Abstract
Red laser light stimulation can have many physiological effects. The goal of this animal experimental study was to investigate how red laser stimulation influences the temperature of anesthetized rats at different acupuncture points and nonacupoints. For that reason 12 adult male Wistar Han rats (300–380 g) were investigated. Six anesthetized rats underwent red laser stimulation (wavelength 658 nm, output power 40 mW, diameter 500 µm, and duration 10 min) at the Baihui (GV20) acupoint, the Zusanli acupoint (ST36, bilateral), and a control point on the forelimb. The other six rats underwent the same procedure; however, the laser remained switched off. Significant decreases in temperature were found at the acupoints Baihui, Zusanli left, and Zusanli right. In addition there was no significant temperature effect at a control point. During placebo laser irradiation (deactivated laser) there were also significant temperature changes. The mechanism underlying the results is currently unknown, but brain stimulation (via laser or mechanical pressure) and mainly direct central mechanisms may be responsible for the local and peripheral temperature decrease.
Highlights
Laser acupuncture is a trendsetting alternative method to the stimulation with metal needles
Red laser light stimulation can have many physiological effects. The goal of this animal experimental study was to investigate how red laser stimulation influences the temperature of anesthetized rats at different acupuncture points and nonacupoints
The research team at the Medical University of Graz has performed several animal experimental studies assessing the effects of laser acupuncture on basic physiologic parameters [1]; up till the possible effects of laser acupuncture on skin temperature have not been given the necessary attention
Summary
Laser acupuncture is a trendsetting alternative method to the stimulation with metal needles. Many basic studies on this topic are available; there is still a lack of details concerning basic principles and mechanisms. It is well-known that different kinds of lasers can produce different effects on skin temperature. Violet laser stimulation with a wavelength of 405 nm is able to produce significant increases in skin microcirculation and surface temperature [1]. Temperature can increase from 33.9∘C to 36.6∘C within 10 minutes in healthy volunteers using a laserneedle with a violet wavelength, 110 mW output power, and 500 μm diameter [1]. A search for “laser acupuncture” and “rat skin temperature” in the most important scientific database PubMed yields only three scientific papers [2,3,4]
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