Red Light Therapy has a variety of applications and benefits that make it a viable treatment in various applications of medicine.
Unfortunately, because PBM is relatively new in the mainstream medical world, most people have not heard of it. Those who have heard of it will often dismiss its efficacy because they mistakenly believe that no credible doctor would support it, and no studies exist to show its efficacy.
Is this true? Are there medical professionals who know about it? If so, what do medical professionals think about such a treatment?
Dr. Marshall Freilich – Oral Surgeon
Dr. Marshall Freilich is a certified oral surgeon and has been since 1999. Dr. Freilich is a medical practitioner who discusses the usage of RLT in dental applications such as Burning Mouth Syndrome, mucositis, xerostomia, and other oral conditions.
Around the time the Pandemic started, Dr. Freilich decided to expand his scope by entering into a dense training program in the field of oral medicine that ended up lasting three years.
It turns out that in that space, no one had discussed the usage of RLT or any type of PBM. It was his friend Joel Epstein who introduced Freilich to the usage of PBM in the field of oral healthcare. In the words of Dr. Freilich himself,
Had it been anyone other than Dr. Joel Epstein that put this forward to me,
Dr. Marshall Freilich
I probably would have shaken it off.
Dr. Joel Epstein – DMD
Dr. Joel Epstein was Dr. Frielich’s former teacher and because of this, he gave Dr. Epstein great respect in what he said and heeded his advice to try PBM.
Epstein is a world-renowned dental practitioner for using RLT in oral applications. Dr. Epstein has a keen interest in dental oncology, managing oral complications like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
In addition to this, he uses it to treat conditions like ulcers, Facial muscle pain, temporomandibular (jaw movement) Joint pain, and even normal joint problems themselves.
Meanwhile, Dr. Freilich believes that RLT can be used to stimulate saliva flow in patients who are suffering from dry mouth and burning mouth syndromes.
These types of conditions are normally very difficult to treat which is what makes PBM such a tantalizing option for those who understand its possible applications.
Dr. Reem Hanna – PhD, BDS, MSc
Dr. Reem Hanna is an Associate Specialist in Oral Surgery at King’s College Hospital and an Honorary Senior Clinical Specialist Teacher in Oral Surgery at King’s College London Dental Institute.
Dr. Hanna is another doctor who understands the effectiveness of PBM; specifically, how it can treat TMJ.
Dr. Hanna believes PBM can relieve and reduce oxidative stress. She has also stated that PBM blocks noxious stimuli while increasing ATP production which helps the cell to proliferate and differentiate with respect to other cells.
She believes it also helps to increase collagen remodeling while restoring tissue elasticity in the joint.
Dr. Hanna is a strong advocate for RLT/PBM and believes its primary usage is to reduce inflammation and swelling in the area to which it is applied.
Because of this quality, she believes PBM decreases excess inflammatory cytokines, increases lymphatic drainage, and increases strength in muscle tissue.
Really, we have a great impact in order to reverse all the deficiencies happening in these TMJ conditions.
Dr. Reem Hanna
Dr. Jennifer Flora – DEL, MBA, MA, EP-C
Dr. Jennifer Flora, is an educator and administrator of the Shepherd University Wellness Center in West Virginia. With numerous academic degrees and daily experience with PBM application protocols, she is well acquainted with the benefits of red light therapy.
She is also familiar with how RLT can be used for transcranial treatments.
PBM has an anti-inflammatory effect. It helps to decrease inflammation and manage pain easier while providing micro circulation. So, it increases the blood flow to tissue. Basically, out with the bad, in with the good nutrient dense blood to help healing, bring down inflammation, and it can aid with tissue repair. PBM has mood enhancing effects like the release of dopamine and serotonin through these neurotransmitters in the body. This may help to reduce those cravings of say, opioids.
Dr. Jennifer Flora
Most budget RLT devices will have a red-light option, though some have such low power that even the red light (basic 660-nanometer wavelength) won’t penetrate the skin surface enough to be effective. But only the best ones have a near-infrared capability as well.
Dr. Flora has recently completed a university pilot cohort study with a fellow researcher from Shepherd University, Dr. Kelly Watson Huffer, pertaining to the use of PBM in reducing opioid cravings among those with addictions. You can read more about the study’s findings and implications of those findings HERE.
Endre Mester – Professor and Pioneer of Laser Medicine
A man by the name of Endre_Mester, a Hungarian surgeon, discovered the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and how it can be used to treat skin cancer.
For this reason, he is accredited for the discovery and first usage of PBM. He found it could be used for wound healing, tuberculosis, TMJ disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions. Mester is the author of over 100 articles on LLLT and its applications.
Mester’s research began in the 1960s when he was investigating the effects of various wavelengths of light on biological tissues. One of his key early discoveries was that laser light, particularly in the red and near-infrared spectrum, could have a healing effect on tissues and cells.
He conducted experiments demonstrating that low-level lasers could promote wound healing, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain without causing thermal damage to the tissues, which was a significant breakthrough at the time.
In 1967, Mester published one of the first papers on the therapeutic applications of laser light. He explored the concept that low-energy laser irradiation could stimulate cellular processes, enhance ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, and improve cell proliferation.
His findings challenged the prevailing view that lasers were solely a high-energy source for cutting and destruction and opened up new avenues for non-invasive treatments in medicine.
Mester’s work also laid the groundwork for the establishment of therapeutic laser protocols and the development of low-level laser therapy devices.
His research extended beyond human applications; he demonstrated positive effects in veterinary medicine, particularly in treating animals with wounds and injuries. This broadened the scope of light therapy and highlighted its potential as a versatile healing tool.
Towards the end of his life, his two sons assisted him in his work. Sadly, PBM doesn’t make you immortal, and he died of old age in 1984 at the age of 81.
Key Take-Aways
These doctors are but a few of the countless academics who are now becoming aware of the extensive on-going research into Photobiomodulation that has been happening for decades and is now finally entering mainstream medicine.
Fortunately, more credible doctors and extensive studies support the efficacy of PBM. More and more aacademic institutions are becoming aware of PBM and conducting further research to discover more treatment protocols for more conditions than ever before.
RLT/PBM holds promise for treating a variety of conditions, particularly those that are challenging to manage with traditional methods.
Here is a very short list of other doctors and researchers that Tom Kerber (of SunPowerLED and KerberUSA), has been able to connect with for interviews, research collaboration, etc. and the list is only growing!