Abstract
Objective: As early as 1967, professor Endre Mester's group published the first scientific report concerning the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the skin of rats. After that, there have been some two thousand research reports from many countries in which the biological effects of low level lasers have been demonstrated. We reviewed some theses about LLLT published in Korea recently, and we make a proposal concerning the new method of study using LLLT in Oriental Medicine. Methods: We have selected 12 medical theses about low level laser therapy published in Korean Oriental Medicine journals recently, reviewed them, and investigated their methods. Results and Conclusion: There were several clinical studies in Korea about hyperlipidemia, hypercholesteremia, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, headache, dizziness, stroke, pain and numbness published from 1996 to 2000 using LLLT. The number of theses of good quality is showing a tendency to increase, recently. Sooner or later LLLT will be a very useful treatment and we believe that it will be an alternative useful method in Oriental Medical fields. There have been some negative public opinions about LLLT voiced in the Korean Oriental Medical society recently, but we expect a positive re-evaluation of this new treatment within Oriental Medicine in the near future.
