Ten Years Evidence‐Based High‐Tech Acupuncture–A Short Review of Centrally Measured Effects (Part II)

Abstract

The assessment of acupuncture-induced effects on brain function is crucial. Ultrasound-assisted brain function monitoring and bioelectrical methods as well as near infrared spectroscopic procedures and functional magnetic resonance investigations form the basis for the latest scientific examination methods for acupuncture research. The laserneedle acupuncture, which was examined scientifically for the first time in Graz, represents a new painless and non-invasive acupuncture method. In this way, individual combinations of acupuncture points can be stimulated simultaneously according to traditional Chinese medicine. In the context of double-blind studies, effects in the brain could be demonstrated in a reproducible manner for the first time. This second part of the short review article summarizes some of the centrally measured effects of acupuncture obtained at the Medical University of Graz within the last 10 years.

Electrodermal mapping: A new technology

“…In this process, biomedical engineers have become actively involved in the design, development and utilization of devices and new techniques [1] . The Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the Medical University of Graz (http://litscher.info) has been dealing with the development and implementation of new instruments, especially in the field of high-tech acupuncture research for more than 14 years [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . Acupuncture has been used for medical treatment for thousands of years.…”

“…A large number of empirical data is available but the technical quantification of effects was ORIGINAL ARTICLE not possible until now. Using electro-acupuncture, needle or laser needle stimulation and modern biomedical techniques, it was possible to quantify changes in biological activities caused by acupuncture [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . In the middle of the 20th century, researchers found lower skin resistance of acupuncture points compared to non acupuncture sites.…”

Lasernadel-Akupunktur bei hyperaktiver Blase: Eine Kasuistik

“…In der Literatur gibt es bisher keine Langzeitanalysen bezüglich der neuen Lasernadel-Methode. Generell gibt es nur wenige Publikationen (17 Einträge in PubMed und 37 in EMBASE) und vereinzelte Berichte über deren Anwendung an Patienten [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Es fehlen noch weitere prospektive, randomisierte Studien, um die Wirksamkeit zu belegen, und es fehlen Untersuchungen mit größeren Fallzahlen.…”

“…Gesunde, Herzgesunde, Frauen oder Neugeborene [1], beschrieben. Litscher [5,6,7,8] hat einige Studien zur Wirkung der Lasernadel, allgemein und am Menschen, publiziert. In bisher publizierten Arbeiten wurden Untersuchungen zur Neurophysiologie mittels Magnetresonanztomografie, Doppler [9], Ultraschall, Infrarot-Thermografie, intrakraniellen Druckmessungen, akustisch evozierten Potenzialen, Herzraten- oder Temperaturmessungen vorgenommen.…”

“…Ein weiterer Vorteil dieser Methode besteht darin, dass sie kein Fremdkörperimplantat für den Organismus bedeutet. In der Literatur gibt es nur wenige Publikationen über die Anwendung der Lasernadel [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. …”