Migraine and Green Light Therapy
Green light is a soothing color that may help alleviate migraine pain. A recent study suggests it could reduce both the intensity and duration of attacks for some individuals.
Migraine is the third most prevalent illness worldwide, and green light therapy may be an effective treatment. It involves exposing your eyes to a specific wavelength of green light for an established amount of time.
Though this approach isn’t a replacement for medication, it’s noninvasive and may help alleviate your symptoms without side effects. Before trying it out, make sure you speak with a trusted physician first.
Studies have demonstrated that green light can alter how your brain processes pain and reduce migraine frequency. It also appears to have a beneficial effect on sleep quality and mood.
Light exposure doesn’t need to be intense, and you can do it anywhere. Burstein recommends sitting in a room with plenty of natural light but you could also try using a specially designed strip lamp that emits narrow-band green light for certain hours each day.
However, you should make sure the lamp does not emit more aggressive rays (like blue and white) that could trigger an attack, and be mindful not to place it too close to your bed.
If you choose this route, keep your eyes open while the green light reaches your retinas in your eyeball. This is because the green light must travel from your eyes all the way to your thalamus, where it is processed by your brain.
Notably, this part of the brain is where CGRP — the hormone targeted by our migraine medications — resides, suggesting that this therapy could potentially reduce migraines.
Another study has demonstrated that green light can reduce pain for people suffering from fibromyalgia and other conditions. Though researchers are still researching its exact mechanism, they’ve observed that exposure to this light actually lessens headaches for these individuals while increasing muscle strength.
Research into green light usage and frequency is ongoing, so consult your doctor for guidance.
Current clinical trial involves sitting in a dark room with an LED green light strip for 2 hours a day for 3 months. If you’re interested, speak with your neurologist or ophthalmologist first.
Green light can be an effective tool for relieving migraines and other types of pain disorders, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Finding a device that produces the correct wavelength of light may prove challenging, and there’s also the chance you might experience some side effects from using it.
You must spend a considerable amount of time near the light to gain its full benefits. According to some researchers, using the light two or three hours daily is ideal; however, this depends on your personal objectives and how well-rested you feel during an attack.