The Effect of Laser Acupuncture Stimuli at ZUSANLI(ST36) on Pulse Spectrum Variations

Background: Acupuncture has been criticized as a theatrical placebo for the sham effect. Unfortunately, sham tests used in control groups in acupuncture studies have always ignored the underlying biophysical factors, including resonance involved in acupuncture points and meridians. Methods: In this study, the effects of sham acupuncture at Tsu San Li (St-36) were examined by analyzing noninvasive 30-sec. recordings of the radial arterial pulses for 3 groups of patients treated with different probes (blunt, sharp, and patch) on the superficial skin of the acupuncture point. The 3 groups were then treated with the sharp probe for 3 different periods (16, 30, and 50 seconds). Then the investigators compared the harmonics of the radial arterial pulse after Fourier transformation before and after the treatment.