Many migraine sufferers will recoil at the slightest light when in the throes of a migraine headache. But what if the potential existed for healing and relief through light therapy? Some new studies and experts in the care and treatment of migraine headaches are looking to answer that very question… a welcome proposition for the more than 37 million people who suffer from migraines in the US today.
Although bright lights can worsen headaches in many people, a certain type of light may actually help the pain. LED lights, specifically green and white, have been shown to decrease headache pain in one study performed by Doctors Mohab Ibrahim and Rajesh Khanna. One participant who joined the trial had been suffering from repeated severe migraines, rarely getting a break between headaches. Depressed, sick and even unable to get out of bed some days, she joined the clinical trial where participants were asked to stare at green LED lights for one to two hours a day over a 10-week period. However, she says that she remained skeptical. “I was very skeptical because it is so simple,” said Debi Lesenski. “It doesn’t make any sense that just some light can fix a problem that modern medicine can’t even address. And, it worked.”
Although the correlation between the light therapy and reduced pain isn’t completely clear yet, most patients in the group reported a decrease in pain. Many asked to keep the lights. The doctors in the study believe that the lights help regulate brain chemistry and, in turn, increases levels of endogenous opioids, or chemicals that makes us happy. The promising results of the study have led the doctors to seek grants to continue their research from the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Health.
On the Chiropractic Neurology front, light therapies have been shown to reduce inflammation, aiding in the treatment of not only migraines and headaches, but also chronic pain and conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and more. While the exact therapies differ by the patient’s individual needs, light therapy is a safe and minimally invasive option for many conditions.
Chiropractic Neurologists are uniquely qualified to identify and treat headaches of all types including migraines. After a thorough consultation, your Chiropractic Neurologist will provide a plan for treatment that addresses the root cause of the headache. Unlike therapies rooted in drugs, Chiropractic Neurology treatments help patients to achieve long-term relief without side effects or invasive techniques.
If you or someone you love are suffering from migraine headaches, tension headaches or any other painful condition and would like to know more about how Chiropractic Neurology can help you, please contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today.