LightNeedle - RJ Laser

Abstracts Laser Acupuncture
Effects on Acupuncture, Acupressure and Laserneedle acupuncture on EEG
bispectral index and spectral edge frequency on healthy volunteers.
G. Litscher
University of Graz, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Researchin Anesthesia and Intensive
Care, Graz, Austria
Summary: Background and objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects
of sensory (acupressure and acupuncture) and optical stimulation (Laserneedle@ acupuncture)
on electroencephalographic bispectral index, spectral edge frequency and a verbal sedation
score.
Methods: Twenty-five healthy volunteers (mean age :!: SD: 25.5 :!: 4.0yr) were investigated
during the awake state. The acupuncture point Yintang and a placebo control point were stimulated.
The study was performed as a randomized, controlled and partly blinded cross-over trial.
Results: Bispectral index and spectral edge frequency values both decreased significantly (P <
0.001) during acupressureonYintang tovalues of62.9 (minimum 35) :!: 13.9 bispectral indexand
to 13.3 (minimum 2.9) :!: 8.1 Hz (spectral edge frequency right) and 13.8 (minimum 2.7) :!: 7.3
Hz (spectral edge frequency left), respectively.
Bispectral index was also significantly (P < 0.05) affected by Laserneedle@ acupuncture and
acupressure on the control point but the changes were not clinically relevant, 95.4 :!: 4 and 94.2
:!: 4.8, respectively. All interventions significantly (Yintang: p < 0.001; control point: p < 0.012)
reduced verbal sedation score.
Conclusions: The study highlights the electroencephalographic similarities of acupressure induced
sedation and general anaesthesia as assessed by bispectral index and spectral edge
frequency.
Biological Effects of Painless Laser Needle Acupuncture
Gerhard Litscher, PhD Lu Wang, MD Detlef Schikora, PhD Dagmar Rachbauer, MSc Gerhard
Schwarz, MD Andreas Sch�pfer, MD, Stefan Ropele, PhD Evamaria Huber
Summary: Laser needle acupuncture is a new method to stimulate acupuncture points. We
describe the technique, its first use, and its value in acupuncture research. Laser needle publications
we included are based on 511 measurements in 231 healthy volunteers (129 female, 102
male), with a mean (SD) age of 25 (3.5) years (range, 18-38 years). One pig experiment is also
included.
Results: The results of randomized, double-blind, controlled, crossover studies show that the
methods of laser Doppler flowmetry, functional multidirectional transcranial Doppler sonography,
functional magnetic resonance imaging, and near infrared spectroscopy are able to objectify
and quantify peripheral and cerebral effects of laser needle acupuncture.
Conclusion: For the first time, we were able to investigate scientifically the differences between
needle acupuncture, which includes pain stimulation, and laser needle acupuncture, a continuous
multichannel method of painless acupuncture stimulation. Laser needle acupuncture can
induce specific, reproducible changes in the brain. These can be expressed by shifts in different
parameters, such as cerebral blood flow velocity.
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