W
L
OPTIMISE YOUR HEALTH AND
WELLNESS BY LETTING LIGHT IN!
Wirral Life’s Specialist Consultant Orthodontist Richard Gibson -
takes time out from the day job, to speak to us about a tremendously
exciting, innovative and cutting-edge technology arriving on the Wirral.
Richard’s company LUME PBM have joined forces with the nationally
recognised team of experts, at Hoylake’s Underground Training Station
to provide the North’s first whole-body light therapy treatment centre!
This isn’t exactly Invisalign, how did you come across light therapy?
Lights and lasers have routinely been used in Dentistry and Medicine for a
number of years, so when a colleague mentioned it to me, I was intrigued
about the orthodontic application. Once I started digging however, I
realised that although the orthodontic effects of light were meaningful, they
paled into insignificance next to the systemic benefits. It personally struck
a cord with me, as I suffer from an auto-inflammatory condition which
essentially promotes arthritic changes in my body, and leaves me feeling
pretty lousy without medication. I’m not really of the mindset to accept
something has the better of me, so I am always looking for ways to optimise
my health and minimise the impact of my condition.
What is whole-body red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that delivers
concentrated natural light to your skin and cells. When used across the
whole body, the treatment usually takes around 15 minutes, as you are
enveloped in a relaxing cocoon of red light. The specific wavelengths of
light produced by the LEDs, are actually present in natural sunlight and
are supported by thousands of peer reviewed studies, which have shown
overwhelmingly positive results and an almost total lack of side effects or
health risks.
What is photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation is the application of light therapy using lasers and
LEDs to improve tissue repair, reduce pain and inflammation, wherever
the beam is applied. There have been many names used to describe
this type of treatment in its 50 years of scientific investigation (Cold
laser, low level laser therapy, low level light therapy, LLLT) but the term
photobiomodulation or PBM for short, was internationally recognised and
registered as the official term about 5 years ago. In practice, the light that
we are talking about, and that has been researched the most, is red and
near-infrared light – specifically in the mid 600 and 800nm range. Initially
part of NASA experimentation to help plants grow in space – there are now
more than 700 randomised clinical trials published on PBM which show it
to be exceptionally well tolerated in all age groups.
What does it do?
There are data from peer reviewed publications (many of which are
randomised, placebo controlled clinical trials) that shows PBM:
•
Reduces joint pain and inflammation
•
Enhances and increases circulation
•
Reduces pain (acute and chronic)
•
Boosts melatonin
•
Improves sleep disorders
•
Promotes faster wound healing
•
Enhances muscular recovery
•
Enhances athletic development
•
Enhances weight loss
•
Increases testosterone production in men
•
Improves skin clarity and tone
•
Improves collagen production
•
Reduces scars and stretch marks
•
Facilitates hair regrowth
Sounds too good to be true! You may be asking yourself, “Why would light
play such an important role in all these things?” You may even be sceptical
and smell snake oil – when told that one thing does so much! The good
news is that the extensive research into PBM suggests the majority of its
effects boil down to its impact on 2 fundamental parts of the human body
– mitochondria and water.
Okay – so I remember hearing about mitochondria in school but just
refresh my memory!
No problem. Mitochondria are essentially a bacterial symbiont that were
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incorporated within other cells millions of years ago – as life was evolving
on the planet. We have somewhere in the region of 100 million billion
mitochondria in our bodies and as humans our mitochondrial density
has been located mainly in our heart and brain but actually, they exist in
almost all of our cells with the exception of the red blood cells. Their role
is to use the fuels we put in (electrons from food and light) to produce the
energy (in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate – ATP). They do this in
a process which is almost the reverse of photosynthesis in plants. Plants
take Carbon Dioxide and Water alongside the energy from sunlight and
produce glucose and oxygen. Our mitochondria reduce the food/ glucose
we eat into electrons, combine them with oxygen and produce ATP, carbon
dioxide and water. This process happens in all animals in exactly the same
way. So hopefully by now you get the idea that mitochondria are kind of
a big deal!
Right, when your cells are stressed, get older or are traumatised by
toxins - they undergo oxidative stress and this can impair the way your
mitochondria work. Essentially, they get constipated and become
unable to hand off the electrons produced from our food to oxygen and
therefore can’t produce as much energy and as a result the cell suffers.
This is where red and near-infrared light comes in. When we shine these
specific wavelengths of light on the body we get penetration of up to 30
cms (for infrared). The light enters the cells and unblocks the constipated
mitochondria to increase energy production and crucially allow the cell to
do the job it was designed to do – and that is where the secret lies! Because
mitochondria are in almost every cell in our body – by letting that cell do
its job it promotes health. So heart cells can pump blood, muscle cells can
lift bags and brain cells can remember to pick up your copy of Wirral Life!
The water story lies in emerging science relating to the capacity of our
intracellular water (produced by the mitochondria) to act as a battery to
store and release energy from light.
Wow - that’s pretty heavy stuff.
I know, I know but what it boils down to – is by allowing the body to work
properly everything works better and we can see the benefits specifically in
reducing pain and inflammation and improving energy levels.
Does it work?
Absolutely – and that is why it’s used at the highest professional levels:
By pro athletes, sportsmen and women for training and recovery in
preparation for the forthcoming Olympic year. By cutting edge health care
providers for managing chronic conditions and pain and by Hollywood
A-listers for energy and optimal skin care. And perhaps most importantly
for me, in my personal experience, I’ve found a noticeable reduction in
joint aches and pains, especially in the mornings, my energy levels have
definitely improved and I’m sleeping better! Fantastic!
So who can benefit from PBM?
The short answer is everyone, because we all have mitochondria and are all
made up of a big chunk of water. The research to date specifically supports
the use of PBM for both acute and chronic pain associated with arthritis,
fibromyalgia and other medical conditions. It also is proven to support
athletic performance and recovery, whether of a weekend warrior, elite
athlete or couch to 5k hopeful. Some of the most exciting aspects being
researched at present are the impact on sleep, brain injuries and improving
the outcomes for cancer patients – all of which are seeing positive
correlations with PBM used as an adjunct to conventional care pathways.
How do we access this?
LUME PBM have teamed up with the Underground Training Station in
Hoylake to provide this exciting treatment. PBM dovetails beautifully into
the ethos at the UTS – to provide elite coaching and facilities to everyone
and further strengthens the commitment to the use of evidenced based
practice to support development and optimise health. We plan to launch
this spring – opening the doors to both tribe members and the public, with
the intention of collaborating with local NHS services.
For more information or to keep in touch with our launch events please
contact: [email protected].