Overview
Chronic conditions can be very challenging to deal with. This applies to patients and doctors alike. One common chief complaint that makes people suffer and comprises a hurdle for doctors is chronic pain.
Facing chronic pain leaves you with two difficult options:
- Treat the symptoms with drugs, which could possibly lead to severe side effects.
- Do not get treatment, and the patient will suffer every single day!
For this reason, scientists started looking for natural solutions that may assist with chronic pain.
Enter – Photobiomodulation therapy.
In this article, we will briefly define photobiomodulation, then switch gears to some of the benefits it offers, including how it helps with chronic pain and generalized anxiety disorder.
What is photobiomodulation therapy?
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a relatively new technique that focuses on stimulating and regenerating the cells of different tissues. Photobiomodulation emits red or near-infrared light.
When the mitochondria absorb the photons emitted by photobiomodulation, several changes occur in the cell, including the activation of certain signaling pathways, the upregulation of transcription factors, and the expression of protective genes.
Scientists explored the potential role of brain photobiomodulation in the treatment of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and other mental disorders. So far, the preliminary results are very promising.
Is photobiomodulation FDA-approved?
Photobiomodulation received the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the management of myalgias (i.e., muscle pain) and arthralgia (i.e., joint pain).
Note that the process of getting approved by the FDA is very strict and requires tons of scientific research and years of scrutiny. Just consider the COVID vaccine. It basically saved millions of lives, but it took the FDA such a long time to approve it. The first approval was not even complete – The Pfizer vaccine received partial approval.
The point is: the fact that photobiomodulation is approved by the FDA goes to show that this treatment modality is quite effective and safe at the same time.
Photobiomodulation for chronic pain
There is some solid evidence that photobiomodulation helps with chronic pain. People with rheumatoid arthritis benefit greatly from this therapy. A few sessions of photobiomodulation therapy are enough to relieve pain and morning stiffness.
It also improves the health of your joints, especially if you have osteoarthritis (i.e., a degenerative condition that destroys joint tissue).
One study found that PBMT dampens low-grade inflammation, which is crucial for the management of most chronic illnesses.
Finally, researchers are exploring the potential benefits of PBMT in relieving the symptoms of post-cancer treatment. We already know it can prevent some side effects, including oral mucositis and cold sores.
How does brain photobiomodulation help with anxiety?
Researchers demonstrated the effects of transcranial photobiomodulation on anxiety in several studies. However, there is still a debate about the optimal dose to use and the mechanisms involved in producing the anxiolytic (i.e., anxiety-relieving) effect.
In one study, researchers tried three different near-infrared doses to evaluate the effect of PBMT on anxious mice.
The study took into account the following parameters:
- Anxiety-induced behaviors
- Cerebral levels of serotonin (5-HT)
- Cerebral levels of nitric oxide (NO)
To induce anxious behavior in the mice, researchers followed the chronic restraint stress (CRS) model, which focuses on chronic movement restriction – an effective way to induce anxiety.
The consequences of CRS included elevated serum cortisol levels, decreased 5-HT, and increased NO in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus.
The results of the study showed behavioral improvement, decreased serum levels of cortisol, higher levels of 5-HT, and lower concentrations of NO in the PFC and hippocampus.
As for the different dosages, it appears that the 8 J/cm2 of NIR produced the maximum effects on behavior and hormone concentrations.
The other two dosages generated suboptimal results.
Furthermore, the authors of the study noted that transcranial photobiomodulation may also be useful in preventing episodes of anxiety in the future.
Besides anxiety, this technique showed promising results in addressing other mental health issues, such as major depressive disorder, PTSD, and more.
Beyond animal experiments and clinical trials, some experts are advocating for the practical use of PBM to treat cases that failed to respond to conventional treatments.
How long does it take photobiomodulation to work?
The answer to this question is not straightforward. Depending on your chief complaint and its location, the number of sessions will vary.
What’s sure, however, is that you need more than a single session to experience pain relief. According to reports, it may take up to 30 sessions before photobiomodulation takes full effect. Note that you will start experiencing pain relief after the very first few sessions. Additionally, the number of therapeutic sessions per week varies from one patient to another.
In summary, the number of sessions depends on these factors:
- The nature of your condition
- Severity of symptoms
- Response to photobiomodulation therapy
What are the side effects of photobiomodulation therapy?
While every therapy out there has some side effects, photobiomodulation is generally very safe. The worst thing it can do is a skin rash when the laser is not used appropriately.
Those are the side effects on the skin. If you get photobiomodulation near your eyes, however, you will need to wear protective glasses. Even though the lights from this therapy are safer on the eyes compared to other lasers, you still need to protect your eyes.
Photobiomodulation research
Photobiomodulation seems to have impressive effects on the central nervous system. A number of studies found that this therapy can even help with chronic illnesses, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists found that photobiomodulation therapy can help patients with Parkinson’s by improving blood flow to the brain, dampening inflammation, and getting rid of free radicals. These mechanisms can also help in the management of Alzheimer’s disease – something that has been proven in several clinical trials.
We can achieve these results using inexpensive LED applicators.
By interfering with the metabolism of several elements, this therapy can revolutionize the field of neuroscience.
For instance, scientists published their findings on this matter in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. They found that photobiomodulation can reduce trigeminal nerve damage through the regulation of mitochondrial energy production.
Aside from neuroscience, there is some evidence that photobiomodulation may be beneficial for the treatment of vulnerable individuals with COVID-19. The treatment seems to accelerate the recovery of these individuals.
Takeaway message
Photobiomodulation is a promising technique that could play a vital role in treating chronic pain and different mental disorders. Initial research demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique in addressing pain, anxiety, and depression. However, more research is necessary to determine the optimal dosage and duration of therapy.
We hope that this article managed to simplify the complex topic of photobiomodulation and its effect on pain and anxiety.
If you have any questions about PBMT, please share them in the comment section below.