Are you curious about Photobiomodulation?
This form of treatment has been around for over a century, first used when doctors used light therapy on tuberculosis patients. Today, Photobiomodulation treats many conditions because it does not cause unwanted side effects or react with other medications. Find out the benefits of photobiomodulation in this guide.
What is Photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation is a technique that involves the use of low-intensity light to improve cellular function. It is a non-invasive treatment shown to have numerous benefits for the body.
The most prevalent type of photobiomodulation is LED therapy, which uses specific wavelengths of light to activate cells to improve their function. LED therapy applies to various conditions, including chronic pain, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, and more. It is also helpful as an adjunctive therapy for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Benefits of Photobiomodulation
Many people are turning to photobiomodulation because it has many benefits that other forms of treatment don’t. Below you will find a list of photobiomodulation benefits:
Sweating and Detoxification
Sweating is the body’s way of getting rid of toxins. When exposed to light, the sweat glands produce more sweat, which helps flush out toxins. It can also help regulate your temperature by releasing heat from your body when it’s too hot.
According to Frontiers in Oncology, photobiomodulation therapy increases sweating by 10%. This is a massive benefit for people who have trouble with detoxification and can’t sweat easily.
Healthier Skin
This non-invasive therapy is excellent for skin-related problems. It uses light to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. The treatment stimulates cells in the tissue to produce more energy and healthy skin cells. First and foremost, identify the problem that needs treatment by choosing the appropriate wavelength of light.
PBM therapy can help with various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, vitiligo, hair loss, and many other problems caused by lack of blood circulation in the tissue. If you have a pacemaker fitted in your body or are pregnant, do not undergo this treatment, as it can affect your functioning.
Reduces Inflammation
Medical professionals have used photobiomodulation therapy for many years to treat chronic inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. It works so well because it stimulates cells in the body called macrophages, which are responsible for initiating an inflammatory response.
When photobiomodulation therapy stimulates cells, they become less reactive and can start fighting off the inflammation instead of causing more inflammation.
The process of photobiomodulation involves shining light on the affected area to stimulate cellular repair and tissue regeneration. The light penetrates the skin, stimulating cells in the body to produce more energy. This energy helps reduce inflammation and pain by increasing blood flow to the area.
Healthier Brain
A new study found that photobiomodulation (PBM) can heal the brain and reduce inflammation. A team of researchers conducted this study at the University of California, Irvine. The team used a PBM device to stimulate the brains of rats. They found that this treatment could reduce brain inflammation- associated with certain neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Increased ATP Production
Shining light on the body at a specific wavelength and intensity can help increase ATP production. Photobiomodulation stimulates the cells in charge of producing ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). This is the energy molecule used by all cells in our body for their metabolic activities. This will result in increased cellular metabolism, which helps restore the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in our bodies.
Improves Athlete Performance
With photobiomodulation, athletes can improve their performance by using light therapy to help with fatigue and muscle recovery. In addition, photobiomodulation can help athletes recover from injuries faster.
Furthermore, people who use photobiomodulation report increased mental clarity and focus while decreasing anxiety which helps them perform better in the workplace.
Faster Healing
The most common form of photobiomodulation is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). LLLT uses lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to stimulate cells in the body. The stimulation can help wounds heal faster by increasing blood flow and cell growth. In some cases, LLLT acts as a pain relief treatment for chronic pain sufferers.
Better Mood and Sleep
The benefits of photobiomodulation are endless. One of the best benefits is the improvement of mood and sleep. The blue light emitted from our screens can disrupt our circadian rhythms and make it difficult to fall asleep at night. A study has shown that photobiomodulation therapy can improve mood and sleep, which will, in turn, improve your overall health. It helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep patterns.
Improved Circulation
The most common type of treatment is low-level laser therapy, which uses specific wavelengths of light to increase cellular activity. The improved circulation results from increased oxygen and nutrients to the cells. This results in better blood flow, which leads to better skin health and an improvement in mood. Photobiomodulation also has a positive impact on sleep.
Weight Management
Photobiomodulation proves to be more effective than drugs for weight management. The weight management benefits of photobiomodulation are due to photo therapy’s effect on the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that regulates appetite and fat storage.
You can use it with diet and exercise to help people lose weight. The frequency of treatments can vary from person to person, but typically it takes about 20 sessions for patients to see significant results.
Photobiomodulation is becoming increasingly popular because it has no side effects and is not invasive like surgery or chemotherapy. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves use in humans and is used in many countries worldwide. From the benefits mentioned above, you can only expect positive results from photobiomodulation.
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Resources
A brief report on the history of Phototherapy | Request PDF – Researchgate (no date). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303438357_A_brief_report_on_the_history_of_phototherapy (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Infl22 Visum Light Support Strategies Chart (no date). Available at: https://visumlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Relieve-Chronic-Inflammation-with-LED-Light-Therapy-ws.pdf (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Robijns, J. et al. (2022) Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: Walt Position Paper 2022, Frontiers. Frontiers. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.927685/full (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Unlock the key to life without pain in your fascia (no date). Available at: https://visumlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Unlock-the-Key-to-Life-Without-Pain-in-Your-Fascia-ws.pdf (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Vibrational healing with LED light therapy (no date). Available at: https://visumlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Vibrational-Healing-with-LED-Light-Therapy-eGuide-FINAL-ws.pdf (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Visum Light Healing Habits eguide (no date). Available at: https://visumlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Visum-Light-Healing-Habits-eGuide-ws-.pdf (Accessed: December 19, 2022).