By pulsing red and infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) on cuts, the speed of healing is greatly increased. Red and infrared wavelengths from 660 nm (nanometers) to 880 nm penetrate the skin more effectively than other wavelengths. Photons stimulate the mitochondria and this triggers a healing response. This is because the machinery of our cells is photosensitive. By pulsing the LEDs at 292 Hz, the healing is speeded even more by raising the vibrational rate of the damaged skin up to the frequency of healthy skin tissue by entrainment. 

The discovery that LEDs can help cuts heal faster would not have been possible if laser therapists hadn’t been paying attention. When normal lasers are used, not only does the target area get burned, but the surrounding skin gets burned as well. Over time, it was observed that the surrounding skin that was burned heals faster than skin normally does when burned by other means. It was thought that turning the power on the lasers way down and directing the beam over damaged skin might speed the healing of cuts and burns. This is one form of Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT. Supporters of LLLT claim that it works better than LEDs, but the fact is when the laser light hits the skin, it becomes non-coherent. LEDs are a very inexpensive non-coherent light source at the same wavelengths that the lasers use and much less power is required.

Most people are familiar with LEDs and don’t even know it. Most power indicator lights on electronic devices are LEDs. So are the ones on the ends of remote controls. The power indicator lights emit light that is in the visible spectrum and the LEDs at the end of remote controls emit light in the invisible infrared range. LEDs are known as p-n semiconductors. The p is the positive electrode and the n is the negative electrode. They connect to the semiconductor material on each side of a junction. When enough voltage is supplied to the positive end it recombines with the negative side by bridging the gap. The excess energy is converted into light.  The color of light emitted depends on the ratio of each material that is mixed together to make the silicon diode. 

Pulsing these LEDs at different frequencies can increase the effectiveness of the LED treatments. Dr. Paul Nogier, the father of ear acupuncture, discovered that each tissue type in the body resonates at different frequencies depending on the embryologic origin of tissue. Someone would lie down on his or her back and he would check their radial artery pulse. Using a frequency generator, he dialed in different frequencies and aimed them at different parts of the body and also on different acupuncture points. If the frequencies were beneficial, the peak wave amplitude of the pulse would shift in a certain direction. If the frequencies were not beneficial, the shift would be in the opposite direction. He found that tissue derived from ectodermal tissues had a positive response to 292 Hz. Tissue derived from endodermal tissues responded best to 584 Hz and tissue derived from mesodermal tissues responded best to 1168 Hz. These frequencies are all harmonics of each other and happen to be harmonics of the D note. 

Most of these lights are in portable hand held devices or in flexible foam blankets with the LEDs embedded throughout them. These blankets are used to treat large areas. The hand held devices and blankets have mostly been used by holistic veterinarians and especially by equestrian acupuncturists for about 20 years already.  Shining a pulsed red LED set to 292 Hz on a cut has been shown to increase the speed of healing.  Even without pulsing the LEDs, the speed of healing is incredibly increased. When submariners with lacerations were treated with non-pulsed LEDs, the wounds healed twice as fast as in the untreated controls. Even the Navy Seals and astronauts are benefiting greatly from this technology and they aren’t even using any of the pulsed frequencies.  

Where are we headed with all of this healing light technology? With big interests such as NASA diving deeply into the research and development of this technology, it is sure to get more and more attention. Obviously the costs of these devices will begin to get more affordable as we find cheaper ways of making them. Quantum Devices is a LED therapy device company that NASA is working with and they have a relatively low priced LED device available for $15,000 that is low compared to a $150,000 diode laser system.

Other companies such as Chee Energy located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho have devices available for around $500 plus or minus a few hundred dollars and they can even fit in a pocket. With more affordable pricing like that, the market is enormously enlarged.  If you would like to try and experience the benefits of this Star Trek medicine yourself, go to your local Radio Shack and purchase the brightest red LED, battery, resistor, small project box and switch. The folks there will be able to tell you which parts you need and how to put together this simple project. The whole thing should cost between $5-10. It’s as simple as the circuitry in a flashlight except that the light is not a bulb; it is a LED.  The whole thing will fit easily in the palm of your hand depending on what you use for a case.

This kind of cheap homemade unit won’t have the benefits of the Nogier’s frequencies and it won’t look too fancy, but for minimal effort, you will be able to have a workable unit. Just use your own imagination. Use it on minor cuts as soon as they happen for 15 minutes twice a day until it is totally healed and I’m sure you will be amazed at just how fast light emitting diodes speed the healing of cuts.

McGee, Charles MD. Healing Energies of Heat and Light. Coeur d’Alene, ID: Medipress, 2000.

Drollette, Dan. Can Light Hasten Healing in Space? Pittsfield, MA: Biophotonics International, September/October 2000.

1/22/2001

Copyright 2001 - Aaron C. Murakami ... All Rights Reserved