Early history of laser acupuncture: who used it first?

This historical review article examines the contested origins of laser acupuncture, a therapeutic modality that combines the centuries-old principles of acupuncture with the laser technology developed in the 1960s. Laser acupuncture uses different types of laser, including InGaAlP (630-685 nm), HeNe (633 nm), GaAlAs, GaAs, CO2, and YAG, and is particularly valuable for pediatric patients and those with needle phobia due to its noninvasive and virtually painless nature.

Traditionally, the German-Canadian physician Friedrich M. W. Plog (1920-2009) was considered the pioneer of laser acupuncture, allegedly having begun its practice in 1973. Plog developed the first laser acupuncture device, called the 'akupLaser System Plog,' in 1975-1976 at the company Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH (MBB).

In his 1980 publication, he described the procedures in detail, presented 17 therapeutic indications including headache, neck pain, low back pain, herpes zoster, and insomnia, and documented specific treatment methods.

However, a closer analysis of the literature reveals that Soviet researchers may have preceded Plog. Utemuratova and Sokolova reported in 1970 on the treatment of 118 hypertensive patients using a HeNe laser at acupuncture points. Ermukhambetor (1971) described the treatment of 31 hypertensive patients with a 12-mW HeNe laser, irradiating acupuncture points for 10-20 seconds daily over 10 days. Other Soviet researchers such as Shakirova and Inyushin (1971) attempted to treat infantile cerebral palsy, while Shchur (1972) reported treatments for hypertension and Voronina (1972) worked with bronchial asthma.

Although these Soviet studies are often presented as brief reports, they provided specific indications and treatment methods. An important limitation is that many did not clearly specify the acupuncture points used and sometimes mixed reflex zone therapy with true acupuncture, which should be considered distinct treatments.

In China, the first documented use of laser acupuncture occurred in 1976 for the treatment of leukopenia using a CO2 laser, preceding the better-known work of Yuecheng Zhou, who began using laser acupuncture in dental anesthesia in 1979. In Korea and Japan, the technique was implemented later, in 1980 and 1983, respectively.

Interestingly, Plog did not use the term 'laser acupuncture' in his early work. The term first appeared in the magazine 'Omni' in 1978, in an introduction to the AkupLas device manufactured by the German company MBB.

Despite controversies regarding skin penetration, the sensation of deqi, and noxious stimulation, the therapeutic effects and indications of laser acupuncture are now widely recognized. The technique offers a valuable alternative for patients who do not tolerate conventional needles, while maintaining the traditional therapeutic benefits of acupuncture.

The clinical implications of this historical review go beyond academic interest, highlighting the importance of recognizing scientific contributions from different cultures and research systems. The development of laser acupuncture illustrates how medical innovations often emerge simultaneously in different regions, reflecting universal clinical needs and global technological advances.