This Year of the Metal Ox presents its challenges, as many acupuncturists have been forced to adjust their clinical practice regimes due to COVID-19-imposed restrictions. Telemedicine screening, elimination of the waiting room, and modified patient load with enhanced safety procedures significantly impacts the way we conduct business. Many practitioners struggle to uphold their patient-centered commitment and remain financially secure.
On the brighter side, the oxen's diligence, strength and determination continue to push forward as we seek creative ways to thrive. The demand for therapeutically effective, safe and efficient technologies with the potential to enhance patient results and boost your bottom line is on the rise. One such modality is LED (light-emitting diode) therapy, an evidence-based, hands-free and effective treatment option for many health-related concerns including pain management, tissue repair, anti-aging, skin problems, and more.
Definition and Benefits
LED light therapy is the application of specific wavelengths of light applied to tissue to obtain beneficial therapeutic results. Think of it as photosynthesis for humans. LED light sources emit photons. The absorption of these photons into extracellular membranes and intracellular mitochondria stimulates an elevation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), the principal molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells.
Increased levels of ATP create a cascade of metabolic, biochemical and cellular changes, resulting in decreased inflammation, accelerated cellular health and restored tissue repair. As a cosmetic facial acupuncturist, I frequently use LED in my clinical practice.
Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Applications
When applied to the face LED therapy has the potential to enhance skin cell microcirculation, improve lymphatic drainage, stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and delay the signs of aging. Additionally it is relaxing, rejuvenating and affordable for patients, with no post-treatment downtime.
LED Therapy & Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture
When incorporating LED into a cosmetic facial acupuncture treatment, use acupuncture points on the body to treat the underlying patterns of disharmony and local acupuncture face points to address facial symptoms. To enhance the effects of the acupuncture treatment, place a large panel-style LED light device over the patient's face. For proper placement and settings, follow the product manufacturer instructions. An average LED treatment cycle is 20-30 minutes. Below are typical protocols for treating facial wrinkles and acne with acupuncture and LED.
Wrinkles Protocol
Frequency: For best results, perform treatment 1-2 times per week for 5-10 weeks.
Acne Protocol
Frequency: For best results, perform treatment two times per week for 5-10 weeks.
Enhance Your Bottom Line
LED light therapy is a safe and effective way to maintain a patient-centered practice and increase your revenue. Whether adding LED treatment to existing services or creating signature services, it is possible to add an additional $1-$3 per minute to your bottom line. A quick PubMed search of low-level light therapy demonstrates the proven efficacy of LED treatments. LED devices vary in quality, efficiency and price. For more information, contact Shellie Goldstein at info@hamptonsacupuncture.com.
Resources
Chronic pain afflicts over 20% of the adult population. Sadly, most MDs have essentially no education in treating pain, beyond offering a few toxic medications. Then they tend to steer people with pain away from those health practitioners who are trained. This puts the acupuncture community on the front lines for addressing this epidemic.
When the body is going through a stressful event, the sympathetic system is activated. This activation will help the body with a life-threatening situation. If this state is activated for prolonged periods of time, it starts to consume energy. These traumatic events that generate stressors in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) will eventually become internalized.
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One of the things that makes acupuncture so difficult to measure is that the medicine actually does contain some esoteric aspects. There have been numerous studies that demonstrate the neurochemical reasoning behind why acupuncture points stimulate the autonomic nervous system to enact change However, not all the benefits of TCM can easily be measured by randomized, controlled trials. But does that make them fundamentally and definitively untrue?
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