An effective smoking cessation treatment that has successfully helped people quit the need for a drag in Canada and Europe for the last 30 years is now available, through a clinical research trial, in Westchester.

Cold laser therapy for smoking cessation is presently available among an array of services offered at Spine Center, located at 281 White Plains Rd. in Eastchester. Chiropractor Dr. Marco Caruso and office manager Stacey DiLorenzo-Niciu, are both certified technicians, providing the treatment as a Food and Drug Administration research study to clients.

“The cold laser is applied directly to the surface of the skin and admits a cold laser beam onto meridian points-hands, arms and face-and to auricular points-on the ears,” said DiLorenzo-Niciu. “What those points are meant to do, as with traditional acupuncture, is to stimulate the release of endorphins, which is the body’s natural chemical to calm itself down.”

The therapy is non-evasive and painless. “There is no thermal effect from the laser,” she said, “It is a low intensity cold laser. Most people do feel a very slight warming or tingling sensation and that is the only discomfort.”

The therapy focuses on three issues-smoking addiction and the body’s craving for nicotine; diet to help control appetite to avoid excessive weight gain; and overall relief of stress to increase relaxation. There are no reported side effects from cold laser therapy.

Before starting the therapy, patients must undergo an evaluation that includes medical history. People who have active tumors, are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, or are epileptic, pregnant or have any blood clotting disorders cannot be considered for cold laser therapy. A lso people taking steroid injections or have photosensitivity are not candidates for this treatment option.

Smokers who have the willingness to quit require only a few therapy sessions according to DiLorenzo-Niciu. “The first time can be it,” she said, but advises clients to come back after two or three days from the initial one-hour visit if a refresher is needed. Follow-up sessions usually are 25 to 35 minutes long.

“Right away, patients tell me that they feel calmer and have more energy and their breathing ability increases,” said DiLorenzo-Niciu, due to the release of endorphins made in the pituitary gland, which help to ease withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and dizziness. She said the body immediately starts to eliminate on its own the nicotine that is stored in the lungs.

According to the American Cancer Society, body changes occur within minutes after a person stops smoking. In 20 minutes, pulse rate and blood pressure can drop to normal. After just 12 hours of not smoking, the chance of having a heart attack decreases due to improved cardiac function and circulation and after one year, the risk of heart disease decreases 90 percent, since the heart will have returnedto nearly normal condition.

Emphasizing some more reasons to quit smoking, DiLorenzo-Niciu added, “Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer in spouses and children. Asthma is on the raise due to cigarette smoke. Over 4.9 million people die each year with illnesses related to cigarettes.”

She said, “Look at the money that will be saved. People usually spend between two to three thousand dollars on cigarettes. In this economy, do you want to smoke that much money away?”

For more information on cold laser therapy for smoking cessation, call the Spine Center at (914) 961-7575.