Harmful Light Therapy Products On the Market

Considered these Questions - 

• Are you one of those who own or are considering buying a therapeutic light therapy product either for yourself or for your animals?
• Do you know that some of these products may be designed with lights that are really only for illumination, and have no therapeutic effect, or at worst be harmful?
• And how can you distinguish between them?

 Anita Nordum who has worked with laser and light therapy for over 30 years shares her knowledge with us.

"The first time I handled a laser was in 1991. At the time it was a large, expensive and complicated device that could cause serious injury if not used by someone who was properly trained. Fortunately, the safety surrounding the use of lasers has increased considerably since then.

 Over the past 20 years, LED based light therapy has become a safer option for those who are not professionally qualified to take advantage of the benefits of therapeutic light therapy, or rather, Photobiomodulation, which is the overall name for both laser and LED based units.

 BUT! In the last 2-3 years, there has been a flood of new products on the market, and I feel a very strong need to speak out. Many of these products are a waste of money, and some may even be harmful in the long run.

Assuming that something that glows red with a wavelength of around 600-650 nm is therapeutic light therapy is a common mistaken. Unfortunately, we see many products on the market that contain RGB LEDs, and which are sold as light therapy, even though these LED lamps are actually designed for decoration and lighting. Especially from China, there are many such products that have neither been checked, analysed, or have CE certification. These products also have the potential to radiate electromagnetic fields (EMF), which we all want to limit exposure to, both for ourselves and our animals.
 

Horses are known to be more sensitive to their surroundings than we are. It is therefore reasonable to assume that they are particularly sensitive to electricity and electromagnetic fields, including EMF from light sources. Studies on cows have shown clear effects from EMF, and considering that horses are even more sensitive, we should be careful. Horses increasingly live in environments characterized by EMF from WiFi, electronic devices with Bluetooth, electric fences both outside and inside, as well as possible influences from RGB lights.
 

Problems such as reproductive challenges, nervousness and chronic illness are among the problems that have been documented in cows in various studies. It is important to be aware of this issue when choosing light therapy products, both for your own well-being and for the animals' well-being.

Read the article in Equine wellness here: https://equinewellnessmagazine.com/emf-exposure-horses/

Therapeutic light therapy is not the same as heat therapy. A challenge arises when suppliers sell products with RGB LED instead of medical LED, as RGB LED develops heat in a different way, which in many cases is not beneficial. This is particularly problematic when it comes to products that are attached to horse legs, as heat treatment of horse legs is often not beneficial. Morgan Lashley, specialist in sports medicine and equine rehabilitation at the University of Utrecht, noted that the biggest challenge is the increase in temperature, which has, among other things, an unfavourable effect on the elasticity of tendon tissue. Cooling the legs immediately after riding does not help.

“It's like first setting the house on fire and then putting it out. The damage has already been done," says Morgan Lashley.
 

Some suppliers advertise that their products do not get hot. But then the question is, do they have any effect? With products for Photobiomodulation, the desired effect is achieved through Photobiomodulation or also referred to as photomedicine. This entails photons with varying effects on cells, aiming primarily to boost cellular energy, thereby enhancing the repair and rejuvenation of damaged or diseased cells with superior activity.

As this process unfolds, individuals may feel internal warmth due to heightened cellular energy within the body. This heightened energy can also manifest as increased far-infrared (FIR) radiation emitted from the body, sensed as a gentle warmth on the product post-treatment. Hence, it's crucial to adhere strictly to the instructions for product usage.

Therapeutic light therapy extends beyond mere wavelengths. Some suppliers advocate for incorporating as many wavelengths as possible into a single product, believing it makes it the strongest or best on the market. However, the number of wavelengths doesn't inherently determine strength or efficacy. While combining wavelengths can offer potential benefits for various challenges, achieving effective solutions requires meticulous research.

Suppliers need a well-considered strategy behind their choice of wavelengths. When multiple wavelengths are used simultaneously, it can result in "impure" wavelengths unless carefully integrated into programs with different combinations. Simply including more wavelengths doesn't necessarily enhance device efficiency; in fact, it often dilutes the potency of effective wavelengths. This dilution can cause each wavelength to fall below the therapeutic threshold, particularly critical for near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, where intensity is vital for deep tissue penetration and repair.

Despite lacking meaningful effects, these additional wavelengths are marketed as superior due to their quantity, overshadowing products with fewer wavelengths that may actually be more effective.

Irradiance, or radiation intensity, is crucial for evaluating the effect of various products within therapeutic light therapy and Photobiomodulation. While some may think that only strength is essential, experience and research show that this is not the case. It is important to understand that Irradiance is not only about how strong the light is, but also about how it is delivered and what effect it has on the various areas and problems.
 

In order to ensure the quality of the products and to choose the right intensity for the specific purpose, it is important to measure radiation intensity with accurate and professional measuring devices, which are designed to carry out analyses made in professional laboratories. This ensures accurate and reliable results which are essential for effective treatment.
 

Therapeutic light therapy and Photobiomodulation are complex areas that cannot be reduced to a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Research has shown that different combinations of wavelengths, intensities, joule values, power and time can produce different therapeutic results. Therefore, it is important to take all these factors into account when designing and choosing treatment protocols.
 

Through thousands of research studies, the effect of various parameters in therapeutic light therapy and Photobiomodulation is explored and documented. This extensive research provides valuable insights that can help clinicians and researchers optimize treatment protocols and achieve desired therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account both the quality and the intensity of the lighting when evaluating and choosing products, considering what you want to treat.

Unfortunately, we see that several suppliers do not have a deep understanding of why their products "blink", which reveals a fundamental lack of insight into product design and the principles behind pulsating light or frequency processing.

This lack of understanding can lead to serious consequences for the users of such products. Without knowledge of why the light source "blinks" or how the pulsating light effect works, it can be difficult to achieve desired therapeutic results. In the worst case, incorrect use of such products can lead to negative effects or lack of effectiveness of the treatment.
 

Hence, it's imperative to select suppliers who not only provide products but also possess a comprehensive understanding of the underlying technology and science. A supplier well-versed in therapeutic light therapy and frequency treatment can offer advice and guidance rooted in solid professional insight. This ensures the selection of products that are not only safe and effective but also tailored to your specific needs.

It is worrying and potentially harmful when several suppliers falsely market products as infrared therapy, but display a product that clearly has red wavelengths. This clearly indicates that these suppliers lack the necessary knowledge about the products they sell. Several suppliers on the market state that the hand-held laser they sell for home use is a class 3B laser.

When it comes to Class 3B laser equipment, having the right skills is absolutely essential. This is not something you can try your hand at without thorough training. Using such equipment at home, without adequate knowledge, can be dangerous both for yourself and any pets.
 

If the laser equipment falls under class 3 or 4 according to European/international standards such as EN/IEC 60825-1, it is necessary to follow the regulations for who is authorized to carry out treatments with equipment in these classes. It is also important to point out that it is forbidden to give the impression that the use of medical equipment is risk-free.

Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the use of class 3B lasers requires thorough training and an understanding of safety protocols. This equipment can produce strong beams of light that can cause serious injury if not used correctly. Therefore, only qualified professionals with relevant training and experience should handle and administer such treatments. As consumers and healthcare professionals, it is important to be aware of these issues and make informed decisions when choosing and using products that are sold as lasers, but after all, isn't it certain that they are actually selling a laser?

Choosing reliable providers and providing adequate training and guidance are essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of any laser treatment.

When exploring the market for therapeutic light therapy products, be sure to be critical and choose suppliers who put knowledge and quality first. This will ensure that you get products that not only meet your expectations, but also give you security and confidence in the treatment you carry out.

1.  Wavelength: The choice of wavelength depends on the target chromophore. Each wavelength has a unique absorption profile in one of our endogenous chromophores: melanin, haemoglobin, oxyhaemoglobin and water. Two basic principles, absorption and scattering, are involved in the interaction between light and tissue. Absorption plays a decisive role in the desired treatment effect.

2.  Irradiance: This term describes the quantity of energy reaching the skin per unit area. The intensity of the beam impacts treatment effectiveness and diminishes as the distance between the device and the treatment area increases.

3. Power and size: Power and strobe size are individual parameters that, when combined, result in power density. The combination of these two properties determines how much energy and heat is delivered to the target. Similar to a magnifying glass, a given number of photons focuses on a specific area, resulting in a temperature increase on the target as the energy generates its thermal effect on the tissue. By controlling the density, devices can increase their output power.

4. Joules and doses: For therapeutic light therapy, power density is the most important thing to understand. Without this knowledge, it will not be possible to determine how long the device should be used to achieve a specific dose/treatment. Power density essentially measures how powerful the light intensity is, or the number of photons in a given area. Without knowing how many joules are required for specific problems, one may risk giving too much or too little light to achieve the desired effect.

5.  Medical or non-medical CE approval: It is also crucial to investigate whether the supplier offers products that have either medical or non-medical CE approval when purchasing therapeutic light therapy products. The manufacturer or importer is responsible for ensuring that the products have the correct CE approval. This is a critical indicator of the quality and safety of the equipment. Companies that market products under their own name must also ensure that the products meet the necessary standards and have received the correct CE approval in their own name.

By paying attention to these details and conducting thorough research before choosing therapeutic light therapy equipment, you can ensure that you have access to reliable and safe treatment options that provide optimal benefits for improved health and well-being, for both humans and animals.

Therapeutic light therapy stands as an impressive modality, which when used with the right equipment and careful monitoring, shows an impressive array of positive results. This fascinating treatment method has its roots back to the late 19th century, when the physicist Niels Rydberg Finsen explored the use of various forms of light for therapeutic purposes. His pioneering work was recognized with a Nobel Prize in 1903, and lays the foundation for the innovative products we use today.