But two heavy smokers say this simple treatment has allowed them to kick the habit for good.

For both their smoking addiction had hit an all-time low - Paul Oram was smoking up to 80 cigarettes a day and his ex-wife Kim Seal suffered two heart attacks at the age of 39.

But a revolutionary therapy, which shines a laser pen on acupuncture points on the face and hands, has worked wonders for the pair.

The only snag was Mr Oram had to go all the way to Peru to find out about it.

Some experts say the treatment, which Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor has used, recreates the 'high' a smoker gets every time they puff.

Many claim the laser promotes the body to produce 'feel-good' chemicals called endorphins - a happy feeling that lasts for days and prevents smokers getting the urge to light up.

Mr Oram, 50, a carpenter, was introduced to the treatment after meeting his now wife Marianela over the internet and flying to Peru to meet her in December 2007.

She urged him to quit and recommended the laser treatment.

'I thought "what does she know", she's never smoked,' said Mr Oram, of Linden Way, Havant. 'She took me down there and they zapped me.

'I thought I was being robbed at the end of a laser pen.'

Mr Oram paid £350 for five treatments and says he never lusted for one cigarette.

'It gives you a lovely well-being feeling,' he said. 'You have your fix - only it lasts for days on end.'

So impressed by the treatment, Mr Oram has bought a laser machine for £5,000 and has now tried it on friends, including Mrs Seal.

The accountant, who smoked 20 cigarettes a day, collapsed at work two years ago from a heart attack and then had another cardiac arrest in hospital.

The 41-year-old mum-of-two, of Finchdean Road, Leigh Park, who says she has only smoked two cigarettes in the past five weeks, said: 'I think it's brilliant. I have tried everything, patches, gum and nothing worked.

'You think "yeah, yeah, yeah", but I felt great.

There were no jitters or sweaty palms.'

The treatment is still relatively new in this country and Mr Oram is hoping to help others with the laser machine.

He added: 'I believe in it. I have tried it on 15 people here and they don't smoke now.'

BASED ON ACUPUNCTURE

Low-level laser therapy is done using the same principle as the old Chinese medicinal treatment called acupuncture.

But instead of needles, laser beams are utilised on points of the body such as hands, ear and face to get rid of nicotine cravings.

Nicotine produces more endorphins and every time you smoke the endorphin levels also increase. So smokers notice a calming effect as well as alertness. But after a half hour, endorphin levels will go back to a normal state. Thus your body would then again crave for nicotine just to feel relaxed and calm.

Some claim the laser therapy produces the endorphins and therefore minimises these cravings.

There are a limited number of clinics offering the treatment in Britain, although it is becoming more popular.

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