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New way to stop smoking

Rocky

The Flying Squirrel
Rocky
Joined
Dec 10, 2001
Messages
296
From Craig Nabat of Ambitious Ideas, Inc comes a new way to quit smoking “Freedom Laser Therapy”. It sounds Quack and/or woo woo to me. (if this actually works someone needs to tell me how or why)

Highlights from their FAQ:

Is laser therapy safe?

Laser therapy is completely safe, painless and drug-free. It has been used widely internationally for over 30 years with no known adverse side effects.


What kind of laser will be used?

The laser used by Freedom Laser Therapy Clinics is a low level or soft laser no more powerful than a 60 watt light bulb. We use only IRB government approved laser units.


What parts of my body will be treated?

Treatment focuses on points on the hands, nose and ears.


Is it guaranteed?

When treating nicotine addiction laser therapy is designed to help your body cope with the overwhelming urges and cravings, but does not take over your mind. The international success rates of 80-94% have shown clearly that laser therapy, when given serious commitment, does have a remarkable positive affect on the health and lifestyles of thousands of people.

*****************************
What does that answer have to do with a guarantee?

Any treatment that has “no known adverse side effects” probably also has “no known ... effects”.

Sounds like BS to me.

I sent this email to them:
"Your FAQ refers to "International Clinical Studies". Could you please show me where to find more data from these studies?"

Well see what they do.
 
Buy a HairMax LaserComb--treat your scalp and your nicotine addiction both at the same time! www.hairmax.com

It probably is safe, painless, and drug-free. So is dropping a pebble on the ground. Let us know how the respond (if they do) to your email!
 
Sounds like utter rubbish to me.

The [Doctor Evil voice] "laser" [/Doctor Evil voice] is used to stimulate the accupuncture points.

From a Googling, I can't find any independent research
 
email back

They sent me back and answer to my question about the studies, (note that they ignored my question and that they have an "AOL" email address):

From: Freedomlaser@aol.com
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 22:32:02 EST
Subject: Freedom
To: Rocky


Thanks for your interest in our service. Freedom Laser Therapy treats nicotine addiction using a low-level laser also known as a soft laser. It is painless, non invasive, and very effective.

In one 30-minute treatment, you will be relieved of virtually all physical withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking. The procedure costs $399.00. Freedom is dedicated to your success and we will work with you to insure you are successful. Because this is an addiction, we can not guarantee the procedure, but we are very confident we can help you.

Please feel free to call me directly to make an appointment or with any other questions you may have.

Our staff has conviction that we can turn any smoker into a non-smoker. We take great pride in helping our clients. We look forward to assisting you.

Warmest regards,
Gracy Terlaak
Operations Assistant

Freedom Laser Therapy
720 Wilshire Blvd
Third Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-5558 tel
310-458-5557 fax
http://www.freedomlasertherapy.com

==========

Time to send them off to quackwatch.
 
When treating nicotine addiction laser therapy is designed to help your body cope with the overwhelming urges and cravings, but does not take over your mind. The international success rates of 80-94% have shown clearly that laser therapy, when given serious commitment, does have a remarkable positive affect on the health and lifestyles of thousands of people.
Click to expand...


I think ' serious commitment ' is the key ingrediant here... Save your $399.. You can get the same results with one of these for about $1.99.. and 'serious commitment.'..

pacifier.jpg


There is a laser version available at a slightly higher cost...
 
Diogenes said:

I think ' serious commitment ' is the key ingrediant here... Save your $399.. You can get the same results with one of these for about $1.99.. and 'serious commitment.'..

...
Click to expand...
You beat me to it. That's exactly what I was going to say. Lack of commitment is the #1 reason people fail in their attempts to stop smoking -- not lack of laser treatment to extraneous body parts!

There is a physical component. It's the physical changes in your brain when you 'change your mind' about a lot of things related to smoking.

I offer myself up as a smoke-cessation therapist, free of charge. Anyone here who is trying to quit, PM me on the day you have stopped, and I will help you. I am living proof! 14.5 years and counting!
 
I'm thinking of marketing my own stop smoking program. For the low, low price of $40/hr I'll follow you around and hit you on the head with a hammer every time you try to light up. The best part is, it feels so good when you stop!

I guess I'm going for the masochist smoker niche. :D

Anybody want to bet whether these guys are using a laser pointer for their treatments? Visible light lasers have no therapeutic calue, unless you count as stress relief when used in conjunction with cats.
 
Having once dazzled myself by catching a reflection from a laser pointer (output in milliwatts), I wonder how much damage a misapplied 60w laser can do?
 
I think the best stop-smoking remedy (what worked for me, anyways), is to come down with every upper respiratory infection known to man within the space of a week. Couldn't even look at a cigarette without feeling pain. I figured that two (involuntary) smoke-free weeks would be a good start, so I got some Zyban for an extra 'push', and am now smoke-free. I'm still shocked everytime I check the balance in my account now, where did all that money come from?
;)

Although, I'm sure, had I heard about that laser treatment before, i would have stopped earlier.:p
 
Soapy Sam said:
Having once dazzled myself by catching a reflection from a laser pointer (output in milliwatts), I wonder how much damage a misapplied 60w laser can do?
Click to expand...

I noticed that. However, I doubt that they're talking about a laser output of 60W, more like a laser with the irradiance equivalent of a 60W bulb, although this in itself is meaningless. A 60W bulb at 10mm is not good for your eye, at 10km, you'd barely see it. You need to talk in terms of irradiance, measured in watts per square centimetre. That and the fact that bulbs are defined by the electrical power they draw and lasers are defined by the light power output.

FYI, a 60W laser (with, say, a 1cm diameter beam) definitely falls into the Class IV category making it an eye and skin hazard, even for diffuse or specular reflections. Trust me, they aren't using one of these.
 
Damn, where were these guys when I needed them? You mean I spent five days in a cardiac ward with a high-pressure IV in my arm for three days (at an overall cost of $45K, $1.3k out of my pocket, and $35 a month in meds thereafter) and I didn't have to?

Who do I sue?:D
 
Hey after you've spent $399 you won't be able to afford to smoke for a month anyway.
 
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