PHOTOMEDICINE THERAPY DEFINED

 PHOTOMEDICINE IS LASER THERAPY, COMBINED WITH SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE 

 PHOTOMEDICINE IS LASER THERAPY, COMBINED WITH SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE  

No matter what it is called, LASER THERAPY, or PHOTOMEDICINE, is highly effective in resolving a plethora of disorders in the human body; some of the many terms used to describe laser therapy are:   

• Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT)  
• Photobiostimulation Therapy (PBST)  
• Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)  
• High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)  
• Laser Therapy 
• LED Therapy 
• SLED Therapy 
• Light Therapy 
• Cold Laser Therapy and more…  

Many of the above terms are outmoded and represent outdated research and technology - most of their research is based on In Vitro studies that have no application in real-world environments. We propose that these terms and the thinking behind them be replaced by more inclusive, updated, and applicable science and terminology.   

There is really no such thing as LLLT, HILT, PBMT, PBST and so on. There is only Biomedical Photonics, or Photomedicine, in all its formats, dosage levels, and applications.   

For ease of use, because it describes applied medicine using medical lasers in a much wider range of applications, and because “Laser Therapy” and all the other associated terms are still struggling to gain widespread acceptance in the broader medical community, we propose the more relevant and widely accepted term PHOTOMEDICINE be used in place of Laser Therapy and the terms listed above.  

WHAT IS PHOTOMEDICINE? 

Photomedicine is used for the relief of pain, to accelerate healing, decrease inflammation, to reverse autoimmune disorders, and more. When laser energy is directed to targeted tissues, the energy penetrates deeply and are absorbed by mitochondria, the energy- producing part of a cell. This energy fuels many positive physiological responses resulting in the restoration of normal cell morphology and function.   

PHOTOMEDICINE has been successfully used to treat a broad range of medical conditions, including musculoskeletal problems, arthritis, sports injuries, post-surgical wounds, diabetic ulcers, malfunctioning immune systems, dermatological conditions, and more.   

The primary goal of photomedicine is to stimulate cells to perform natural functions at an enhanced rate. Targeted in chromophores, including hemoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase within the mitochondria, photomedicine treatments will aid in cellular respiration and reduce oxidative stress. In sharp contrast to so-called cold lasers which provide no feeling or sensation, appropriately-powered diode laser therapy will provide a warm and soothing feeling during and after treatments.   

Unlike many pharmacological treatments that mask pain or only address the symptoms of disease, photomedicine treats the underlying condition or pathology to promote healing. This means that photomedicine treatments can be more effective than pharmacology, include no side effects and include longer lasting benefits. 

Photomedicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that involves the study and application of light with respect to health and disease. Photomedicine may be related to the practice of various fields of medicine including dermatology, surgery, interventional radiology, optical diagnostics, cardiology, circadian rhythm sleep disorders and oncology.  A branch of photomedicine is light therapy - the use of applicable volumes of light energy in specific infrared wavelengths to stimulate and energize sick or injured tissues and bring them back to full metabolic function.   From: Lasers in Medicine, 2021