Sufferers of chronic pain may soon have a non-pharmaceutical option to treat their condition and it comes in the form of light therapy. New research has found that treating chronic pain with green LED light can reduce its severity. The study was conducted on rats with neuropathic pain, and after being bathed in the light, the rodents displayed a better tolerance for thermal and tactile stimuli.
There were no adverse side effects seen in the rats treated with light therapy, and their motor skills and visual performance remained unimpaired. The pain-relieving benefits of the light therapy lasted up to four days and there was no tolerance of the light developed, meaning the duration and intensity of the light exposure did not need to be adjusted for each treatment.
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The benefits of using light therapy to treat pain could allow doctors and patients alike to ease their dependency on pharmaceuticals, reducing the need for prescription medication like opioids, which can have potentially serious side effects. Opioids are extremely addictive and can be expensive, while also inducing side effects like nausea and vomiting, constipation, dizziness, tolerance, dependence, and respiratory depression. Their value in treating long-term chronic pain has also not been proven. These factors highlight the need for safer and more effective alternatives to ease the symptoms suffered by many with chronic pain.
Senior author of the study Rajesh Khanna explained the need for further research into how light therapy works, stating: “While the pain-relieving qualities of green LED are clear, exactly how it works remains a puzzle. Early studies show that green light is increasing the levels of circulating endogenous opioids, which may explain the pain-relieving effects. Whether this will be observed in humans is not yet known and needs further work.” Researchers are currently testing the efficacy of green LED lights for treating people with fibromyalgia, and are hopeful that the results will lead to treatments for pain that do not involve opioids.
Related: Light therapy may help boost male libido: Study
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
