Temperature measurements and photoelectric plethysmography in the evaulation of acute and long-term effects of acupuncture upon vasomotor activity of hand skin: a methodological study.

Skin temperature measurements and photoelectric plethysomgraphy were used evaluating the changes in vasomotor activity of hand skin induced by acupuncture in 8 normal subjects, 10 patients with a chronic pain syndrome and 3 patients with an acute pain syndrome of one upper extremity. In normal persons acupuncture induced short-term fall in the skin temperature and the amplitude of photoelectric plethysmogram. This was undoubtedly a normal physiological reaction to pain. In cold sick hands with a chronic pain syndrome acupuncture induced warming of the hand skin and prolongation of the propagation time in the photoelectric plethysmogram. In warm sick hands with an acute pain syndrome acupuncture induced equalization of the temperature difference and shortening of the propagation time. It seems possible to evaluate the effects of acupuncture upon vasomotor activity of hand skin with these methods.