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The title of this post is taken from "The Brain's Way of Healing" by Norman Doidge, M.D.
I was first introduced to cold laser, aka low level laser, as a healing therapy back in the early 2000's. I bought myself a very basic model and, more or less, played around with it. It wasn't covered by insurance and I really didn't believe patients would be willing to pay for it. I used it on some injuries, some fractures, carpal tunnel, my dog's torn knee....
Fast forward to 2017. I attended a seminar on brain healing from Dr. Dan Murphy. I have followed Dr. Murphy for a number of years. He has always blown me away with the sheer quantity of research and reading that he can recall. I have attended other seminars he has done on nutrition and had writer's cramp within 5 minutes! I chose this seminar for a particular reason. My sister suffered multiple strokes while on life support nearly 5 years ago. I wanted to know how to help her and others like her. Long story short, Dr. Murphy recommended Dr. Doidge's book.
In this book, Doidge addresses that many techniques being used in the frontiers of neuroplasticity. He states "many brain problems thought to be incurable or irreversible can be improved" (xiii). The brain is neuroplastic meaning it can "change its own structure and functioning in response to activity and mental experience" (xiii). This book was mesmerizing. Then, I got to page 150 where I encountered a section titled "Proof Lasers Heal the Brain". He discusses Dr. Fred Kahn, a general and vascular surgeon who had "helped people who had brain and other nerve-related problems such as headaches from concussions, vascular dementia, migraines, Bell's palsy and tinnitus.
The more I delved into this book and a few others recommended by Dr. Murphy and listened to his discussion on brain healing, the more I realized the magnitude of patients that could be helped by this technology.
Brain inflammation is at the root of so many problems, including memory, headaches, concussion syndrome, depression/anxiety, autism, seizures. I knew that this was a technology that I must have available to my patients. I knew that I had vastly underutilized laser in my practice.
Here are some links to various articles:
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