In principle, our body systems seek to restore homeostasis or internal balance by “detecting” dysfunction or imbalance in the systems (more accurately described as a “negative feedback” process). Photobiomodulation – the effect of light on modifying a cellular condition – is a method that facilitates this process. Recent investigations by our science advisor, Timon Liu and his research team implicates that through the expression of the relevant genes during the photobiomodulation process, the health of the cells may even be enhanced beyond their normal level. A large part of the findings are published in the following papers: Photobiomodulation on Stress, and Photobiomodulation-mediated Pathway Diagnostics. I’ll attempt to present these important findings as simply as possible here and in the more detailed article on the topic of photobiomodulation effects on genetic pathways.

The studies looked at genetic activators, inhibitors and regulators of cell proliferation. They are the activators, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)); inhibitors, forkhead box O 3a (FOXO3a), B-cell lymphoma-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), and p27 gene; and a regulator, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). The studies found that cells that are under stress have high mRNA expressions for inhibitors and low mRNA for activators, explaining how these stressed cells have lower proliferation.

When these stressed cells (under prolonged high glucose environment in the experiments), are illuminated with low intensity red light, they start to restore the levels of mRNA to recover the respective correct level of genetic activity for proliferation. Thus red light of low intensity over a certain period of time has the uncanny ability to restore dysfunctional cell condition. This is reflected as a healing process, which can be recognized in the healing of wounds, alleviating pain, cellular rejuvenation, or in a more systemic sense, overcoming numerous ailments and diseases.

What may be surprising is that when normal cells in normal level glucose solution are exposed to low intensity red light, the proliferation continues. It gets into the mode when homeostasis that is specific to proliferation is achieved (proliferation-specific homesostasis or “PISH”). In the body there are other regulatory components to limit overactive proliferation. For example  compromised inhibitor BIM needs to have mutated myc  gene present to produce aggressive malignancies.

In layman’s terms, photobiomodulation supports cellular proliferation by limiting the genetic activities that put the brakes on it. In addition, it opens the gates for the activities and put on the accelerator.

Assuming that the findings from the investigations, carried out on cultured cells, are largely representative of what happens inside the body, we may conclude that irradiation by low intensity red light can restore both the originall condition of stressed cells as well as enhance the functions of normal cells. This implies that photobiomodulation can be both a potent healing modality of a dysfunctional condition, and an enhancer of what may already seem to be a healthy condition. It is probably unrealistic to expect photobiomodulation to turn us all into super humans. However, there seem to be potential to use photobiomodulation to improve any exising health condition, which could eventually contribute to longevity.

Read more and view the graphical representations of the results at http://www.mediclights.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Photobiomodulation-genes.pdf.

It’s finally out! The first brain stimulation and therapy device to access the brain with light in the nasal cavity. The idea about healing the brain with light is not new (one may call it with the neuro-twisting term, neurophotobiostimulation). Some fabulous work has been done by my friends Margaret Naeser of Boston University and Michael Hamblin of Harvard Medical School using the transcranial method (accessing the brain from outside the skull) as well as landmark animal studies. These studies form much of the bases on which we have designed our new intranasal brain stimulation device, and they are accessible here, as well as a full and open exposition on how we have come to the parameters for it. 

So far, early results look really interesting, although anecdotal (but not unexpected). Stroke patients and Parkinson’s disease patients are giving encouraging feedback. There are some indications that it could also be stimulating the pituitary gland to release some amount of growth hormone. Dr Alkalay of New York is starting some work with Alzheimer’s patients.

The other existing devices using shorter wavelengths of 633 nm and 655 nm (laser) have already benefitted stroke patients, Parkinson’s disease patients, those with sleep disorder, etc. Scientifically speaking, this new one with the longer wavelength of 810 nm (near infrared red) , pulsing at 10 Hz, should be more efficacious. It’s all explained in the paper on intranasal light therapy and brain stimulation.

The pulse mode of 10 Hz is most interesting. Based on studies with mice by Hamblin’s research group, exposure to light at 810 nm and pulsing at 10 Hz, draws the greatest neurological healing in the brain that has suffered traumatic brain injury. Why that is so is a matter of hypothesis. It is the frequency that straddles between the brain oscillations (cerebral cortex) at alpha state (when our brain is at rest or in meditative state) or in hippocampal theta state (which may help us with behaviour inhibition). There is some claim of release of serotonin in this state, which would help in depression.

Using the wavelength of 810 nm gives deeper tissue penetration (reaching the deeper areas of the brain) without being outside the range that draws mitochondrial response (within the action spectra). It just makes sense that this would help cover more areas of the brain, particularly the more ancient parts of the brain which happens to reside in the bottom sections and close to the nasal cavity. However, at this wavelength, the light Is invisible to the naked eye – so we have to alert users that the device is not broken, just invisible.

All in all, an exciting time for what may be possible to help the brain. It is still early days, but in the worst case, as many of you would already know, low level light therapy like this does no harm. In the expected case, it may do some wonderful things for the brain, and perhaps, it may help to make us smarter!

More information on the product and how to buy is available on this page as “Vielight 810 Infrared”.

We should really show what to expect as outcomes from regular use of intranasal light therapy as designed by MedicLights. We have now shown this on the relevant webpage.

In summary these are below:

Immediate response:

• Sinus and nasal congestion
• Headaches and migraines
• Facial area and systemic pain
• Blurred vision due to poor microcirculation
• Some viral/bacterial infections
• Pain from fibromyalgia

Overnight:

• Sleep disorder
• Chronic fatigue
• Many viral/bacterial infections

Within 2 weeks:

• Cardiovascular conditions in general
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar (diabetes)
• Diabetic conditions that include impaired microcirculation
• High LDL cholesterol
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Traumatic brain injury
• Many stroke conditions
• Chronic low immunity
• Nasal polyps
• Some autoimmune diseases (eg psoriasis)
• Post cancer therapy low immunity
• Depression
• Epilesy

Within 3 months:

• Overall improvement in illness resistance
• Some autoimmune diseases (eg rheumatoid arthritis)
• Chronic asthma
• HIV

The above are based on studies, observations, or anecdotal feedback; and are based on regular use of once a day.  Observed improvements in condition does not necessarily translate into a cure, and the improvements may not be significant. Notwithstanding, some users have experienced dramatic turnarounds when previous treatments have not succeeded.

Users who meditate at a high level have reported new positive experiences even during the first time use of the device. I intend to explain the neurological mechanism behind this in a future article.

Only one rigorous study has been carried out – on the factors that affect high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Our bodies are different and results vary; depending on age, lifestyle, severity and genetic predisposition. Mild side effects (experienced by less than 10% of users) include a temporary mild headache and dry throat.

Yes folks, that is a tire with a 2 ton (4000 lb) truck (Jerry’s Ford Explorer) on top of it, on top of the Vielight intranasal light therapy device! Everything still functions as normal. Even the clip (the weak link) withstood the weight. Some of you might have seen me deliberately dropping my device on concrete floors with no breakage or effect on the functionality.

Yes, we have designed and built it to last a lifetime. The diode (light source) has a specification to last 30,000 hours. Which means that if you use it once a day (25 minutes session), it should last you 197 years!

As they say, it is “built to last”.

Of course, what matters most is what the technology does for you. That’s laid out in the other pages of this blog and www.mediclights.com.

Yes, it is almost one year ago that we first showed North America our intranasal light therapy devices as well as a couple of other products that we invented. It is time again for the Whole Life Expo. We had some really remarkable stories of health restoration, but more importantly, we developed some life long friends and advocates. Thank you for a truly good year. We have of course made more friends from different parts of the world.

If you’re in Ontario, do drop by the Whole Life Expo at the Metro Convention Centre between November 9th to 11th 2012. We’re at booths 150-151, and I am giving a lecture you’ll be glad you make the time for at 12.45 pm on Saturday, 10th November, at Stage 2, Main Hall. I will be sharing some new information on why people can experience dramatic turnaround in their health with the intranasal light therapy device.

If you haven’t already, you can have a free therapy session and see what happens to you. You can also have a chance to see what happens to your blood (through a small sample under a microscope) after a single 25-minute session.

So, see you there then.

Lew

Thank you, Perth, Western Australia! It was great being with you at the Conscious Living Expo 2012 (Oct 18-21). Great people, giving great reception to our intranasal light therapy devices.

There were some remarkable cases of healing after using our intranasal light therapy.

Here are just a couple of memorable experiences at the show:

Jose had been having chronic pain in his ankle because his ankle did not seem to fully rehabilitate after a surgery put in metal plates into the area to hold the parts together. After a day’s use of the intranasal light therapy device, the pain had disappeared!

Jan, a stroke patient has lost sensitivities on the left side of her body. During the use of the intranasal light therapy device for the first time, she was feeling sensations going through those parts of the body!

We already have happy stories from virtually all stroke patients using the device, the science and evidence is presented in this article.

As for pain relief, this is not the first time that we have experienced systemic pain relief from our users. One major case for me was to see Sandra in Canada undergoing a “freakish” experience of feeling her pain from fibromyalgia flowing away when she was using the device across a desk in front of me. There are scientific evidence of pain relief from the use of intranasal light therapy, mainly related to headaches…speaking of which, there were several feedback at the show reporting this. I should write my next article on pain relief with this technology.

I have not come across as many people with such great sensitivities to energy flow in any one place before. As with other similar expos, I find that some people develop the sensitivities through high level meditation (these are often instructors) and others, I belief have the gift. Dorothea, who practises Kinesiology has a technique to sense the improvement in people’s condition after using the device. Malcolm, who appears to be a senior citizen of the show could actually describe the way the energy from the device flows through his brain. I believe him because I know the footprint of the light and the pathway of through the brain. Could be somewhat bizarre to people who are not into these things, but it is what it is.

So, we’re on to the next show soon – the Toronto Whole Life Expo on November 9 to 12, 2012. Check us out if you’re in town!

Lew

Users our intranasal light therapy technology have been having so much success for treating sleep disorder and insomnia that it sometimes seem incredible. Whereas other chronic conditions have great success (say, about 85% for high blood pressure, 75% for high LDL cholesterol), the success rate for sleep disorder seems more like 95%.

Our followers know that there are two versions of the intranasal light therapy devices: low level laser or LED. Most sleep sufferers respond well to the lower cost LED unit; and if they find these to give too much energy, the more subtle laser unit works better for them. There are already several cases when the medical practitioner reports that he or she has tried several known treatments with little success. Not until their patients started using an intranasal light therapy device.

I have put up information on the webpage that talks more about insomnia and sleep disorder, as well as a paper on the subject.

Formal detailed information are found in the resources above, so you are encouraged to read them if you want to be more thoroughly informed about the science and evidence. Let’s discuss a little more informally about the issue. There are published clinical evidence to support that intranasal light therapy works for regulating sleep. It is interesting that these scientists also found a correlation between enhanced levels of the hormone melatonin (which is responsible for regulating the sleep cycle or circadian rythm) and the use of intranasal laser therapy. That suggests that directing red light into your nasal cavity, and illuminating the blood capillaries and the brain, in some way stimulate the production/release of melatonin.

Today, the common treatment for sleep disorder has been to use bright blue light in the morning. That is because blue light has the effect of suppressing the release of melatonin, which in turn turn off the sleep mode part of the circadian rhythm. The use of this blue light may not be necessary if the intranasal red light therapy is used daily.

Apart from regulating the sleep cycle, melatonin has been found to have other beneficial effects. Information on Wikipedia show that melatonin increases antioxidants, prevent DNA damage (hence cancer), protect the brain from injury, boost the immune system and fight HIV, helps with autism, slow aging, improves memory and learning, and so on. It is truly a wonder substance. These bases provides a compelling reason to use the intranasal light therapy devices regularly.

Another reason that the technology helps with sleep is that it takes care of other conditions that affect sleep: medical conditions such as asthma as well as helping to neutralize pain, as evidenced by the increases level of the analgesic hormone, endorphin.

The mechanism of action can be explained by the different pathways, although not fully understood even by top researchers. The strongest pathway to healing is likely to be one that involves the illumination of the brain. The subject of sleep is a brain issue; and we know that any cell with a mitochondria (all neurons) will respond positively to the red light produced by the device.The seat of pain, depression, anxiety and other neural disorders is in the brain. Cells which are not in balance (or not in “homeostasis”) are stimulated by the light to restore this balance, and in the process, go through a process of healing. This then leads to calming the central nervous system down for sleep.

In summary, intranasal light therapy works for regulating sleep.

Picture: Ambro at www.freedigitalphotos.net

Will intranasal light therapy work with asthma? Or, the more often asked related question is whether it works with respiratory related allergies.

At the San Francisco show recently, we witnessed a few cases of breathing difficulties disappearing with one session of trying out the devices. Judging by the accompanying symptom of nasal congestion and sinusitis, I would assume that they were symptoms of bronchial asthma as opposed to another kind of breathing difficulty associated with emphysema (related to the avioli or air sacs). So, as far as one can observe (though anecdotal) this method of therapy works for asthma. As for me, I would know personally because I was a chronic asthmatic before using this therapy. Since then (about 4 years ago), I’ve not had a single attack; and that’s not because I have moved to the great air of Arizona!

In answer to this question, I have put together a webpage that provides the scientific basis and evidence as to why intranasal light therapy works for asthma.

The evidence has mainly been compiled by Russian scientists using the the older form of blood irradiation – intravenous blood irradiation. It pretty much cures asthma as far as their patient group goes. As people who follow this blog would know by now; the outcomes of the older method and our newer intranasal light therapy are very much the same.

As always, what matters to me also is also the underlying mechanism supporting the efficacy. The webpage should be clear with this exposition. In summary, let’s first recognize that asthma is caused by our own body overreacting to an allergen. There is a “cascading” biochemical series of events that starts with out T cells rapidly stimulating the B cells. Subsequent mechanisms then lead to the over-production of histamines, leading to breathing difficulties.

The activity of the T lymphocyte cells (triggered by T-helper cells) should be counteracted by T-suppressor cells to maintain a balance to avoid overreaction. It is this imbalance that leads to asphyxia (lack of oxygen) identified with asthma. A group of scientists found that when the chest is exposed to irradiation by near infrared red light, this balance is achieved, and asthmatic conditions get alleviated very significantly after 2 weeks of regular treatment.

As we know, intranasal light therapy helps establish cellular balance (homeostasis), which goes some way to explain the connection to the proposed therapeutic mechanism. As suggested by another study, it also works because of the rebalancing of oxidant-antioxidant levels in the system, something that intranasal light therapy has proved to stimulate.

Read more details at the webpage.

Photo by freedigitalphotos.net

Torontonians, how many of you caught the full-page article in the Toronto Star recently? If you missed it, here is the link again – Star article on MedicLights. The other person (other than myself) in the pic is Nathan of MaRS who wrote the article about our work with HIV+ people on the MaRS blog. Seems like too much attention is given by the article on the technology’s effect on allergies. I hope readers understand that that is just one of the minor conditions that intranasal light therapy can help when the body gets stimulated to restore homeostasis. But it is a nice condition to think about with all the sneezing I hear all around me.

Hopefully, intranasal light therapy catches the attention that it deserves in time to come. Many good things are happening with the users. Just the other day, I received feedback that a high blood pressure (HBP) patient has done away with his HBP medication! There are others who have brought their BP down but they never wanted to get started with medications to begin with. It’s the first time (that I know) of someone brave enough to drop his medication altogether. It also means that he does away with the side effects of the medication and saves a ton of money.  Here’s more on how the technology works with HBP, along with supporting evidence.

Stay tuned to this blog. I’ll be talking about the new patent I’ve filed (it’s a big one), green lasers, stresses with business people, and other issues that have been posed to me that are worth sharing with others.

(picture by nick@nickkozak.com)

On April 27 to 29 2012, Intranasal Light Therapy dropped into San Francisco at the New Living Expo.

What response from the folks at San Francisco! Knowledgeable, open, honest….you packed our booth! There were so many people that did not have to be taught about the technology and how it works (one shouldn’t be surprised with this in the Bay Area). You could work it out how it can benefit you.

I was not surprised at the number of people that experience efficacy during just one session. We already knew that many people with conditions around the face and neck areas (such as congestion, sinusitis, headache, fatigue, breathing issues etc.) would respond positively during one session. That is because of the proximity of these areas to the light.

Oh yes, as we have found out from our other shows and experience; those who meditate at a high level can feel the impact of the technology in raising the quality of “awareness”.

However, it is the generosity of some that motivate them to openly share their experience with strangers at the show. What great “word-of-mouth”. In particular, thank you, Pam and Cheri!

I continue to receive positive feedback from those who obtained our devices at the show. Yes, all, if you are reading this article and own the Qi-Light or RadiantLife LT, please use them regularly – once a day if possible.

We shall be back next year!