What is Photobiomodulation and How Does it Work?

It doesn’t help that photobiomodulation is such an awkward word to pronounce, However, life is made slightly easier knowing that it is also abbreviated to PBM.

So what, exactly, is PBM?

Well, let’s break down the word into three sections ‘photo’ – ‘bio’- and ‘modulation’.

In simple terms, ‘photo’ stands for light, ‘bio’ stands for biological, and ‘modulation’ means “the exertion of a modifying or controlling influence on something”.

In other words, light is being used to modify parts of the human body.

Photobiomodulation uses red and near-infrared light

Of course the light being used is not a laser, so it has no harmful or damaging effects. This is red light and near-infrared light coming from light emitting diodes (LEDs) similar to the ones we use at home, and they don’t do us any harm.

It is also worth pointing out that PBM doesn’t just achieve one single result. In other words, it is not used only to help heal wounds – this is just one of the documented benefits of PBM. Because you can adjust the strength of the PBM light, that affords it tremendous flexibility.

Nine different ways to benefit from photobiomodulation

As we will cover in greater detail in additional blog articles, PBM can be used for nine different ‘treatments’:

1. Speeding up recovery after a strenuous workout

2. Improving hormonal balance through targeting specific endocrine glands

3. Maintaining the musculoskeletal system through regeneration of tendons and joints

4. Improved eye health as the light wavelengths of LEDs do not harm the retina

5. Better sleep through optimization of your circadian rhythm

6. Improved nail, skin, and hair conditioning through improved collagen production

7. General health in the long term through PBM’s ability to have a positive effect on mitochondria

8. Reducing inflammation through specific targeting

9. Light has beneficial effects in counteracting seasonal depression when the dark evenings roll in, while also improving brain health through the synthesis of activating neurotransmitters

Photobiomodulation can be used proactively and reactively

One of the great advantages of using PBM is that you don’t have to use it in a reactive manner. In other words, you don’t have to wait for something to go wrong before you begin therapy.

PBM is also a proactive measure you can take to not just improve your health and wellbeing but maintain it as well.

This means you can create a weekly plan for your PBM sessions at FreedomLight Therapy to target specific areas of your body and to achieve specific results. Better still, because our ReGen Pod and TheraLight Pod treatments are ‘self-administered’ you can set your schedule without having to worry about the Center being open. As a member, you get access to all equipment used for self-administered therapies at any time of the day or night – all you need to do is book your sessions and then it almost becomes a case of ‘medice, cura te ipsum’ – physician, heal thyself.

To find out more about photobiomodulation, FreedomLight Therapy, or if you have any questions you would like answered, either come in to see us at the FreedomLight Therapy Center, 435 E 2nd Ave. Owasso, OK 74055, call us on: (539) 525-5356 or email us at: info@freedomlighttherapy.com.