Clinically proven and certified for the treatment of pain
Bioptron Light Therapy has been used for over 30 years for the treatment of arthritis, low back
pain, upper back and neck pain, sports injuries and other ailments
Professor Sergiy Gulyar, who has written numerous groundbreaking papers and books on medical light therapy.
As long as mankind has existed it has confronted pain. Wars, disease, injuries – these are different variants of the epidemic of pain that has not yet been defeated. Although pharmacological protection gives short-term results, the body pays for it through the numerous side effects associated with the overuse of drugs.
The search for non-invasive analgesia has demonstrated that the most promising way to induce it is through the use of low-intensity polarized light. But this raises the question of how we can prove the effect it has on pain. After all, it is impossible to make an objective quantification of the pain perceived by a person due to the distorting influence of psychogenic factors. But the common physiological mechanisms of pain in humans and mammals step into the breach. It is generally recognised that reliable proof can only be obtained through experiments on laboratory animals. In order to achieve this, various lines of research have been carried out at Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, NAS of Ukraine.
Most diseases or injuries are accompanied by various combinations of tonic, acute and visceral pain. Therefore, each type of pain has been modelled individually and the contributions of applications of BIOPTRON-light to the development of analgesia have been defined. One polychromatic and seven monochromatic ranges of polarized light (filters of the COLOUR THERAPY set) were used. Tonic pain was induced by the injection of formalin in a limb, acute pain was induced by electrical stimulation of the feet, while visceral pain was induced by chemical irritation of the peritoneum or intestinal mucosa. Painful and non-painful behavioural responses were defined in response to light applications on the locus of pain or on acupuncture points.
The experiments have shown that in the case of tonic pain, the application of BIOPTRON-light to the analgesic acupuncture point significantly suppressed the behavioural response to pain. The degree of analgesia depended on the exposure and the choice of location. The pain threshold for the electrical stimulation of the skin of the foot (acute pain) increased. Attenuation of visceral pain (up to 46.8%) was noted when analgesic acupuncture points were exposed. The analgesic efficacy of the component colours of light was different. In all cases, tonic pain was significantly weaker than with a placebo. Red light was found to be the most effective: following exposure of the acupuncture point, analgesia was 54.4%, and after its application to the locus of pain, it was 64.1% in relation to the control value. White light remained second in terms of the analgesic response induced (50%).
It was found that exposure to BIOPTRON-light through the analgesic acupuncture points reinforces the analgesic effect of low doses of non-opioid (Analgin) and narcotic (Tramal), analgesics (for tonic and acute pain). The preliminary exposure of an acupuncture point to light has also proved effective.
The opioidergic analgesic system of the brain has been found to be involved in the analgesic effects that follow exposure to light. This was demonstrated by the fact that pre-injection of the opiate receptor blocker (Naloxone) weakened the analgesic effect of the BIOPTRON-light.
Experimental proof of the fact that polarized light influences an acupuncture point is thus of practical value. This opens the way for the non-invasive use of the BIOPTRON-light both for analgesic, anti-stress and prophylactic purposes and for specific physiotherapeutic tasks. One of the key mechanisms for the beneficial effects is the use of functional transport routes for electromagnetic energy along connective tissue. As a result, the energy deficit in pathological areas is eliminated and the brain opioidergic system is activated.
Treatment regimens designed for pain relief are based on these principles. Poly- and monochromatic polarized light can act on the acupuncture points, extra-nerve paths for electromagnetic signal transmission, and the focus of the pain. It is advisable to use the pathogenic principle for selecting the locations of exposure based on defining the primary and secondary areas taking into account the individual approach. It is rational to use those points that not only have analgesic effects, but also modulate the immune system and have anti-inflammatory action.
Since almost every disease is accompanied by a pain syndrome, the list of direct indications could be limitless. Based on the potential of the BIOPTRON-light to influence tonic, acute and visceral pain, the repertoire of the physician is now significantly expanded.
SCIENTIFIC REFERENCE LIST
[1] T.Kubasova, M.Horvath, K. Kocsis and M.Fenyö: Effect of visible light on some cellular and immune parameters. Immunology and Cell Biology, 1995, 73; 239-244.[2] M.Fenyö, J.Mandl and A.Falus: Opposite effect of linearly polarized light on biosynthesis of interleukin-6 in a human B lymphoid cell line and peripheral human monocytes. Cell Biology International, 2002, 26(3); 265-269.[3] T.Kubasova, M.Fenyö, Z.Somosy, L.Gazso and I.Kertesz: Investigations on biological effect of polarized light. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 1988, 48; 505-509.[4] P.Bolton, M.Dyson and S.Young: The effect of polarized light on the release of growth factors from the U-937 macrophage-like cell line. Laser Therapy, 1992, 2(3); 33-37.[5] I.Kertesz, M.Fenyö, E.Mester and G.Bathory: Hypothetical physical model for laser dissimulation. Optics and Laser Technology, 1982, 16; 31-32.[6] K.A.Samoilova, K.D.Obolenskaya, A.V.Vologdina, S.A.Snopov and E.V.Shevchenko: Single skin exposure to visible light induces rapid modification of entire circulation blood - 1. Improvement of rheologic and immune parameters. Progress in Biomedical Optics/Proceedings of Low-Power Light on Biological Systems, 1998, IV; 90-103.[7] J.E.Roberts: Visible light induces changes in the immune response through an eye-brain mechanism (photoneuroimmunology), Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology, 1995, 29(1); 3-15.
WOUND HEALING
[8] L.Medenica and M.Lens: The use of polarised polychromatic non-coherent light alone as a therapy for venous leg ulceration. Journal of Wound Care, 2003, 12(1); 37-40.[9] S.Monstrey, H.Hoeksema, H.Saelens, K.Depuydt, M.Hamdi, K.Van Landuyt and P.Blondeel: A conservative approach for deep dermal burn wounds using polarised-light therapy. British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2002, 55; 420-426.[10] 10. P.Iordanou, G.Baltopoulos, M.Giannakopoulou, P.Bellou and E.Ktenas: Effect of polarized light in the healing process of pressure ulcers. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 2002, 8(1); 49-55.[11] S.Monstrey, H.Hoeksema, K.Depuydt, G.Van Maele, K.Van Landuyt and P.Blondeel: The effect of polarized light on wound healing. European Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2002, 24(8); 377-382.Invited commentary: W.Vanscheidt, The effect of polarized light on wound healing. European Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2002, 24(8); 383.[12] Colic MM, Vidojkovic N, Jovanovic M, Lazovic G. The use of polarized light in aesthetic surgery. Aesthetic Plast.Surg. 2004;28(5):324-7.[13] Tomashuk IP, Tomashuk II. [Clinical efficacy of alprostan in combination with "Bioptron-II" rays and iruxol-miramistin in the treatment of the diabetic foot complicated by atherosclerosis]. Klin.Khir. 2001;(8):49-51.
PAIN TREATMENT
[14] M.F.Ballyzek, V.Vesovic-Potic, X.He, A.Johnston: Efficacy of polarized, polychromatic, non-coherent light in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal neck and shoulder pain. Unpublished material, BIOPTRON AG, Wollerau, Switzerland (2005).[15] Stasinopoulos D. The use of polarized polychromatic non-coherent light as therapy for acute tennis elbow/lateral epicondylalgia: a pilot study. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2005;23(1):66-69.[16] D.Stasinopoulos, I.Stasinopoulos and M.I.Johnson: Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome with polarized polychromatic noncoherent light (Bioptron light): a preliminary, prospective, open clinical trial. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2005;23(2):225-228.[17] I.Stasinopoulos: Report of the rheumatology and rehabilitation centre. Unpublished material, Greece (1990).[18] Lymans'kyi I, Tamarova ZA, Huliar SO. [Suppression of visceral pain by action of the low intensity polarized light on acupuncture antinociceptive points]. Fiziol.Zh. 2003;49(5):43-51.
DERMATOLOGY
[19] Aronis, A.Braziotis, K.Kafouros, N.Pagratis, Th.Papakostas and P.Venetsanos: The action of visible polarized light on skin diseases. Poster presentation at the 18th International Congress of Dermatology, New York, USA (1992).[20] Bartos Z.; The use of the BIOPTRON Light Therapy System in the treatment of skin disorders; Kiskunfélegyháza City Hospital and Polyclinic Department of Dermatological and Venerreal Diseases; Experience report; Hungary (2004).[21] Charakida Aikaterini, Deaton Edward D. Charakida Marietta, Mouser Paul et al.; Phototherapy in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris. What is the Role?; Am J Clin Dermatol; 5(4):211-216(2004).
PEDIATRIC
[22] Burkin IA, Okateyev VS, 2004. The use of BIOPTRON Light Therapy in the treatment of children with musculoskeletal injuries. Clinical Experience Report. Traumatology Department, Sperandsky; Municipal Children's Hospital, Moscow, Russia.[23] Cerná O. The BIOPTRON Light Therapy in the life support and intensive care unit, Abstract, Congress Proceedings, Prague, Czechoslovakia 2005.[24] Khan MA, 2001, Report on use of BIOPTRON polychromatic incoherent polarized light in paediatrics, Experience Report. Russian Scientific Centre of Reconstructive Medicine and Balneotherapy, Moscow, Russia.[25] Khan MA, Erdes SI. Clinical efficiency of BIOPTRON polychromatic polarized light in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and frequent respiratory diseases in children, Allergology and Immunology in Paediatrics, N3 (14), September 2008.
SAD
[26] Avery DA, Kizer D, Bolte MA et al.: Bright light therapy of subsydromal seasonal affective disorders in the workplace: morning vs. afternoon exposure. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2001; 103:267 -274.[27] Eastrnan Cl, Young MA, Fogg LF, Lìu L, Meaden PM: Bright light treatment of winter depression: a placebo-controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998; 55: BB3 - 889.[28] Lam RW and Levitt A: Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of SAD, A Summary of the Report of the Canadian Consensus Group on SAD, Can J Diagnosis 1998; Suppl. 1 - l5.[29] Lee TM, Chan CC: Dose-response relationship of phototherapy for seasonal affective disorder: a meta'analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1999; 99; 315 – 323.
HOW BIOPTRON MAY RELIEVE ARTHRITIC, MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN,
REDUCE INFLAMMATION AND STIFFNESS
Examples of the intended use of Bioptron for pain are as follows:
