Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modernization of Acupuncture Using High-Tech Methods: Teleacupuncture Bridges Science and Practice

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Current Research in Acupuncture

Abstract

Acupuncture has been practiced successfully for thousands of years. The Western demand for other treatment methods to complement classical Western medicine has also been increasing over the last years. Since 1997 the Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and the TCM Research Center Graz (http://tcm-graz.at) of Graz Medical University has been dealing with the demystification of acupuncture and examining, using noninvasive methods, how different stimulation modalities (manual needle acupuncture, laser needle acupuncture, electroacupuncture) affect central and peripheral functions. Laser acupuncture is also very important for evidence-based high-tech acupuncture research. One only needs to mention the treatment of children or of patients with needle phobia. The content of this book chapter includes the latest biomedical investigations of measuring the effects of acupuncture and contains some case studies to demonstrate the application of the concept in practice. In general, this chapter is a summary of some of the scientific results obtained at the Medical University of Graz and explains innovative methods like teleacupuncture which bridges acupuncture science and practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahn AC, Colbert AP, Anderson BJ, Martinsen ØG, Hammerschlag R, Cina S, Wayne PM, Langevin HM (2008) Electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians: A systematic review. Bioelectromagnetics 29: 245–256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson RR, Parrish JA (1981) The optics of human skin. J Invest Dermatol 77(1): 13–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beissner F, Henke C (2009) Methodological problems in fMRI studies on acupuncture: A critical review with special emphasis on visual and auditory cortex activations. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, epub ahead of print, Sep 30, doi 10.1093/ecam/nep154

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho ZH, Chung SC, Jones JP, Park JB, Park HJ, Lee HJ, Wong EK, Min BI (1998) New findings of the correlation between acupoints and corresponding brain cortices using functional MRI. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95: 2670–2673.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enwemeka CS, Williams D, Enwemeka SK, Hollosi S, Yens D (2009) Blue 470-nm light kills methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro. Photomed Laser Surg 27(2): 221–226.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jöbsis FF (1977) Noninvasive, infrared monitoring of cerebral and myocardial oxygen sufficiency and circulatory parameters. Science 198(4323): 1264–1267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim MS, Soh KS, Nam TC; Seo KM, Litscher G (2006) Evaluation of sedation on electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency 95 in dogs sedated by acupuncture at GV20 or Yintang and sedative combination. Acupunct Electrother Res 31(3-4): 201–212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer S, Zaps D, Wiegele B, Irnich D (2008) Changes in electrical skin resistance at Gallbladder 34 (GB34). J Acupunct Meridian Stud 1(2): 91–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2010) Translational research in acupuncture – Teleacupuncture bridges science and practice. Health 2(1): 17–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009a) Modernization of traditional acupuncture using multimodal computer-based high-tech methods – Recent results of blue laser and teleacupuncture from the Medical University of Graz. J Acupunt Meridian Stud 2(3): 202–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009b) Laser and high-tech acupuncture. In: Simunovic Z (ed.) Lasers in medicine. Science and praxis. Zrinski, Rijeka, 627–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Xie Z, Wang L, Gaischek I (2009c) Blue 405 nm laser light mediates heart rate – investigations at the acupoint Neiguan (Pe.6) in Chinese adults. North Am J Med Sci 1: 226–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009d) Ten Years Evidence-based High-Tech Acupuncture - A Short Review of Peripherally Measured Effects. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 6(2): 153–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Zhang W, Yi SH, Wang L, Huang T, Gaischek I, Tian YY, Wang GJ (2009e) The future of acupuncture moxibustion – a transcontinental three-center pilot study using high-tech methods. Medical Acupuncture 21(2): 115–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009f) Ten years evidence-based high-tech acupuncture - A short review of centrally measured effects. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 6(3):305–314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009g) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture. In: Dössel O, Schlegel WC (eds) WC 2009, IFMBE Proceedings 25/XII, 134–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2009h) Transkontinentale Akupunkturforschung mittels Teleakupunktur. promed komplementär 3: 8–11 (German).

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2008) High-tech laser acupuncture is Chinese medicine. Medical Acupuncture 20(4): 245–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Wang L, Gaischek I (2007a) Electroencephalographic responses to laserneedle and punctual stimulation quantified by bispectral (BIS) monitoring: A pilot study to evaluate methods and instrumentation. Internet J Laserneedle Med 1(1). URL: http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_laserneedle_medicine/volume_1_number_1_36/article/electroencephalographic_responses_to_laserneedle_and_punctual_stimulation_quantified_by_bispectral_bis_monitoring_a_pilot_study_to_evaluate_methods_and_instrumentation.html

  • Litscher G, Ammer K (2007b) Visualization of equipment dependent measurement errors, but not of meridian-like channels in complementary medicine – a thermographic human cadaver study. Thermology International 17(1): 32–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2007c) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 6: monitoring - neurophysiology. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 35(1-2): 1–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2007d) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 7: heart rate variability. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 35(3-4): 183–195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006a) Electroencephalogram-entropy and acupuncture. Anesth Analg 102: 1745–1751.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006b) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 1: thermography. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 34(1): 1–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006c) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 2: monitoring of microcirculation. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 34(4): 273–293.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006d) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 3: ultrasound. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 34(4): 295–325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006e) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 5: cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 34(6): 439–457.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2006f) Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 4: functional magnetic resonance imaging. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 34(4): 327–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schikora D (eds) (2005a) Laserneedle-Acupuncture. Science and practice. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2005b) Infrared thermography fails to visualize stimulation-induced meridian-like structures. Biomed Eng Online 4: 38. URL: http://www.biomedical-engineering-online.com/content/4/1/38

  • Litscher G (2005c) Shenting and Yintang: quantification of cerebral effects of acupressure, manual acupuncture, and laserneedle acupuncture using high-tech neuromonitoring methods. Medical Acupuncture 16(3): 24–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Wang L, Schikora D, Rachbauer D, Schwarz G, Schöpfer A, Ropele S, Huber E (2004a) Biological effects of painless laserneedle acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture 16(1): 24–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G (2004b) Effects of acupressure, manual acupuncture and Laserneedle acupuncture on EEG bispectral index and spectral edge frequency in healthy volunteers. Eur J Anaesthesiol 21(1): 13–19.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schikora D (2002a) Cerebral effects of noninvasive laserneedles measured by transorbital and transtemporal Doppler sonography. Lasers Med Sci 17: 289–295.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Wang L, Huber E, Nilsson G (2002b) Changed skin blood perfusion in the fingertip following acupuncture needle introduction as evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Lasers Med Sci 17(1): 19–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schikora D (2002c) Near-infrared spectroscopy for objectifying cerebral effects of needle and laserneedle acupuncture. Spectroscopy 16: 335–342.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Cho ZH (eds) (2000) Computer-Controlled Acupuncture. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Wang L (1999a) Thermographic visualization of changes in peripheral perfusion during acupuncture. Biomed Tech 44(5): 129–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Wang L, Yang NH, Schwarz G (1999b) Computer-controlled acupuncture. Quantification and separation of specific effects. Neurol Res 21: 530–534.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schwarz G, Sandner-Kiesling A, Hadolt I, Eger E (1998a) Effects of acupuncture on the oxygenation of cerebral tissue. Neurol Res 20(S1): S28–S32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schwarz G, Sandner-Kiesling A, Hadolt I (1998b) Robotic transcranial Doppler sonography probes and acupuncture. Int J Neurosci 95: 1–15.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Litscher G, Schwarz G (eds) (1997) Transcranial cerebral oximetry. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall M (1996) Praktische Doppler-Sonographie. Springer, Berlin (German).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mittermayr R, Osipov A, Piskernik C, Haindl S, Dungel P, Weber C, Vladimirov YA, Redl H, Kozlov AV (2007) Blue laser light increases perfusion of a skin flap via release of nitric oxide from hemoglobin. Mol Med 13(1-2): 22–29.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura S, Pearton S, Fasol G (2000) The blue laser diode. The complete story. 2nd ed. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rindge D (2009) Lasers and deQi. Acupuncture Today 10(5). URL: http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id = 31944 (Aug 16th, 2011)

  • Sator-Katzenschlager SM, Széles JC, Scharbert G, Michalek-Sauberer A, Kober A, Heinze G, Kozek-Langenecker SA (2003) Electrical stimulation of auricular acupuncture points is more effective than conventional manual auricular acupuncture in chronic cervical pain: A pilot study. Anesth Analg 97: 1469–1473.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Széles JC, Litscher G (2004) Objectivation of cerebral effects with a new continuous electrical auricular stimulation technique for pain management. Neurol Res 26: 797–800.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Task force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology: heart rate variability (1996) Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Eur Heart J 17: 354–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Chen P, Xie P (1999) History and development of traditional Chinese medicine. Science Press, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Widder B (1999) Doppler- und Duplexsonographie der hirnversorgenden Arterien. Springer, Berlin (German).

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This book chapter was presented by the author in part as a lecture at the Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture and Meridians in China on October 30, 2009.

The author thanks Ms. Lu Wang, MD LA, for performing acupuncture and Ms. Ingrid Gaischek, MSc, for her valuable support in data registration and analysis, both from Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (http://litscher.info) and TCM Research Center Graz (http://tcm-graz.at), Medical University of Graz.

The investigations were supported partially by the Zukunftsfonds of the Styrian Government (project 4,071) and are part of the project “Bioengineering and clinical assessment of high-tech acupuncture—a Sino-Austrian research pilot study,” supported by the Austrian Federal Ministries of Science and Research and of Health and the Eurasia Pacific Uninet.

The following scientists delivered valuable contributions: Weibo Zhang (Beijing, China), Seung-Ho Yi (Seoul, Korea), Lu Wang (Graz, Austria), Tao Huang (Beijing, China), Ingrid Gaischek (Graz, Austria), Zheng Xie (Beijing, China, and Graz, Austria), and Jan Valentini (Beijing, China, and Graz, Austria). The author wishes to thank everyone sincerely.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. TCM Research Center Graz and Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    Gerhard Litscher

Authors
  1. Gerhard Litscher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerhard Litscher .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Medical School a, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Ying Xia

  2. , Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture, Fudan University, Guoshoujing Road 199, Shanghai, 201203, China, People's Republic

    Guanghong Ding

  3. Shanghai Medical School, Inst. Acupuncture Research, Fudan University, Yi Xue Yuan Road 138, Shanghai, 200032, China, People's Republic

    Gen-Cheng Wu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Litscher, G. (2013). Modernization of Acupuncture Using High-Tech Methods: Teleacupuncture Bridges Science and Practice. In: Xia, Y., Ding, G., Wu, GC. (eds) Current Research in Acupuncture. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3357-6_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation