CHANGES IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF ACUPUNCTURE POINTS WHEN STIMULATED BY LASER RADIATION

摘要

We examined changes in electrical resistance of two acupuncture point along the same meridian, before and after the application a laser radiation at one point. Skin resistance at Large intestine 4 (LI4) and Large Intestine 10 (LI10) was measured over a 10-second time frame. After ten minutes LI4 was irradiated with continuous laser radiation for two minutes. Skin resistance at the two points was re-recorded for the same time frame. The average of all signals over the ten-second time frame was calculated and compared. Preliminary results revealed that in four of the five subjects, the electrical resistance of the points directly radiated increased by a minimum of 10000 ohms after the stimulus was applied, and in one subject decreased by a similar figure. However, the distal point's resistance did not alter significantly. These preliminary results suggest that acupuncture points do in fact alter in electrical resistance when subjected to external stimulus and that their electrical characteristics may also change in different physiological and psychological states as suggested by other authors. Furthermore, these results reveal that laser radiation is an expectable method of stimulating superficial acupuncture points such as LI 4 since the laser-tissue penetration depth is 1rnm to 3mm. This penetration depth depends on the parameters of the laser, which includes wavelength, type (diode, HE-Ne) used and intensity.