Studies

Pulsed Transcranial Red/Near-Infrared Light Therapy Using Light-Emitting Diodes Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Function in Veterans with Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Series S. Gregory Hipskind, Fred L. Grover Jr., T. Richard Fort, Dennis Helffenstein, Thomas J. Burke, Shane A. Quint, Garrett Bussiere, Michael Stone, Timothy Hurtado Introduction The incidence of traumatic brain…

Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders Michael R.Hamblin 1. Introduction Photobiomodulation (PBM) as it is known today (the beneficial health benefits of light therapy had been known for some time before), was accidently discovered in 1967, when Endre Mester from Hungary attempted to repeat an experiment recently published by McGuff in Boston, USA [1]. McGuff had…

Role of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Neurorehabilitation Javad T. Hashmi, MD, Ying-Ying Huang, MD, Bushra Z. Osmani, MD, Sulbha K. Sharma, PhD, Margaret A. Naeser, PhD, LAc, and Michael R. Hamblin, PhD INTRODUCTION It was not long after the discovery of the first lasers (the ruby laser in 1960 and the helium-neon [HeNe] laser in 1961) that they began to…

Photobiomodulation Directly Benefits Primary Neurons Functionally Inactivated by Toxins ROLE OF CYTOCHROME c OXIDASE* Margaret T. T. Wong-Riley‡§, Huan Ling Liang‡, Janis T. Eells¶, Britton Chance∥, Michele M. Henry**, Ellen Buchmann‡‡, Mary Kane‡‡ and Harry T. Whelan‡‡ Near infrared (NIR)1 light has been used in therapeutic devices for the treatment of a variety of injuries, especially infected, ischemic, and…

Review of transcranial photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder: targeting brain metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurogenesis Paolo Cassano,a,b,* Samuel R. Petrie,a Michael R. Hamblin,c,d,e Theodore A. Henderson,f,g and Dan V. Iosifescuh,i 1. Introduction Infrared (IR) light is ubiquitously present to most life on the earth. Of the total amount of solar energy reaching the human skin, 54% is IR and 30%…

Traumatic brain injury, neuroimaging, and neurodegeneration Erin D. Bigler1,2,3,4,* Neuronal damage from traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces pathophysiological as well as anatomical changes (Blennow et al., 2012) that may set the stage that eventually leads to dementia (Shively et al., 2012). It is well-established and long-known that the damage from a TBI may be severe enough that…

Improved Cognitive Function After Transcranial, Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Reports Margaret A. Naeser, Ph.D., L.Ac.,1,,2 Anita Saltmarche, R.N., MHSc,3 Maxine H. Krengel, Ph.D.,1,,2Michael R. Hamblin, Ph.D.,4,,5,,6 and Jeffrey A. Knight, Ph.D.1,,2,,7 Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant socio-economic burden;1 1.4 million individuals are affected by TBI annually in the U.S.2 Closed-head, mild TBI does…

Photobiomodulation: The Role of Light in Preventing and Potentially Halting Alzheimer’s Disease By Dr. Mercola Alzheimer’s disease currently affects an estimated 5.4 million Americans.1 Projections suggest it will affect 1 in 4 Americans in the next 20 years, rivaling the current prevalence of obesity and diabetesand, by 2050, Alzheimer’s diagnoses are projected to triple.2,3 Already, more than half a…

How Red and Near Infrared Light Stimulates Cellular Respiration and Boosts Energy Production Natural light powers almost all life on earth, and humans are no exception. We’re powerful animals with billions of cells, and each one of them needs energy to do their job. We create that energy every second in a process called cellular…

The Promising Evidence of Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy for Increasing Testosterone in Men What qualities make a man, a man? That’s no simple question. But from a purely biological perspective, there’s an easy answer: testosterone. Men generally produce far more testosterone than women, and it’s responsible for many of the qualities people consider…

Light Therapy Shows Promise for Boosting Sex Drive, Performance, & Treating Male Infertility We’ve written about light therapy and boosting testosterone. This article goes further and breaks down recent research on light therapy and male sexual performance & infertility. The early results are extremely encouraging and show light therapy’s potential to be an effective natural treatment…

How Red Light Helps You Sleep Better You probably have co-workers who joke about how much coffee they need every morning. But by mid-afternoon, they fade and have to fight the urge to fall asleep at their desk. And then later that night, when they can finally get some rest, they lie wide awake. Sound…

Health Benefits of LED Light Therapy Three medical doctors comment on light as therapy: “…I can safely say that in the more than 30 years I’ve been a medical-care provider, no technology has had a more profound effect on my practice—and on the lives of my patients.”1 – Dr. Len Saputo, MD “The use of…

Treating Inflammation and Pain with Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy Millions of Americans experience pain and reduced physical function from inflammation, especially chronic inflammation. This article gives an overview of inflammation: types, causes, symptoms, and treatments. Then we examine clinical research and the potential for treating chronic inflammation with red light therapy, a natural solution…

Red and Near Infrared Light Proven to Reduce Joint Pain and Alleviate Arthritis Arthritis and related joint problems affect over 50 million American adults. The resulting pain has long been the nation’s #1 cause for disability, and is typically managed with medication and surgery. [1] This article examines the large base of clinical research on…

Improve the Health of Your Skin with Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy The ever-increasing demand for better-looking skin is at an all-time high.  In fact, the number of spa visits per year across the globe has surpassed the 200 million mark.  And it’s estimated the “beauty and anti-aging” market is worth nearly 100 billion…

Enhance the Health of Your Thyroid Gland with Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy The thyroid is a tiny endocrine gland in your neck with a huge job: secreting the hormones responsible for metabolism and protein synthesis. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that roughly 20-27 million Americans—5% to 8% of the population—suffer from some type of thyroid…

The effectiveness and safety of topical PhotoActif phosphatidylcholine-based anti-cellulite gel and LED (red and near-infrared) light on Grade II-III thigh cellulite: a randomized, double-blinded study. Sasaki GH1, Oberg K, Tucker B, Gaston M. Author information Abstract BACKGROUND: Cellulite of the upper lateral and posterior thighs and lower buttocks represents a common, physiological and unwanted condition whose etiologies and…

Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy   Please click to view PDF

Local and Systemic Cardiovascular Effects from Monochromatic Infrared Therapy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study   Please click to view PDF

Short-Term Therapeutic Effects of 890-Nanometer Light Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study     Please click to view PDF

Immediate Effects of Monochromatic Infrared Energy on Microcirculation in Healthy Subjects     Please click to view PDF

Restless Legs Syndrome and Near-Infrared Light: An Alternative Treatment Option     Please click to view PDF

The Remarkable Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss and Fat Reduction Losing weight and fat is one of the most common health goals, both for medical and cosmetic reasons. Few of us would turn down losing a few pounds or cutting back on some fat here or there. This article gives an overview…

Psoriasis and LED Light      

Significant Improvements in Cognitive Performance Post-Transcranial, Red/Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Open-Protocol Study Margaret A. Naeser,1,,2 Ross Zafonte,3,,4 Maxine H. Krengel,1,,2 Paula I. Martin,1,,2 Judith Frazier,3Michael R. Hamblin,5 Jeffrey A. Knight,6 William P. Meehan, III,7 and Errol H. Baker1 Abstract This pilot, open-protocol study examined whether scalp application of red and near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes (LED) could improve…

The role of the nitric oxide pathway in brain injury and its treatment — From bench to bedside P.S.GarryaM.EzraaM.J.RowlandaJ.WestbrookbK.T.S.Pattinsona Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signalling molecule in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. This review summarises current evidence regarding the role of NO in the regulation of cerebral blood flow at rest, under physiological conditions, and after…