Deb Samuels struggled with debilitating migraines for decades — until she tapped into groundbreaking green-light therapy and got fast, drug-free relief that changed everything!
There’s so much I’m missing, Deb thought sadly, pulling a blanket over her head as she sat alone in a darkened room, nursing another horrific migraine. Downstairs, she could hear the chatter and laughter of her four grown children, her grandchildren, and even her 94-year-old mother, who had all come over for Mother’s Day. Deb had been missing out on fun since she’d first begun battling chronic migraines at age 13.
Each time one hit, Deb’s head throbbed, her brain grew foggy, and her muscles tensed to the point where it was hard to move or speak. There were many days where she couldn’t even get out of bed.
The Natick, Massachusetts, 65-year-old had seen numerous doctors over the years, trying several prescription medications — some that caused allergic reactions and others that risked liver damage. She also avoided food triggers, like caffeine and tried to get enough sleep. She had even tried medical Botox. But her migraines persisted, worsening with time until she was getting sidelined by one almost daily. Deep down, she feared, I’ll never be able to live a normal life.
Then last year, while visiting a relative at the hospital, Deb ran into a researcher she’d known for years, who was aware of her migraines. “I think I have something that could help you,” he said, sharing that he was working with a neurologist using Harvard-developed light therapy — specifically a narrow wavelength of green light — that had proven to reduce migraines by 60 percent. He explained that exposure to most light colors was known to intensify pain signals in the brain by up to 25 percent. However, a gentle band of green light reduces the electrical signals in the brain, creating a calming feeling similar to walking in a lush, green forest.
Intrigued and hopeful, sitting down in the green glow, Deb wondered skeptically, Is this really going to work? But in just 10 minutes, she felt her anxiety dissolve and, after 20 minutes, her migraine pain completely dissipated!
The light also helped her with mental focus — a struggle that Deb had always had as an adult ADHD sufferer. Feeling like she’d found a miraculous cure, Deb made a point to sit by the light for at least 30 minutes every day. To her amazement, she developed fewer headaches, and when one came on, she was able to calm it in a few minutes.
“After a year, I still can’t believe what this lamp has done for me”, says Deb. “Now, I join my mother for dinner every night and video chat with my grandkids. My husband says I laugh more too. When all else failed, this little green light gave me my life and freedom back!”
This article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
“Migraine is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, and it’s debilitating,” said Dr. Ibrahim
The noninvasive nature of green light exposure makes it an ideal therapeutic candidate for other neurological conditions, such as fibromyalgia or HIV-related pain. Dr. Ibrahim and his team recently completed another clinical study in which people with fibromyalgia tried green light therapy. Like the migraine study, those results are similarly encouraging.
Pharmacological management of migraines can be ineffective for some patients. Studies previously demonstrated that exposure to green light resulted in antinociception and reversal of thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in rodent pain models. Given green light-emitting diodes' safety, they evaluated green light as a potential therapy in patients with episodic or chronic migraines.
For the study, they recruited (29 total) patients, of whom seven had episodic migraines, and 22 had chronic migraines. They used a one-way cross-over design consisting of exposure for 1–2 hours daily to the white light-emitting diodes for 10 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period followed by exposure for 1–2 hours daily green light-emitting diodes for 10 weeks. Patients were allowed to continue current therapies and to initiate new treatments as directed by their physicians. Outcomes consisted of patient-reported surveys. The primary outcome measure was the number of headache days per month. Secondary outcome measures included patient-reported changes in the headaches' intensity and frequency over a two-week period and other quality of life measures, including the ability to fall and stay asleep and ability to perform work. Changes in pain medications were obtained to assess potential reduction.
When seven episodic migraine and 22 chronic migraine patients were analyzed as separate cohorts, white light-emitting diodes produced no significant change in headache days in either episodic migraine or chronic migraine patients. Combining data from the episodic migraine and chronic migraine groups showed that white light-emitting diodes produced a small but statistically significant reduction in headache days (days ± SEM) 18.2 ± 1.8 to 16.5 ± 2.01 days. Green light-emitting diodes resulted in a significant decrease in headache days from 7.9 ± 1.6 to 2.4 ± 1.1 and 22.3 ± 1.2 to 9.4 ± 1.6 in episodic migraine and chronic migraine patients, respectively. While some improvement in secondary outcomes was observed with white light-emitting diodes, more secondary outcomes with significantly greater magnitude, including assessments of the quality of life, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Headache Impact Test-6, and Five-level version of the EuroQol five-dimensional survey without reported side effects, were observed with green light-emitting diodes. Conclusions regarding pain medications reduction with green light-emitting diode exposure were not possible. No side effects of light therapy were reported. None of the patients in the study reported initiation of new therapies.
Green light-emitting diodes significantly reduced the number of headache days in people with episodic migraines or chronic migraines. Additionally, the green light-emitting diodes significantly improved multiple secondary outcome measures, including quality of life, intensity, and headache attack duration. As no adverse events were reported, the green light-emitting diodes may provide a treatment option for those patients who prefer non-pharmacological therapies or may be considered in complementing other treatment strategies. The limitations of this study are the small number of patients evaluated. The positive data obtained support the implementation of larger clinical trials to determine the possible effects of green light-emitting diode therapy.
This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov under NCT03677206.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0333102420956711
Anyone who’s had a migraine knows how debilitating can be - even more so if that person is a chronic migraine sufferer. At its worst, migraines can be all-consuming: you can't open your eyes from the pain, perhaps even suffering from nausea and vomiting.
Migraines are even more common than you think. They’re a more powerful headache, which usually affects one side of the head. Sometimes they come with warnings, but most times you’ll just get them suddenly, which is probably the most inconvenient part. Migraines can be difficult and painful. You could be having a regular day with no problems, and suddenly you'll get a jolt of pain to your head that feels inescapable.
Dealing with a migraine is often a serious challenge; you can’t just go lie down and take 30-minutes to rest up. It takes hours, even days for a migraine to end. And if you’re working, unable to take multiple days off, this is a serious problem.
Migraines can happen with or without auras. When they occur with auras, this means you see flickering light, spots, or lines. It can feel like your mind is playing games with you when in reality, it's a migraine forming.
Migraines without auras are the ones that come without warning; however, mood changes can be an indicator that a migraine is manifesting itself for you. Your eyes could start burning or watering, and your nose could be stuffy right before a migraine. They usually feel like a throbbing pain in your head, as mentioned, often on one side of the head. Neck pains and cramps are also something you could be feeling and experiencing during a migraine.
They often feel like a tightening of the whole head and body, giving a rather inconvenient sensation. It's not uncommon to experience vertigo and double vision, as well. Migraines sometimes feel incurable, precisely because of the way the symptoms can vary. You can experience one type of migraine and, within a few days, a completely different one. Sometimes they last for minutes and others, hours or days.
If you, someone you know, or a patient of yours is experiencing migraines frequently and severely, that person has probably seen a doctor for the condition. And though some people have shelves full of prescriptions, many are seeking something less invasive, without side effects, yet still effective. Well, luckily, there is a solution for non-invasive migraine treatment: light therapy lamp treatments.
Light therapy is a way of transforming your overall health. In a light therapy treatment, you not only receive relief for your migraine but also for your general health. LED light therapy health benefits multiply the more invested you are. Light therapy eases the symptoms of whatever may be getting in your way while increasing your energy and improving mood.
How light therapy can help migraines is via green light. While green light therapy has been studied for a while, recent studies are proving its effectiveness against migraines. A new study shows that green light exposure reduced the number of headache days per month by an average of about 60%. The light not only reduced the pain but reduced the time of the migraine, making it shorter and more bearable. Another study showed that immediately after light therapy treatment, patients reported reduced migraine discomfort by 20%. Green light also produces a relaxing effect and has shown a much better result at dealing with migraines long-term than any other form of light.
So by penetrating into the body’s cells, it regenerates your cellular system, and thus, the whole body. It’s a process that should be done in the darkness, at any given time, for a period of 15-30 minutes. With daily treatments, you are more likely to reap the many benefits of light therapy.
Kayian's light therapy devices are perfect for at-home treatments or for use in medical clinics, specifically designed for you or your clients’ wants and needs. They are MDA-certified and FDA-approved, ensuring that your light therapy device meets medical and safety standards.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could each reduce a couple of inches off our waist without having to diet or exercise for so long? Losing weight and fat is one of the most common health goals, both for medical and cosmetic reasons. For years, millions of people have tried different pills, injections, “natural” herbs, and many products that are supposed to help us reduce weight. Unfortunately, these usually don’t work
Many people trying to lose weight just want to look better in the mirror, or at the beach. A wide variety of therapies to target fat and improve appearance are called “body contouring” or “body sculpting”, some surgical, others noninvasive. But many of them don’t work, or produce troublesome side effects. Green light therapy is completely natural & noninvasive and has proven to be an effective option for changing the way your body looks.
In the clinical trial NCT03647748 a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized evaluation of the effect of Cellulize, a green light low-level laser system for aesthetic use for the non-invasive reduction in fat layer for body contouring and reduction of cellulite.
The Cellulize is a non-invasive green light system with a power output of 105mW/cm2, consisting of 150 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit visible light at a nominal wavelength of 532nm ± 3nm (visible green light spectrum) and a spectral bandwidth of 10nm. Cellulize® is indicated for uses non-invasive dermatological aesthetic treatment for the reduction of circumference of hips, waist, and thighs. The Massager component is indicated for the temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite.
Cumulative circumferences of waist, hip, left and right thighs for each patient was calculated before and after treatment. Three main points were concluded as a result of the study:
1. Cellulize causes immediate inch loss in subjects after a regimen of six treatments of 32 minutes (8 minutes on each of four positions) compared to individuals subjected to a placebo device for equivalent treatment. In a typical regimen, patients lost an average cumulative of 2.67 inches of circumference compared to the placebo average of 0.5 inches. This meets the anticipated primary outcome measure “Average Change in Inches of Total Circumference Measurements for the effect of Cellulize, a LED 532nm green light low-level laser system for aesthetic use for the non-invasive reduction in fat layer for body contouring from baseline measurements, and after treatment. ”
Figure 1, below, shows the graphical summary of inch loss for patients in the Cellulize active group and the Placebo control group respectively. Table 1 gives the mean values for both groups as well as the standard deviation for the “after” measurements, as well as 7-day and 14-day follow-ups relative to the “before” measurements for each patient:
2. While the durability of effect is also impacted by extrinsic factors after treatments such as diet, it was demonstrated that subjects were more likely to show continued inch loss upon following up with each subject at 7 days and again at 14 days. In general, patients undergoing active Cellulize 532nm green light continued losing some inch with an average continued loss of an additional 1.20 inches for a total average inch loss of 3.87 inches where average placebo measurements after 14 days yielded a net gain (not a loss) of 0.875 inches. This implies that the green light treatment meets the expected primary outcome of demonstrated durability of effect after a short -term follows up of 2 weeks.
3 Finally, the effect of Cellulize LED 532nm green light without any other intervention was measured for its effect on cellulite as part of the study. The Nurnberger-Muller Scale (NMS), a four-stage scale used as an industry standard to classify stage or degree of cellulite and to determine the change in stage or degree of cellulite following treatment intervention, was used to ensure consistent evaluation standards. Results from the active device as well as placebo both showed that cellulite, in general, did not decrease on the back of thigh/buttocks for subjects after a single treatment of 532nm green light. This result failed to meet the anticipated primary outcome measure of decreasing the appearance of cellulite as a measure of the Nurnberger-Muller Scale (NMS) from baseline to completion of treatment for the thigh/buttock area.
The FDA product classification code, OLI, has a guidance document which is the special control for this product, Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff — Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Low-Level Laser System for Aesthetic Use. According to the guidance document, FDA believes that special controls, when combined with the general controls, will be sufficient to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the low-level laser system for aesthetic use. Cellulize complies with all of the standards outlined in the special controls consensus standards.
To learn more about OLI products, you can visit https://fda.report/Product-Code/OLI
Here in Kaiyan Medical, we are pioneers and innovators with light therapy. We keep developing technologies with green light and trying to reach more markets.
Effects of Green Light Therapy on Body Contouring and Cellulite
Duarte FO, et al. Can low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with an aerobic plus resistance training change the cardiometabolic risk in obese women? A placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2015 Dec;153:103–10.
da Silveira Campos RM, Dâmaso AR, et al. The effects of exercise training associated with low-level laser therapy on biomarkers of adipose tissue transdifferentiation in obese women. Lasers in Medical Science. 2018 Aug;33(6):1245–1254.
According to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness in the U.S cataracts and macular degeneration rank first and second, respectively. There are an estimated 2,218,000 patients who suffer from glaucoma (approx. 1 in 136 or 0.74%).
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve often caused by an abnormally high pressure the eye (also called IOP, intra-ocular pressure). It is one of the leading factor for blindness. It can occur at any age but is more common for people over the age of 60. The vision loss due to glaucoma can't be recovered and many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs at an early stage, so it is important that we do regular eye exam or get prevention as early as possible.
Currently, there are 3 Keys that allow for a more accurate diagnosis of glaucoma:
• An elevation of intraocular pressure
• Changes in the optic nerve
• Peripheral field loss
Your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a comprehensive eye examination. He or she may perform several tests, including:
The damage caused by glaucoma can't be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages. Glaucoma is treated by lowering your eye pressure (intraocular pressure). Depending on your situation, your options may include prescription eyedrops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of any of these.
However, the method of treatment of glaucoma is mainly of medication, which can lower the intra-ocular pressure, but also many medication would also block aqueous production. It is similar to the condition that a patient with hypertension taking medications to decrease the production of blood to reduce the blood pressure. That is harmful to the eye health.
In Singapore, the mean direct cost of glaucoma treatment with glaucoma medications alone per patient over 10 years was SGD 2042.47 (± 2078.54) or US$1,592.86 (±1620.99), while the mean cost of surgery was SGD 8038.75 (± 2829.4) or US$6,269.18 (± 2206.56) and laser was SGD 1163.63 (± 532.9) or US$907.48 (± 415.59).
Green light therapy is way cheaper and can lead to great results
One of the biggest advantage of light therapy is that there is no side-effect like medication and it can be used at an early stage for prevention.
Scientists and researchers first began to study light therapy in the treatment of glaucoma in 1948. According to R. B. Zaretskaya, MD’s research, published in American Journal of Ophthalmology, it shows that, while the red light has a pressure raising effect, the effects of green light are greater than white light even at a higher brightness. So, green light should be considered a therapy for the reduction of intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma.
The following important experiment was done by R. B. Zaretskaya, MD, also published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, showed that eye pressure was lowed for patients wearing green spectacles, also with fluctuation of eye pressure decreasing. These patients were required to a 10 minute exposure of green light with an intensity of 1.4 lux. Pressures were then measured at every half hour until pressures returned to baseline.
The conclusion indicates that green light (mu delta) has a pressure lower affect in the majority of patients 82% and the average pressure lower affect was 5 mm Hg and this effect persisted for 4 hours after a brief 10 minute exposure.
The second article also by R. B. Zaretskaya, MD, which was published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology 1948 31: 985-989 refers about 19 patients that were studied and pressures were determined 3 times a day. Once at 7:00 AM (still in bed), 1:00 PM and then between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. Medications were withheld for a day or two and then green spectacles were given on the second day for full time wear. The spectacles were a hue corresponding to 511 nm and a daylight transparency of 21%. In a certain number of cases, the green spectacles were combined with a greatly reduced strength of pilocarpine. One group had a combination of green glasses and adrenalin (1:1,000) which was also made to test Kravkov’s statement that the installation of adrenalin might increase the eyes sensitivity to green.
Results of this study showed that IOP showed a pronounced tendency to decrease in patients wearing green spectacles. The fluctuation of IOP during the day was also found to decrease in patients wearing green glasses. There was an appreciable effect when the use of green spectacles was combined with very small dosages of pilocarpine (0.5 percent). 20 out of 25 eyes had an expressed decrease in IOP as well as a decrease in fluctuations. The pressures decreased by 6.0 mm Hg in 8 cases, 10 mm Hg in 9 cases and 10 mm Hg and more in 3 cases. The results were more striking when combined with small dosages of adrenalin.
Conclusions:
• Green spectacles prescribed with a total withdrawal from Pilocarpine produces a decrease in IOP
• The affects are most pronounced when used with the administration of small doses of adrenalin
• Mechanism of action is proposed to be on the color receptors of the human eye
• Green light brings about a definite arrangement in the autonomic nervous system and thus affects the neurovascular system of the eye
Consistency and proper use is key for effective green light therapy. For optimal results with a high-quality device like the ones in Kaiyan, follow these basics for general wellness benefits:
As we also know that green light could also treat migraine as well as glaucoma, and both migraine and glaucoma are disease of nerve, we may want to know is there connection between these two illness, both of which would cause the pain in the front part of our brain. Hope future research would find out.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been practiced for over 20 years in Europe and has been introduced in the United States as a treatment for pain and postsurgical tissue repair. It has been proposed that laser energy in the red and near-infrared light spectrum may aid in the repair of tissue damage. A proposed mechanism for this therapeutic effect is the stimulation of mitochondria in the cells to produce more energy through the production of adenosine triphosphate.
Studies in humans have investigated the effects of LLLT on both hearing loss and tinnitus, with equivocal results. Some studies have found an improvement in hearing thresholds and tinnitus symptoms.
A total of 35 adult subjects were enrolled in the study. Two subjects withdrew from the study due to loss of interest and/or scheduling difficulty. The data from three additional subjects were not included in the analysis. One subject yielded unreliable audiometric and speech understanding data, speech scores could not be obtained from one subject with a profound hearing loss, and calibration problems compromised data from the third subject. Data from the remaining 30 subjects were included in the analyses. The experimental protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of The University of Iowa, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
An Erchonia EHL laser was used to provide the laser stimulation. The device was a portable unit that consisted of a hand-held probe and a main body. The probe contained two laser diodes. One diode produced light in the green part of the visible light spectrum (532 nm wavelength), and the other diode produced light in the red part of the visible light spectrum (635 nm wavelength). Both diodes produced energy levels of 7.5 mW (class IIIb). The laser beams from both diodes were dispersed through lenses to create parallel line-generated beams, rather than spots. A second Erchonia EHL device served as the placebo. It was identical to the treatment device, except that the laser diodes were replaced with nonfunctioning standard light-emitting diodes.
The study used three groups: treatment, placebo, and control. Subjects were pseudorandomly assigned to one of the three groups.
Initial group assignment was random with occasional adjustment to ensure that the three groups were similar in terms of number of participants, female/male ratio, mean age of participants, and mean pure-tone audiometric thresholds. The treatment group received the laser treatment protocol using the functional laser device. The placebo group also received the laser treatment protocol, but using the nonfunctioning laser device. The control group made similarly timed visits to the laboratory but received no real or feigned “treatment.” The study used a repeated-measures design, with each subject taking a battery of pretests, followed by treatment followed by a battery of posttests.
Data were obtained from both ears of each subject. Since no obvious differences were seen between left and right ears, data from both ears were combined in the following analyses. Strictly speaking, this likely violates the statistical assumption of independent sampling, since the test results from left and right ears of a single subject are likely to be highly correlated. None of the statistical tests used in the analyses are robust to the assumption of independent sampling, and the effect of including both ears is likely to be that of artificially increasing the sample size, making it more likely that a statistically significant result will be found. All statistical tests were conducted using a significance level of .
No statistically significant effect of LLLT on auditory function was found, as assessed by pure-tone audiometry, speech understanding, and TEOAEs in this test. Additionally, no individual subjects showed any clinically significant change. It remains possible that other methods of LLLT could have an effect on hearing. The type of device used was not the best one for this type of study. Further research elucidating the anatomic and physiologic bases for therapeutic effects of LLLT on hearing are needed before further clinical testing is warranted.
Chakra (Sanskrit: चक्र, IAST: cakra, Pali: cakka, lit. wheel, circle; English: /ˈtʃʌk-, ˈtʃækrə/ CHUK-, CHAK-rə[2])) means “wheel” and refers to energy points in your body. They are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay “open” and aligned, as they correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect our emotional and physical well-being.
The concept is found in the early traditions of Hinduism. Beliefs differ between the Indian religions, with many Buddhist texts consistently mentioning five chakras, while Hindu sources offer six or even seven. Early Sanskrit texts speak of them both as meditative visualizations combining flowers and mantras and as physical entities in the body. Some modern interpreters speak of them as complexes of electromagnetic variety, the precise degree and variety of which directly arise from a synthetic average of all positive and negative so-called “fields”, thus eventuating the complex Nadi. Within kundalini yoga, the techniques of breath exercises, visualizations, mudras, bandhas, kriyas, and mantras are focused on manipulating the flow of subtle energy through chakras
Some say there are 114 different chakras, but there are seven main chakras that run along your spine. These are the chakras that most of us are referring to when we talk about them.
Each of these seven main chakras has a corresponding number, name, color, specific area of the spine from the sacrum to the crown of the head, and health focus.
We are gonna explore the green chakra, the heart chakra.
Sanskrit Anahata means “sound produced without touching two parts” and at the same time, it means “pure” or “clean, stainless”. The name of this chakra signifies the state of freshness that appears when we are able to become detached and to look at the different and apparently contradictory experiences of life with a state of openness. Normally we are not used to the effect produced by the confrontation of the two opposite forces. At the level of Anahata chakra appears the possibility to integrate the two opposite forces and obtain the effect (sound, in this case), without the two forces being confronted (without touching of the two parts).
Within it is a yantra of two intersecting triangles, forming a hexagram, symbolizing a union of the male and female as well as being the esoteric symbol for the element of air (vayu). The seed mantra of air, Yam, is at its center. The presiding deity is Ishana Rudra Shiva, and the Shakti is Kakini.In esoteric Buddhism, this Chakra is called Dharma and is generally considered to be the petal lotus of “Essential nature” and corresponding to the second state of Four Noble Truths.
The green color is composed of yellow and blue in equal parts. We can say is composed of the sun and the sky. Green is the energy of love and transformation. It allows you to transform your ego and the needs of your lower chakras and open up to love. To become more loving and compassionate.
It is at the heart center where the energies of lower chakras (once the needs are fulfilled and satisfied) can be transformed and integrated into a more spiritual aspect of yourself. This is where you reach beyond yourself and connect with something greater, wider, and deeper.
Green is the color of growth, life, and balance. In Chinese traditional medicine, through balance, you find the center from which you can love, form healthy and nourishing relationships, and give and receive love.
The energy of green is soothing and calming, like a blanket of soft grass underneath your feet. It is the color of nature, grass, and trees.
On a physical level green relates to the heart, lungs, chest, shoulders, arms, breasts, thymus gland, and cardiac nerve plexus.
People with strong green energy stand tall and radiate openness. Those with weak green energy appear tight in the upper body, they are slouching — their shoulders are drawn forward, protecting the heart center, and their head and neck are brought forward as well.
Gifts
Challenges
The spiritual aspect of green energy is instinctual knowing and growing into the spirit. The developmental task of the heart chakra is forming relationships with family and friends. On the spiritual level, we must always remember that we are entering the mystery and power of love.
Gifts
Challenges
Next time you stand still and look at the green color, make sure to feel the serenity, calmness, balance and feeling kindness and compassion for yourself and others.
Be green, see green, visualize green, breathe green, feel green, be calm, be kind, practice kindness, forgive, and be love.
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It’s frequently characterized by intense, debilitating headaches. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines often run in families and affect all ages.
People describe migraine pain as:
Migraine symptoms may begin one to two days before the headache itself. This is known as the prodrome stage. Symptoms during this stage can include:
The effects of green light on the brain have been researched and well-documented for years. The green light can reset the circadian rhythm through melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. A special photoreceptor system in the human eye picks up light and elicits non-visual responses, sending signals to the brain to reset the body’s internal clock and altering melatonin production levels.
Long-time sufferers of migraines and other chronic pain conditions may benefit from exposure to LED green light. A new study, led by pharmacologist Mohab M. Ibrahim, M.D., Ph.D., found that the color green may be key to easing pain.
Ibrahim’s interest in studying the ameliorating effects of green light was inspired by his brother, who has dealt with severe headaches for several years. Instead of taking ibuprofen, his brother would sit in his garden and soak up the verdure of nature to ease the pain from his headaches.
“I wanted to see what is in his garden or in a garden, in general, that would make headaches better,” said Ibrahim, director of the Chronic Pain Management Clinic at Banner — University Medical Center Tucson.
In his clinical practice, Ibrahim also saw that his patients suffering from migraines and fibromyalgia had limited treatment options, and wanted to find a novel, non-invasive, nonpharmacological therapy.
In his study, which has yet to be published, Ibrahim exposed 25 migraine volunteers first to white lights for two hours as a control, then to green LED lights. He measured multiple parameters, including pain reduction, frequency of migraines or headaches, frequency of fibromyalgia flare-ups, pain intensity and duration, and quality of life.
On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 the highest level of pain, migraine volunteers had an initial average baseline pain score of 8. After completing the green light therapy, their score dropped down to an average of 2.8. The frequency of headaches dropped from 19 to 6.5 per month, and the overall quality of life climbed from 48 percent to 78 percent.
“The best part about it … is the simplicity, the affordability and, most importantly, the lack of side effects,” Ibrahim said. “It’s a normal light. We’re not using a high-energy laser or anything like that.”
But if pain works through the nervous system, how exactly can green light, which works through the visual system, make people feel better?
New studies show that there are neuronal connections that span from the retina all the way to the spinal cord, passing through the parts of the brain that control and modulate pain. Green light changes the levels of serotonin and alters the endogenous opioid system, an innate pain-relieving system found throughout the central and peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and immune system, said Bing Liao, M.D., a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
“The endogenous opioid system … allows the body to generate something similar to opioids and gives us a sensation of pain relief and happy feeling,” Liao said. “Research has found that, with green light, the receptors of the endogenous opioid system can increase production in the brain and body, and the hormone by itself can increase in production, as well. … It might be an explanation for why people feel good when they’re in a green environment.”
While more studies must be done to test the efficacy of green light therapy as a treatment for chronic pain, Ibrahim said he is trying to advance this therapy as a complement to current therapies.
“What this green light therapy offers is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological additional tool, so it might help reduce opioids,” he said. “I don’t think it will eliminate opioids, but at least it may reduce it enough. It may provide people just with extra help or extra relief so that they may not need the number of opioids that they’re on.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28001756
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21182447
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23964217
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7769534
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26989758
Paul Hamernik says that “green light” laser surgery has meant he can enjoy his life again. As a stock car racer, Paul Hamernik thought his frequent restroom breaks were an occupational hazard. He accepted that his bladder was small, and his nerves ran wild — until he learned his PSA level was increasing.
“PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a normal substance produced by the prostate, usually found in an increased amount in the blood of men who have prostate cancer, infection or inflammation of the prostate, and benign prostatic hyperplasia,” explains Lance Mynderse, M.D., a urologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
“My local doctor suggested I go to Mayo and be evaluated,” says Paul. “He said Mayo had advanced tests and procedures to diagnose and treat prostate conditions that weren’t widely available.”
Fortunately, Paul didn’t have prostate cancer. But, because of his age and PSA level, the clinic invited him to participate in a pharmaceutical trial studying the effect of dutasteride in preventing prostate cancer in men with elevated PSA levels.
“I didn’t know anything about the drug, but I wanted to help advance medical science, so I decided to enroll,” says Paul. “I’ve always been proactive with my health. That’s why I started having my PSA tested early.”
During the four-year, double-blind study, Paul took a medicine — the drug or a placebo — every day. Half-way through the study, he had a prostate biopsy and urine flow analysis.
“I remember having an ultrasound on my bladder after emptying it,” recalls Paul. “The technician thought the ultrasound machine wasn’t working, and she went to get help.”
The equipment was working, and what the technician initially saw proved accurate. Paul’s bladder was holding three times the amount of urine that it should. It had become distended, and he was unable to empty it.
“If I hadn’t been in this clinical trial, being monitored the way I was, this urine flow problem probably would not have been diagnosed until after my kidneys were involved,” says Paul.
“Paul’s bladder problem was caused by an enlarged prostate, which often leads to bladder outlet obstruction and restriction of urine flow,” says Dr. Mynderse. “Paul’s condition was benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH — a natural aging process that happens in all men.” While all men experience BPH, not all have symptoms — and certainly not as severe as Paul.
This clinical trial identified a problem that normal healthcare wouldn’t have found since Paul didn’t have any complaints, and a urine flow analysis wouldn’t normally be done. Unfortunately, Paul wasn’t a candidate for surgery when his enlarged prostate was diagnosed because his bladder had lost function. “When the bladder becomes that enlarged, it loses much of its elasticity and squeeze,” explains Dr. Mynderse.
At that point, reducing the size of the prostate might not help, as the bladder still can’t empty if it’s not capable of squeezing, even when you eliminate the prostate obstruction. “Therefore, we needed to ensure bladder function would return before scheduling surgery,” says Dr. Mynderse.
What this meant for Paul was regular self-catheterization five times per day. “I was terribly bummed,” says Paul. “First, it’s challenging to find a sterile environment & many places aren’t accommodating.” Paul’s employer offered a special restroom, and he learned some other tricks that helped but didn’t change his situation.
“I ended up clinically depressed because the catheter interfered with my ability to race stock cars, which I’ve done almost all my life,” says Paul. “There’s no support group for catheters, and I felt alone and very odd.”
“Going green” with surgery.
Paul’s diligence paid off. “His bladder function returned, and we were able to schedule a special surgery called photoselective vaporization of the prostate or PVP,” says Dr. Mynderse.
This surgery is often called green light laser surgery because it emits a highly visible green light. “The green light is created by lithium triborate, a chemical used as the lasing medium,” says Dr. Mynderse.
Mayo Clinic urologists pioneered the use of laser energy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in the 90s. In fact, Mayo’s Department of Urology is the” green light” laser's birthplace to treat BPH. Today, Mayo Clinic is only one of a handful of medical centers in the U.S. that are considered “Centers of Excellence” using PVP laser therapy to treat BPH.
“During the surgery, we vaporize the prostate through an instrument placed down the urethra, called transurethral — and there’s no cutting,” explains Dr. Mynderse. “We direct the light on the inner surface of the prostate, and there’s minimal bleeding. The by-products of the light energy interaction with the prostate and hemoglobin are bubbles and fine debris.”
Imagine the prostate as an orange. The laser vaporizes or shrinks the fruit or tissue occupying the core and leaves the rind intact. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, under anesthesia. “After 12 hours, we remove the catheter, and the patient can urinate immediately,” says Dr. Mynderse. “This is a significant shift in inpatient treatment from the historical standard TURP method.”
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been the gold standard surgical treatment for enlarged prostate for decades. However, up to 25% of patients experience complications after TURP, including excessive bleeding, urinary incontinence, and sexual impotence. TURP also subjects patients to risks inherent in any surgical procedure and a hospital stay of 1 to 3 days and a 4 to 6 weeks recovery time.
“I left the hospital the same day and with no pain,” says Paul. “Dr. Mynderse is my hero because he got rid of my catheter, and I enjoy life the way I use to.”
