What is Polychromatic Light Therapy?
What is Polychromatic Light Therapy?
Polychromatic light therapy (PLT) is a type of treatment that helps to relieve acute and chronic pain. This therapy promotes healing by increasing blood flow via the pulsed frequency of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Basically, PLT injects nitric oxide into the bloodstream, which in turn, increases blood circulation in the treated area. This helps to relieve pain and enhances the system’s healing process.
One of the main perks of polychromatic light therapy is that it’s an affordable, drug-free, convenient, and non-invasive treatment for pains, inflammation, minor injuries, and aches. It can also help relieve itchiness, normally caused by certain skin conditions or autoimmune diseases.
How Polychromatic Light Therapy Works
The process of polychromatic light therapy involves using LEDs that are safely applied in direct contact with body parts in need of relief. As a result, the light-emitting diodes deliver red, light, and infrared light therapies. When applied to the skin, the light stimulates a cellular-level body response, releasing beneficial nitric oxide. The released nitric oxide dilates blood vessels in areas of the body that require relief from pain.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a term researchers use to identify the biological effects of PLT. Photobiomodulation is an important concept that aids in a better understanding of how PLT works.
Essentially, a human cell has specialized light-sensitive acceptors. To function optimally, our cells require light, which implies that our bodies require light for optimal health. Pulsed light is interpreted by our systems as instructions to trigger the release of nitric oxide. The light also signals cells to release restorative and anti-inflammatory proteins. Polychromatic light therapy is therefore delivered to the body through pulsed frequencies, stimulating a self-healing process.
Benefits of Light Therapy
There are well over 6500 published research on Photobiomodulation therapy and evidence suggests that it provides therapeutic relief for individuals suffering from a wide array of conditions.
Research shows that the therapy increases blood circulation, lowers pain, and enhances cellular repair. It provides relief to the most common ailments humans and animals often encounter. It is very exciting that research is underway to evaluate the effectiveness of each color.
Red Light
PBM uses red light, as it’s the most commonly used color due to its unique characteristics. Red light is safe, drug-free, natural, and non-invasive. It controls pain and promotes natural healing.
Green Light
Green light brings grounding and balance. It helps with restlessness and anxiety since it calms the body and mind. There is still more research on the effectiveness of green light, and studies indicate that it’s the new Red.
Blue Light
Blue light is antibacterial and antifungal. It helps reduce inflammation, making it an effective treatment for individuals with acute injuries. Blue light is often referred to as “Ice in a Light.”
NIR Light
NIR light is different as it’s not visible to the eye. Unlike other lights, it has a deeper penetration wavelength, which speeds up the healing process and provides quick pain relief. NIR enhances protein synthesis, cellular metabolism, and antioxidant activity.
Here are the top reasons why polychromatic light therapy is good for your body:
Less Pain
Near-infrared light helps to provide quick pain relief. You’re more likely to experience long-term effects when the light’s anti-inflammatory effects kick in.
Decreased Inflammation
PBM reduces inflammation since it clears out pollution that results from interacting with the external environment and emotional and physical stressors.
More Energy
A clean cellular system means effective energy utilization in your cells. Your cells will work more effectively, utilizing oxygen to make fuel.
Better Blood Circulation
Increased blood flow in the body has many health benefits, especially for individuals with symptoms of impaired circulation or pain. Patients with the following conditions can benefit a lot from increased blood circulation:
● Joint pain
● Bone fractures
● Burns
● Bruises
● Tight muscles
● Mood disorders
● Peripheral neuropathy
● Skin conditions
● Inflammation and swelling
The impact of polychromatic light in increasing blood circulation helps to understand how this light can speed up the body’s healing processes, irrespective of the condition one experiences. With improved blood circulation, there are a myriad of other health benefits a patient gets.
Better Sleep
Patients who have undergone PLT have experienced an improvement in their sleeping patterns. Most report having longer periods of quality sleep and feeling less tired.
Faster Healing and Recovery
Increased blood circulation, reduced inflammation, and more energy create a conducive environment for cells to thrive. This means that cells repair and replicate faster, leading to faster healing and recovery. PLT unlocks the body’s ability to self-heal. For people who workout more often, this means less recovery time after hard training. It also speeds up recovery time after injury.
Decreased Stress
PLT sessions will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. If you haven’t felt good in a long time, PLT will give you a reason to smile.
Glowing Skin
While PLT guarantees that you’re healthy from the inside, visible results are evident from the outside. Patients with severe skin diseases, including severe dermatitis and eczema, have seen their skin tone and texture improve. Clients also report smoother skin after going for several PLT treatments.
Are there Any Side Effects?
There are no known side effects of polychromatic light therapy. Patients can opt for pain and inflammation treatment options from over-the-counter medications like naproxen, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. While you don’t need prescriptions for these medications, the major issue is that they have side effects. Worse, prolonged use can worsen their associated side effects. PLT has no known harmful side effects.
PLT is an effective treatment that will bring out the best version of you physically and mentally. Besides enhancing your cognition, it also helps to boost your physical performance while mitigating other symptoms of common diseases. Better overall health means that you can live longer.
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Resources:
9 clinical studies that demonstrate the anti-aging benefits of infrared light therapy. (no date) INB Medical- Discover the latest. Available at: https://www.inbmedical.com/9-clinical-studies-that-demonstrate-the-anti-aging-benefits-of-infrared-light-therapy (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Shiryan, G.T., Amin, F.S. and Embaby, E.A. (2022) Effectiveness of polarized polychromatic light therapy on myofascial trigger points in chronic non-specific low back pain: A single blinded randomized controlled trial – bulletin of faculty of physical therapy, SpringerOpen. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Available at: https://bfpt.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43161-022-00085-9 (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
The effect of light therapy on chronic pain – full text view (no date) Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03677206 (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
Willis, G.L., Boda, J. and Freelance, C.B. (2018) Polychromatic light exposure as a therapeutic in the treatment and management of parkinson’s disease: A controlled exploratory trial, Frontiers in neurology. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6156259/ (Accessed: December 19, 2022).
