Hot from the US, Light Therapy is the new kid on the wellness block. Seed’s newest member, Light Therapist Emma Seddon, talks about how laser light healing can help a myriad of health conditions, including pain, inflammation and even disease.
Light therapy is a reasonably unknown concept in the mainstream. How would you describe Light Therapy to the lay person and how can it help them?
Light therapy in basic terms is the application (on skin) of light (red or near infra red) directly into cells, stimulating vital cell function, which enhances the body’s natural healing process.
When your body is under stress from trauma, illness or ageing, then the cells fail to function properly leading to pain, inflammation or disease. Hence laser/light therapy can counteract this. The application is painless and the results are immediate and suitable for all (including children & animals).
It is also known/referred to as: cold laser therapy, phototherapy, LLLT (low level laser therapy) or PMBT (photobiomodulation)
What are the top 5 most common things it can help.
- Muscle injuries, muscle tiredness and pain
- Joint inflammation and pain – for example arthritis
- Musculoskeletal conditions – frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, TMJ, RSI
- Skin conditions – diabetic ulcers, burns, scars, acne, dermatitis, psoriasis
- General well being – enhancing relaxation, reducing anxiety and inducing sleep
Lasers are well known in the cosmetic world. How do you view Light Therapy in terms of its place in general healing & wellness?
Laser therapy in terms of general healing and wellness is huge in the USA, whereby most home-use kits are receiving FDA clearance to help promote natural PAIN RELIEF and to treat fibromyalgia, inflammatory conditions, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, wound healing, smoking cessation, weight loss, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, tennis and golfer’s elbow, neck, back, leg, foot, arm, hand and finger pain and much more.
Compared to the USA we are so far behind in the UK but with a health service that is creaking and symptoms needing exceptionally strong (and addictive) pain meds this is now starting to change and more physiotherapists, dentists and hospitals are seeing the benefit of offering laser or light therapy sooner. From a wellness perspective light therapy is extremely versatile as it works exceptionally well alongside and complimenting other therapies as well as giving the patient some control back over their health.
How did you get into Light Therapy?
I first got into the power of light therapy healing when my horse suffered a nasty soft tissue injury on his hind fetlock when he was just 3 yrs old. The position and shape of the injury meant that conventional stitches just didn’t quite hold. Healing was very slow and eventually the wound became infected. Lots of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were required and still the injury was not healing! Worried that he might not have a ridden career at all if I didn’t get this sorted, I remembered a horsey friend promoting laser therapy many years ago, so I contacted her to see if she could help.
She sent me the light therapy equipment and talked me through using it on a daily basis. I was taking photos weekly and I could literally see this wound healing before my eyes!
Soon enough the wound was completely healed with new hair growth and only a miniscule scar. From that moment on I was a converted and knew the possibilities were endless, so I enrolled on a number of Equine, Human and small animal Laser Therapy courses and slowly ventured out treating all number of pets and their owners!
What are you best success stories?
- Clients unable to sleep more than a couple of hours a night due to anxiety are now sleeping full 8 hours and suffering less anxiety.
- Client suffering with 6 week viral ear infection cleared up after one treatment
- Increased range of movement and reduced pain in client’s elbow following daily use of laser in between physio treatments.
- Client no longer candidate for knee surgery after regular use of laser therapy following twice dislocated knee
For more information or if you wish to speak to Emma about how she can help you, please call 01494 911109, 07818 895550 or email emma@seedwellness.co.uk
