Want to lose weight, stop smoking?

Cathy Miller demonstrates how to use a laser machine on her husband, Gary, at their Princeton home. The machine emits low levels of lasers on 50 points around the body to help people lose weight or cut their addiction to nicotine. The couple’s company, In Control Laser LLC of Princeton, is investigating the affects of low level laser acupuncture on weight loss and food addiction as well as smoking addictions and the effects of withdrawal. The method has been used in Canada and Europe for 20 to 30 years. (BCR photo/Lyle Ganther)

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PRINCETON — A husband and wife team from Princeton are trying to help others lose weight or stop smoking through the user of lasers.

Gary and Cathy Miller recently started a company called In Control Laser LLC of Princeton to conduct a research study investigating the effects of low level laser acupuncture on weight loss and food addiction or smoking addiction and withdrawal.

“Cathy was a smoker for 25 years and needed to quit smoking,” her husband said. “We were told about this method by Laura Root and found a company on the Internet in Chicago called Achieve Laser.”

Gary used the same laser method to lose 28 pounds of weight the last nine months. He also had to change his diet and exercise to achieve this weight loss.

“It suppresses your appetite and raises your metabolism,” he said.

Since this method was successful for Cathy and Gary, the Millers started researching the company before starting clinical research trials using a low level laser to stimulate energy points, which may suppress appetite and boost metabolism for those wanting to lose weight, or cause the smoker’s body to produce endorphins to not only ease withdrawal symptoms normally associated with nicotine addiction but also to increase the endorphin production.

“It is not a surgical laser,” he said. “The machine emits infrared light and is used similar to acupuncture but with no pain or needles.”

This method of using laser to treat smoking addiction or losing weight has been used in Canada and Europe for 20 to 30 years but hasn’t been approved by the FDA. It is only available in the United States through investigative studies.

There will be costs for persons to participate in the Millers’ study. Generally, they schedule up to three sessions for people wanting to quit smoking, while participants may need up to eight sessions for those wanting to lose weight.

“After we treat clients, we will report our findings to an institutional review board, who will in turn report the information to the FDA,” he said. “We feel this method is pretty close to FDA approval. There are good success rates.”

People interested in more information about In Control Laser LLC can call the Millers at (815) 872-7848. Their office is located at 400 N. Main St., Suite 15, in Princeton.

“Our mission is to help each person reach their individual goals while encouraging them along the way,” he said.

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