Nowadays, the combination of modern medicine and traditional medicine is being applied concurrently to enhance the effectiveness of treatment, especially for musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, which often cause persistent pain and significant discomfort for patients. With these cases the addition of Western medicine treatments in combination with traditional Eastern medicine methods increase pain relief effectiveness and reduce side effects.

Besides existing methods such as acupuncture, thread embedding acupuncture therapy, and moxibustion, the Traditional Medicine Department at FV Hospital has recently introduced two new techniques: Laser acupuncture and acupoint injection therapy, to treat musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

Laser acupuncture – Modern technology combined with traditional methods

The new treatment technique of Laser acupuncture combines traditional acupuncture methods with the impact of a laser beam. Physical acupuncture needles are replaced with laser beams that stimulate acupoints on the meridians. This method, in addition to accurately targeting acupoints and providing similar effects to traditional acupuncture, also offers several outstanding advantages, such as:

• Non-invasive, painless, with no bruising or bleeding at the acupoint;
• No risk of broken needles or infection;
• Suitable for patients who fear pain, especially children;
• Easily and flexibly used to treat various areas of the body, especially regions with many blood vessels and nerves, such as the palms, soles, finger joints, and wrists;
• Safe with no side effects.

The laser acupuncture method works by delivering low-power laser light energy through the skin, which is absorbed into the tissue. At the cellular level, the laser enhances redox reactions, activates numerous intracellular signalling pathways, increases protein synthesis, renews blood vessels, protects nerve cells, and restores nerve cells. At the molecular level, low-power lasers can promote the expression of DNA repair genes and heal damaged skin fibroblasts. Consequently, the laser beam can penetrate various depths of tissue, depending on the wavelength and power of the laser device used. Additionally, the low power of the laser does not generate heat, ensuring comfort for the patient during treatment.

Currently, laser acupuncture is often indicated for the treatment of conditions such as:

• Pain symptoms: neck and shoulder pain, periarthritis of the shoulder, lower back pain, functional headache…
• Inflammatory conditions: lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, periarthritis of the shoulder, sacroiliac arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis…
• Neurological disorders: post-stroke paralysis, spinal cord injury paralysis, facial nerve paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica…
• Functional disorders: rhinitis-sinusitis, insomnia, bronchial asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia, gastritis, vestibular disorder, bed-wetting in children…
• Especially: laser acupuncture is suitable for the elderly, those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, those who are advised to limit pain medication, and patients who are afraid of needle acupuncture.

However, this method is not indicated for patients in the pre-cancerous or cancer patients, patients with epilepsy, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, or those who have undergone treatment with immunosuppressant’s or high doses of corticosteroids for an extended period.

Utilising the effectiveness of Western medicine in acupoint injection therapy.

Acupoint injection therapy involves injecting medically indicated drugs (Western medicine) into acupuncture points to treat illnesses. This technique aims to increase the area, intensity, and duration of stimulation during treatment. By combining the advantages of acupuncture with the effects of medications, acupoint injection therapy not only effectively alleviates or suppresses diseases but also directly and promptly addresses their underlying causes.

When medicines are injected into acupuncture points on the body, the impulses stimulated are transmitted to the cerebral cortex. From there, they are reflected to various levels of the nervous system to regulate the activities of internal organs. Due to the pharmacological effects of the medicines and the transmission effects along the meridians, the body absorbs the medicines more rapidly, exerting a stronger impact on the affected organs and aiding a better recovery. Therefore, this method offers several advantages over traditional methods:

• With the same dosage of medication, if injected into acupoints, the pharmacological effects are stronger compared to non-acupoint injection.
• With the same type of medication, if injected into acupoints, a smaller dosage can achieve pharmacological effects equivalent to a larger dosage.
• Combining medication with acupuncture allows for simultaneous management of various symptoms of the disease.

Acupoint injection therapy is recommended for treating various conditions such as:

• Neurological disorders: migraine, cerebral circulation insufficiency, sciatica, post-stroke patients, trigeminal neuralgia.
• Musculoskeletal disorders: sprains, osteoarthritis, joint dislocation, chronic joint inflammation.
• Additionally, combining acupoint injection therapy with acupuncture is highly effective in treating chronic conditions such as asthma, post-stroke recovery, mild to moderate disc herniation, post-herpetic neuralgia, and facial nerve palsy.

At FV Hospital, Laser Acupuncture and Acupoint Injection Therapy, and other traditional medicine treatments are performed by Dr Diec Kha Han, Specialist Level I, Head of Traditional Medicine with nearly 20 years of experience in Traditional Medicine. In addition, the Traditional Medicine Department at FV Hospital is equipped with modern facilities. For instance, FV utilises the Lightneedle 600 standard laser machine from Reimers & Janssen, a leading German manufacturer specialising in non-invasive medical devices and laser technology in medicine.

With the integration of multiple specialties and advanced imaging diagnostics, these traditional medicine treatments are conducted in operating rooms that ensure infection control standards according to the international JCI standards – one of the highest global benchmarks for healthcare quality and patient safety. This approach ensures high effectiveness in diagnosis and treatment, helping to save costs and reduce patient travel time.

To book an appointment with Dr Diec Kha Han, Specialist Level I, Head of Traditional Medicine Department, please contact: 028 5411 3333, Ext 7000.