BENEFITS OF PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY DEMONSTRATED IN HEAD INJURY

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) sometimes called closed head injuries are a very common problem due to traumatic accidents and sports. These difficult to treat injuries associated with significant loss of brain function have been shown to benefit from application of near infrared (NIR) and red wavelengths of light (600-1100 nanometer wavelengths) in the form of light treatment known as PhotoBioModulation or PBM. This used to be called cold laser or low-level laser treatment. These injuries also often afflict our military veterans from exposure to explosions, blast injuries and other blows to the head. TBI and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are often seen together in these military veterans. Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome is another name that is given to this condition. TBI is associated with symptoms like headache, depression, anxiety, unexplained anger, poor sleep, memory loss, trouble focusing and trouble solving problems. We are learning that repeated mild to moderate head trauma such as with head-ball contact in soccer, head-to-head contact in football, or boxing are frequently contributing to TBI as well.

SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

MILD TO SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
MENTAL CONFUSION AND TROUBLE FOCUSING
SPEECH DIFFICULTY/ TROUBLE FINDING WORDS
TROUBLE MAKING NEW MEMORIES
OVERLY EMOTIONAL, AGGRESSIVE, IRRITABLE, IMPULSIVE
EXCESSIVE SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT, SOUND, ODORS
POOR BALANCE, DIZZINESS
POOR SLEEP
HEADACHES

Research has shown that TBI is associated with brain inflammation sometimes known as microglial activation. Also, loss of brain cells known as neurons and the connections between neurons known as synapses are hallmarks of TBI.

The treatment of TBI so far has not been very effective. Several recent studies have shown significant positive effects of red and near infrared light on the brain resulting in reversal of the pathologic changes and significant improvement in the symptoms of TBI.

TISSUE BENEFITS OF PBM WITH NEAR INFRARED AND RED LIGHT

STIMULATE HEALING
PROTECT TISSUE FROM DYING
INCREASE MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION
IMPROVE BLOOD FLOW
IMPROVE TISSUE OXYGENATION
REDUCE SWELLING
INCREASE ANTIOXIDANTS
DECREASE INFLAMMATION
PROTECT AGAINST APOPTOSIS
MODULATE MICROGLIAL ACTIVATION

CLINICAL BENEFITS OF PBM WITH RED AND NEAR INFRARED LIGHT

IMPROVE NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION
IMPROVE LEARNING
IMPROVE MEMORY
IMPROVE MOOD
IMPROVE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION
IMPROVE SLEEP

The NovoTHOR at Texas Laser Therapy offers total body illumination at an intensity and duration that has been clearly shown to provide the brain and the entire body with millions and millions of therapeutic photons of red and near infrared light. Each photon is capable of producing change at the cellular level that has the ability to reverse the abnormalities associated with TBI.

Recent studies are demonstrating that increased delivery of oxygen as with hyperbaric oxygen or breathing increased concentration of oxygen as compared to oxygen in ambient air are able to reverse the symptoms and signs of TBI as well.

Texas Laser Therapy provides PBM with the NovoThor and Thor LX2 handheld system for systemic and direct therapeutic benefit for traumatic brain injury as well as offering oxygen therapy to feed the brain during a NovoTHOR session. Learn more about Texas Laser Therapy and their options for TBI at https://www.txlasertx.com/tbi-program.

References:

Hamblin MR; Photobiomodulation for Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke. J Neurosci Res 2017 Nov 13.

Henderson TA, Morries LD; Multi-Watt Near-Infrared Phototherapy for the Treatment of Comorbid Depression: An Open-Label Single-Arm Study. Front Psychiatry 2017 Sep 29;8:187.

Vargas E, Barrett DW, Saucedo CL, Huang LD, Abraham JA, Tanaka H, Haley AP, Gonzalez-Lima F; Beneficial neurocognitive effects of transcranial laser in older adults. Lasers Med Sci. 2017 Jul; 32(5):1153-1162.

Naeser MA, Martin PI, Ho MD, Krengel MH, Bogdanova Y, Knight JA, Yee MK, Zafonte R, Frazier J, Hamblin MR, Koo BB; Transcranial, Red/Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Therapy to Improve Cognition in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury. Photomed Laser Surg. 2016 Dec; 34 (12):610-626.

About Wally Taylor MD

Dr. Taylor practices integrative medicine at Texas Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas. After obtaining a general medical doctorate degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas he completed a general medical internship and residency training in head and neck surgery ENT and allergy. After 20 years service in the US Army Medical Corps and practice in Colorado and Texas he founded Texas Integrative where he now offers a functional holistic approach to disease which treats the entire individual instead of each separate symptom. He has found more satisfying results using this Systems BioIndividualized approach. His motto is “Health and Wellness from Head to toe”. www.texasintegrative.com office phone (512) 800-5309