How the Gut & Brain are Connected

As research continues to uncover the remarkable connection between the gut and the brain, photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as light therapy, continues to prove its efficacy as one of the most promising treatments for gut-brain related conditions — including anxiety.

It has become abundantly clear that the brain holds tremendous sway over the gastrointestinal (GI) system and vice versa. Common disorders like anxiety and depression can cause stomach issues, and chronic GI conditions can have a profound effect on the mind, leading quite easily to anxiety and/or depression.

The myriad of medications available — the side effects of which often compound already perplexing conditions —for all of these issues have wildly varying results, sometimes leading to frustrating treatments with no clear solutions. And the gut-brain connection begs the question: should these medication options even be considered without knowing the precise cause of the issue?

Treating anxiety brought on by a GI condition with anxiolytics may help resolve the symptoms, but it does nothing for the cause. Likewise, treating anxiety-induced peptic ulcer disease with PPIs helps with the ulcer, but what of the underlying anxiety?

Thus far, the answer has been as it’s always been — more medications. At best, the result is a roller coaster of medications over months or even years until a solution is found. At worst, the patient is put through the misery of trial and error with no satisfying treatment, with no recourse other than to continue with more trial and likely more error. Combined with the sometimes drastic side effects of all this experimentation, we’re left with a suffering patient whose quality of life has only deteriorated for all the time, effort and resources dedicated to their care.

In light of all this, it’s no wonder light therapy is making such huge waves.

Light Therapy and the Gut-Brain Connection

The more we learn about the potential of LED light therapy, the more glimpses we get at its remarkable effectiveness and versatility. The sheer scope of its study is mind boggling — from pain management and wound healing to anti-aging and skin conditions to Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury. Every front shows promising results and resounding calls for further study. And most remarkable of all, the treatment is noninvasive and pain free, with virtually no side effects reported.

For instance, Ann Liebert, et al. recently coined the term “photobiomics,” (Liebert etal., 2019) pointing out the beneficial effects of red and near-infrared (NIR) light on the microbiomes of mice and humans, while exploring some mechanisms by which photobiomics might occur, providing exciting insight into light therapy’s efficacy and potential future. Already known as an effective treatment for tissue healing, pain reduction and inflammation reduction, it came as no surprise to many that red and NIR light can produce similar positive results in the microbiome.

Additionally, a 2019 pilot study (Maiello et al., 2019) testing the anxiolytic effect of NIR transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) found it to be a promising alternative treatment. Improved scores were recorded for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (SIGH-A), the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) subscale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). What’s more, the treatment was well received by subjects, with no serious events reported.

Studies like these make this a very exciting time for medical practitioners and patients alike. This research points to highly effective adjunctive treatments for a wide variety of gut-brain related conditions, if not an entirely new approach to fundamental treatment itself.

The Visum Light for Anxiety

As stated earlier, it’s light therapy’s versatility that makes it so remarkable — so too for the Visum Light, one of light therapy’s most comprehensive handheld light therapy devices.

Unlike most other devices, the Visum Light is equipped with a variety of light colors, allowing the user to choose wavelength combinations to treat a great number of conditions and ailments.

In addition to red and NIR, green light at approximately 535 nm has been reported by users to alleviate stress, anxiety, mood swings and sleeplessness, among other mental and emotional issues. And yellow light at approximately 580 nm has been reported to alleviate a range of digestive issues while aiding in vital organ function.

The Visum Light was designed to remain versatile — with the ability to set color combinations, Nogier Frequencies, duration, dosage and more, it can easily adapt to new research as it’s uncovered, making it an investment that will serve you for years to come. What’s more, its user-friendly interface, ergonomic design and convenient portability make it ideal for medical practitioners and at-home users alike.

And with a 45-day No-Worries Guarantee, you can purchase your new Visum Light risk free.

Interested in more research on light therapy? We have you covered with this exhaustive database compiled by Vladimir Heiskanen of Helsinki, Finland.

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References

Liebert, A., Bicknell, B., Johnstone, D. M., Gordon, L. C., Kiat, H., & Hamblin, M. R. (2019).“Photobiomics”: Can Light, Including      Photobiomodulation, Alter the Microbiome?Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery,37(11), 681–693.https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2019.4628

Maiello, M., Losiewicz, O. M., Bui, E., Spera, V., Hamblin, M. R., Marques, L., & Cassano, P.(2019). Transcranial Photobiomodulation with Near-Infrared Light for GeneralizedAnxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study.Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and LaserSurgery,37(10), 644–650.https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2019.4677