Transcript
Can green light help fibromyalgia? After using it to treat migraines, which we covered recently, the researchers wanted to see if its pain-reducing effect was more general. They recruited 21 people with fibromyalgia that medication had failed to help. Small study, but it's a start. They gave them each strips of white LEDs and green LEDs. They were told to spend one to two hours per day sitting in a room with no other light source but those LEDs. They were to sit three to six feet away, keep the LEDs in view, but not stare directly at them. Just like the migraine protocol. LED's, they took two weeks off and then did 10 weeks on the green LEDs. The green LED light group had their pain drop from an average of 8.4 out of 10 to 4.9 out of 10, with a slightly higher effect for those who did more than 1.5 hours per day, a lot. This research is still in its very early stage, but we think it works both because green light produces lower electrical activity in the retina in brain compared to blue or red, and a totally separate path where green light seems to trigger the brain's natural opioid production. And what I love about this is that it's super low cost. and low risk to try yourself, which might make it worth it even though the science is still getting there. Soon we'll be covering how this relates to nature exposure, if green glasses work, and a lot more.
Additional notes
Replying to @RFK Jr.’s Brain Worm This may be a weird way to help chronic pain, but it’s such a low-cost method that it’s worth trying! I’ve been testing a ton of green lights, and >80% of multicolor LED devices will give the right color if you set them to 100% green. Still, it’s best to avoid the super cheap / sketchy brands because they are more likely to have invisible flicker… which can cause headaches. As I continue with this super deep dive, I’ve determined that it’s probably also best to use diffuse lighting as opposed to ones where you can directly see the LEDs, and a more spread out source might be better than a single small lamp. But more on this soon! I’ve been testing dozens of lights and soon will have a complete review for you guys (it’s been delayed due to my finding a software problem with the light meter i’ve been using that now I’m working with the company to solve 🤦♂️) 📚Main Study DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa329 #science #migraine #fibromyalgia #LearnOnTikTokContest #EducatorAward
References
- Study title not listed in workbook. DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa329. Source: https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa329