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November 12, 2010

Near Infrared Therapy and Wound Healing

Life Stories, Light Science

One of our associates here at Sunlighten recently had her gallbladder removed by laparoscopic surgery. After her surgery, she ran a little experiment as her incisions healed – using near infrared (NIR) from an mPulse heater. Would NIR therapy help her wounds heal faster and/or better?

Now, this was admittedly not a scientific experiment or clinical study, but nonetheless, it was a case study with very interesting results!

The associate was a 32-year-old female who received daily 80-second NIR treatments from a Sunlighten LED array on three wounds resulting from the removal of her gallbladder by laparoscopic surgery. Her operation occurred on September 17, 2010; NIR treatments began on September 22, 2010.

The wounds were labeled A, B, C and D. Wounds of special note were A – the control site and C – the site from which her gallbladder was removed. Because of the irregular shape of the wounds, precise measurements were not possible, but the wounds were treated and photographed to track the healing process.

All wounds shown
Location of Wounds

As can be seen in the chart below and following photos, healing of the wounds treated with NIR was visibly faster. In fact, even the highly damaged Area C (treated with NIR) healed before the untreated control (Area A).

Control image with ruler Treated wound Treated wound C with ruler Treated wound Rate of healing chart

Although this particular experiment was not scientific, NASA has actually conducted studies which concluded that NIR LED light significantly promotes faster cell regeneration, wound healing, and human tissue growth. Human cell growth increased by 155-171% in some cases and wound size decreased by 36%.1

Sunlighten’s patented SoloCarbon heating technology is the only heater on the market capable of producing near infrared (NIR) light, using LED technology. This is the same technology used in NASA’s scientific research that concluded NIR therapy greatly enhances the wound healing process. It was fun to see the technology in action here in our own offices!

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WRITTEN BY: Sunlighten

Shining light on infrared technology, Sunlighten® is the #1 choice for personalized infrared light treatments. Since 1999, we have been committed to innovating wellness products and services that empower our customers to improve their quality of life. Our patented SoloCarbon® technology rejuvenates the body by delivering the highest dose of infrared energy to the body - proven up to 99% effective. Our technological innovations are fueled by our passion to make a difference. And we are building a global community of businesses, consumers, and trusted experts to support each other along the way and make the world a healthier, happier place.

Sunlighten saunas are not a medical device as defined by Section 201(h) of the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. Sunlighten provides general information relating to various medical conditions for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for advice provided by a doctor or other qualified health care professional. Please consult with your physician regarding diagnosis or treatment.

REFERENCES

1 Whelan et al; Effect of NASA Light Emitting Diode Irradiation and Wound Healing. Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery, Volume 19, Number 6, 2001, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, pp. 305-314.