Questioning the Value of Laser Therapy Article

I'm not surprised that Irene Terry was cautious about applying this technique that falls in the same category as homeopathy, chiropractic, Orgone therapy, and other so-called “alternative” therapies that have failed the test of good scientific research. Her claims of universal success are absurd. How did she control for possible explanations other than that her cherished technique was producing outcomes? How severe were the problems she was treating? How long did she follow her clients? Did she do any other treatments besides laser therapy, and if so, how does she rule out the possibility that it was those treatments rather than laser therapy that produced the outcomes she claims? In what journals has she published her results? Has she even submitted her results to peer review in a reputable journal or publication?

In this age of increasing emphasis on bringing counselors and other addiction professionals up to speed on evidence-based (meaning research-supported) practices, why does Addiction Professional waste space on this nonsense?

Show me how you can heal a person with addictions and I'll show you I can, as there are many cases where we have had tremendous, positive effects. It's a shame that the United States is so far behind in laser technology. It has been used for years in other parts of the world. We do not use other drugs to mask the existing drug or alcohol problem; just light to bring balance back to the body. This “bunk” is nothing more than the conversion of light into another form of energy.

The book Therapeutic Lasers: Theory and Practice, co-authored by G. David Baxter, reviews research findings and presents principles of good practice. What is most interesting is that professionals do care and have an interest in this “bunk.”