You have undoubtedly heard of cold lasers by now. These devices have been around for a long time. You probably know about them from physical therapy where they are used to decrease inflammation and improve healing. One of the important ways they do this is by increasing the amount of energy in the injured tissues so that they can function more normally.

The way these light therapy devices work is by producing long wavelengths that penetrate into your tissues carrying energy packets called photons. Red light photons easily transfer their energy to iron atoms in your red blood cell’s hemoglobin and your mitochondria’s cytochrome C. Importantly, every time your cytochrome C’s iron molecule absorbs a red light photon out pops an ATP molecule! This is the energy currency produced in your mitochondria generally by burning sugar or fat that then gets all the work of your cells accomplished.

So how could this benefit your brain? Well, if you have had some kind of damage to your brain (lack of oxygen, trauma, toxins, etc.) then the mitochondria in your damaged brain cells no longer burn sugar or fat molecules efficiently to produce the energy for your neurons to function normally or to heal. You are then left with neurologic deficits. Under these circumstances when red light energy is delivered to these damaged areas, they begin to function better and the neurologic deficits improve.

Studies have shown this type of therapy is extremely safe with no untoward side-effects. It has been shown to be effective no matter how the brain injury has occurred. Whether you have had a lack of oxygen (stroke, heart attack, near-drowning…), traumatic (Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI], Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy [CTE], Post-Concussion Syndrome [PCS]), Toxic (Heavy Metal, Organotoxin, etc.), Neurodegenerative (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, other Dementia, etc.) injury or age-related memory changes.

How does it work?

A light device that sits on your head called a Vielight is positioned to deliver light energy to the outer layers of your brain and a nasal light delivers light energy to the many blood vessels in your nose. The blood carries the light energy via your hemoglobin to the cytochrome C in the deeper parts of your brain. The procedure lasts 15 minutes and is repeated daily or every other day depending on your condition.