Green Light Therapy for Migraines, Fibromyalgia, Stress

The Healing Power of Light

Most people don’t think of light as a natural healing modality, but a growing body of research indicates that it can be a powerful tool for healing many conditions, including chronic pain. Full spectrum light exposure has been used for decades to improve mood in patients with seasonal affective disorder. More recently, light in the red and near infrared spectrum has been shown in thousands of studies to promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation and pain. The most recent addition to the body of research on light and healing is green light therapy. Exposure to green light appears to calm the brain, reducing stress, migraines and fibromyalgia.

Green Light Therapy for Migraines

A 2016 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that exposure to green light reduced light sensitivity (photophobia) during migraines and also reduced headache severity. Research published in 2020 by the University of Arizona reported that green light therapy used preventatively resulted in about a 60% reduction in pain intensity and number of days per month people experienced migraine headaches. Overall, 86% of episodic migraine sufferers (up to 14 headaches a month) and 63% of chronic migraine patients (15 or more headache days per month) reported a more than 50% reduction in headache days per month. This was a small study, including only 29 participants, however the results were very promising. All had failed medication therapy and Botox treatment. There were no side effects and sleep was also improved.

According the Dr. Ibrahim, a lead researcher in the Arizona study, “In this trial, we treated green light as a drug. It’s not any green light. It has to be the right intensity, the right frequency, the right exposure time and the right exposure methods. Just like with medications, there is a sweet spot with light.” The study was published in the journal Cephalgia, the journal of the International Headache Society.

Green Light Therapy for Fibromyalgia

The latest study on green light therapy, a small pilot study at the University of Arizona, looked at the effectiveness of green light therapy for patients with fibromyalgia. In this study, twenty-one adult patients with fibromyalgia were exposed to green light emitting diodes (GLED) for one to two hours daily for 10 weeks. The patients reported significant reductions in their overall average pain intensity, frequency and duration. They also reported better mood, sleep and ability to function. Eleven patients reduced their use of pain medication. No side effects were reported. The study was published on November 6 in the journal Pain Medicine.

Dr, Ibrahim is also studying the effects of green light therapy on other pain conditions, but the results are not yet complete.

Where to Find a Green Light Therapy Device

Allay, a company founded by Dr. Rami Burstein, a Harvard Medical School Professor who has studied the benefits of light therapy for migraine sufferers, has developed a portable green light lamp. The lamp is available to patients without a prescription for $199. It can be purchased HERE.

Although the results are preliminary, it looks like green light therapy is another powerful tool in the arsenal of natural, safe, effective treatments for chronic pain. Even better, it can be used at home and is relatively inexpensive.

Find a Pain Treatment Provider Near You

The author, Cindy Perlin, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified biofeedback practitioner and chronic pain survivor. She is the founder and CEO of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory and the author of T he Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free. She's located in the Albany, NY area, where she has been helping people improve their health and emotional well-being for over 27 years. See her provider profile HERE. She is also available for phone and zoom consultations, Find more information HERE