12 Years in Laser Acupuncture 5/5 (39)

I still remember the first time I saw laser acupuncture. I was in class and the instructor was talking about the various ways to treat acupuncture points. Of course we discussed the typical ways: needles, moxa, teishin, electric stim. But then he brought out the laser. 

Amazing!

This new piece of technology fit right in his shirt pocket and made an impressive glow on and within the tissue as it treated points. And talk about treating points! It could do in just a few seconds what might take 30 minutes for a needle to accomplish. And it was painless, to boot!

Now I’ve always been fascinated with lasers. As a teenager in the 1980’s, I studied the physics and electronics of lasers–which at that time were mostly used for scientific and military applications, and were way too expensive for me to ever get my hands on one. But I could tell you all about how to build one!

Of course, in the 1990’s technology advanced and laser pointers started to debut, and by the time I saw my first acupuncture laser 12 years ago, prices were downright reasonable! The particular model I saw in that acupuncture class (a 635 nm red laser) could be had for only $100! And it replaced an older style that had sold for over $600! This was getting seriously interesting.

There was just one problem. As a student, even $100 was expensive for me. So I got to wondering if I might be able to get a better price by ordering in bulk with other students. I finally decided to purchase 10 lasers and hope I could sell them to other students at my cost. I was pretty nervous when I placed that order, not knowing if I could sell the extra lasers, or if I would be stuck with all 10 and a huge credit card bill.

I sold them all in 3 days.

Ever since that inauspicious beginning 12 years ago, I’ve continually used lasers in my practice. Prices have come down, quality has gone up, and I’ve even made my own designs. These days, I use red for tonification and blue for sedation of meridians.

So what’s the point? 

This article really isn’t about me. It’s about you. We all come to crossroads from time to time where we want to try something new, but perhaps hold back because we’re not sure of the outcome. If I had held back on that first order of 10, who knows what I’d be doing right now?

If you’re not yet using lasers in your practice, now just may be your time. A hunch, a credit card, and a step into the unknown. It just may change your practice forever!

Where will you be in 12 years?