Reducing Pain and Increasing Circulation with Infrared Light Therapy
Infrared light therapy has been around the medical profession for around 20 years in the use of pain reduction and increase of the body's circulation. In fact, infrared light treatments are used as a heat modality for many areas of physical therapy, now considered a medical necessity. An ancient practice, the increased acceptance of it today has brought about a lot of new changes in the use of light emitting diodes, or LEDs, also called Monochromatic Infrared Energy.
The advantage of the traditional medical field and their wide acceptance of infrared light therapy is that research began to develop it in regard to its (1) positive aspects, and (2) life saving qualities, whereas unnecessary surgeries and dangerous medication had been used previously. A recent system of infrared light therapy uses a new combination of infrared light energy--non-visible forms and visible--called the Healthlight System.
The Visible Infrared Light is a system that is recognized as being able to reach about eight to 10 mm into the human skin surface, beneficial for many types of surface wounds, cuts, scars, triggers, treating infections, and also acupuncture points. On the other hand, the Invisible Infrared Light can reach a depth of about 30 to 40 mm, an area that involves bones, deep muscles, and joints. What all of this refers to is that both the red and the infrared wavelengths have the ability to reach different depths yet have similar therapeutic effects toward healing.
To give credit where credit is due, infrared light therapy is an ancient form of light therapy that originated when sunlight shining on bare skin was filtered through red stained glass. From then on, documentation shows us that more is known about infrared light therapy than any other treatment in history--red will stimulate the system as it is a base chakra color, the "fight or flight" area.
The Healthlight system consists of the infrared light therapy and the visible light diodes, which creates a warm feeling on its pads. Also, an increase in circulation occurs or a decrease in swellings, decreased inflammations, decreased tension, or decreases in muscle spasms or even tightness. Yet at the same time, adverse side effects of using the infrared light therapy through Healthlight are almost zero, because of the built-in timers and auto shut-off features. Minor situation that may occur are a burning to an area if the infrared systems are left on too long if they do not have a timer or shut-off, and diabetic individuals should have their insulin levels monitored during the infrared light therapy treatments.
Medicare does not cover or approve the code for the Infrared Heating Pad for home treatments, but most other insurance companies do follow the policy. Also, no prescriptions are required for the Healthlight infrared light therapy system for personal purchases, or through a facility treatment. But through clinics that offer the infrared light therapy, a prescription is required if it needs to be reimbursed through the client's health plan for private insurance.
More than 15 medical agencies doing research on Bright Light Therapy have shown success with light therapy in patients, with improvement in about a week or so. Bright Light Therapy has shown the medical fields that therapeutic levels of illumination have now recognized physiological effects on the human body.
According to blood tests the hormone melatonin, known to be exceptionally high at certain times of the day, are rapidly reduced by levels of light exposure. This has demonstrated that Bright Light Therapy affects the daily rhythms of body temperature, hormone secretion, and sleep patterns. To sum it up, it refers to a treatment used for individuals who suffer from circadian rhythm sleep disorders, with a normal circadian referring to a cycle of approximately 24 hours which makes one feel sleepy or alert at daily regular times. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder causes this natural sleep patter to overlap into a person's regular awake activities--work or school.
Where all of this originates from is because scientifically, the body's clock is located in the body's brain, is a junction where the nerves travel to the eyes called the SCN. It is this clock that controls the "circadian rhythms" of the body, in turn controlling the body rhythms.
Bright Light Therapy when balancing the body's rhythms sets the internal clock by its exposure to bright light, similar to sunlight. A goal for combination therapy includes a healthy sleep pattern and an internal clock that works at the right time. The purpose of the Bright Light Therapy is to reset the body's clock that is not working, but is considered only part of the treatment plan. The other part of the treatment plan is to include a doctor who knows what he or she is doing and specializes in sleep disorders. At this time, there are four basic groups of products for light therapy:
1. The Light Box
2. The Desk Lamp
3. The Light Visor
4. The Dawn Simulator
Another disorder that Bright Light Therapy is good for is the depressive phase of bipolar. Women with bipolar disorder were examined by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Previously the women had used Bright Light Therapy treatments in the morning or at midday on a daily basis for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes for a period of two weeks. Six of the women had significant improvement, with several recovering 100% from the symptoms of the bipolar depression. The ones with the highest rates of success were in the midday light range, with a few responding to the early morning light.
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