Violet laser acupuncture--part 4: acute effects on human arterial stiffness and wave reflection.

We investigated the effects of violet laser acupuncture on arterial stiffness and other important parameters of the functional state of the heart such as augmentation index (AIx). This investigation ties together the medical perspectives of Eastern and Western medical practitioners; the Western medical perspective of the functional states of the human heart including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and the Eastern medical perspective regarding taking patients' pulses for diagnosis and using acupuncture for subsequent treatments. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a direct marker of arterial stiffness; AIx indicates wave reflection. Both parameters can be measured by cuff applied to the brachial artery. The first results from a pilot study of 10 healthy volunteers (M/F, 3/7; mean age ± SD, 27.8 ± 6.8 years) regarding violet laser acupuncture (405 nm; 110 mW; 500 μm; 10 min) showed a marked but not statistically significant decrease in aortic PWV and an increase in brachial AIx during and after laser acupuncture at the acupoint Baihui. Further studies including control measurements are necessary.