Comparison of Acupuncturing Hegu (LI4) by Metal or Laser Needle on Facial Blood Perfusion Using Laser Speckle Technique

AimTo compare the difference of remote effects of acupuncture between metal needle and laser needle on facial blood perfusion (FBP).MethodsHand acupuncture and laser-needle acupuncture were randomly used on Hegu (LI4) in 20 healthy volunteers. FBP was observed by speckle contrast imager before, during, and after the acupunctures.ResultsFor hand acupuncture there were gradual increases on the nose and left and right visor areas (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) during the acupuncture and on an immediate increase (p < 0.01) that remained constant during the acupuncture on the forehead area but no significant increase on mouth area. During laser-needle acupuncture, on the other hand, there was a tendency of increase on the nose, left visor, and right visor areas but these were non significant.ConclusionHand acupuncture can influence FBP in remote places connected by meridians.