[Cerebral near infrared spectroscopy and acupuncture--results of a pilot study]

For the first time, we have studied the effects of manual acupuncture and of laser puncture on cerebral oxygenation in three healthy male volunteers using transcranial near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRO 300, Hamamatsu Photonics, Japan). The results indicate that acupuncture of specific acupuncture points leads to an increase in oxygenated haemoglobin and in the tissue oxygenation index. However, needling and laser puncture at placebo points does not produce the same effect on cerebral oxygenation. This fact provides further proof of specific quantifiable effects of acupuncture on the brain.