Laser acupuncture in children and adolescents with exercise induced asthma

Abstract

Background: Laser acupuncture, a painless technique, is a widely used alternative treatment method for childhood asthma, although its efficacy has not been proved in controlled clinical studies. Methods: A double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study was performed to investigate the possible protective effect of a single laser acupuncture treatment on cold dry air hyperventilation induced bronchoconstriction in 44 children and adolescents of mean age 11.9 years (range 7.5-16.7) with exercise induced asthma. Laser acupuncture was performed on real and placebo points in random order on two consecutive days. Lung function was measured before laser acupuncture, immediately after laser acupuncture (just before cold dry air challenge (CACh)), and 3 and 15 minutes after CACh. CACh consisted of a 4 minute isocapnic hyperventilation of -10°C absolute dry air. Results: Comparison of real acupuncture with placebo acupuncture showed no significant differences in the mean maximum CACh induced decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (27.2 (18.2)% v 23.8 (16.2)%) and maximal expiratory flow at 25% remaining vital capacity (51.6 (20.8)% v 44.4 (22.3)%). Conclusions: A single laser acupuncture treatment offers no protection against exercise induced bronchoconstriction in paediatric and adolescent patients.

Adjuvant laser acupuncture in the treatment of whiplash injuries: a prospective, randomized placebo-controlled trial

“…Some investigators have reported the efficacy of laser acupuncture in controlled clinical [23][24][25] and experimental [26][27][28] studies, but others have found no effect of this method in the treatment of various conditions [14,15,29]. However, recent literature includes no controlled studies investigating the efficacy of laser acupuncture in the treatment of whiplash injuries.…”

Laser Acupuncture for Mild to Moderate Depression in a Primary Care Setting – a Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Adverse events were not always reported. The efficacy of laser acupuncture has been demonstrated in a variety of medical conditions, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] but not in depression. Again methodological issues including the depth of transmission of the laser beam have been problematic.…”

Laser acupuncture to manage pain in child with sickle cell disease. Case report

“…The high number of patients with satisfactory response to low frequency laser positively evaluates the efficacy of such method as adjuvant for the treatment of trauma patients 10 . A study proposed to treat asthma children had not a good response, credited by authors to the standardization of used points, without taking into consideration the individual evaluation of pulse and tongue 9 . In a systematic review on the use of laser acupuncture in asthmatic children, authors have concluded that the technique may even be effective, but there are few studies with small sample sizes and poorly consistent methodology 16 .…”

“…Pediatric TCM treatment has special characteristics since children's channels and collaterals are still being formed, as well as their viscera and organs (Zang Fu), and blood and energy are insufficient, being then necessary to prevent the excessive use of acupuncture. For this reason, other therapeutic techniques are preferred, such as moxabustion, massage, traditional phytotherapy, auricular acupuncture and laser therapy 9 . In addition, aversion to needles has decreased the practice of acupuncture in Western countries children.…”