Wellness Center Combines Acupuncture, Red Light Therapy For Howard Co. Patients

MARRIOTTSVILLE, MD — From teenage athletes recovering after an injury to older adults dealing with chronic pain, a Howard County wellness center is offering residents an assortment of treatments that go beyond traditional options.

CALM Healing in Marriottsville combines acupuncture with red light therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and shockwave treatments. The business also offers specialized services for people dealing with arthritis, neuropathy and other conditions.

Owner Riz Lakhani, a licensed acupuncturist, originally opened Glenwood Acupuncture in April 2016 before moving his practice to Marriottsville in the fall of 2024.

“What began primarily as an acupuncture clinic gradually evolved as I learned about other therapies and technologies that complemented what I was already doing,” Lakhani told Patch.

The move also prompted him to reconsider the business's name.

“That's how CALM Healing was born. CALM stands for Center for Acupuncture, Laser and Magnetic Healing, which I thought captured both where we came from and where the practice was going,” Lakhani said.

An Unexpected Career Change

Lakhani didn't originally plan to become an acupuncturist.

His mother was an internal medicine physician and he grew up watching people in the community turn to her for help. Although he admired her work, he wasn't certain he wanted to follow the same path.

Instead, he was working for a telecommunications company in his late 20s when a walk near his office led him to the Tai Sophia Institute, a graduate school offering training in the healing arts.

“From the name, I honestly didn't even know what it was. I discovered that it was a graduate school where I could study healing arts, earn a master's degree and eventually become a licensed acupuncturist,” Lakhani said. “Something immediately clicked.”

He eventually opened his own acupuncture practice but began exploring other treatments after realizing that acupuncture alone couldn't address every patient's needs. Lakhani said he looked past that as a limitation, but rather an inspiration to discover what else was out there to help his patients.

“I became fascinated by technologies involving light, electromagnetic fields, sound and other applications of physics. Over time, those tools became part of the practice alongside acupuncture. That's really how we evolved from an acupuncture office into the wellness center we are today,” Lakhani told Patch.

Treatments For All Ages

Lakhani's clients include working adults, parents, athletes and older residents hoping to remain active.

“The largest group is probably adults in their 40s, 50s and beyond — people who are working, raising families, trying to stay active and starting to realize that the aches and pains they used to ignore aren't disappearing quite as quickly anymore,” Lakhani said.

The center also has a sports medicine component, with treatments aimed at addressing muscle function, movement problems and injuries.

“On any given day, I might be working with a teenage athlete in one room and someone in their 70s or 80s who simply wants to keep moving comfortably in another. I really enjoy that variety,” Lakhani told Patch.

What Is PEMF Therapy?

One of CALM Healing's most popular treatments is pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, commonly called PEMF. The technology uses magnetic fields that pass through the body and interact with tissues.

“Depending on the type and intensity of the system, the experience can range from something you barely perceive to very noticeable pulsing and muscle contractions,” Lakhani said.

He first learned about PEMF from a retired nurse who stopped at his booth during a health and wellness fair. After trying her equipment, Lakhani initially wasn't impressed. But he became interested in the research and spent about a year learning about the technology before purchasing a higher-intensity system. He said patients often find the experience relaxing.

“I jokingly call our PEMF system my 'Time Machine.' I'll put someone on it for 20 or 30 minutes, leave the room and when I come back they'll look at me confused and say, 'Why are you back already?' They think five minutes have passed, but I have a timer that says otherwise,” Lakhani said.

He also discovered that the technology is familiar to people involved with horses.

“PEMF has become surprisingly familiar in the equestrian world, so sometimes someone who works around horses immediately knows exactly what I'm talking about while everyone else is saying, 'PEM-what?'” Lakhani said.

Although certain electromagnetic-field devices have established medical applications, the evidence for broader PEMF wellness treatments varies depending on the condition and equipment.

Red Light Therapy, Acupuncture And More

Another popular service is red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation. The treatment uses red and near-infrared light. Researchers have studied its potential applications in skin health, certain types of pain and tissue recovery, although evidence varies by condition.

CALM Healing originally used a traditional red light panel before investing in a Dahlia full-body red light bed.

“We actually started with a traditional red-light panel. The problem was that treating the whole body was cumbersome — we'd treat one side and then have the patient turn over to treat the other,” Lakhani told Patch.

The full-body system allows patients to lie comfortably while surrounded by red and near-infrared light.

“The experience itself is incredibly relaxing. There's a gentle warmth, you're lying comfortably, and the session is only about 15 minutes. For some people, that alone becomes one of their favorite parts of coming here,” Lakhani said.

Still, acupuncture remains a central part of the practice. Lakhani uses several approaches, including orthopedic acupuncture techniques to assess and address muscle function and trigger points.

His training also includes oncology acupuncture, which may be used as supportive care for patients undergoing cancer treatment, and facial rejuvenation acupuncture.

“One of the things I wish more people understood is that 'acupuncture' isn't just one technique. It's more like a toolbox, and there are many different ways we can use that toolbox depending on the person sitting in front of us,” Lakhani told Patch.

The center also offers shockwave therapy using a StemWave device, which Lakhani introduced about two and a half years ago.

“We brought it into the practice about two and a half years ago because we were seeing so many people with arthritis and stubborn musculoskeletal problems. What attracted me to it was seeing that some patients could demonstrate noticeable changes in pain or function even during an initial visit,” Lakhani said.

He emphasized that improvement after a session doesn't necessarily mean an underlying condition has been resolved.

“That doesn't mean one treatment has 'fixed' the underlying problem — we generally build a treatment plan and work progressively — but being able to show someone a change can be incredibly encouraging,” Lakhani noted.

Other offerings include specialized vibration technologies and programs focused on neuropathy.

Focus On Preventive Care

Along with helping people address existing symptoms, Lakhani said he wants patients to consider how they can maintain their health before problems become more serious.

The center offers maintenance appointments and memberships for clients interested in ongoing care.

“I don't want to only see people when something hurts badly enough that they finally have to do something about it. Problems often develop gradually in the background. Once we've helped someone get through the problem that originally brought them in, I like helping them think about how they can stay well,” Lakhani said.

He also wants patients to feel comfortable asking questions and understanding the treatments being recommended. Treatments are available by appointment, and prospective clients can begin with a 15-minute Discovery Call.

“One thing I don't expect people to know is whether they need acupuncture, PEMF, red light therapy or shockwave. That's my job,” Lakhani said. “During the Discovery Call, we can talk about what's going on, what they've already tried, what their goals are and what questions they have. From there, we can determine whether CALM Healing seems like an appropriate fit and recommend what the first step should be."

For Lakhani, helping people better understand their health is as important as providing treatments.

“Questions are always welcome. Ultimately, I want people to feel like they're an active participant in their own care rather than someone we're simply doing treatments to,” Lakhani told Patch.

Moving To Marriottsville

When Lakhani decided to relocate, Marriottsville offered the combination of a quieter setting and a growing community, he said.

“It's right at that edge where Ellicott City and the Route 40 corridor start giving way to a quieter, less-developed part of Howard County. There are plenty of acupuncturists in Columbia and Ellicott City, but very few in Marriottsville, so I felt there was an opportunity to serve a community that didn't have as many options nearby,” Lakhani told Patch.

He also wanted to maintain some of the rural atmosphere that surrounded his previous Glenwood practice.

“For a place called CALM Healing, that balance feels pretty appropriate,” Lakhani said.