Combing Ancient TCM Wisdom and Low-Level Laser Therapy to Enhance Qi at the Cellular Level. The “Medicine” of Yesteryear and Tomorrow!

Anxiety, digestive issues, obesity, autoimmunity, inflammation and pain are at epidemic levels. As we know, Traditional Chinese Medicine, an ancestor of Functional Medicine, is alive and well.  TCM continues to be a powerful healing modality. We all see the overwhelming wave of patients with disharmony of their Qi.  Being open to adding knowledge and technological advancements to combat modern society’s lifestyle practices as well as side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs is vital to achieving positive clinical outcomes for our patients.

The language of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis is unique to our profession. Speaking in terms that both patients and their Western Medical professionals understand; our care will become better understood, more accepted, and collaboration will flow more easily. Due to the unprecedented Opioid crisis, health agencies of the United States government and medical doctors are now welcoming the help of practitioners of TCM and Acupuncture. We are uniquely qualified to be the go-to specialists for treating pain and addiction.  Side-effects of Opioids are comprehensive. We must address the pain, detoxify the organs, and nourish Shen as a starting point.   Let’s use “pain” as a doorway for TCM to become more widely accepted and bring the vast wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine to all those in need. 

Why combine Low-Level Laser Therapy with Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture?

While some TCM practitioners focus on a specialty, most of us act as our patient’s general or primary care practitioner treating a myriad of imbalances which are often multifactorial.  Developing a comprehensive treatment plan encompassing the use of Low-Level Laser Therapy along with Acupuncture will greatly benefit your patient population.  In our practice, we’ve seen amazing results using LLLT by providing much needed Qi to patients with Shen disharmony, meridian & organ imbalances, and kidney/adrenal & spleen Qi deficiency.  Using Low-Level or Cold Lasers which can be programmed with hundreds of frequencies and protocols is best to address specific conditions such as: tissue regeneration, organ function support, spleen Qi deficiency, and Qi and Blood stagnation from trauma, injury and surgeries.  Whether the condition is excess or deficiency, lasers can be utilized.  Therefore, LLLT is an invaluable tool to enhance the effect of our medicine.

The History of Low-Level Lasers – From 1950 to 1970 Dr. Paul Nogier researched body and brain laser frequencies.  He is well known for developing an acupuncture point map of the body in the outer ear which has been accepted by many in Traditional Chinese Medicine. German Physician, Frank Bahr worked with Nogier and extended his research of frequencies into the 1980s to include Extraordinary Meridian Frequencies. Austrian, Manfred Reininger developed 12 meridian frequencies beneficial to each organ and conversion phase frequencies for the five elements. 

LLLT has been the subject of over 400 Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and the subject of over 4,000 studies since 1967, all easily searched in PubMed. LLLT and Laser Acupuncture were featured in The 4th Annual World Congress of High-Tech Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine” in Xi’an, China in September 2017.

How does LLLT work?  Light energy is the catalyst for biotransformation and life. Simply, LLLT provides natural energy required for damaged and injured cells to heal. It increases communication between the cells of the body.  It increases blood and oxygen flow in damaged & inflamed tissues.  LLLT is painless, safe and effective. 

LLLT exposes tissues and cells to coherent light in synergistic wavelengths. Unlike LEDs, coherent laser light can easily penetrate the meridians, communicate in a complementary vibration and move Qi.  The laser’s photons stimulate a cascade of reactions including increasing the production of ATP in the mitochondria. LLLT is photo-biomodulation therapy that stimulates the production of natural healing chemicals that support rapid cell growth, increases metabolic activity, increases angiogenesis, improves vascular activity, suppresses the COX-2 inflammatory pathway, and decreases inflammation.   The photons generated by LLLT don’t produce heat, so they don’t run the risk of damaging cells or tissue.

Cells of the body have a natural resonance which are influenced by Qi flowing through the meridians. In TCM, when we assess and see blockages, imbalances, or rebellious Qi; could it not be the dysregulation of the natural vibration or resonance of the cells in the affected meridian or system?  When cells are stimulated with a frequency which equals its own natural frequency, it oscillates at a greater amplitude. Resonance is then achieved, and accelerated healing takes place.  Therefore, when choosing a LLLT device, the ability to program multiple specific pulsing frequencies is key.  

In the theory of treating Root and Branch -   LLLT can be used to balance Qi for root cause resolution, and to treat the area of involvement, or branch, for immediate symptom relief.

In our practice, we have found that integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture with Low-Level Laser Therapy provides our patients with exponential healing. Hence, we say “patients get further faster” in their treatment plan. With patient’s busy schedules and hectic lifestyles, they appreciate spending less time in our office due to increased efficiency and superior efficacy. A winning combination! Many of our patients often return for additional 15-minute stand-alone laser treatments, in and out to get on with their day.

We’ve had overwhelmingly positive clinical outcomes with conditions such as: muscular-skeletal pain; dental pain; plantar fasciitis; pre & post-surgical accelerated healing including fracture blisters; anxiety & stress, brain fog, PTSD & emotional release; cold, flu presentation; digestive issues; adjunctive care of fatty-liver and lipoma; respiratory issues; among others.

Violet laser’s unique qualities are its anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-bacterial & anti-fungal effects. Protocols using specific frequencies have been developed which may help resolve conditions such as Acne, Staph, Strep, MRSA, Cold & Flu, Ear Infection, Epstein-Barr Virus, Toenail Fungus, Shingles, and Hives. Basically, we can assist with healing of any condition.

We prefer Erchonia Lasers for their ease of use, programable frequencies, safety (Class 2), research, training and their 15 FDA clearances including Low Back Pain, Chronic Neck & Shoulder Pain, Chronic Heel Pain from Plantar Fasciitis, Full Body Musculoskeletal Pain, Acne Vulgaris, Pain Associated with Breast Augmentation Surgery, Toenail Fungus Relief, Body Contouring & Cellulite Reduction, among others.  Ongoing clinical studies include Autism, Concussion, and more.

Adding LLLT to a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice expands your ability to help patients heal in a fraction of the time. LLLT super-charges your ability to balance Qi faster, support organ system function, assist tissue regeneration, reduce inflammation and dampen pain.  Even using it for self-care – optimizing brain function, healing old injuries you thought you just had to live with, strengthening immune function, and treating imbalances - make it priceless!  LLLT is a Win-Win-Win for your patients, yourself, and your practice’s success.