Why is there such a disparity between the US and the UK in the use of LLLT?

Did you know 30,000 practitioners use Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the United States, many of them chiropractors? By contrast there are around 140 Low Level Laser units in National Health Service departments, here in the UK, mostly Physiotherapy Departments. Most LLLT machines are gathering dust for lack of consistent servicing, and enthusiasm to deliver. Even if physiotherapists use LLLT, there is a limit to HOW it is used, because physiotherapists don't see wounds, burns or the myriad of other health issues that LLLT can help, outside their boundaries of expertise. LLLT training for physios is only delivered at Master level. Other practitioners outside the NHS, here in the UK, are few and far between: chiropodists and podiatrists, a scattering of osteopaths and chiropractors, and a handful of Scenar therapists.

Physiotherapists in the UK do use Ultrasound, delivering the same frequencies as light, but via sound. Ultrasound is only 35% successful, whereas LLLT has a much higher success rate, does not depend on the use of creams, and can be used over metal plates because it does not cause heat. I have been told that Ultrasound was accepted in the NHS before the need for double blind placebo controlled studies. Although there are thousands of double blind placebo controlled studies on LLLT, some 'prove' it is ineffective, by selecting the wrong treatment times, and power output, and frequencies. See http://www.laser.nu   for an excellent discussion of this by Tuner and Hode.

The good news is the availability of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) on the NHS at centres such as the National Medical Laser Centre, part of the University College Hospital in London. 

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/surgery/nmlc/ 

PDT uses laser light combined with a drug which makes cells more sensitive to light to destroy cancer cells.

WHY IS THERE SUCH A DISPARITY BETWEEN THE US AND THE UK IN USE OF LLLT?

I had a Light for Health stand at a Chiropractic Seminar at the end of January, a practice building seminar for 100 chiropractors and 50 practice administrators. I also had a stand at the British Osteopathic Association's Annual Conference in November. What were the differences in terms of attitude to light as a healing modality? 

Well, both groups were wary, and understandably cautious, of yet another 'fad' if they had not heard of it before, especially if there was an investment to be made, and further training.  OK - it has been around for 30 years but new things take time to be assessed!

When the osteopaths tried it on themselves many of them felt it, energetically, and were a bit surprised. One osteopath already had a Low Level Laser and spoke enthusiastically about what it could do, though admitted that he did not use it to the full extent.  The chiropractors who had been trained in the US were enthusiastic to find out more, because of their direct experience of people they knew getting good results. Chiropractors from South America, Holland and Norway (basically from abroad) were curious and open to learn.

Well, I am in touch with one osteopath in this country who uses LLLT with great enthusiasm! (see previous blog) Change is an uphill struggle, but I will be meeting up in a few days with two women determined to get things moving in the UK. They have been learning from a pioneer of LLLT in the UK, Gordon Farmer. See future blog to report on that meeting. 

Its so uplifting to find other 'laser bores' out there. We cant wait to meet up and share experiences with the knowledge that our passion for this healing modality will be understood and shared!  All three of us have direct experience of what light did for us and our families. My mother had late onset MS, and the U2 LED light pad stopped her muscle spasms on her legs, allowing her to sleep. When I got lazy and stopped applying the light on my once weekly nursing home visits the spasms came back. So I started again and they stopped again! Christine Carroll was helped to relieve her migraines, and got her mother's arthritis to the point where she was painfree and mobile again, and Wendy Boast's lungs were greatly  improved after LLLT. Both these wonderful women now have set up as LLLT therapists, and have created an organisation with Gordon Farmer called the UK Institute for Therapeutic Laser. Watch this space for more information on this!

Gill Jacobs, Light for Health

The photo above was at the October 2008 CAM Expo show in Earls Court, London, with Yvonne Dobson, LLLT practitioner