Quitting smoking is challenging, but laser therapy can help by targeting points that reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Summit Laser Solutions provides supportive care to help you quit smoking and improve your overall health. Our approach to smoking cessation is holistic, addressing both the physical and psychological factors that can contribute to nicotine addiction. By using laser therapy to stimulate specific points on the body, we can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to quit smoking. Our experienced practitioners will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, providing you with the support and care you need to quit smoking effectively.

Laser acupuncture therapy targets specific acupuncture points to reduce cigarette cravings and combat addiction through multiple mechanisms. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), tobacco withdrawal symptoms result from impairing liver function. Tobacco addiction stimulates the liver, substituting part of its natural energy, leading to decreased liver function. Laser acupuncture revitalizes the liver by restoring its energy, thereby alleviating withdrawal symptoms and helping the liver function properly without the need for tobacco.

Another benefit of laser acupuncture is altering the smoking experience. After treatment, many people find that the taste or smell of smoke becomes unpleasant, or smoking may cause discomfort such as nausea or a feeling of excessive warmth. This aversion helps discourage smoking.

Additionally, laser acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, which helps reduce the craving for nicotine. Normally, smoking causes a temporary increase in endorphin levels, making you feel better for a short period and creating a cycle of dependency. Laser therapy promotes the continuous release of endorphins over a longer period, reducing the physical craving for nicotine.

The effects of laser therapy can last from 6 to 9 months, typically requiring only one session to alleviate the addiction. If you smoke within three months of your initial treatment, a follow-up session is provided at no extra cost. Booster sessions are available at a nominal fee if cravings persist beyond 90 days, although this is uncommon.

It’s important to note that individual responses to laser therapy can vary. There are no reported side effects, and most clients respond positively to the treatment.

The desire to quit smoking is crucial and significantly contributes to success. Clients often seek laser therapy for various reasons: - Medical procedures requiring cessation of smoking - Workplace smoking bans - Ultimatums from a spouse

Laser therapy is not an instant fix; it requires effort and commitment from the individual to quit for life. At Summit Laser Solutions, we provide counseling to help you not only become a non-smoker but also remain a non-smoker for life.

Consider asking yourself: - Can I imagine my life without a cigarette? - Am I prepared to seek support from family and friends during stressful times? - Am I ready to adopt alternative coping strategies instead of smoking?

If you are not fully mentally prepared to quit, give yourself time.

### Benefits of Quitting Smoking

- **20 Minutes**: Blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal; temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.

- **8 Hours**: Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal; oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

- **24 Hours**: Chance of heart attack decreases.

- **48 Hours**: Nerve endings start regrowing; ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

- **2-1/2 Weeks**: Circulation improves; lung function increases up to 30%.

- **1-9 Months**: Decrease in coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath; regrowth of cilia in lungs enhances mucus handling, lung cleaning, and infection reduction.

- **1 Year**: Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

- **5 Years**: Risk of heart attack and stroke returns to levels similar to those who have never smoked.

### Drawbacks of Smoking

- Darkened teeth, bad breath, and smelly clothes

- Stained hands and polluted air from cigarette ashes

- Chronic cough, shortened lifespan, and pasty complexion

- Increased pregnancy risks and development of life-threatening diseases

- "Smoker’s mouth" (wrinkles from inhaling) and lack of energy

- Loss of taste and smell, and disapproval from loved ones

- Social unacceptability and having to smoke in the cold

- Premature aging and wasted money ($3000 – $5000/year/person)

### Maintaining Smoking Cessation After Laser Acupuncture Therapy

Behavior modification is essential to change the habits that trigger smoking in daily activities. These triggers can include phone conversations, coffee breaks, meals, boredom, traffic, and other frustrations. Eliminating these triggers can significantly reduce the urge to smoke. We encourage clients to adopt alternative activities such as sucking on candy, chewing a toothpick, or using chewing gum when faced with these cues.

By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction, laser acupuncture therapy at Summit Laser Solutions provides a comprehensive approach to help you quit smoking and maintain a smoke-free lifestyle.