LIGHT THERAPY
E. F. BLOCK IV
JULY 2006
INTRODUCTION Light as a theraputic modality is a very broad topic to characterize. Light is a component of our environment, both natural and manmade. The basics of the electromagnetic interactions of matter as relates to living systems is a part of the scientific field of Biophysics. Thus, the first concepts to be discussed will deal with the known interactions of light with biological molecules and molecular complexes. Then the discussion will move to the different approaches of the various cultural expressions of healing to the use of the modality of light as therapy. Lastly, modern concepts as to the use of light as therapy will be detailed: laser therapy, color therapy.
DISCUSSION Background Information
The force that the electromagnetic field exerts on electrically charged particles, called the electromagnetic force, is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. The other fundamental forces are the strong nuclear force (which holds atomic nuclei together), the weak nuclear force (which causes certain forms of radioactive decay), and the gravitational force. All other forces are ultimately derived from these four fundamental forces.
The carrier particle of the electromagnetic force is the photon.
An electromagnetic interaction is an exchange between charged elementary particles that is intermediate in strength between the strong and weak interactions and is mediated by photons.
The behavior of the interaction between charged elementary particles is characteized by the photon and particles emitted from the interaction. The wavelength of the emitted photon is always greater than that of the incident photon and the energy is also always less.
Photons of different energies span the entire electromagnetic spectrum of cosmic rays, x-rays, ultra-violet light, infra-red light, visible light and radio waves. Cosmic rays have the shortest wavelength and the most energy while radio waves have the longest wavelengths and the least amount of energy. See the Figure above. Photons have zero mass, as far as we know, and always travel at the "speed of light" which is about 300,000,000 meters per second, or 186,000 miles per second, in a vacuum. Photons propagate linearly from the point of origin yet in a columnar manner that may best be described as in a pattern like an expanded toy known as a slinky. Thus, the propagating wave looks like a circle viewed head on and a sine wave viewed perpendicularly from the side. What the human primate organism is able to "see" as visible light is only a very small part of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Light may be radiated, transmitted, reflected, absorbed and re-radiated at a longer wavelength. Similar processes occur throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum but the events happening vary with the nature of the elements, molecules and complexes of molecules that are involved in the interactions.
The collective body of research in biophysics that deals with the radiated, absorbed and re-radiated light energies of biological systems is highly significant to the understanding of the basis of what comprises a healthy organism. To put it simply, we are in resonance with the electromagnetic components of our environment or we become ill and eventually die. The work of Fritz-Albert Popp concerning biophotons is a major contribution toward the understanding of the nature of the interaction of the electromagnetic components of the environment with living organisms.
In relation to the concepts of healing, biophoton emission has been shown to reflect:
The importance of the above information to healing is of huge significance, and will be subsequently described. Those events that remove the healthy organism from resonance with the components of the environment impinging upon it is the direct cause of illness and dis-ease. Energy disruption always proceeds behavioral and physiological disruption as the processes responsible for rheostasis (more scientifically correct than homeostasis) in the body are impaired. Homeostasis means that the values do not change. The values for the set-points of metabolism in the human body actually oscillate around a mean value as the set-point. Thus, the more correct term is rheostasis. If the disruption continues for an extended period of time, tissue and organ disruption occurs with the production of pathological products and eventual formation of lesion. Thus, the use of light for therapy is to directly influence the control processes of biological organisms as relates to the electromagnetic spectrum in order to restore harmony and resonance. What then are the events through time that relate to the dis-ease process? What therapies have been utilized by man for this purpose and how does the use of "light" assist the body in regaining rheostasis?
The Disease Process The body of information gleaned from research in modern biophysics has given us a peek into the interactions of biological molecules, specifically nucleic acid complexes, with the various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum as the origin of the control processes in living systems. The DNA-chromosomal complex of gene allels expressed in any living organism is directly responsible for the growth, development, maintenance and behavioral expression through the time-line of that individual organism. Any event that disrupts the harmonious interaction of the DNA-chromosomal complex with the environment will initiate what are know as healing protocols within the body. These protocols deal with the disrupting influence, return rheostasis and rid the body of pathological products of disrupted metabolism in a relatively short period of time noted as an acute disease. An acute disease may turn chronic, lasting for greater time periods, if the pathogen is not completely removed from the organism and the body accommodates the disruption. If the pathogen is completely removed by the healing protocols, optimum health is returned. If chronic accommodation ensues, the body will function at a less than optimum health with symptoms manifesting dependent upon the genetic constitution of the individual and the nature of the retained pathogen.
Aryuvedic Medicine originated in ancient India and has been practiced for more than 8000 years. Much emphasis is placed upon digestion and specific references to color are in relation to foods. Go to the links above for background information.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, color is more associated with diagnosis and the application of the 5-Element theory for a treatment strategy. The use of color as therapy is tied to the five colors of the 5 elements in relation to the meridian systems. The use of color light for therapy is not discussed. Go to the links above for background information.
The history of color theapy has its roots in ancient Egypt and India. Rooms were painted with certain colors in order to set a particulr mood. The use of light for a therapeutic modality seems to be exclusively a Western concept. Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is often facilitated in the healing rooms of alternative health practitioners. A therapist trained in color therapy uses color to balance energy wherever our bodies are lacking, be it physical, emotional , spiritual, or mental. Colors are projected onto areas of the body that correspond to the chakras. Each chakra has a specific color associated with it. See the figure below for details.
Some of the tools used in color therapy are gemstones, candles, wands, prisms, colored fabrics, bath treatments and colored eye wear. Applying the famous Luscher's Color Test can be quite revealing.
Scientists, who have studied color and light extensively, recognize that colors bring about emotional reactions to individuals. The reactions and attitudes to colors differ from person to person. The attraction to certain colors seems to be a signal to the areas of our beingness where we are imbalanced. Understanding why certain colors affect us favorably while others bring about negative feelings helps us along our path to healing.
The term LASER is an acronym for Light Amplitude Stimulation of Emitted Light. Laser light is coherent (organized in phase and direction) and monochromatic (having a single wavelength). The wavelength of the emitted light is dependent upon the type and characteristics of the lasing medium: gas, liquid or solid. Electrons of atoms absorb energy from the environment and become "excited". When an excited electron looses its excitation energy and settles back into its normal state, a single photon is emitted. In contrast, during stimulated emission, 2 electrons are emitted when a photon collides with an excited atom. A laser is an amplifier of light. The medium provides a reservoir of highly charged atoms and photons to sustain laser emission. The range of wavelengths of therapeutic lasers is from approximately 630 nano-meters (nm) to 1100 nm. Nano is the prefix for 10 to the minus 9. The wavelengths of the lasers available for use are:
For laser eye safety, go to this link: Eye Safety.
Skin is permeable to light between approximately 600 nm and 1100 nm. This is referred to as the "optical window" for tissue. The depth of penetration of the incident light into tissue is directly proportional to the wavelength. The longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply and the higher the percentage of light that will be transmitted. Now to discuss pulsed vs. non-pulsed lasers. In general, pulsed lasers have very short pulse times with higher power output. The reason for this is to achieve local heating effects in target chromophores. A chromophore is a molecule that will absorb light in a relatively narrow bandwidth, such as melanin and hemoglobin. This heating usually vaporizes the chromophore and is used with ablative laser therapy. Non-pulsed lasers have continuous output that is of less power. The same total tissue absorption may be achieved by altering the length of time in order to absorb the same power density.
This artcle does not address lasers used in surgery and opthalmology.
Ablative laser therapy is reserved for certified physicians for the removal of hair, facial and leg veins, pigmented lesions, wrinkle reduction and vascular lesions. The most common laser frequencies utilized are 755 nm and 1064 nm. The 755 nm laser removes pigmented lesions. The 1064 nm laser is used for the removal of facial and leg veins. Both lasers are used for treatment of sun-damaged and aging skin. Some form of surface cooling is usually required during treatment due to the high power densities achieved.
For a description of low level laser acupuncture, go to this link: The lasers that are most popular with practitioners is the infra-red Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide (GaAlAs) laser as they are well tolerated and have good depth of penetration.
These lasers have a wide range of therapeutic applications. The visible, red laser light in the range of 630 nm to 670 nm is better tolerated at higher doses although the depth of penetration is less that with the infra-red laser. These lasers are ideal for skin treatments and relatively superficial applications. The CO2 laser is outside the optimal window for tissue. The wavelength of these lasers is extremely long, 10,600 nm, compared to normally thought of therapeutic lasers. It is thought that most of the incident energy is absorbed by water just beneath the surface of the skin beneath the keratinized outer layers, about 20 microns. CO2 lasers are known to have profound beneficial systemic effects, possibly by exciting the blood and interstitial fluid near the surface of the skin. Remember that blood is a continuous source of biophotons and has the ability to store the energy of electron excitation. The optimum absorbed power density for laser acupuncture is from 4 Joules/cm x cm to 20 Joules/cm x cm.
The recommended pulse rates for therapeutic treatment are as follows:
Color Therapy
RED
ORANGE
YELLOW
GREEN
BLUE
VIOLET
The six basic colors are divided
into three hot and three cool, hot being the colors which arouse
and give stimulation and cool being the colors which cool down
and sedate. The colors Red, Orange & Yellow are warming. The colors
Green, Blue & Violet are cooling. Color Therapy uses these complimentary
properties of the colors to balance the body and help it to heal.
By testing complimentary pairs in your body system, the more
sensitive area is found and then given the cool color to sedate,
the others are given the warm color to tonify.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of whole sunlight for therapy is very old indeed. Whole sunlight is necessary for
the growth and development of the body and in the maintenance of health. Sunlight is
also the source of aging for the skin, due to the U.V. component. Color therapy seems to be ideal for emotional and psychological healing. Laser therapy seems to be a more vigorous approach to assisting the body in re-establishing rheostasis. Both modes have clear and substantive support from the scientific community. As with all of the healing arts, the skill, confidence and experience of the therapist is paramount in achieving efficacy of treatment.
RESEARCH LINK
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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