Changed Skin Blood Perfusion in the Fingertip Following Acupuncture Needle Introduction as Evaluated by Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging

Abstract

Rapidly repeated imaging of the left middle fingertip skin blood perfusion was performed in 51 healthy volunteers (mean age +/- SD: 25.3 +/- 7.6 years) prior to, immediately after and in the early reperfusion phase following introduction of an acupuncture needle at the Neiguan point (Pe. 6) and at a placebo point respectively, using a Laser Doppler Perfusion Imager (LDPI). The average skin perfusion of the fingertip was calculated for each image and used as an indicator of the microvascular response to the acupuncture needle introduction. The results of this randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over study showed significant differences (p < or = 0.001) in the immediate skin blood perfusion response when needling is performed in an acupuncture point (Neiguan) and a placebo point, with a more pronounced reduction in skin blood perfusion when needling the acupuncture point. In the early reperfusion phase, however, a substantial increase in skin perfusion was observed that amounted to about 18% of the level prior to needle introduction, irrespective of the site of needle application. In a single individual it was demonstrated that the vasodilatation following needling in the acupuncture point persisted for a more extended time period. These results suggest that the LDPI technology may be useful in visualising and quantifying the peripheral vascular effects of acupuncture on the microcirculation.

Change of Blood Perfusion in Hegu Acupoint After Contralateral Hegu Acupoint Was Stimulated

“…[3][4][5] In Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) theory, the effects of acupuncture depend on the special sensation in a local acupoint after stimulation, which might be related to the blood perfusion changes in acupoints or meridians. 6 When an acupoint was stimulated adequately, the blood perfusion of this point continued to increase whereas the blood perfusion of the nonacupoint only changed slightly by the same acupuncture stimulation.…”

Effect of aquapuncture on postoperative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy in dogs

“…Although the differences were not significant, temperature was 0.6°C higher in animals submitted to AqP. Previous reports showed that according to thermography, both AP and EA analgesia reduces sympathetic vasomotor activity and increases superficial skin temperature (ERNST; LEE, 1985;LITSCHER et al, 2002;THOMAS et al, 1992).…”

Quantification of acupuncture effects on peripheral neuropathy of unknown and diabetic cause by nerve conduction studies

“…The data suggest that acupuncture induces amelioration of both myelin sheath and axon function. It has been shown by Litscher et al [3] that acupuncture may increase blood flow in the limbs. Increased blood flow to the vasa nervorum and dependant capillary beds supplying the neurons may potentially contribute to nerve repair with measurable improvement of axons or myelin sheaths after 10 treatments [4,5] .…”