When was the last time you experienced inflammation in your body? Inflammation is a very common condition, and the natural defense mechanism of your immune system to protect itself against the harmful effects of infections, injuries, irritants, and toxins. Everyone at some time in their life has suffered from the redness, swelling, tenderness, heat, and pain of acute inflammation.
Consequences of Inflammation
Many times, acute inflammation can lead to a loss of function, especially when inflammation is in the hand, foot, or joints. And pain usually accompanies inflammation, due to the fact that the swelling causes a buildup of fluid, and swollen tissues then push against nerve endings. But in most cases, acute inflammation lasts for only a day or two.
However, when inflammation becomes chronic, in time it can have a serious negative impact on your health, and, consequently, your quality of life. As the medical website healthline states: “When you have chronic inflammation, your body’s inflammatory response can eventually start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Over time, this can lead to DNA damage, tissue death, and internal scarring.”[1] And if it is not reduced, “Inflammation is often associated with the development and progression of cancer.”[2] Also, people who suffer with chronic inflammation are susceptible to infections throughout their body because chronic inflammation can weaken the immune system.
Medical Treatment for Inflammation
The medical field today typically treats chronic inflammation with either prescription-based corticosteroids, or OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In more intense cases of chronic inflammation related to asthma, allergies, and other conditions, shots (immunotherapy) may also be prescribed.
However, these methods of keeping inflammation under control have been found to have negative side effects. Long-term use of NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can lead to greater risk of peptic ulcers and kidney disease. Long-term corticosteroid usage can lead to problems with vision, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. However, there is an easy, non-invasive, and painless way to reduce inflammation much more safely — Laser Therapy!
Lasers Reduce Inflammation
Rather than controlling chronic inflammation with immunosuppressive agents with toxic side effects that may also lead to other diseases, a painless, non-invasive, easy, and highly effective way to reduce inflammation is with Laser Therapy. In a nutshell, Laser Therapy is, “…the use of red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.”[3] Since the 1960’s, science has discovered that lasers can successfully penetrate skin, bone, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons, and bring relief for both acute and chronic inflammation.
[Laser Therapy is also called “low-level laser therapy” or “LLLT.” LLLT is a common acronym used to describe the utilization of lasers for clinical therapy. It is not unique to any specific class of laser. And Laser Therapy is also commonly referred to as “photobiomodulation” or “PBM.”]
Studies Verify Laser Therapy
Many peer-reviewed scientific studies on http://www.pubmed.gov have found that Laser Therapy is highly effective in reducing inflammation, and can be used as both an adjunct and a stand-alone treatment. Here are two studies:
- A 2019 study concluded that, “LLLT is a promising therapeutic modality in the realm of inflammatory diseases, particularly those of skin and joints that are most accessible to treatment. It offers a unique approach by being non-invasive and incurring minimal side effects.”[4]
- A 2017 study found that, “One of the most reproducible effects of PBM is an overall reduction in inflammation, which is particularly important for disorders of the joints, traumatic injuries, lung disorders, and in the brain.”[5]
Laser Acupuncture for Asthma and RA
The joining of Laser Therapy with the centuries-old traditional Chinese healing modality of acupuncture has proven to be a winning combination. Laser Acupuncture is the use of lasers to trigger acupuncture points, and studies have found it to be beneficial for a number of conditions involving chronic inflammation. Here are two examples:
- A 2013 study of 30 asthmatic boys and 20 asthmatic girls ages 7-18, each given ten laser treatment sessions, concluded that, “Low-intensity laser acupuncture can be safe and effective treatment in asthmatic children.”[6]
- A 2016 study of laser acupuncture on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that: “Our study results confirmed the effectiveness of laser acupuncture in alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation, improving antioxidant and energy metabolic status, while also suppressing the disease activity in RA patients. Laser acupuncture is a promising treatment modality to reduce the pain and suffering of RA patients because of its efficiency in inhibiting most of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.”[7]
In Conclusion
It is crucial for people suffering with chronic inflammation to manage their condition correctly in order to prevent further complications. Laser Therapy can safely relieve inflammation without the negative side effects of commonly prescribed corticosteroids and/or OTC anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, Advil, or Aleve. If you are a chiropractor, physical therapist, or acupuncturist, consider adding Laser Therapy to your treatment menu to provide your patients with quick, effective, and dependable relief of acute or chronic inflammation and related pain. Our handheld lasers are designed for treating Acupuncture points. Please contact us for more information.
Citations
[1] Longhurst, AS, Medically reviewed by Han, S. MD. Understanding and Managing Chronic Inflammation. www.healthline.com/health/chronic-inflammation.
[2] Singh N, Baby D, Rajguru JP, Patil PB, Thakkannavar SS, Pujari VB. Inflammation and cancer. Ann Afr Med. 2019 Jul-Sep;18(3):121-126. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_56_18. PMID: 31417011; PMCID: PMC6704802, p.1.
[3] Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337. Epub 2017 May 19. PMID: 28748217; PMCID: PMC5523874, p.1.
[4] Wickenheisser VA, Zywot EM, Rabjohns EM, Lee HH, Lawrence DS, Tarrant TK. Laser Light Therapy in Inflammatory, Musculoskeletal, and Autoimmune Disease. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2019 Jul 2;19(8):37. doi: 10.1007/s11882-019-0869-z. PMID: 31267251; PMCID: PMC7357616, p.13.
[5] Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337. Epub 2017 May 19. PMID: 28748217; PMCID: PMC5523874, p.1.
[6] Elseify MY, Mohammed NH, Alsharkawy AA, Elseoudy ME. Laser acupuncture in treatment of childhood bronchial asthma. J Complement Integr Med. 2013 Jul 9;10:/j/jcim.2013.10.issue-1/jcim-2012-0006/jcim-2012-0006.xml. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2012-0006. PMID: 23843569, Abstract.
[7] Attia AM, Ibrahim FA, Abd El-Latif NA, Aziz SW, Elwan AM, Abdel Aziz AA, Elgendy A, Elgengehy FT. Therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of laser acupuncture on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Jul;48(5):490-7. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22487. Epub 2016 Feb 14. PMID: 26875769, Abstract.
