Abstract
Acupuncture and transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) may increase peripheral circulation which correlates with pain relief (1,2). Birger Kaada has shown that a marked and prolonged vasodilation may follow non-segmental TNS (3). Most probably vasodilation is induced through a release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a response to low-frequency TNS (4). Other possible mechanisms include release of endorphins and increase of central serotonin (5). Clinical trials with low-frequency TNS have been promising (6,7). In our earlier trials we could not register any clear response in healthy subjects during the first 2-3 hours after stimulation. Pain patients and patients suffering from peripheral circulatory disturbances reacted with a delay of 1-4 hours.
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