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Photobiomodulation

Light is essential to life.

Since ancient times the healing power of light has been utilized, from sun gazing to sun worship to sunlight therapy. For almost as long, color has been combined with light, to enhance its healing effects, such as the Romans using colored cloth over sunlit windows in color therapy rooms. A modern example is Colorpuncture that combines the healing art of acupuncture with different colored lenses applied to acupuncture points.

Light induces critical photochemical reactions in the body that have important repercussions for our overall health. Unfortunately our modern indoor lifestyle has limited our exposure to natural sunlight and its many health benefits, requiring us to develop new ways to deliver light to our light starved bodies, and stimulate these important photochemical sensitive complex pathways.

Photobiomodulation, or PBM Therapy (PBMT), is the umbrella term for many of these current light technologies and their therapeutic application. It includes lasers and LED’s in the visible and near infrared spectrum.

PBMT produces a physiological change in diseased and damaged tissues. This includes accelerating wound healing and tissue regeneration, increasing cellular energy, increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, reducing pain, and helping to restore normal cellular function. Recent research has shown it can enhance performance also. At the Nike Oregon Project, photobiomodulation is considered an important component in athletic performance and recovery and is an integral part of their program.

The potential applications for PBMT keep growing, for example, an encouraging new therapy for Alzheimer’s is pulsed red light at 40Hz to the brain, helping diminish amyloid plaque development while improving cognitive function. Interestingly vibroacoustic sound at 40Hz has a similar effect in Alzheimer’s. In Frequency Specific Microcurrent 40Hz is used to reduce inflammation.

Many brain issues, aside from Alzheimer’s, are benefiting from red and near infrared (NIR) light, such as Parkinson’s, migraines, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, Autism, ADD/ADHD and strokes.

PBMT is not limited to only helping brain issues. It is popular for soft tissue injuries, joint conditions, neuropathic pain, non-healing wounds and ulcers. The list is long. Like all therapies it has a cumulative benefit.

No negative side effects have been reported for photobiomodulation. Of course there are precautions such as not shining a laser in the eye. Negative studies with photobiomodulation were primarily related to using the incorrect device or the incorrect dosage for the application.

At Holistic High Performance Labs photobiomodulation is a core element in our WellFit Programs.