Green LED Light Therapy For Migraines
If you’ve ever experienced the debilitating effects of a migraine, then you know how difficult it can be to cope. Signs include sensitivity to light, sound, touch and smell as well as an intense throbbing headache that may last hours or days on end. Fortunately, there are treatments available which can reduce your discomfort and enhance quality of life.
One innovative treatment, green led light therapy for migraines, claims to alleviate these symptoms by exposing you to specific types of light that reduce inflammation and stimulate natural painkillers called endorphins. The therapy involves sitting in a dark room with an LED lamp emitting hyper-specific bands of green light.
Researchers have been exploring this approach for years. Studies have demonstrated that green light reduces headache frequency and intensity in patients with chronic migraines, a condition which affects 29 million people in the US and 1 billion worldwide.
Other studies have discovered that exposing migraine sufferers to a narrow band of green light can reduce their symptoms and enhance quality of life. This promising approach holds potential to revolutionize how we think about pain.
For centuries, Japanese practitioners have known the calming benefits of green. Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” is a Japanese practice that can reduce anxiety and boost mood and energy by immersing oneself in nature. According to recent research from University of Arizona Health Sciences, 29 migraine sufferers experienced a 60% reduction in their headache pain and 28% improvement in quality of life after undergoing green light therapy for 10 weeks.
Dr. Ibrahim, a pain specialist at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, reports that this is the first clinical trial to demonstrate green light may be beneficial for migraine sufferers.
He and his team measured the electrical signals generated by the retina (cells lining the back wall of the eye) and cortex in migraine sufferers in response to various colors of light. They discovered that blue and red lights produced larger signals, while green light created smaller ones.
His research indicates that green light doesn’t stimulate the retinal pathways in the brain as much as red or blue rays, thus relieving patients of migraine pain. Furthermore, it decreases their aversion to color which makes managing these attacks much simpler.
Green light therapy is a safe, non-invasive alternative to medications with side effects. Plus, it’s relatively cost effective; plus, there are devices designed specifically for this purpose that you can use at home.
The good news is that green light has been scientifically proven to reduce pain and a patient’s aversion to blue light, offering great advantages for many individuals.
Unfortunately, there are currently no medical guidelines on the use of this technique for migraines. It’s still in its early stages and doctors are uncertain if it will work well for everyone. So if you want to give it a shot, talk with your doctor first before trying it on your own.