Laser acupuncture does not improve menopausal symptoms.

Researchers investigated whether laser acupuncture could help relieve symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats. Laser acupuncture uses low-level laser light to stimulate acupuncture points on the body without needles, making it a painless and non-invasive option.

In this study, 40 women experiencing active menopausal symptoms were randomly assigned to receive either real laser acupuncture or placebo treatment (where the laser device appeared to work but was actually turned off). Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was receiving real treatment, making this a rigorous scientific test. Treatments were given every two weeks for 12 weeks, with acupuncture points chosen individually for each woman from a set of 10 possible points.

The researchers tracked daytime and nighttime hot flashes, as well as other menopausal symptoms using a validated questionnaire. At the end of the 12-week study period, they found no significant differences between the groups. Women who received real laser acupuncture experienced the same level of symptom relief as those who received the placebo treatment.

These results suggest that laser acupuncture, at least when performed in this specific manner with this particular selection of acupuncture points, does not provide meaningful relief for menopausal symptoms beyond what might be expected from a placebo effect. It's important to note that this study examined laser acupuncture specifically, not traditional needle acupuncture, and used a limited set of predetermined acupuncture points.

If you're considering acupuncture for menopausal symptoms, consult with a licensed acupuncturist to discuss all available treatment options and what the current evidence shows.

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated laser acupoint stimulation for menopausal symptom management in 40 women. Participants received either active laser treatment or sham treatment (device appeared operational but laser was off) biweekly for 12 weeks. Acupoint selection was individualized from a fixed set of 10 points. Primary outcomes included diurnal and nocturnal flush frequency and validated symptom scores.

Results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between active and placebo groups across all measured outcomes. Both diurnal and nocturnal hot flash frequencies remained comparable between groups, as did non-flushing symptom scores.

Clinical implications: This study suggests laser acupoint stimulation, when selected from a predetermined point set, provides no therapeutic benefit beyond manual stimulation with an inert probe for menopausal symptoms. The negative findings contrast with some positive results reported for traditional needle acupuncture. Practitioners should consider these results when counseling patients about laser acupuncture for menopause, though the limitation to a fixed point set may not reflect individualized traditional practice.