Hay fever
Light therapy (sometimes called 'phototherapy') as a treatment for hay fever is a relatively new idea and sprang from research that showed it was helpful in treating other allergic conditions.
Pollen challenge study of a phototherapy device for reducing the symptoms of hay fever.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2009 Jul;25(7):1635-44.
A device emitting two types of red light was used to treat over 100 hay fever sufferers. They used it three times a day for two weeks before being exposed to grass pollen and were scored on symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes - all of which improved significantly. There were no adverse reactions.
Read the full abstract >
The effects of phototherapy on quality of life in allergic rhinitis cases.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Dec;266(12):1903-8.
Taking a slightly different angle, this study looked at the effect light therapy could have on the overall well-being and 'quality of life' of those that suffer from allergic rhinitis (which includes hay fever). Before and after comparisons produced significant differences suggesting that light therapy like Lumie Haylight can make a real difference to subjects with eye and nose allergic symptoms.
Read the full abstract >
This ties in neatly with an earlier study that showed just how badly hay fever can impact on day-to-day life. During high pollen season, subjects here experienced itchy, swollen and red eyes and generally had a much poorer 'quality of life' than they did at other times of the year.
Read the full abstract >
Clinical effects of far-infrared therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2007;2007:1479-82.
A factor of allergic rhinitis seems to be increased vascular permeability and since infrared light had already been shown to be useful in treating other disorders where this is an issue, researchers here tried infrared light therapy for allergic rhinitis. Patients had infrared light directed at (not even inside in this case!) their nose for 40mins every morning for one week and recorded their symptoms before and after. Sneezing, eye itchiness and nasal symptoms such as itchiness, stuffiness and running were all significantly better after the infrared light therapy. Lumie Haylight utilises infrared emitting LEDs.
Read the full abstract >
Intranasal phototherapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Orv Hetil. 2005 May 8;146(19):965-9.
This study investigated various wavelengths of light including UVA (ultraviolet), UVB (short-wavelength ultaviolet) and visible light with patients that suffered with hay fever and DIDN'T respond well to the usual antihistamine drugs. Light therapy three times a day for three weeks was well-tolerated and gave great results with respect to nasal itching, runny nose and sneezing. Lumie Haylight emits some visible light as in this study but not the more contraversial UVA/UVB light.
Read the full abstract >
The same research group had previously looked at the underlying cellular responses to light therapy and found that it reduced the number of eosinophils and basophils (white blood cells produced as part of an immune response) suggesting that light therapy has an effect at a cellular level.
Read the full abstract >
Narrow-band red light phototherapy in perennial allergic rhinitis and nasal plyposis.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1997 Apr;78(4):399-406.
A study to see if red light at 660nm could be helpful in treating allergic rhinitis (and nasal polyps). Patients received intranasal light therapy for about 4mins, three times a day. After two weeks, 70% of the allergic rhinitis sufferers reported an improvement in their symptoms and this was backed up by nasal endoscopy measurements. This is almost exactly the same treatment schedule recommended for effective treatment with Lumie Haylight which also emits light at ~660nm.
Read the full abstract >
|