264–269

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Vargas G, Chan EK, Barton JK, Rylander HG III, Welch AJ (1999) Use of an agent to reduce scattering in skin. Lasers Surg Med 24:133–141 DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9101(1999)24:2<133::AID-LSM9>3.3.CO;2-O

  44. Chan WW, Chen KY, Liu H, Wu LS, Lin JH (2001) Acupuncture for general veterinary practice. J Vet Med Sci 63:1057–1062 DOI 10.1292/jvms.63.1057

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Panzer RB (1993) A comparison of the traditional Chinese versus transpositional zangfu organ association acupoint locations in the horse. Am J Chin Med 21:119–131

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Lundeberg T, Zhou J (1988) Low power laser irradiation does not affect the generation of signals in a sensory receptor. Am J Chin Med 16:87–91

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Lundeberg T, Hode L, Zhou J (1987) A comparative study of the pain-relieving effect of laser treatment and acupuncture. Acta Physiol Scand 131:161–162

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kilde AM, Martin BB Jr (1989) Methods of stimulating acupuncture points for treatment of chronic back pain in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 195:1375–1379

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. White AR, Ernst E (1999) A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for neck pain. Rheumatol 38:143–147 DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/38.2.143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Gerritsen AAM, de Krom MCTFM, Struijs MA, Scholten RJPM, de Vet HC, Bouter LM (2002) Conservative treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Neurol 249:272–280 DOI 10.1007/s004150200004

    Google Scholar 

  51. Waylonis GW, Wilke S, O’Toole D, Waylonis DA, Waylonis DB (1988) Chronic myofascial pain: management by low-output helium-neon laser therapy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 69:1017–1020

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Haker E, Lundeberg T (1990) Laser treatment applied to acupuncture points in lateral humeral epicondylalgia: a double-blind study. Pain 43:243–247 DOI 10.1016/0304-3959(90)91078-W

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Lundeberg T, Haker E, Thomas M (1987) Effect of laser versus placebo in tennis elbow. Scand J Rehabil Med 19:135–138

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kreczi T, Klingler D (1986) A comparison of laser acupuncture versus placebo in radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndromes as recorded by subjective responses of patients. Acupunct Electrother Res 11:207–216

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Black D (1998) The limitations of evidence. J Royal Coll Surg 32:23–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Zhou Y-C (1988) Laser acupuncture anesthesia. In: Ohshiro T, Calderhead RG (eds) Low level laser therapy: a practical introduction. Wiley, Chichester, pp 71–77

  57. Naeser MA, Hahn K-AK, Lieberman BE, Branco KF (2002) Carpal tunnel syndrome pain treated with low-level laser and microamperes transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation: a controlled study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 83:978–988 DOI 10.1053/apmr.2002.33096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Baxter GD, Walsh DM, Allen JM, Lowe AS, Bell AJ (1994) Effects of low intensity infrared laser irradiation upon conduction in the human medial nerve in vivo. Exp Physiol 79:227–234

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Lowe AS, Baxter GD, Walsh DM, Allen JM (1994) Effect of low intensity laser (830 nm) irradiation on skin temperature and antidromic conduction latencies in the human medial nerve: relevance of radiant exposure. Lasers Surg Med 14:40–46

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Walsh DM, Baxter GD, Allen JM (2000) Lack of effect of pulsed low-intensity infrared (820 nm) laser irradiation on nerve conduction in the human superficial radial nerve. Lasers Surg Med 26:485–490 DOI 10.1002/1096-9101(2000)26:5<485::AID-LSM8>3.3.CO;2-Y

  61. Irnich D, Behrens N, Gleditsch JM, Stör W, Schreiber MA, Schöps P, Vickers AJ, Beyer A (2002) Immediate effects of dry needling and acupuncture at distant points in chronic neck pain: results of a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial. Pain 89:83–89 DOI 10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00062-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Baldry P (1993) A review of low-power laser pain-relieving controlled clinical trials. Acupunct Med 11:2–10

    Google Scholar 

  63. Baldry P (1998) Laser Therapy. In: Filshie J, White A (eds) Medical acupuncture: a western scientific approach. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 193–201

  64. Jarvis D, MacIver MB, Tanelian DL (1990) Electrophysiologic recording and thermodynamic modeling demonstrate that helium-neon laser irradiation does not affect peripheral Aδ- or C-fiber nociceptors. Pain 43:235–242 DOI 10.1016/0304-3959(90)91077-V

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Sing T, Yang MM (1997) Electroacupuncture ands laser stimulation treatment: evaluated by somatosensory evoked potential in conscious rabbits. Am J Chin Med 25:263–271

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Schlager A (1998) Korean hand acupuncture in the treatment of chronic hiccups. Am J Gastroenterol 93:2312–2313 DOI 10.1016/S0002-9270(98)00545-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Radmayr C, Schlager A, Studen M, Bartsch G (2001) Prospective randomized trial using laser acupuncture versus desmopressin in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. Eur Urol 40:201–205 DOI 10.1159/000049773

    Google Scholar 

  68. Wozniak P, Stachowiak G, Piêta-Doliñska A, Oszukowski P (2003) Laser acupuncture and low-calorie diet during visceral obesity therapy after menopause. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 82:69–73 http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0412.2003.820113.x

  69. Lavies NG (1998) Laser acupuncture for migraine and muscle tension headache: a double-blind controlled trial. Acupunct Med 16:73–76

    Google Scholar 

  70. Tandon MK, Soh PFT, Wood AT (1991) Acupuncture for bronchial asthma? A double-blind crossover study. Med J Aust 154:409–412

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Yiming C, Changxin Z, Ung WS, Lei Z, Kean LS (2000) Laser acupuncture for adolescent smokers: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Am J Chin Med 28:443–449

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Trümpler F, Oez S, Stähli P, Brenner HD, Jüni P (2003) Acupuncture for alcohol withdrawal: a randomized controlled trial. Alcohol Alcohol 38:369–375 DOI 10.1093/alcalc/agg091

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Gruber W, Eber E, Malle-Scheid D, Pfleger A, Weinhandl E, Dorfer L, Zach MSl (2002) Laser acupuncture in children and adolescents with exercise induced asthma. Thorax 57:222–225 DOI 10.1136/thorax.57.3.222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Morton AR, Fazio SM, Miller D (1993) Efficacy of laser-acupuncture in the prevention of exercise-induced asthma. Ann Allergy 70:295–298

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Vickers AJ (1996) Can acupuncture have specific effects on health? A systematic review of acupuncture antiemesis trials. J Roy Soc Med 89:303–311

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Lee A, Done ML (1999) The use of nonpharmacoloic techniques to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. Anesth Analg 88:1362–1369

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Schlager A, Offer T, Baldissera I (1998) Laser stimulation of acupuncture point P6 reduces postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery. Br J Anaesth 81:529–532

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Mayer DJ (2000) Acupuncture: an evidence-based review of the clinical literature. Annu Rev Med 51:49–63 DOI 10.1146/annurev.med.51.1.49

    Google Scholar 

  79. Moerman DE, Jonas WB (2002) Deconstructing the placebo effect and finding the meaning response. Ann Intern Med 136:471–476

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Lewith GT, Hyland ME, Shaw S (2002) Do attitudes toward and beliefs about complementary medicine affect treatment outcomes? Am J Public Health 92:1604–1606

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Wilder-Smith P (1988) The soft laser: therapeutic tool or popular placebo? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 66:654–658

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Turner JA, Deyo RA, Loeser JD, Von Korff M, Fordyce WE (1994) The importance of placebo effects in pain treatment and research. JAMA 271:1609–1614 DOI 10.1001/jama.271.20.1609

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Streitberger K, Kleinhenz J (1998) Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research. Lancet 352:364–365 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)10471-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Seichert N (1991) Controlled trials of laser treatment. Rheumatol 14:205–217

    Google Scholar 

  85. Anderson RR, Beck H, Bruggemann U, Farinelli W, Jacques SL, Parrish JA (1989) Pulsed photothermal radiometry in turbid media: internal reflection of backscattered radiation strongly influences optical dosimetry. Appl Opt 28:2256–2262

    Google Scholar 

  86. Schindl A, Schindl M, Pernerstorfer-Schön H, Schindl L (2000) Low-intensity laser therapy: a review. J Invest Med 48:312–326

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Keijzer M, Jacques SL, Prahl SA, Welch AJ (1989) Light distributions in artery tissue: Monte Carlo simulations for finite-diameter laser beams. Lasers Surg Med 9:148–154

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Reinisch L (2002) Scatter-limited phototherapy: a model for laser treatment of skin. Lasers Surg Med 30:381–388 DOI 10.1002/lsm.10046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Naeser MA, Alexander MP, Stiassney-Eder D, Galler V, Hobbs J, Bachman D, Nobles Lannin L (1995) Laser acupuncture in the treatment of paralysis in stroke patients: a CT scan lesion site study. Am J Acupunct 23:13–28

    Google Scholar 

  90. Karu TI (1988) Molecular mechanism of the therapeutic effect of low-intensity laser radiation. Lasers Life Sci 2:53–74

    Google Scholar 

  91. Nepp J, Wedrich A, Akramian J, Derbolav A, Mudrich C, Ries E, Schauersberger J (1998) Dry eye treatment with acupuncture: a prospective, randomized, double-masked study. Adv Exp Biol Med 438:1011–1016

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Zhong X, Yu C, Zhang K (1989) Correlation between endogenous opiate-like peptides and serotonin in laser puncture analgesia. Am J Acupunct 17:39–43 DOI 10.1016/S0304-3959(97)03368-X

    Google Scholar 

  93. Aigner N, Fialka C, Stocker R, Aigner A, Petje G (1999) Akupunktur versus Laserakupunktur in der Therapie des Schleudertraumas der Halswirbelsäule—eine prospektiv randomisierte Studie. Dtsch Z Akup 42:4–12 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archfami.8.6.553

    Google Scholar 

  94. Brockhaus A, Elger CE (1990) Hypalgesic efficacy of acupuncture on experimental pain in man: comparison of laser acupuncture and needle acupuncture. Pain 43:181–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Pothman R, Yeh HL (1982) The effects of treatment with antibiotics, laser and acupuncture upon chronic maxillary sinusitis in children. Am J Chin Med 10:55–58

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Lux G, Hagel J, Bäcker G, Vogl R, Ruppin H, Domschke S, Domschke W (1994) Acupuncture inhibits vagal gastric acid secretion stimulated by sham feeding in healthy subjects. Gut 35:1026–1029

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  97. MacPherson H, Thomas K, Walters S, Fitter M (2001) The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 323:486–487 DOI 10.1016/0304-3959(90)91071-P

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Ernst E, White A (1997) Life-threatening adverse reactions after acupuncture? A systematic review. Pain 71:123–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Peuker ET, White A, Ernst E, Pera F, Filler TJ (1999) Traumatic complications of acupuncture: therapists need to know human anatomy. Arch Fam Med 8:553–558. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archfami.8.6.553

  100. Weissmann R (1979) Laser-Akupunktur—Keine Alternative zur klassischen Akupunkture. Münch Med Wochenschr 121:243–244

  101. Litscher G, Wang L, Wiesner-Zechmeister M (2000) Specific effects of laserpuncture on the cerebral circulation. Lasers Med Sci 15:57–62 DOI 10.1007/s101030050048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  102. Litscher G, Schikora D (2002) Cerebral vascular effects of non-invasive laserneedles measured by transorbital and transtemporal Doppler sonography. Lasers Med Sci 17:289–295 DOI 10.1007/s101030200042

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Cipolla MJ (2001) Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J 15:2275–2282 DOI 10.1096/fj.01-0015hyp

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Fox JR, Badger GJ, Garra BS, Krag MH (2001) Biomechanical response to acupuncture needling in humans. J Appl Physiol 91:2471–2478

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Wu J, Badger GJ, Yandow JA, Fox JR, Krag MH (2002) Evidence of connective tissue involvement in acupuncture. FASEB J 16:872–874 DOI 10.1096/fj.01-0925fje

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Hurley JB (1994) Termination of photoreceptor responses. Curr Opin Neurobiol 4:481–487 DOI 10.1016/0959-4388(94)90047-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Breitbart H, Levinshal T, Cohen N, Friedman H, Lubart R (1996) Changes in calcium transport in mammalian sperm mitochondria and plasma membrane irradiated at 633 nm (HeNe laser). J Photochem Photobiol B 34:117–121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  108. Griffiths DE, Wharton DC (1961) Studies of the electron transport system, XXXV: purification and properties of cytochrome oxidase. J Biol Chem 236:1850–1806

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Wharton DC, Tzagoloff A (1964) Studies of the electron transport system, LVII: the near infrared absorption band of cytochrome oxidase. J Biol Chem 239:2036–2041

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Karu TI (1999) Primary and secondary mechanisms of action of visible to near-IR radiation on cells. J Photochem Photobiol B 49:1–17 DOI 10.1016/S1011-1344(98)00219-X

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Clement-Jones V, McLoughlin L, Lowry PJ, Besser GM, Rees LH, Wen HL (1979) Acupuncture in heroin addicts: changes in met-enkephalin and ß-endorphin in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Lancet 314:380–383 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(79)90401-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  112. Clement-Jones V, McLoughlin L, Tomlin S, Besser GM, Rees LH, Wen HL (1980) Increased ß-endorphin but not met-enkephalin levels in human cerebrospinal fluid after acupuncture for recurrent pain. Lancet 316:946–948 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(80)92106-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  113. Ceccherelli F, Gagliardi G, Ruzzante L, Giron G (2002) Acupuncture modulation of casaicin-induced inflammation: effect of intraperitoneal and local administration of naloxone in rats: a blinded controlled study. J Altern Complement Med 8:341–349 DOI 10.1089/10755530260128032

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  114. Koo ST, Park YI, Lim KS, Chung K, Chung JM (2002) Acupuncture analgesia in a new rat model of ankle sprain. Pain 99:423–431 DOI 10.1016/S0304-3959(02)00164-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. Ponnudurai RN, Zbuzek VK, Niu H, Wu W (1988) Laser photobiostimulation-induced hypoalgesia in rats is not naloxone reversible. Acupunct Electrother Res 13:109–117

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  116. Sawynok J, Pinsky C, LaBella FS (1979) On the specificity of naloxone as an opiate antagonist. Life Sci 25:1621–1632 DOI 10.1016/0024-3205(79)90403-X

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  117. Astin JA, Marie A, Pelletier KR, Hansen E, Haskell WL (1998) A review of the incorporation of complementary and alternative medicine by mainstream physicians. Arch Intern Med 158:2303–2310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.158.21.2303

Download references

Acknowledgements

A review of such diverse literature, sometimes in non-English-language publications, would not have been possible without assistance. Therefore, I would like to thank the following for their help in locating or translating references: Dr Petra Camborova, Dr Jochen Müller-Ehmsen, Dr Karin Przyklenk, and Dr Katarina Skalova. In addition, I would like to thank the authors who responded to e-mail requests for information and reprints, the reviewers for their thorough and thoughtful critique, and Michelle Maynard for her assistance with Fig. 2. This work was done during P.W.’s tenure as an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. Supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Peter Whittaker

Authors
  1. Peter Whittaker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Appendix

Appendix

Acupuncture points specified in the text are abbreviated according to the following channel classification: BL = bladder, GV = governing, LI = large intestine, P = pericardium, SI = small intestine, and ST = stomach.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Whittaker, P. Laser acupuncture: past, present, and future. Lasers Med Sci 19, 69–80 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-004-0296-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-004-0296-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation