What is light therapy?

BIOPTRON Light Therapy can:

Improve microcirculation
Harmonize metabolic processes
Reinforce the human defence system
Stimulate regenerative and reparative processes of the entire organism
Promote wound healing
Relieve pain or decrease its intensity

Introduction

Professionals and patients alike have welcomed a wealth of changes in healthcare over the past couple of decades. In the scientific world, there has been excitement over breakthroughs, with research highlighting the efficacy of a variety of treatments. Some of these harness the most modern, state of the art techniques; others draw on natural resources and mechanisms as old as time. Many of the most successful interventions are marriages of ancient and modern. Such approaches are clearly appealing to the public. There is a great curiosity about what science can offer, though there is scepticism too about side effects and problems which new drugs and treatments may bring. More than ever, people are keen to discover more about the knowledge and wisdom used by their ancestors.

The public are hungry for health treatments in which they can trust. People have more questions than ever before: "Is it safe, doctor?" "Are there side effects?" "Why has this pill had such bad press?" They want to know, they want to understand

the options available, they want to have some control over their health and that of their loved ones. Many millions of people allover the worldsuffer from the wounds and disorders described in this book. Offering patients and professionals alike a therapy, which takes its place in the range of treatment and care available, will undoubtedly bring relief from pain and distress. As both experts and lay people rely more and more on a holistic approach to preventive health and to treatments, the Bioptron Light Therapy is found to be a welcome new addition to this field.

The Healing Nature of Light

The use of light for healing has a distinguished history. The Greeks and the Romans both under stood that sunlight could play some part in healing although there was little understanding of why it was important.

But the modern use of light therapy is not a recent phenomenon. It was as long ago as 1903, when scientists first realised that light could be used for treatment. In this year, Danish physician Ryberg Neils Finsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on light therapy. He used his findings to develop a machine which could emit similar wavelengths as the sun. In doing so, he was able to successful ly treat a disfiguring form of tuberculosis of the skin. Various forms of therapy based upon sun therapy were popular in Europe until the late

1930s. The treatment, however, fell out of favour after the discovery of penicillin in 1938. In the post-war period, the medical establishment preferred to emphasis the importance of pharmaceuticals. Now, the high cost of medical care has led to a reexamination of priorities; once again, there is a great interest in preventative medicine. More and more, knowledge of physics is being used to develop systems which copy nature in influencing biological systems.Among these approaches is modern phototherapy. There has been significant research in this area, and many of the findings have been utilised for commercial
products. Among these is the Bioptron Medical Light Therapy that has been used with great success around the world. So, treatments started by the ancient Greeks and refined by Dr. Finsen are still used today - but nowadays we are considerably more sophisticated.

The Properties of Bioptron Light

No UltraViolet Rays
Consequently, it contains no UV light. The Bioptron's electromagnetic spectrum being precisely above the UV range. Thus, its light does not redden or tan the skin, nor does it represent any danger to the human eye or skin making it very safe to use anywhere, even on the eyes!

Polarized Light
The system also contains a Brewster mirror which is responsible for the polarisation of the complete spectrum and a photofilter that controls the definition of the emitted light spectrum. The Bioptron light is polarized light. Its waves oscillate exclusively on parallel plains, giving it very special qualities. The polarization is generated using a sophisticated multilayer mirror system, called a Brewster mirror (Brewster was the physicist who discovered this technology). Polarization by reflection as in the Bioptron therapy system is very efficient, reaching a polarization degree of 95%. This polarisation allows the light to reorganise and heal the membrane surrounding each of our body cells. In this manner it can have a beneficial effect on any ailment or area of the body.

The Wavelength
The sun emits 50% visible light of the complete spectrum that reaches the earth that is why the focus of interest was put to the visible spectrum of light. The Bioptron Light Therapy System is based around an optical tube which includes a halogen light source that emits light from 400 nm to 2000 nm (as opposed to normal halogen light, which emits only from 400 nm to 700 nm). The spectrum of Bioptron Light clearly defined and provides consistent energy. The light covers a range of 400 nm to 2000 nm. In other words: It contains the visible light range and only a small part of the infrared spectrum.

Polychromatic Light
Unlike a laser system which is limited to a very narrow bandwidth and transfers a high amount of energy, Bioptron light encompasses a wide bandwidth and transfers less energy. For comparison you can also see the emitted spectrum of the sun.

Coherency
As opposed to Laser Light (the red pattern on the right), Bioptron Light (the yellow pattern on the right) is not characterized by temporally or spatially synchronized light wave trains, which means that wave crests and therefore the light's intensity will neither add nor subtract. For this reason, Bioptron Light reaches the area to be treated with constant, steady intensity, making it possible to apply a generally lower degree of energy (intensity).

Power Density
Unlike natural light, it is not subject to diurnal or seasonal variations. Therefore when used the Bioptron systems brightness and dosage can be precisely determined making it very safe to use. Furthermore, the effect light exerts is also defined by its power density. Power density is measured in mW/cm2. Since it is measured at the skin's surface, it varies depending both on the intensity of the light's source and on its distance to the area to be treated.

Text and images excerpted from Bioptron information booklet "All you need is light."

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