Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, affecting or limiting their quality of life. Traditional pain management options such as NSAIDs & opiods have limitations and can cause a whole host of other issues, so what's left?
Enter: Green Light Therapy.
Green light therapy involves exposing oneself to a green LED light source for a period of time (1-2 hours, for example) with the aim to decrease pain. Green light is said to be gentle, safe, and the benefits promising:
Pain Reduction: Recent studies have found that green light exposure can reduce both the severity of pain and the frequency of episodes related to conditions like migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. It’s a bit like a soothing balm for your nerves.
Anxiety Relief: Chronic pain is often accompanied by anxiety and fear. Green light therapy seems to help alleviate these feelings and encourage nervous system relaxation.
How Does It Work?
The magic lies in the LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology. Here’s how green light therapy works:
Serotonin Boost: Green light exposure alters serotonin levels, activating the body’s inner pain-relieving system - like a gentle nudge to your nervous system, saying, “Relax, we’ve got this.”
Endogenous Opioid System: Green light also interacts with our endogenous opioid system, which plays a crucial role in pain modulation. By reducing sensitivity to nervous system input, it acts as a mild pain reliever.
The Results are Promising...
1. Duke University Study
Dr. Padma Gulur conducted an experiment with fibromyalgia patients. Participants wore tinted glasses—some with blue lenses, some clear, and others green—for four hours daily over two weeks. The results were remarkable:
Those wearing green glasses reported reduced anxiety related to pain.
Those with green glasses found reliance on opioids decreased significantly.
2. University of Arizona Research
Dr. Mohab Ibrahim and colleagues at the University of Arizona have published several papers demonstrating green light's power to reduce pain. Whether it’s migraine or chronic discomfort, green light therapy is proving helpful.
Safe, Affordable, and Side Effect-Free
Green light therapy doesn’t come with side effects or addiction risks, and its effectiveness is proving remarkable. They are safe, affordable, and easy to incorporate into your routine.
Why I Think This Therapy Has Potential
For Pain Management?
I've implemented green LED lights in my treatment room, primarily for clients, but for myself as I have chronic migraine. Since being in and around these lights daily, I have noticed a significant decrease in migraine frequency and duration. Its actually astounding to me the effect they have had on my day to day and just how soothing they are.
As always, please consult a healthcare professional to explore green light therapy and see if it can help you embrace a brighter, pain-free future.