Laser Solutions

Laser acupuncture therapist Lee Ann Berryessa says the cool laser is painless. She spoke to News10 while treating a client with a 45-year smoking addiction at Remedy Laser Therapy in Roseville.

Acupuncture has been promoted for many years as being a successful aid in helping smokers to quit. However a wide range of scientific studies have not produced any clear evidence that acupuncture is effective when compared with other anti-smoking treatments. Altering where the needles are placed (for example in the ear lobes) does not appear to make any difference either. Similar "acupuncture-like" treatments such as acupressure, laser therapy or electrostimulation also do not appear to be effective in helping you to give up either.

"There's got to be a little willpower involved," said Jerry Streit, nother laser acupuncture client three days after his treatment, as he chewed on sunflower seeds. "But this definitely takes the edge off."

Laser acupuncture has been used to treat tobacco addiction for decades in Canada and Europe. The U.S. Food and Drug administration recently approved low-level lasers to treat pain, but the FDA doesn't officially recognize laser acupuncture as an anti-smoking treatment.

There may be some discomfort around the areas where the acupuncture needles are inserted, but this normally passes quickly. There are no other regularly reported side-effects from acupuncture. However, if acupuncture is administered incorrectly or without care, there is the possibility of infection from dirty needles or puncture wounds from pushing the needles in too far.

Acupuncture is popular with smokers who prefer a "natural" or "alternative" method of trying to quit, being a relatively safe option, although it must be performed by an experienced practitioner and no drugs are involved in acupuncture.

Acupuncture stimulates energy meridians throughout body, which helps to relieve cravings. However, acupuncture is invasive to the body and can be painful. The treatment concept is quite similar to the principles of low-level laser therapy. Laser therapy is more effective, because light energy is absorbed by the body and takes much longer for the endorphin sensation to dissipate.

There is no clear evidence that acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy or electrostimulation are superior to placebo for smoking cessation. This should be interpreted in the context of the major impact that smoking cessation is known to have on health. The results of two recent high quality trials suggest that sustained stimulation may be a crucial factor for success, and future studies using this form of intervention are justified.

"Any time you can help prevent (disease), you feel like you're saving a life," James Shepherd, a respiratory therapists, said. "It's actually very exciting."

Laser Acupuncture Helped Them Kick the Habit