Painless, drugless, non-invasive therapy comes to eastern Idaho

A “cool” new medical treatment is becoming more popular in Idaho Falls.

It’s called “cold laser therapy,” and it involves shining a light on a patient to relieve pain, or even heal injuries.

When you think “chiropractor,” painful back cracking and contraptions which sometimes resemble medeival torture devices often come to mind.

Dr. Jaman Brunson wants to change all that.

“It’s a red laser, but you can’t feel it,” Brunson explained of his new therapy. “It’s 100 percent safe and effective.”

Cold laser therapy, also called low level laser therapy, is all about stimulating the body’s cells through the power of light.

“It stimulates the cells to up-regulate, to produce what we call ATP,” Brunson explained. “That is the fuel that our bodies run on. So, that excess of ATP translates into faster healing times and decreased pain.”

The laser beams come out of the FDA-approved Erchonia PL 5000. Brunson one of few doctors in eastern Idaho to have one.

He’s already using it to treat a number of conditions, including back and neck pain, headaches, arthritis, carpal tunnel and scars.

Brunson said the treatment comes with no side effects.

Critics of cold laser therapy say there’s not enough evidence supporting the healing power of light.

“Why not try it?” asked Bryan Bjorgaard, who came into Brunson’s practice suffering from lower back pain.

“Feels a little warm,” Bjorgaard said during his treatment, which works over clothing.

After about three minutes, Bjorgaard was satisfied.

“It feels good, actually,” he said.

Brunson said while results appear after one treatment, it usually takes anywhere from four to 12 to get the full effect.

Pregnant women and people with pacemakers are not advised to use cold laser therapy.

More information on cold laser therapy is available at www.sermonchiro.com.