23 Dec 2014
In 2002, Zhang Jing Hua (58 years old) was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, following which, she received chemotherapy. However, the side effects of the chemotherapy, which included headaches, nausea, vomiting, and pain throughout the body gave her much discomfort.
Following the recommendation of her sister, Zhang Jing Hua visited Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre to receive laser acupuncture treatment, which successfully helped to manage her pain. She received both traditional acupuncture and laser acupuncture treatment methods.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre has started using laser acupuncture since 2000. Approximately 10 patients per month are given this form of treatment, taking up 20% of the total patients who receive acupuncture. Currently, only One doctor in the centre performs Laser acupuncture. The centre plans to train more doctors in this area.
Dr Yan Hui Ling, the centre’s only consultant doctor who performs Laser acupuncture, says that through exciting the acupoints, the laser promotes cell multiplication, cell restoration and reduces inflammation and swelling. As the treatment process does not require penetrating of the skin with needles, it is painless and hygienic.
Dr Yan also explains that this form of acupuncture is most suitable for those afraid of needles and those undergoing blood thinning treatments. Laser acupuncture provides Mastectomy patients with an additional treatment option.
During mastectomy, the lymph nodes may be removed and may increase the risks of swelling and pain in the upper limbs. In the event of an infection, this is difficult to recover from fully. Since traditional acupuncture requires penetrating the skin, thus posing the risk of contracting Lymphedema, using Laser acupuncture in such scenarios can help to avoid such complications.
According to Dr Yan Hui Ling, patients have responded well to the Laser acupuncture treatments, which has succeeded in managing pain, nausea and other issues.
No side effects to date
Doctors employ different low-level lasers and different exposure timings to achieve different results. Generally, a Laser only needs to be pointed at an acupoint for several seconds. Since only Low-level Lasers are used, pointing the Laser beams at the acupoint for a longer period of time will not cause any harm to the patient. To date, no patients have shown any side effects from using this form of treatment.
Research overseas has shown that the effect of Laser acupuncture is not inferior to that of Traditional acupuncture. Why then has this form of treatment not been further promoted over the last 7 years?
According to Dr Jiang Qing Xi, Senior consultant of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department, this is because Laser acupuncture is a relatively new treatment form and is supported by limited literature. However, through their clinical experience, the rehabilitation centre has determined that this treatment form is effective to a certain extent and has decided to train more doctors to employ it. Dr Jiang is also one of the doctors who will be subsequently trained in Laser acupuncture.
Dr Jiang Qing Xi also expressed that the centre has not ruled out the possibility of conducting further clinical research on Laser acupuncture.
