Smoking cessation lasers
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009When smokers or non-smokers alike look at various methods to stop smoking, many feel that nicotine patches, gum, or inhalers are the way to quit smoking. Unfortunately these products initially at least only replace one delivery form of nicotine for another form of delivery of the harmful and toxic product. While the patches do not have the harmful effect of smoke and gases in the throat, nose, sinus cavities and lungs, the fact remains that nicotine is addictive, whether deliver in gum or in smoke. Even when the cigarettes are no longer being smoked, the smoker must learn to do without the nicotine patch in order to be free of the harmful addictive properties of the drug.
Those who have relied on nicotine replacement methods in the past, whether successfully or unsuccessfully, have become interested in a new method to be nicotine free. The use of smoking cessation lasers is believed to be one of the highest success rates in preventing returning to smoking.
The lasers work in smoking cessation techniques, partly because they are non-invasive, cause no pain or discomfort, and because they relax and soothe the client who may be overly tense and irritable as a withdrawal symptom of nicotine addiction.
During smoking cessation laser therapy, various energy points on the body which has to do with addiction are touched with a low powered soft laser, which is less powerful than a standard light bulb. The stimulation leads to the production of natural endorphins, the feel good hormones produced by humans. While the influence of endorphins is documented for pain reduction, stress relief and determining mood, the efficacy of endorphins for smoking cessation has not been proven.
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) uses a cold laser on various meridian points on the body which are said to release endorphins into the blood stream. It is believed by practitioners that these ”feel good? hormones in the blood stream reduce cravings and feelings of discomfort associated with withdrawal symptoms from nicotine addiction, and is portrayed as an excellent way to reduce stress
Much conflict recently has been brewing around the companies which produce and market smoking cessation lasers treatment as an effective way to ensure smoking cessation. Opponents state that the claims are unproven and that payments collected by five major laser treatment centers are for prohibitively priced and ineffective. treatments. Indeed, no authenticated scientific evidence exists to support the claims of the laser aficionados.