| This purpose of this article is to describe the use | | | | results that indicated "serotonin is photo chemically |
| of Low Level Laser Therapy or | | | | transformed as a consequence of four-photon |
| Photobiomodulation as described by the current | | | | absorption to a photoproduct that then emits in |
| FDA label or under the supervision of a medical | | | | the visible region via two-photon excitation. A |
| professional in an off label manner to significantly | | | | minimum bound for the two-photon emission |
| reduce or eliminate the pain and discomfort | | | | action cross-section was observed at 830 nm." |
| associated with withdrawal symptoms that are | | | | This shows that serotonin levels significantly |
| experienced during the period of cessation from | | | | increase because of the introduction of photons |
| addictive substances including nicotine. | | | | to cellular tissue. |
| The therapy intervention devices to be used are | | | | Additionally, low power or cold laser used in |
| handheld, non-invasive, red and infrared, low | | | | encephalin and endorphin synthesis in 1988 |
| energy, non-heating therapeutic lasers (class 3b | | | | showed these levels drastically increased due to |
| lasers). These lasers are low power lasers and | | | | photon stimulation. It was determined in 1993 |
| have been determined non-significant risk devices | | | | Honmura, A. et al. 13:463 that low level laser use |
| and have been given pre market approval by the | | | | releases not only endorphinsdue to the ability to |
| Department of Health & Human Services. | | | | relieve pain in spite of the use of naloxone. |
| Cessation Therapy incorporates the use of this | | | | Consequently, other endogenous opiate-like |
| device to apply low level laser light to specific | | | | peptides are released as well. |
| points of the body for treatment of sympathetic | | | | The finding that serotonin and endorphins are |
| dystrophy and adjunctive use in the temporary | | | | present in acupuncture treatments is written in |
| relief of the associative pain and discomfort | | | | the study publications in the Journal of the |
| related to the withdrawal symptoms when quitting | | | | American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, case |
| smoking. | | | | report "Integrated approaches to Addiction" by |
| The results of research studies that have been | | | | Dr. Nash, R. MD. |
| conducted in many diverse populations within the | | | | By comparing the available data, it has become |
| United States and Europe, over the past 20 | | | | apparent that Photobiomodulation or cold laser |
| years, have overwhelmingly established that there | | | | therapy causes greater stimulation yielding higher |
| is a definite relationship between addiction and the | | | | levels of serotonin, endorphin and other |
| elevation of serotonin, endorphin, nor epinephrine, | | | | endogenous opiate-like peptides, and also causes |
| dopamine and other endogenous opiate-like | | | | them to be manufactured for an extended period |
| peptides during nicotine and other substance | | | | of time, more so than traditional acupuncture |
| abuse. | | | | methods, the basis for this can be found in |
| Dopamine produces pleasure and a desire to | | | | studies that suggest that the efficacy of |
| repeat the behaviors that caused its presence. | | | | acupuncture depends on an intense course of |
| The increased levels of opiate-like peptides in the | | | | therapy. |
| ventral tegmental region of the brain reinforce the | | | | It is apparent that these chemicals provide |
| addiction process. It has also been determined | | | | significant relief of the symptomatic dystrophy |
| that elevated levels of these same chemicals are | | | | and other physiological effects of withdrawal |
| present during the ingestion of addictive | | | | symptoms. With these chemicals present the |
| substances such as the nicotine found in | | | | need to ingest addictive substances to generate |
| cigarettes, and that the absence of these | | | | them is non-existent and the withdrawal |
| chemicals during cessation (when an individual quits | | | | symptoms such as cravings and urges to ingest |
| smoking or using products containing nicotine) are | | | | nicotine, body pain, headache, difficulty |
| the main cause of withdrawal symptoms | | | | concentrating, nervousness, restlessness, |
| experienced by individuals who are trying to stop | | | | irritability, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and |
| using the substance. | | | | increased appetite are either dramatically reduced |
| There have been many studies, most of which | | | | to manageable levels or completely eliminated. |
| have been published in "Laser Therapy clinical | | | | Based on hundreds of clinical trials, |
| practice and scientific background", 2002. The | | | | Photobiomodulation by the use of a low level laser |
| conclusions are that Photobiomodulation is an | | | | or cold laser has very few contra-indications, has |
| effective method of safely introducing Photons of | | | | proven to be safe in humans, will cause a long |
| light to the body by means of low level lasers (or | | | | term release of these chemicals and is much |
| cold lasers). In the "Shear (859)" study the | | | | more effective than other available methods of |
| excitation of serotonin via laser light pulses, gave | | | | stimulation. |