Use of Lasers for Medicinal Purposes

Most recent answer: 04/11/2012

Q:
Can you please tell me if it is possible to damage human tissue (cells) if using a 50mW green or red laser light for any length of time. Suggested use is 20 seconds, but if used for more time then that can this cause damage? Here is an example of this type of laser: http://www.zeropointhealthstore.com/zero-point-green-laser-pointer Thanks for your kind response! Jody
- Jody (age 61)
Israel
A:
Dear Jody,
As a card carrying skeptical physicist I am suspicious about using lasers for the cure of anything like the advertisements claim.  There is a lot of money out there for unscrupulous people to harvest, and they do.   The ads show plenty of glowing testimonials but few actual facts in medical journals. I advise you to check for yourself by typing laser medicinal scams into your favorite search engine and browse around.
Nevertheless, scam or not, one should be careful with a 50 mW laser.  Although it would cause only minor heating when applied to the skin, it can do serious damage to an eye if inadvertently directed there.

LeeH

p.s. I might add that not only is that website filled with obvious nonsense but also that their price for what seems to be a perfectly ordinary green laser has been marked up a great deal./ Mike W.

(published on 04/11/2012)