Light Therapy: Laser and Infrared Light for Pain Relief and Natural Healing
Jan 01, 2023 12:00AM ● By Trish Beckman
Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is a big fancy word that, simply put, uses light to heal. Light therapy directs very specific parameters of light to tissues that are sick, injured or degenerating. This results in reduced pain and an accelerated rate and quality of tissue repair. Properly administered, it is non-invasive, non-toxic and has no negative side effects.
Two main methods of light therapy are:
Two main methods of light therapy are:
- Laser therapy for targeted treatment
- Light bed or infrared sauna for full-body delivery and health maintenance
Benefits of Light Therapy
Unlike injections and prescriptions which often simply mask the symptoms and do little to treat the injury, PBMT delivers light energy
to damaged cells and reduces oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the production of more free radical molecules than the body can naturally neutralize with rest and antioxidants from our diet. Free radicals trigger inflammation, cell death and the expression of genes responsible for:
- cancer
- cardiovascular diseases
- Alzheimer’s
- neurological disorders
- osteoarthritis
- pulmonary diseases and more
- diabetes
The effects of light therapy help to transform sick or injured cells in the body back to a stable, healthy state. This results in:
- reduced inflammation
- increased blood flow and circulation
- increased cellular energy production
- cellular regeneration
- reduced pain
A randomized control trial published in Lasers Surg Med in 2016 studied low back pain. They found that laser therapy caused both an immediate decrease in low back pain as well as long-term benefits for chronic pain that was akin to pain reduction from lidocaine injection, yet the laser requires no medication and is completely non-invasive.
Laser therapy and infrared light therapy appear to be two very promising modalities to help the body heal naturally and stay healthy.
Trish Beckman, RN, is the founder of the Guild of Modern Wellness, a wellness center at 21415 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin. For more information, call 262-391-3876, email [email protected] or visit GuildOfWellness.com.
